The UK’s top 10 law firms reduced fee earner headcount by 6.2% in 2010, according to PwC’s 2010 law firms survey.

The survey also shows that the firms placed in positions 11-25 cut headcount by 9.6% in 2010, while the report shows that reducing staff turnover to 10% for fee earners could save up to £32,000 per equity partner.

Many firms maintain turnover rates significantly above this mark, with the top 10 firms recording average rates of 18% and 17% for lawyers qualified 3-5 years and over five years respectively.

Matthew Thorogood, HR services partner, says: “Our findings suggest many lawyers in mid-tier firms are under-utilised, since average chargeable hours have fallen despite there being fewer people to share the work. Firms face a delicate balancing act of pushing up chargeable hours without overstretching staff and driving away top talent. Adjusting the numbers of lawyers at particular levels of seniority might help achieve this balance.”