JOB SHARE: BTW reaps the rewards of a divided work load

A law firm has launched with the aim of championing more flexible ways of working by allowing partners to share jobs on a part-time basis.

Four personal injury lawyers who left Bartlett & Son in Liverpool in May have established their own niche practice in the Wirral, called BTW (see [2003] Gazette, 13 November, 13).

Its motto is 'people before profits'.

The two full-time partner roles are split into two with each partner working either the first or second half of the week.

The two halves of the job share have a handover session on Wednesdays.

Partner Jan Trainor said: 'Clients love the arrangement because they feel they are getting two solicitors instead of one.

We keep detailed file notes so that we always know what is going on, and our clients are very impressed at how consistent we are.

'The job share relationship is a bit like being married, because you know each other so well, and in fact two of the job-sharers are married.'

The firm has found benefits in the quality of work.

Ms Trainor said: 'I feel very refreshed because I am not working a full week, and there is less stress because any problems are not just yours alone to deal with.

'Having two pairs of eyes on the file is very good from a risk management point of view.'