As current redundancy programmes draw to a close and employees pack their desks, others take the uncertain first baby steps down the path of consultation. There does not appear to be any let up right now and the additional cost slashing taking place has seen a growing tide of training contract deferrals and vac scheme cancellations to boot. Into the mire…

Baker & McKenzie’s London office has launched a formal redundancy consultation that will see the loss of up to 85 jobs. Trainees will not be affected by these proposals.

In a fairly radical but relatively positive move, Norton Rose is aiming to implement a flexi-working scheme in an attempt to head off job cuts. The inititative will seek to change all staff employment conditions for one year allowing the firm to put staff on a four-day week and/or paid sabbatical of four to 12 weeks. Majority approval will be required to push the proposals through though.

Meanwhile, US firm Sidley Austin has fallen in with many of its US competitors announcing widspread layoffs including a redundancy consultation in its London office with 17 associates likely to lose their jobs.

And another US firm, Reed Smith has become the latest law firm to defer the start date of its future trainee solicitors. However, unlike other firms offering deferrals to trainees, Reed Smith have made it compulsory. Start dates for August will be delayed by six months and there is an option to defer by an additional six months. The firm is providing an undisclosed cash incentive for the extension.

On a similar but more positive note, Simmons & Simmons has brought forward plans to launch the first dedicated legal MBA to be run by by BPP College of Professional Studies’ new City branch. Simmons September 2009 and March 2010 intakes are being offered the course.

All this in a week that saw more cost trimming exercises for vac schemes at Norton Rose, Pinsent Masons and US firm, Weil Gotshal & Manges…