Paralegals

Will Law Firms Begin Serial Layoffs? Not if They Can Help It, Experts Say

Orrick’s layoffs yesterday were the second in less than four months. Will other law firms that have already laid off lawyers follow suit? Not if they can avoid it, experts told the Recorder. Orrick cut about about 100 associates and of counsel and 200 staffers yesterday, following cuts of 40…

Mar 4, 2009 12:14 PM CST

DLA Piper Lays Off 20 Lawyers, 34 Staffers in Asian Offices

DLA Piper is laying off 20 lawyers and 34 staffers in Hong Kong and other Asian offices. A law firm spokesman told the Am Law Daily that most of the cuts will be made in DLA Piper’s 100-lawyer office in Hong Kong. The office, the firm’s largest in the region,…

Mar 3, 2009 6:11 PM CST

Orrick Announces Layoffs of About 100 Associates, 200 Staffers

Orrick has announced that it is laying off about 100 associates and 200 support staffers at its U.S. and international offices. The layoffs will affect offices in the United States, Asia and Europe, according to an announcement published on Above the Law. “These actions are unrelated to performance and affect…

Mar 3, 2009 5:37 PM CST

After Layoffs, Some Law Firms Have 1 Staffer for Every 4 Lawyers

Cuts in legal support staff ranks have pushed the staffing ratios at some law firms to one support staffer for every four lawyers. The Connecticut Law Tribune and the Philadelphia Business Journal have stories on the change that is forcing associates to take on more legal research and other tasks…

Mar 2, 2009 5:45 PM CST

Lawyers in ‘Sister Buddy Group’ Mourn Shooting Death of Holland & Knight Secretary

Sophia Nelson, who worked as a lawyer at Holland & Knight, is joining with other black attorneys and professionals in a new support group to discuss the kinds of personal issues that are rarely topics of conversation. Many black women are taught from youth to be strong and hide problems…

Mar 2, 2009 3:47 PM CST

Latham & Watkins Lays Off 190 Associates, 250 Staffers

Rumored layoffs at Latham & Watkins have become a record-setting reality: The law firm is cutting 190 associates and 250 staff members. Above the Law says it knows of no other law firm to have laid off so many employees, absent a dissolution. “But Latham is also setting another record,…

Feb 27, 2009 2:14 PM CST

February Free Fall: Major Law Firms Lay Off Another 2,000-Plus Attorneys and Staff

As the dismal economy has continued on a downward spiral this month, so has the legal industry, with February layoffs exceeding January’s by a considerable margin. January’s carnage, in which renowned law firms laid off more than 1,500 attorneys and staff at last count, has been followed by further freefall…

Feb 26, 2009 9:25 PM CST

Day Pitney, Thompson Hine Among Six Firms Announcing Layoffs

Updated: Six more law firms have announced layoffs, three of them based on the East Coast and three from the Ohio area. The largest number of layoffs is at Day Pitney. The firm has confirmed the layoffs of 66 staff members, according to the Connecticut Law Tribune. Co-managing partner James…

Feb 20, 2009 3:23 PM CST

A&O to Ax Up to 250 Lawyers and 200 Staff, Freeze Pay, Ask Partners for Capital

A top London-based international law firm has announced that, in response to unprecedented market conditions, it plans to cut up to 250 lawyers (including perhaps 47 partners) and 200 staffers; make “equity adjustments” concerning another 37 or so partners; and impose a pay freeze. The Allen & Overy restructuring also…

Feb 19, 2009 5:54 PM CST

How Law Firms Can Protect Themselves Against Suits by Laid-Off Workers

Some fired associates are firing back with suits against their law firms, highlighting the need for firms to plan and follow the law when laying off workers. The National Law Journal spoke with experts about their advice for firms. They told the newspaper that firms should: • Decide which employees…

Feb 19, 2009 1:56 PM CST

UK Law Firm Simmons & Simmons to Ax Up to 69 Employees

Another United Kingdom law firm is preparing to lay off employees. The firm Simmons & Simmons has announced a review that could lead to layoffs of up to 20 associates and 49 other support staffers, report Legal Week, the Lawyer and Times Online. Last year, the firm laid off eight…

Feb 18, 2009 2:59 PM CST

Laid-Off Lawyer Competes with Other Attorneys for Paralegal Jobs

A 43-year-old Los Angeles lawyer who was laid off from her in-house job more than a year ago still has no permanent job, as unemployment takes a toll on her marriage and her finances. The lawyer, Ellie Trope, has 15 years of experience, but her job search has still been…

Feb 17, 2009 3:22 PM CST

Why So Many Law Firm Layoffs in Just One Day?

Speculation abounds about why so many lawyers and law firm staffers were axed last Thursday. Was it fear of Friday the 13th? A vast conspiracy? Or mere market forces at work? In all, 476 staffers and 317 lawyers were laid off—a total of 793 jobs lost. Above the Law noted…

Feb 17, 2009 1:16 PM CST

Last Week’s Layoffs Saved Law Firms an Estimated $100M

Layoffs of around 800 lawyers and legal staffers at large law firms last Thursday likely saved the firms more than $100 million collectively in annual salaries and benefits. Legal Times came up with the number based on a legal consultant’s estimate of annual savings. Thomas Clay of Altman Weil said…

Feb 17, 2009 12:52 PM CST

Bloody Thursday Layoffs Also Hit Cozen, Epstein Becker; ‘Big Ones’ Still to Come

The count of jobs lost in yesterday’s Bloody Thursday continues to swell. Epstein Becker & Green and Cozen O’Connor have confirmed layoffs, bringing to eight the number of well-known law firms that cut people yesterday. In all, 476 staffers and 317 lawyers were laid off—or a total of 793 jobs…

Feb 13, 2009 12:12 PM CST