Linklaters is considering rolling out its regular-hours work model to other offices outside of Germany, as the firm looks to retain talent by offering a better work/life balance.

The firm's 'YourLink' scheme, which was launched 18 months ago, offers associates the option to move to a 40-hour or less week on reduced pay. Twelve German associates are currently signed up across the firm's Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Duesseldorf and Hamburg bases.

However, Linklaters European HR head Thomas Schmidt told Legal Week that such arrangements will not necessarily remain exclusive to Germany, with some of the magic circle firm's other continental European offices already offering – or considering offering – similar models. 

Schmidt added that some of the firm's other offices are considering introducing 'YourLink' in the future. 

Some Linklaters lawyers have already been offered similar reduced hours contracts to prevent them looking for jobs elsewhere, Schmidt said, adding that such arrangements are made on a more personalised basis, and are put in place to retain highly regarded lawyers.

Schmidt said: "The talent pool in Germany is particularly fierce and tight because many young talented lawyers tend to go in-house, to boutique firms, or into government roles. So the need to retain and attract talent is uniquely serious in this region.

"However, there is some interest from other European offices to roll out similar schemes to the YourLink model," he said. "While in Germany there's a greater need to attract new talent, elsewhere in Europe the focus of these schemes is on retaining talent, and maintaining the appeal of the job to lawyers who might otherwise leave, by offering them a better work/life balance."

Other variations of alternative working arrangements in other Linklaters offices include giving associates the option of working remotely, or job-share-type arrangements that see two associates working on the same deal split their time between them.

The firm initially set out a goal to achieve double-digit figures on the scheme after the first 18 months, which it has achieved. In the long run, the firm projects that it will be able to manage having 10%-20% of its Germany associates on the scheme, while still being able to offer the same high standard of legal services by using professional resource allocation tools.

Seven of the 12 associates signed up to YourLink came into the system as new hires, while the others switched over to the scheme from the traditional career model.

First-year associates on the YourLink scheme are paid €80,000 (£71,000), compared to €120,000 (£106,000) for those on the firm's standard pay package. Those signing up for the scheme are not eligible for partnership, although it is possible to become a managing associate or counsel.

"The scheme has proven very successful for the German market," said Schmidt, "so we're going to stick with it. It's proven to be a good tool and it's really great that we are able to offer it. While we've had good feedback from associates on the scheme, we've also had positive feedback from their colleagues and from partners within the firm."