HR survey: Lewis Silkin

HR head
Ruth Willis.

Trainee retention rate
67 per cent.

Assistant attrition rate
10 per cent.

Salary range
NQ – £43,000-£63,000;
7PQE – £76,000.

Bonuses
Offered biannually to fee-earners on fees billed over a 1,200 hours target. Value range relates to fees billed: between 1,200 and 1,300 hours the value is 10 per cent of fees billed; 1,300-1,400 hours is 15 per cent; 1,400 hours-plus is 20 per cent. Past bonuses have ranged from £2,000 to £14,000.

Training
Technical legal training and ad hoc personal skills training.

Appraisals
Biannual appraisals.

Partner progression
Seventy per cent homegrown partners, 13 laterals.

Billable hours target
1,200 for all levels.

Flexible and part-time working
Individual requests for flexible working considered; part-time working available.

Holiday entitlement
Starts at 25 days and rises a day a year up to 30 days maximum.

Benefits
All staff eligible for the pension scheme on joining the firm. Contributions are matched up to 3 per cent.