The overwhelming majority of partners believe law firms must allow both partners and associates to work flexibly, despite acknowledging the difficulties it can cause in terms of career progression.

Legal Week's latest Big Question survey found almost half of the 140 respondents said it was essential for firms to offer flexible working opportunities to partners and associates, with a further 36% believing it to be 'very important' for partners, rising to 37% for associates.

The research found that despite firms paying increasing attention to flexible working and other measures to boost diversity, the reality at firms still lags behind perception. In total, 75% of respondents said their firms offered flexible working options for partners, with this figure rising marginally to 76% for associates.

Those taking part in the survey had mixed feelings about the reaction of clients to partners working flexibly. Nearly half (43%) said clients had issues with the idea, with 40% saying they were 'rarely' supportive of such moves and 3% saying that clients 'actively disapprove'.

In contrast, a similar percentage (43%) said clients were 'very' supportive of partners working flexibly, with a further 14% saying clients were 'completely' supportive of the idea.

Slaughter and May corporate partner Nilufer von Bismarck (pictured) commented: "Flexible working is often difficult to implement on transactional work, as deals usually have a momentum and flow, which makes flexible working awkward from the clients' perspective.

"I don't see that this is likely to change unless there is a radical change in client expectations of service. Some types of non-transactional work and support work do, however, lend themselves to more flexible working arrangements."

Asked what the biggest hindrances to wider adoption of flexible working at law firms were, just less than 40% of respondents said the workloads and timescales of many types of transactional work do not allow it, with 31% saying there is a stigma attached to it that prevents people from asking.

Roughly 21% said management do not like it, compared with only 8% putting lack of support from clients as the key problem.

Given the challenges, only 22% said flexible working would not affect an associate's chances of making partner. The largest group of respondents (36%) said it would affect chances 'a little', 22% said it would affect it 'a lot', 14% said it would be a 'serious hindrance' and 5% stated that flexible workers 'cannot make partner'.

Olswang real estate finance partner Eleni Skordaki said: "The general understanding is that senior associates who are talented and motivated would not be held back by any flexible working requirements. The interesting question is whether a person's need for flexible working arrangements could make that person's talent invisible.

"I believe, and certainly hope, that this would not be the case in any serious, ambitious law firm that respects its clients and people. Flexible working arrangements are now a very established part of what law firms offer."

Macfarlanes corporate partner Nicola Richards, who is responsible for the firm's diversity efforts, commented: "Law firms realise that if they want to attract and retain the best talent, they need to be flexible. There has been a marked change in attitude over the past few years, as the availability of technology has made seamless flexible working a real possibility.

"There should be more women partners, who will be great role models for younger women entering the profession, and more senior women partners in management roles at law firms."

Growing numbers of law firms have been taking steps to increase the number of women in their partnerships, including efforts to increase take-up of flexible working.

Firms making efforts in this area include Ashurst, which last summer unveiled a flexible working scheme for equity partners that allowed them to keep their position on the lockstep while being remunerated on a pro rata basis.

Partners on flexible working

• 75% of respondents' firms offer flexible working for partners
• 57% say clients are either completely or very supportive of partners working flexibly
• 43% say it is 'essential' for modern law firms to offer flexible working
• 5% believe flexible workers cannot make partner