Big firms recruit more trainers - but budgets are cut

Large law firms are taking on more training staff - but are spending less money on the training itself, according to a survey by the Legal Education and Training Group (LETG).The group's second annual survey showed there was one trainer per 73 fee earners in 2001, compared with one per 112 in 2000.

But cash available for training per fee earner fell from 1,056 to 947.

Training budgets accounted for 0.64% of annual fees, a slight drop on 2000.Robert Mowbray, a partner at accountants MacIntyre Hudson, who carried out the survey, said law firms also had more information on training available than last year.

'This suggests that firms are making training a greater priority,' he said.Andrew Towler