DLA Piper has taken the unusual step of giving staff transferred to its Edinburgh office three months to decide whether they are happy to make the move permanent or would prefer redundancy.

The offer was made after 30 employees and 10 partners were asked to move to Edinburgh after the closure of the firm's Glasgow office at the start of April. 

The trial ends on 1 July but DLA will subsidise the expenses of both staff and partners as part of the relocation for 12 months. Employees not happy in Edinburgh will be eligible for a redundancy package. 

The 85-strong Glasgow office was closed on 1 April following the culmination of a UK-wide profitability review by the firm.

After a period of consultation, it was announced in January that 45 members of staff would be made redundant with the rest expected to take up roles in Edinburgh, DLA's remaining Scottish office. 

Those deciding against a longer-term position in Edinburgh after the trial period can instead take up a redundancy package, including the individuals' notice period plus three months' net pay, along with any accrued benefits during the notice term, such as pension payments.

DLA is also currently in the process of centralising its 116-staff document production team in Leeds, with small teams set to remain based at each of the firm's other UK offices. The exact number of job losses is yet to be decided, although it is expected that the majority of the 116 staff at risk will be made redundant.