Large firms may have to consult their assistants

Larger law firms face the spectre of disputes with activist councils of assistant solicitors demanding better pay and insisting on internal consultations to confront management, if draft regulations in a government consultation are approved.

The consultation sets out draft proposals to implement the EU directive on information and consultation at work.

The directive is scheduled to come into force in the UK by March 2005.

The proposals would oblige businesses with more than 50 employees to inform staff of changing terms of conditions of employment, to allow the setting up of workers' representative councils, and to consult staff on corporate strategy.

Failure to do so would cost businesses up to 75,000 in fines under the plans.

Organised groups of assistant solicitors could rebel using the workers' councils if they disagreed with new billing targets or pay levels, whereas partnerships are currently protected because these decisions can be made - and handed down to assistants - in a de facto manner.

Gareth Brahams, an employment partner at City firm Lewis Silkin, said: 'These proposals may cause radical change in non-unionised environments such as law firms.

They should produce a more consensus driven and collectivised environment.

This will, for the most part, be greeted as good news by individual and employed solicitors, and bad news by partners.'