Careers

Winstead Cancels Summer Associate Program

A spokeswoman for Dallas-based Winstead has confirmed that the law firm is canceling its summer associate program this year, but she offers few details. Spokeswoman Shannon Tipton told the Tex Parte Blog that the law students now out of a job will be getting a stipend, but she couldn’t say…

Mar 13, 2009 3:46 PM CDT

Ex-Zuckerman Partner Known as ‘Mr. No’ in Ethics Czar Role

A former partner at Zuckerman Spaeder has a new job in Washington, D.C., where he is known as “Mr. No” and “the fun sponge” for his advice. Norm Eisen is the White House ethics adviser, parsing more than 1,000 pages of government ethics rules and regulations, the Washington Post reports.…

Mar 13, 2009 3:09 PM CDT

Household Wealth Fell 18 Percent Last Year

Americans lost 18 percent of their wealth last year, the biggest loss since the government began tallying net worth in 1952. Household wealth dropped by $11 trillion—an amount that equals the combined annual output of Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom, according to the Wall Street Journal. “The data signal…

Mar 13, 2009 12:11 PM CDT

Anna Nicole’s Lawyer Boyfriend Accused of Supplying Illegal Meds

Anna Nicole Smith’s lawyer boyfriend and two of her doctors have been accused of supplying her with prescription drugs, often for no legitimate purpose. Boyfriend Howard K. Stern was accused of funneling the drugs to Smith from 2004 to January 2007, a few weeks before she died of an overdose,…

Mar 13, 2009 11:16 AM CDT

New ABA Page Points to Career Help

For those in the profession trying to avoid a layoff or struggling to recover from one, the American Bar Association offers some help. A new Economic Recovery Resources page on the ABA’s website offers links to material about law practice management and career development. It also points users to free…

Mar 13, 2009 12:59 AM CDT

2 More Firms Join Today’s Layoff List: Blank Rome Axes 79, Husch Cuts 62

With news this afternoon of layoffs at two more well-known law firms, the total number of known attorney and staff terminations since Feb. 27 now tops 2,800. Blank Rome laid off 27 associates and 52 staff members today, reports the Philadelphia Business Journal. This follows an earlier round of layoffs…

Mar 12, 2009 10:51 PM CDT

Lawyer and Staff Layoffs at Baker Botts

Baker Botts had hoped that a hiring freeze imposed last year would avert potential law firm layoffs. But now they have become necessary, the firm says in an internal memo circulated today: “The recession has been so deep and long-lasting … that we regrettably have also had to reduce our…

Mar 12, 2009 9:37 PM CDT

Firm’s Radical Layoff Alternative: Reduced Schedule for All, Including Partners

As other major law partnerships reluctantly make layoffs, a BigLaw firm headquartered in the United Kingdom has come up with an unusual recession alternative. Instead of asking anyone to leave, Norton Rose plans to put everyone at the international firm, including partners, on a reduced schedule for one year, reports…

Mar 12, 2009 6:52 PM CDT

Sidley Axes 229; 12-Day Tally of Law Firm Layoffs Tops 3,000

Updated: There was a seeming lull yesterday in the ongoing deluge of law firm layoffs announcements. But as the clock ticked today, the pace began picking up significantly. Near the end of the day today came word from the Chicago Tribune that Sidley Austin has laid off 89 lawyers and…

Mar 12, 2009 5:54 PM CDT

Controversy Follows Madoff Lawyer, Who Got First Death Threat in 1975

Bernard Madoff’s lawyer, Ira Lee Sorkin, has had a long-held fascination with securities law—and a longtime ability to attract controversy. Sorkin became “smitten” during his first exposure to securities litigation as a Manhattan intern in the federal prosecutor’s office in 1967, the New York Times reports. After graduating from law…

Mar 12, 2009 4:11 PM CDT

Partner Ousters Double or Triple the Pace of Two Years Ago, Consultant Says

Few U.S. law firms are acknowledging partner cuts, but they are happening and could gather steam if firm leaders foresee a long recession. Consultants tell the Daily Journal (sub. req.) that partner terminations are on the upswing and, if the downturn continues, they will likely be made in a proportion…

Mar 12, 2009 12:33 PM CDT

In Second Round of Layoffs, Proskauer Cuts 23 Lawyers

More lawyers are being laid off at Proskauer Rose after a larger number of cuts in December. Above the Law reports that Proskauer laid off 23 lawyers yesterday. A law firm spokesman did not respond to the ABA Journal or the National Law Journal when asked to comment and confirm…

Mar 12, 2009 11:44 AM CDT

Broaden Job Search, Maybe Go Solo, Officials Tell Worried Law Students

As a growing number of major law firms delay start dates for incoming associates and make record-breaking layoffs (some 2,700 have been announced since Feb. 27), it’s obvious that worried law students have good reason to be concerned about finding work. For the first time, there wasn’t enough employer interest…

Mar 11, 2009 8:49 PM CDT

Anger over DLA Piper Layoff Pay: Only 1 Extra Month for UK Volunteers

Lawyers in the London office of DLA Piper who volunteered to walk away from their jobs in exchange for a sweeter severance package are getting only one month’s extra pay. And they and their friends still working at the megafirm aren’t happy about the “voluntary redundancy” package, reports Legal Week.…

Mar 11, 2009 6:40 PM CDT

S&C Chairman Considered for Treasury Job

H. Rodgin Cohen has been a lawyer with Sullivan & Cromwell for nearly 40 years and the firm’s chairman for nine years. Now the “banking lawyer extraordinaire” is being considered for the job of deputy Treasury secretary, according to the Wall Street Journal Law Blog. The Washington Post and Reuters…

Mar 11, 2009 5:06 PM CDT