Clifford Chance asks trainees to defer
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Clifford Chance has become the latest firm to offer its future trainee solicitor intakes the opportunity to push back their start dates.
Clifford Chance has become the latest firm to offer its future trainee solicitor intakes the opportunity to push back their start dates.
The magic circle firm contacted trainees who were due to start in August 2009 and February 2010 last night to notify them of its decision. It is hoping that up to 15 per cent of the two intakes of approximately 130 trainees will defer for 12 months.
Clifford Chance is offering a basic bursary of £8,000, with an additional payment of up to £3,000 for trainees who decide to pursue specific pro bono projects or, alternatively, undertake further legal or language studies.
Graduate recruitment partner Lynn Johansen said: “Investing in the recruitment and training of trainees is vital to the future of the firm and we remain fully committed to our graduate recruitment programme.
“However, in these difficult economic conditions, we believe this is in the best interests of the firm and the trainee population as a whole. We’ll continue to provide higher quality work and training.”
When I was on the hunt for a training contract I was only interested in applying to the big boys. For me it was the magic circle or nothing. In stark contrast my younger brother’s heart was set on specialising in sports law.