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.