According to an investigation by London-based weekly newspaper, The Law Gazette, 10 law firms have signed up to the scheme run by The Living Wage Foundation, which will see workers paid a minimum of £8.55 an hour instead of £6.19 under the UK’s existing minimum wage.

Accountants lag behind

According to report, the legal sector is leading the way ahead of the accountancy profession, which only has two representatives in Deloitte and KPMG.
Living Wage director Rhys Moore told the Gazette that the legal profession has ‘stepped up to the challenge’, and singled out out magic circle firm Linklaters for ‘partnering the foundation’.

Business sense

Matt Sparkes, global head of corporate responsibility at Linklaters, commented: ‘It is not just the right thing to do, it makes absolute business sense. It ensures we attract and retain the best and most motivated people, whether directly employed by us or by others.’
Two other magic circle firms -- Clifford Chance and Slaughter and May -- were also involved, while City firms Bates Wells & Braithwaite, Herbert Smith Freehills, Lewis Silkin, Mark Humphries Legal, Olswang, White and Case, and Mishcon de Reya have also joined the scheme.