Bad Holiday News for About 2/3 of Nixon Peabody’s Deferred Associates
About two-thirds of Nixon Peabody’s deferred associates got some bad holiday news Monday: Their January start dates have been pushed back.
The law firm plans to phase in the deferred-again associates quarterly, beginning Feb. 8, according to the American Lawyer and the blog Above the Law. Deferred associates will get a monthly payment from the firm, but the amount was not disclosed.
One-third of the deferred associates will start work as planned after the holidays.
“We, like many other firms, are managing our intake of new associates to meet our clients’ needs,” spokesperson Allison McClain told the American Lawyer. “The remaining associates will continue to be deferred and we hope will join the firm as our client needs evolve.”
Earlier this year, the law firm laid off 20 lawyers and 36 staffers, and cut associate pay to $145,000 in several offices.
Above the Law criticized the late decision. “It is truly unbelievable that a firm could not get its act together to figure out how many people it wants to work for them in January. January,” blog editor Elie Mystal wrote. “I’ve bought food for my dog for January already.”
The blog wondered if more late-announced deferrals were in the offing at other law firms.
