Salans is offering a four-day working week to staff in some departments, becoming the latest firm to propose flexible working in response to the economic downturn.
Salans is offering a four-day working week to staff in some departments, becoming the latest firm to propose flexible working in response to the economic downturn.
The firm has asked staff in corporate and real estate groups in London to consider working one less day a week on 80 per cent of pay, or taking a sabbatical of up to six months on 30 per cent of salary, to prevent more job cuts.
Salans has also put the jobs on 13 fee-earners and support staff on the line in a redundancy consultation. The redundancies are being spread across practice areas although the firm would not comment on how many of the 13 would be lawyers.
It is understood that partners will not being offered flexible working.
Earlier this month, Norton Rose put forward a plan to offer staff a four-day week on 85 per cent of pay or a sabbatical on 30 per cent of salary (12 March) .
Salans London managing partner Howard Cohen said: “I’m disappointed some members of our close-knit team in London will be leaving the firm.
“The flexible working proposals are a way of retaining as many people as possible. We hope that together these measures will enable us to avoid having to make further redundancies in the future.”
In January the firm posted a 16 per cent rise in turnover during 2008, while average profit per equity partner was expected to remain static at around E500,000 (£448,434) (19 January).
Makes sense
Just ignore it. This is utterly delusional. I called the Law Society earlier and there is no such firm as Field Grieb. The Scottish chap that I spoke to assured me their records are up to date and that they would include new firms; even those practising in Kent. I personally find this kind of spoofing unpalatable. I have several close friends who work in Kent and they would be absolutly hopping mad if they were to see this sort of glib jesting at their expense.
Business as usual
I can confirm that working in the City is not glamorous – it’s just a job! Also, in my experience, you don’t have to sell your soul. I’m into work at 8am and leave at 5:30 and have not had a minuets photocopying yet. I’ve even been given responsibility and have personally given the OK to contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds.
As with the rest of the comments, just do what you want to do. If you want to do corporate law then do it – if you don’t you will hate every minute of it. I worked in a high street firm for six weeks and hated it. The touchy feely side just did not do it for me; however, I’m pretty sure one day I might have a change of heart.
One word of warning – If you don’t do your TC in the City your going to find it hard to get. It’s possible, but very hard – the work is unique and regional firms, on the whole, don’t deal with the same kind of agreements.
As for the money, yes it’s miles better in the City, but you need to consider your lifestyle. If you look at the hours many trainees bill at magic circle firms they are actually on a pretty low hourly wage (go on an overtime salary calculator and see). I work In-House so my hours are pretty civil, but friends in City firms would give very different stories. It’s one thing saying you’re willing to put up with the hours but the reality of them can really hurt.
The fifth day
“said he wanted to see what affect the changes would have ” tsk tsk
Salans
You can cycle home in the dark at 3pm in the winter – who cares? where is my violin? Oh i had to sell it because i am on 80% pay…
Ride 2 Work
I imagine that for a huge amount of the work they do, they have delegated authority + most of their clients are exceedingly price sensitive. They get low fees if they agree to E’sheds business model – which includes pre-selected chambers. I cannot see E’sheds saying “no you cant have your own choice of Counsel” – if the client agrees to the far higher cost.
Salans
This is a significant decision and could have grave ramifications for the goverment and their advisors. It is also a vindication for WGM and the very underated Matthew Shankland who is one of the better litigators in the city.
Pointing out the obvious
I agree. Aside from the perhaps interesting observation that I might have gone to school with the Scottish fellow with whom you spoke at the LS, it is surely time to draw a line under all this Kent Lawyer baiting. They are good people and deserve to be left in peace.