Cobbetts extends redundancy talks

Cobbetts is in redundancy talks with 28 members of support staff, bringing the potential number of redundancies at the firm this year to 69.

Twenty secretaries may lose their jobs as a result of changes to document production practices earlier this year.

A consultation launched last month with 40 fee-earners, which is in its final stages, could see a further eight related roles in facilities, finance and IT go. It is estimated that 35 of the 40 fee-earner jobs under review could be cut.

A spokesperson said: "Earlier this year, the firm started a review of secretarial capacity, following the successful introduction of its document production centre. The efficiencies brought about by this new initiative will lead to 20 secretaries potentially being made redundant."

The document production centre is a bulk document production service for fee-earners carried out by staff, some of whom work from home.

The spokesperson added: "The firm has worked hard during the consultation to minimise the number of people being made redundant - this has included the use of reduced hours, sabbaticals and seeking volunteers.

"These have been difficult decisions to take, however, along with competitors, the firm needed to act to ensure the long-term success of the business and that efficiencies from service improvements are realised."

In September Cobbetts made six members of staff redundant across its residential conveyancing and professional support departments (TheLawyer.com 12 September 2008).