Clifford Chance lawyers will be able to take two months unpaid leave as part of a new flexible working scheme at the firm, which will also target former CC lawyers.

Called 'Clifford Chance Choice', the time off scheme will be piloted during the upcoming 2019-2020 financial year, allowing junior and senior associates to take eight weeks off from work.

Associates in the firm's London-based finance, capital markets and TMT groups will be eligible to apply for the time off, as well as all associates in the firm's Spain, Italy and Istanbul offices.

Management will decide whether or not an associate can take the two months off, which must be taken consecutively. The pilot will run for CC's next financial year, until 30 April 2020.

Additonally, the magic circle firm is piloting a programme to utilise its former lawyers under the same new Clifford Chance Choice umbrella. CC alumni will be able to apply to work as part of CC teams on specific projects, “with the option to work flexibly and from home where appropriate”, a statement from the firm said.

CC partner and global head of people and talent Laura King said in a statement: ”With over 8,000 registered alumni working in over 3,000 organisations across 100 different countries, our alumni bring a wealth of experience and insights in every sector and region of the globe.

“Clifford Chance Choice is about embracing changes to the world of work. It gives our people the choice to excel in work but also pursue other interests. It gives our alumni the choice to remain a part of the Clifford Chance family after they move on to other things. And it gives our clients the choice of a wider and flexible pool of motivated, brilliant lawyers.”

In 2016, CC launched a flexible working scheme open to lawyers above two years' post-qualification experience (PQE) in which lawyers could work from home on any given day of the week provided they have “appropriate technology” available to work on in an “appropriate environment”.

Fellow magic circle firm Allen & Overy launched its own contract lawyer business Peerpoint in 2013, through which teams of legal professionals can work for the firm on a flexible basis. It initially targeted A&O alumni to be brought in to help the firm with high-profile work.