The deluge of job cuts continues in the legal sector as firms take the opportunity for a bit of ‘restructuring’…

Last week ended with a big bang on the redundancy front as Linklaters joined Clifford Chance in the Magic Circle redundancy stakes. Linklaters plans to restructure its partnership in a move that could see more than 50 partners worldwide exit the City giant and up to 10% of its associates facing the axe. That may mean up to 200 associates will be lined up for the chopping block across the firm’s international network of offices. Phew.

Following the news last week that Addleshaws had asked 19 partners to leave, according to Legal Week the firm looks like it might be considering further restructuring to its partnership. Changes may include some de-equitisations and demotion of junior partners from partner status.

Meanwhile US firms with a UK presence are also facing a tough time in the City. Baker & McKenzie has cut 20 legal positions in London and all of the 285 support staff and secretaries in the City office have been told their jobs are on the line. Meanwhile US rival Cadwalader has failed to convince three of the seven ­London partners who left for Paul Hastings to stay with them despite financial incentives supposedly being offered.

In our bid to try and not just present the misery that seems to be unfolding everywhere at the moment (including the dire state of the recruitment market) we have been making suggestions of alternative sources of income. There are plenty of professionals heading for the slopes, as we noted last week but how about the artizans among you ?