CITY firm JST Lawyers is considering putting some of its staff on a four-day week to stave off the “white collar” recession.
The Temple Street-based firm is in the early stages of consultation with staff.
Four-day working is thought to be one of a number of options aimed at slashing costs on the table.
JST’s move is the latest sign of how the recession is hitting professionals.
It is just two weeks since Halliwells, which has offices in Liverpool’s Old Hall Street, announced a third round of redundancies which will see 30 jobs go nationwide. Four of those will be lost in Liverpool.
The firm also shed 48 posts last year.
JST is in the initial stages of consultation, and said any action would affect some departments and not others.
Senior partners will meet early next month to discuss the plans before telling staff what will happen.
JST’s marketing manager, Lesley Martin-Wright, told LDP Legal: “I know we are looking at something like that [four-day working].
“I know there have been a number of other considerations. Nothing has happened as yet.
“There is consultation going on in some areas of the firm, not others. The consultation has only just started.
“We cannot really say anything more. We have got to be careful we are not being unfair to any members of staff.
“The partners are hoping to get back together as a partnership in early April, and some decisions will have to be made. It is not something which is going to have a long timescale.
“We have not put anyone on a four-day week at this time.” The firm celebrated its 10th anniversary in June last year.
It changed its name from JST Mackintosh to JST Lawyers in 2005.
Since 1998, it has grown from an initial staff of just 15.
It was named Best Property Law Firm by Your Move magazine last year.
Its mission statement includes creating a “21st-century law firm with related working conditions”.
It also aims to “be attractive enough to recruit the best people to the firm”.
Its partners include Chris Harmer, Debra Grant, Heather Summers, John Shield and Neil Gouldson.
