This week has truly turned out rather dire.

With more credit crunching drama as North East firm Ward Hadaway culls 30 jobs; with 2 trainees having their training contracts deferred by a year.

The majority of the jobs will be cut from the non-fee earning areas of the firm

Several fee-earners and solicitors in the real estate department are also likely to be affected. The redundancy consultation period is understood to be almost complete.

Will the two trainees who’s contracts were deferred trainees be offered ‘financial incentives’

Perhaps

Ward Hadaway employs total staff of 392, of whom 216 are fee-earners and 143 are qualified lawyers.

Real estate made up almost a third of the firm’s £28.4m turnover in 2007-08.

A statement by managing partner Jamie Martin read: "I can confirm that we are currently engaged in a redundancy consultation process with our staff. We expect no more than 30 job losses, but since the consultation process has not been completed it would be inappropriate for the firm to comment further."

Thankfully it is over.