The first week of British Summer Time… a big week for big news with the G20 circus coming into town… no rain, lots of hot air warm breeze. So are we all saved then? Can’t call that one but it has been a bit quieter on the redundancy front thankfully.

Having said that, Lovells has now finalised its February redundancy programme, with a total of 79 people losing their jobs – both legal and support staff. Although 96 jobs were originally under threat, the firm managed to limit job cuts by redeploying some staff. The firm also announced that all salaries will be frozen at 2008 levels. Trainees who qualified in March will not see a reduction in their salaries – they will remain at £65,000. Lawyers with one year PQE will earn £68,000; 2PQEs £80,000 and 3PQEs £88,000.

The big chill…

Slaughter and May has also frozen salaries. Trainee solicitor pay has remained the same at £38,000 and £43,000 for first and second years respectively. Trainees who qualified last month will earn £66,000. Slaughters has avoided making redundancies so far but did not rule out layoffs in future.

Meanwhile, Norton Rose has seen 96% of its London office vote in support of plans for four day weeks on 85 per cent of base salary, or sabbaticals of 4 to 12 weeks at 30 per cent of base salary. Staff are unlikely to see any change to their working hours until early May as the firm will give at least one week’s notice for those required to work a four-day week and one month’s notice for those taking a sabbatical. Fridays will never be the same…

Although they have instituted a fairly drastic restructuring programme , Linklaters are the only magic circle player yet to announce a salary freeze.

Hey at least it was sunny for Gordon’s big piss-up tea party.