Flexi-work hampered by firms

Few lawyers are taking up flexible working arrangements (FWAs) now offered by many large law firms, according to new research which suggests that the firms make it hard for lawyers to do so.

Three-quarters of large firms questioned in the survey by recruitment consultancy Graham Gill said they offered staff FWAs, including homeworking, part-time working and sabbaticals.

However, just 10% of men and 25% of women took advantage of these offers in the majority of firms.

Lyndon Jennings, of Graham Gill, said this was probably because FWAs were likely to be offered on a discretionary or performance-related basis rather than because of length of service.

'It seems that while many law firms are enlightened as to the benefits of offering FWAs, many are doing so in a manner that prevents or discourages employees from taking advantage,' he said.

Fiona Muxlow, chairwoman of the Association of Women Solicitors, added that taking advantage of FWAs was often seen as a bar to future partnership prospects.

'This attitude will only change when firms realise that you can work flexibly or part-time and still bring in a lot of work,' she said.

The nationwide survey of 63 of the largest 500 firms also found that within London, firms with more than 100 fee-earners offered a wider range of FWAs.

For example, 87% offered job-share arrangements, compared to 13% of smaller firms.

However, this trend was reversed outside London: for example, 70% of smaller firms offered flexi-working, compared with 30% of larger firms.

Mr Jennings said: 'One explanation for this could be that many people leave London for quality of life reasons and so have higher expectations of their firms.'

Bristol-based Burges Salmon came out as one of the best firms for offering its staff FWAs, with 51-75% of fee-earners entitled to FWAs, and of those, more than half took advantage of them.

Lisa Head, Burges Salmon's head of legal recruitment, said: 'Flexibility has been central to the firm's strategy.

Using sophisticated, reliable IT, our lawyers can operate at a national level, whether working out of our offices, with their clients, or on the move.'

Victoria MacCallum