The firms have announced they will offer £10,000 to any training contract holders that are willing to defer their start date at the firm for six months. The offer, which applies only to trainees scheduled to begin at the newly-merged firm in August and September 2017, will trade the one-off cash award in exchange for a delayed start date in February 2017. Additionally, trainees-to-be that volunteer to start later will have the opportunity to take part in ‘a strategic CMS corporate social responsibility project’ while they wait to begin their training contracts, or they may choose to pursue further postgraduate study, for which the firm will provide an additional £5,000 contribution towards course fees.

Voluntary participation

Camerons managing partner Stephen Millar emphasised that participation in the deferral program is entirely optional for future trainees, commenting: ‘We are delighted to honor all training contracts and we aim to do so in a way which ensures the best possible experience for all during their training contract, and the broadest spectrum of opportunities upon qualification. We are very willing and able to accommodate all future trainees within the intake they originally planned to join.’ At the end of November, it was reported that the newly merged firm would have only enough space to accommodate 60 trainees per year, despite the three firms having together offered contracts to around 90 people for next year’s intake.

Sources: Legal Week; Legal Business