Improved confidence and increased market activity has pushed up rates and fee earner income at the UK’s top 100 law firms, according to the latest legal sector survey by auditor Deloitte.

The study, which looked at the quarter ended 31 January 2014, found that average income for fee earners increased by 4.5% compared with the same period a year ago. Fee earners at firms in the top 25 by size saw their income increase by an average of 6%.