Shoosmiths has restarted its trainee recruitment programme following its controversial move last year to withdraw training contracts without offering financial compensation.

The national firm has opened the recruitment process for trainees for its 2011 and 2012 intake after seeing an increase in client demand. Future trainees will have until 31 July this year to apply.

In March last year Shoosmiths asked 20 trainees due to join the firm in 2009 to consider withdrawing and asking for others to volunteer to defer until either September 2010 or September 2011. The national firm did not offer financial compensation in either case.

Shoosmiths director of human resources Louise Hadland said: "The firm took 12 trainees in September 2009 from a group of 20. Eight are due to join us this September, and we anticipate business demand will see us requiring more. The difference will be made up from the original 2010 intake."

She added: "This in turn leaves us needing more in 2011, which is why we're starting a recruitment drive to cover the 2011 shortfall, plus the new 2012 intake."

Shoosmiths chief executive Claire Rowe (pictured) added: "Twelve months on, and we're looking at a rather different picture from the one a year ago. There's plenty of optimism right now, and we're delighted we can begin a graduate recruitment drive taking us through to 2012."