Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton has scrapped its London paralegal recruitment programme and made its current cohort redundant, the firm has confirmed.

A spokesperson for the firm said the work the paralegals carried out would be handed over to other members of the office.

In a statement, the firm said: "We confirm that we have made three paralegals redundant in our London office. This was regrettable but followed a nine-month review of work patterns that indicated that there was no longer the same level of demand for their services as had historically existed.

"Those services are now being provided by a combination of our junior administrative staff and, where it helps to provide additional training in areas such as court work, trainee solicitors in their disputes seats, in order to give them further exposure to the practical workings of the litigation process."

The webpage for Cleary's 'Paralegal Careers in London' has also been updated, now reading: "Cleary Gottlieb's London office no longer has an active Paralegal recruitment programme."

Cleary's London office currently has approximately 100 lawyers and focuses on international finance and corporate work, tax, antitrust, financial regulation, litigation and arbitration, and intellectual property.

The office made up just one partner in its most recent promotion round. The firm also only made up one London lawyer the previous year, in a reduced global round of three.

Last June, Cleary also lost London financial regulatory partner Bob Penn when he rejoined Allen & Overy.