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BLG latest firm to ask trainees to wait

12 May 2009 | By Katy Dowell

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Barlow Lyde & Gilbert (BLG) has offered half of its September trainee intake £2,500 to defer for six months.

BLG is the latest in a long line of firms to take such action although its deferral period is relatively short, with most firms asking trainees to put back their start dates by a year.

The firm’s head of graduate recruitment Caroline Walsh said: “This is only a six-month deferral and this will balance out the levels of trainees across the firm, which we hope will provide for an improved experience for our trainees and fee-earners, and ultimately our clients.”

The firm is also reducing its summer vacation schemes from three down to two.

Among the firms that have already asked trainees to defer Travers Smith is offering £10,000 to any future trainees who put their start date back by 12 months (27 March), while Norton Rose is offering up to £10,000 to students who come up with a way of putting the money to good use (20 February).

For further analysis on trainee deferrals check out the summer 2009 issue of Lawyer 2B magazine, which is out next week.

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Readers' comments (5)

  • Corporate Rainman | 13-May-2009 8:52 am

    £2500? That'll last them a few weeks at best.

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  • lol@corporate rainman | 13-May-2009 1:06 pm

    @"corporate rainman" - I don't know where you work but your trainees must have a high-flying lifestyle if 2500 quid would last them a few weeks at best.
    It is certainly not much money for 6 months but at least they don't have to wait a year to start their contract and no one is stopping them from working in the meantime.

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  • Anonymous | 13-May-2009 4:06 pm

    isn't £2500 more than Barlows' PEP?

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  • Anonymous | 25-May-2009 10:20 pm

    they only paid the 8 that volunteered £2500, those who were picked out of the hat only got £1500 - which really is quite low

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  • silks | 23-Jun-2009 5:12 pm

    £1500 is shocking, and not in their press statement, which is understandable why they would want to hide it.....if not choosing to work 6 months later for financial reasons wasn't bad enough, the firm then double penalises trainees with a £1k 'fine'. Wouldn't like to be in their position for finding somewhere to rent/work/travel on £1.5k for 6 months. Less of a golden hello, more of a brown-see-you-next-March.

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