BigLaw Firm Mulls Up to 117 Layoffs, Plans to Outsource Secretarial Work

One of the top 10 law firms based in the United Kingdom is mulling a fourth round of layoffs that could result in 22 attorneys and 95 secretaries getting the ax.

Eversheds plans to replace the secretaries it lets go by outsourcing their work to Exigent, a South African-based company, reports Legal Week. By outsourcing and decreasing the ration of secretaries to lawyers to 1 to 4 from 1 to 3.4, the law firm could save around $3.3 million annually.

Sabbaticals and reduced hours may also be used as an alternative to layoffs.

“While it is always regrettable to lose people, there is no doubt that the profession needs to adapt as a result of technological advances and the ever-increasing need to deliver value," says Lee Ranson, the law firm's managing partner. "In order to ensure that our business continues to succeed, we will continue to proactively manage our resources and look for new and improved ways of working.”

A total of 84 lawyers at the firm have lost their jobs in three rounds of previous layoffs that began in September 2008.