There is a "strong correlation" between staff turnover and chargeable hours at law firms, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Numbers released as part of their annual survey of the sector show that the top ten law firms have average turnover rates of 17-18%.

According to the accountancy firm, reducing turnover to less than 10% can reduce costs by £32,000 per equity partner.

The report suggests that most firms reduced the number of fee earners they employed over the last year, with average salaries also decreasing across the country. In London wages dropped by 10% to £59,000.

Matthew Thorogood, HR services partner at PwC, said: -Lawyers have not been forced to take pay cuts, just smaller pay rises following promotions. But morale could dwindle unless firms find alternative ways to reward staff satisfactorily."

Average bonuses increased from 15-20% of salary at the top ten firms where the proportion of female partners decreased from 18-14%.

A quarter of all staff do not have an appraisal, according to the figures.