Layoffs
Baker Botts Discloses More Layoffs, But Not the Number
Posted Aug 27, 2009 8:31 AM CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Baker Botts has laid off more lawyers, but isn’t disclosing how many lost their jobs.
The goal of the layoffs is to have “supply meet demand,” Baker Botts spokesman Mike Cinelli told the Tex Parte Blog.
He stressed in an interview with Tex Parte that offers have not been withdrawn for recent law grads scheduled to begin at the law firm in November. Next year, he said, the incoming associate class is likely to be smaller than this year’s, although it will still be "impressive."
Above the Law was the first to report that fewer offers are being made to Baker Botts summer associates for 2010 jobs.
Baker Botts laid off lawyers last March, but did not confirm the number.
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Comments
B. McLeod
Aug 27, 2009 9:53 AM CST
Given that “associates” are fungible and expendable, the shiny new ones scheduled to begin in November are presumably just as good as the laid off ones, and cheaper. Plus, no way they can bill enough hours to expect bonuses in 2009. By contrast, existing “associates” who have worked hard could be closing on their “billable” targets in the next two months. It is now that the firms have to consider whether they can really afford to pay any bonuses, and if not, whether to use August-October layoffs as a preemptive strike.
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Bob Garrey
Aug 27, 2009 12:06 PM CST
But, new associates are less productive than a good paralegal. Most big law firm make little, if any money on first years. They are paid a lot of money, and know very little about the practice of law. If I was a client of a big law firm, I would refuse to pay for first year training and insist upon more experienced associates- and at a discount. Clients are requesting-and getting this- from other big firms across the country.
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B. McLeod
Aug 29, 2009 12:08 PM CST
Maybe the answer is Baker Botts bots - computerized AI automatons that can analyze and argue, or churn out transactional documents, without being paid. If computers can be programmed to play chess (and they can), it should actually be possible for them to paper deals and argue cases.
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