For the second time this year, a raft of elite law firms have bumped up salaries for their newly-qualified associates in the U.K. as the battle to attract and retain junior lawyers reaches new heights.

Earlier this year, more than 25 top international law firms boosted salaries for their juniors after U.S. firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy decided to raise its base rate to $200,000. Through June and July, several firms increased pay, including: Ashurst, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, DLA Piper, Hogan Lovells, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.