Law firms need to do more to help partners and staff find an appropriate work/life balance, it was claimed last week.

A snapshot survey of more than 100 managing partners and finance directors of mid-sized and large law firms around the UK found just 20% of firms offer their staff flexible working conditions and only a further 22% allow sabbaticals for partners.


The survey, conducted by accountants Grant Thornton, also found that 57% of respondents said newly qualified lawyers are not as prepared to put in the hours as their senior counterparts.


Roger Zair, head of Grant Thornton’s professional practices team, said: ‘While there clearly are a number of firms committed to improving the work/life balance for staff, these figures reveal that many organisations still have some way to go.’


He added: ‘Times are changing and the younger generation are clearly opting for a more sensible balance. While there will always be people who want to work 24/7, for the majority a balance will always be preferred. Those firms that are unable to meet this requirement may find it difficult to recruit and retain the best in the future.’


Grant Thornton put forward City firm Eversheds as an example of a firm committed to helping staff of all levels find the appropriate balance. In the last year, the firm has launched ‘Lifestyle’, a scheme to give people the opportunity to work flexibly. Currently, 23% of Eversheds staff at all levels work either part-time or take sabbaticals.


Managing partner David Gray said: ‘Lifestyle not only enables people to work flexibly but has also had the added benefit of opening up new opportunities for more junior members of the team to take on more challenging work when their senior counterparts are out of the office.



‘This in turn helps to ensure that no one client is reliant on a single person within the firm – something which has got to be a good thing for the business.’