Linklaters has offered its next two intakes of trainees £14,250 to defer their training contracts for a year. Charlie Jacobs, Linklaters’ trainee recruitment partner, said the firm was looking to defer up to 15 trainees from the 2003 intake and another 15 trainees from the 2004 intake. The deferment programme, launched this month, is voluntary and deferments will be granted on a first-come-first-served basis.

First reported on www.legalweek.net (10 January).