Linklaters, Clifford Chance, Herbert Smith and Olswang have joined around 100 companies accredited over the past year by the Living Wage Foundation, reports the newspaper Legal Week.
Other English legal practices committed to the living wage -- which stands at £8.55 per hour in London and £7.45 outside (the current minimum wage is £6.19) -- include law firms Mishcon de Reya, Lewis Silkin, Bates Wells & Braithwaite, education specialists Match Solicitors and barristers’ chambers 11 King's Bench Walk.

Business sense

A foundation spokesperson told newspaper that the commitment shown by the legal sector was one of the strongest, and added that the Law Society of England and Wales and several other law firms are in the process of being accredited.
Matt Sparkes, Linklaters' global head of corporate responsibility, commented: ‘It is not just the right thing to do, it makes absolute business sense. It ensures that we attract and retain the best and most motivated people, whether directly employed by us or by others. We want good people and the living wage is an excellent way of getting and keeping them.’