Laid-Off Associates Still Struggling, Even as Firms Make New Hires
The news isn’t all good, despite reports of bigger 2011 summer associate classes and 100 percent offer rates. Laid-off associates are still struggling, even as the lateral market improves for those lucky enough to have kept their jobs.
Legal recruiters confirm that laid-off lawyers, even those from top schools such as Harvard, are facing a difficult job search, according to the Careerist blog.
Palo Alto recruiter Avis Caravello told the blog that lateral jobs are available for midlevel employed associates, even as junior associates are considered too inexperienced and senior associates, too expensive. As for laid-off associates, “There are candidates with great credentials, but there are too many out there.”
Firms that laid off associates aren’t rehiring, even as they are making new job offers, according to New York recruiter Bonnie Miller. “Law firms hire by class year,” she told the blog, and hiring back associates is considered too expensive.
