Trainee deferrals are proving to be the latest fad amongst firms looking to keep things lean over the coming year. The roster of firms offering their future lifeblood a bit of time out include, Baker & McKenzie, Herbert Smith, Lovells, Simmons & Simmons and DLA. All of the firms have offered reasonably generous cash incentives for to those interested – well, all but Lovells until recently. Having not previously mentioned cash, Lovells have now followed the crowd with an offer of £2,500 for those willing to defer by six months and £5,000 for those willing to defer by 12 months.

The redundancy count is still mounting up, although it’s been more of a trickle in the last week than the flood seen earlier last month. That being said, US firms have announced some big redundancy programmes which will obviously impact on their UK and European operations. O’Melveny & Myers is the latest to annouce cuts with 90 associates and 110 support staff set to lose their jobs. Following its shock announcement, A&O has revealed that it will not be keeping on it’s normally high level of NQs in September 2009 and March 2010; the level is likely to drop to 70% compared to 86% last year. Scottish firm Dundas also announced significant job cuts this week.

The mode of redundnacy announcements; leaks in the press from MC firms, taps on the shoulder at Matheson Ormsby Prentice (ROF ) and of course that old favorite – stealth redundancies, have got lots of commentators (mainly associates with crosshairs following them round the office) rather hot under the collar (click here for a sharply penned piece on a bit of HR bungling). But whilst the bad news, as so often, tends to roll down-hill there is a kicker for those feeling hard done by. Rateapartner.com can now be visited at a PC near you and UK firms are going to be added shortly…

Have a good weekend.