It may be sunny but its not so bright as Barlows launches a redundancy consultation putting 49 jobs under threat.

The consultation will affect all fee earners, secretarial and business services staff. The practice ares likely to be hit hardest were not specified.

A bit of relief for trainees though as they will be excluded from the cuts.

CEO Clint Evans said:

"It is with regret that we enter this consultation programme.

There are fundamental changes in the legal sector and all firms must adapt. One consequence is that, despite a rise in turnover, our profitability has fallen, partly due to increased overheads.

This is not only a response to current market conditions in which many of our clients are themselves facing costs pressures, but also part of a wider project of modernisation intended to safeguard the firm’s future prosperity as an employer. "

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