Battling for Scarce Legal Work, Associates Vie for Paralegal Tasks
Once upon a time, law firm associates turned up their noses at the prospect of performing document reviews and writing deposition summaries.
But that’s not as true now that the economy is in a tailspin. Many associates without enough work to do are willingly taking on tasks traditionally performed by paralegals, reports the National Law Journal. And, in a cost-cutting move, law firms are making staff layoffs that may force attorneys to do more of the work they could formerly shift to their assistants.
However, it might make more sense to cut attorneys rather than staff, some say, rather than deploy lawyers on work that isn’t appropriate for their skills.
“It’s a desperate move to keep their billables up,” says Chere Estrin, the owner of California-based Estrin LegalEd, a paralegal training company, of the competition by some attorneys for staff work. “It’s gotten worse lately, and it’s not good for anyone.”
Related ABAJournal.com coverage:
Downturn Could Make Recommended Legal Staffing Ratios a Reality
