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Linklaters trials fixed-hours week for German associates

In a bid to offer more flexible career options for associates, Linklaters is trialling an alternative career track which would see associates take a pay cut for a reduced working week in its German offices.

Linklaters associates will have the option of choosing working fewer hours for a proportionally reduced salary.

The ‘YourLink’ career path would see German associates receive €80,000 in their first year, compared to the €120,000 offered in the regular career path. Lawyers signing up for the programme will work to a 40-hour week with exact clock-in times.

The programme is not unique in the German market, with McDermott Will & Emery and Baker McKenzie both offering limited or flexible hours arrangements for salary adjustments.

Linklaters has made steps to offer a more flexible working package for its lawyers in recent years, in line with other firms adopting agile working models and career sabbaticals.

Earlier this week, Legal Business revealed the firm was also introducing an alternative to metrics driven partner assessments in a departure from the firm’s traditional system of measuring performance. The move was aimed at creating a more entrepreneurial style of working

A Linklaters spokesperson said: ‘We are treating the Germany 40-hour week model as a pilot to understand how it works and how it might be adopted for other markets. It is an example of how we are trying to innovate with different types of flexible working to ensure we attract and retain the very best talent.’

matthew.field@legalease.co.uk

For more on the leadership of Moore and senior partner Charlie Jacobs, see ‘Rain men’