Shoosmiths has launched a redundancy consultation putting 69 employees in the firing line. Up to 25 lawyers are likely to be affected along with 44 support staff. The cuts will be made firmwide across all practice groups but the residential conveyancing unit will avoid further cuts in this round, having felt the swing of the axe last July . The news comes shortly after revelations that the firm decided to ask trainees to defer without compensation or withdraw from their training contracts.

Meanwhile, Scots firm, McGrigors, has announced that partners have agreed to take a 5% reduction in their annual base profit share. The firm has also asked all of its staff to take two weeks’ unpaid leave at some point between June and the end of September. Salaries have been frozen for 2009. Trainees have not been affected by the cost-cutting measures. Looks like long Summer holidays for some…