The iconic Gherkin building in the City of London where Kirkland and Ellis are based - PA

A law firm has given its solicitors a concierge service to run their errands, prompting criticism that they are trying to chain staff to their desks.

Kirkland and Ellis, nestled in the iconic Gherkin skyscraper in the City of London, is offering its 300 lawyers free personal assistants - available around the clock, seven days a week.

Some of the unusual requests include building a bike as a birthday gift for an employee's daughter, retrieving a coat left in a barbershop and picking up a Christmas tree.

One solicitor even requested that her concierge track down some canine booties for her two dogs.

But the system, ostensibly designed to make lawyers' lives easier, has been criticised by organisations and charities who claim that it generates more stress.

The Association of Women Solicitors told The Telegraph: "Whilst we agree that all lawyers should be supported to achieve their best, this should be by providing flexibility, reasonable adjustments and support for mental health wellbeing.

"In our view, having what is tantamount to a PA to constantly press refresh on the Glastonbury ticket line for you, doesn’t add to this, and may have quite the opposite effect.

"The implication is Kirkland & Ellis lawyers are so busy fee earning that they do not have time to even book a holiday let alone perhaps go on one. Why is that?

"This service, and others like it such as on site dental/medical treatment and 'dinner at your desk', is indicative of a much wider cultural problem: namely that the measure of a person’s success is the amount of time they spend in the office chair and therefore the number of hours they bill."

Neil Shah, chief de-stressing officer at The Stress Management Society, said: "This for me is a concern. Rather than giving people a perk, it's just a veiled attempt to get them to work harder.

"What about getting them to work more efficiently and smarter at work so they have more time to use as they see fit? That would be a much better perk."

A Women in the Law UK spokesperson said: "We applaud the efforts of a concierge, however we would be concerned that any semblance of work life balance may well disappear."

Legal Sector Workers United said: "No salary makes this acceptable. These workers don't need a concierge service - they need a trade union."

Kirkland and Ellis declined to comment when contacted by The Telegraph.

It comes after Google, Apple and Facebook were criticised for offering an egg freezing service to their female employees so they can delay having children until they are in their 30s or 40s.

The move prompted criticism that it encouraged women to stay chained to their jobs.