Laid Off? Find Out What to Do Next
White-shoe law firms Heller Ehrman and Thelen dissolve, leaving hundreds of lawyers to fend for themselves in an extremely competitive legal market. White & Case lays off 70 associates; Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft fires more than 130. Dechert gives performance-related notice to an undisclosed number of associates. What do you do if you are one of those laid-off or fired lawyers?
First, take a deep breath.
Law firms’ and corporations’ supposed rationale for terminating their lawyers will differ greatly, depending upon whether you speak to management or read the law blogs. Although some firms are candid and say that staffing cuts have been caused by lack of business or internal issues caused by volatile financial markets, others insist the dismissals are performance-based and not motivated by budgetary issues.
If you’re given notice by your employer, does it matter to you whether you’ve been downsized or fired? It should, since the story you tell during your next interview will be influenced by the reasons you are no longer working for that employer.
Continue reading the full story online in the January issue.
