PARTNERS and staff at Halliwells are being asked to sign up to work a four-day week, in a bid to cut costs.

The scheme will see some fee earners and support staff taking a 15% pay cut in return for the extra day off.

Senior partners at the firm say no one will be forced to go part- time, but all staff have been invited to volunteer.

The programme will initially run for an eight-month trial period.

Managing partner Ian Austin said: “Given the market conditions affecting the transactional side of the business, this is a necessary and sensible step.

“Halliwells has talented, dedicated and hard-working people across all practice areas and offices.

“Our people are our greatest asset and our aim is to avoid further redundancies.”

The move comes just weeks after the firm’s Merseyside-based corporate department celebrated winning the Corporate Team of Year at the Liverpool Law Society’s Legal Awards.

Halliwells, which has offices on Liverpool’s Old Hall Street, announced 30 jobs were under the threat of redundancy in March. Previous rounds of job cuts have also seen 40 jobs go at the firm.