Linklaters has launched an initiative to develop the talents of its top female lawyers, in an effort to overcome the challenges of attracting and retaining female associates.

The firm has teamed up with Cranfield School of Management for the pilot of the scheme – dubbed the Women's Leadership Programme – which will initially target its offices in London and continental Europe.

The firm is aiming to identify female lawyers with the strongest potential as early as possible. Twenty-five places will be made available to female managing associates across the firm's European offices, with a six-month series of events, structured learning and coaching beginning in November.

Linklaters litigation partner Christa Band said: "As a firm we are keen to do whatever we can to motivate, inspire and support our women lawyers. This programme is one of a number of initiatives and we hope that it will provide a structure for the support and further development of our most talented women." 

Cranfield University's International Centre for Women Leaders has been pushing to raise the profile of women in executive directors positions at FTSE 100 companies since 1999 with its annual publication of the Female FTSE Index.

"Cranfield School of Management has an outstanding reputation for delivering leadership programmes for women and was the obvious choice to help us put this programme into place," said Linklaters environment partner Vanessa Havard-Williams.

Last month Legal Week reported that Linklaters, along with Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Clifford Chance, had one of the most generous maternity packages among top UK law firms.

Recent years have seen a number of improvements in the career support offered to women in the legal profession, with Legal Week reporting earlier this year that Herbert Smith, Hogan Lovells and Addleshaw Goddard were among a host of firms rolling out initiatives to help retain and promote more female lawyers.