Layoffs

Legal Industry Lost 22,300 Jobs in Last Year

The legal industry lost 2,700 jobs in March, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released today by the U.S. Labor Department. Legal employment, which includes nonlawyers who work in the legal services industry, declined from 1,149,200 in February to 1,146,500 in March. Legal services jobs nationwide have contracted by 22,300 jobs…

Apr 3, 2009 1:23 PM CDT

Hogan & Hartson Lays Off 93 Staff, Cuts Some Associates’ Pay

Updated: After a February buyout offer failed to attract enough volunteers, Hogan & Hartson announced today that it is laying off 93 staff members in its United States offices. Their last day will be tomorrow, the firm’s executive committee explains in an internal memo published by Above the Law. “This…

Apr 2, 2009 5:17 PM CDT

Mayer Brown Lays Off 45 Lawyers, 90 Staff

Citing the prolonged economic downturn and a global review of its operations, Mayer Brown announced today that its reducing its ranks by 45 lawyers and 90 administrative staff. Outgoing chairman James D. Holzhauer issued a statement (PDF) saying the firm had hoped to avoid more job losses by reducing operating…

Apr 2, 2009 4:17 PM CDT

Nose to The Grindstone, Ear to the Ground

In time of stealth layoffs, due diligence a must

Apr 2, 2009 12:10 AM CDT

Heller by the Numbers

Where Are They Now

Apr 1, 2009 11:40 PM CDT

March Mayhem Tally Tops 3,500 After End-of-Month Law Firm Layoffs

Although major law firm layoffs have seemingly slowed down from the blistering pace set during the first 10 days of March, the end-of-month total is still a stunning figure. Some 3,500 attorneys and staff, and perhaps significantly more, have lost their jobs, and announcements of canceled summer programs, postponed first-year…

Apr 1, 2009 2:00 AM CDT

Locke Lord Lays Off Attorneys & Staff

Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell has confirmed that it laid off associates, counsel and staff today in all 13 of the law firm’s offices. Partners were spared, however. Chairwoman Jerry Clements declined to give a total tally of those being eliminated from the firm’s roster, Texas Lawyer reports. However, an…

Apr 1, 2009 12:40 AM CDT

Robinson & Cole Names New MP, Lays Off 11 Attorneys & 19 Staff

A well-known Connecticut-based Northeast regional law firm has just named a new managing partner. Sadly, as Above the Law points out, one of his first tasks was to announce layoffs. Due to the dismal economy, the firm is eliminating 11 associates and counsel and 19 staff members from its roster,…

Mar 31, 2009 7:28 PM CDT

Reed Smith Cuts 100 Lawyers & Staff

In a second round of layoffs since December, Reed Smith is letting go 26 attorneys and 74 staff members in its United States and United Kingdom offices because of a slowdown in its transactional practices. “Specifically, we are initiating the outplacement of 17 associates in the U.S. and have started…

Mar 31, 2009 5:04 PM CDT

Securities Class Action Firms Add Lawyers, Get Defense-Side Resumés

Some securities class action law firms are seeing an influx of cases spurred by the financial downturn and lots of resumés from lawyers working at large law firms. The extra work is good news for a few lucky job-hunting associates, the Recorder reports. Bernstein Litowitz Berger & Grossmann has added…

Mar 31, 2009 11:31 AM CDT

Stroock Laying Off 10% of Associates & Staff; Fried Frank Axes 99

After a law firm layoffs lull for several weeks, it appears that the pace may be picking up again. Stroock Stroock & Lavan has just announced that the firm will be laying off 10 percent of its associates and staff, reports Above the Law, based on information from an unidentified…

Mar 30, 2009 7:47 PM CDT

Law Firm Manager Writes Post Columnist About Clueless Associates

A middle manager at a small law firm is beefing about associates who struggle to meet billable goals and deadlines, bungling things to such an extent that they must be shown the exit. The manager wrote to the Washington Post for advice. The letter reads: “I’m in middle management at…

Mar 30, 2009 1:44 PM CDT

Skadden Cuts Staff Attorneys and At Least 25 Other Staff

In better economic times, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom had enough work to keep a cadre of staff attorneys busy. But now, after an earlier layoff of some staff attorneys in January, Skadden is reportedly wielding the ax again. The firm is cutting an unknown number of staff lawyers…

Mar 28, 2009 1:04 AM CDT

Gibson Dunn Lays Off 36; Weil Gotshal Cuts Summer Program, Defers 1st-Years

In the latest of a continuing stream of law firm cutbacks, two well-known law firms have announced new economy measures. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher will be eliminating 36 staff positions throughout its nine offices, the firm says in a written statement provided to Above the Law today. “While this is…

Mar 27, 2009 8:18 PM CDT

Downturn Didn’t Stop at Least Eight Law Firms from Opening LA Offices

At least eight law firms have opened in the Los Angeles area since the economy soured last year, spurred in some cases by the chance to merge with other firms or the chance to pick up lawyers from disbanding firms. Most of the firms adding Los Angeles offices did not…

Mar 27, 2009 3:08 PM CDT