The number of legal employers committed to paying workers an independently assessed ‘living wage’ has climbed by over 50% in the last year.

There are now 33 law firms, barristers chambers and related organisations signed up to the fair pay scheme run by charity the Living Wage Foundation.

LWF is backed by London mayor Boris Johnson.

Official earnings figures published this week showed that in the last quarter Britons suffered the first fall in wages since the recession of 2009,  with pay rises continuing to lag inflation. But lawyers have been at the forefront of efforts in the private sector to establish a sustainable minimum, which the foundation defines as £8.80 in London and £7.65 outside.

The national minimum wage is £6.31. The commitment also encompasses regular sub-contractors.

The LWF has over 700 signatories, but more than half of them are in the public or third sectors.

Three magic circle firms signed up early to the LWF: Linklaters, Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May. Allen & Overy, and Freshfields (which since October 2010 has paid all staff, including subcontractors, at least £8.55) have also come on board in recent months.

LWF signatories outside the magic circle include  Herbert Smith, Lews Silkin, Mishcon de Reya, Mayer Brown, Olswang and Norton Rose Fulbright. The Law Society is also a signatory, but the Bar Council is not.

Barristers’ chambers to have signed up with LWF include Matrix, Devereux, Outer Temple and 11KBW.

Full list

11 KBW

Allen & Overy

Bartons Solicitors

Bates Wells Braithwaite

Bindmans

Blackstone Chambers

Bristows

Clifford Chance

Devereux Chambers

DWF

Farrer & Co

Hardwicke

Herbert Smith

Holman Fenwick Willan

Humphries Kerstetter

Islington Law Centre

Law Society

Lewis Silkin

Linklaters

Match Solicitors

Matrix Chambers

Mayer Brown

Mishcon de Reya

Motley & Hope Solicitors

Norton Rose Fulbright

Olswang

Outer Temple Chambers

RCJ Advice Bureau and Islington CAB

Slaughter and May

The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

Wheelers

White & Case

Wixted & Co