Not yet business as usual then - Herbies has had to revisit the trainee deferral strategy that proved so popular with firms last year.

Lawyer2B: Hebert Smith has become the second major law firm to confirm that it has launched a further round of trainee solicitor deferrals.

…

The only other firm to launch a second round of deferrals is Hammonds, which has asked 17 of its future joiners due to start in September 2010 to voluntarily defer for 12 months.

More>

Two doesn’t make a trend but if others see Hammonds and Herbies actions as a green light, the junior bottleneck from this recession could take years to ease.