Layoffs

Boies Schiller Lays Off 3 Associates Who Worked in Losing EMI Trial

Boies Schiller has laid off three female associates who worked overtime during a trial in which Citigroup was accused of duping a hedge fund in its $6.3 billion acquisition of EMI Group. Last week the law firm laid off the three associates, all women, after the firm’s “stinging loss” on…

Nov 16, 2010 4:18 PM CST

DLA Piper Cuts Staffers, But Won’t Disclose the Numbers

DLA Piper is confirming new layoffs of support staffers, but isn’t supplying details on numbers. A statement supplied by the law firm confirms a “right-sizing” and says it is assisting those who lost jobs with outplacement services. Above the Law first reported on the layoffs on Friday, saying offices in…

Nov 16, 2010 2:23 PM CST

Howrey Lays Off 32 Staffers, Plans to Focus Resources in Three Areas

Howrey has laid off 32 support staffers in an effort to focus its resources in three practice areas. Howrey issued a statement confirming last week’s layoffs. The Am Law Daily, Above the Law and Law360 have the story. “This right-sizing of the firm will allow Howrey to concentrate its resources…

Nov 11, 2010 12:36 PM CST

About 25% of Law Firms Are to Blame for High Minority Attrition Numbers, Study Says

Recent NALP statistics showed a slight decline this year in law firm diversity, but a new study suggests that some firms are more to blame than others. According to Building a Better Legal Profession, much of the decline can be attributed to about a quarter of firms that lost more…

Nov 9, 2010 1:08 PM CST

Asst. AG Axed Over Blog Attack on Gay Student Leader

A Michigan prosecutor who attacked a student leader in a blog, calling him a “radical homosexual” and worse, and sought to get him fired from his job, has now himself been axed over his own behavior. Assistant Attorney General Andrew Shirvell was fired today, said his boss, State Attorney General…

Nov 9, 2010 1:21 AM CST

Largest Law Firms Still Shrinking, Shedding 1,400 Lawyers This Year

The nation’s top 250 law firms shrunk by 1,400 lawyers this year, and associates were hit hardest. Firms shed close to 1,000 associates, a drop of 1.5 percent, the National Law Journal reports. Partner numbers increased, but only slightly, by 0.6 percent. The head count at the top 250 law…

Nov 8, 2010 1:30 PM CST

Stern’s Law Firm & Related Co. Cut Staff By 70% After Fannie and Freddie Pull Foreclosure Files

Updated: A South Florida law firm being investigated by the state attorney general over its mortgage foreclosure work has announced new layoffs today, after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pulled their files earlier this week. Following “substantial” layoffs today, David Stern’s law firm and a related company reportedly will have…

Nov 4, 2010 7:11 PM CDT

Ex-New York Associate Sues Clifford Chance, Alleges ‘Blatant’ Discrimination Against Blacks & Women

A former associate at Clifford Chance in New York hesitated to sue the firm. But after being unemployed for several years after she and five other U.S. associates of the London-based international megafirm were laid off, Karen Ramdhanie apparently felt she had no other choice. Now 48, she alleges that…

Nov 2, 2010 5:59 PM CDT

Another 198 Layoffs Follow Business Slowdown at Foreclosure Firm Under Fire

A litigation support company for a South Florida law firm known for its high number of foreclosure filings has announced another 198 layoffs, after losing business following criticism of its document practices. That brings to nearly 300 the total number of layoffs at DJSP Enterprises after David Stern’s law firm…

Oct 25, 2010 4:23 PM CDT

Layoffs of Perhaps 100 Follow Work Slowdown at Fla. Foreclosure Law Firm

Following news from Bloomberg that a major lender has stopped sending new cases to a South Florida law firm known for its foreclosure work, a lawyer for its chief attorney, David Stern, confirms that it has made layoffs. There were “probably less than 100” workers let go from Stern’s law…

Oct 13, 2010 5:24 PM CDT

Husch Blackwell Confirms Layoffs of Nearly 20 Lawyers Last Month

Nearly 20 lawyers were laid off last month at Husch Blackwell, the law firm has confirmed to the Am Law Daily. “As is our firm’s practice, we constantly monitor our attorney staffing to match the level of experience, expertise and depth necessary to service our clients’ workload needs,” a firm…

Oct 6, 2010 8:42 PM CDT

Then and Now

If you’re looking for work, we don’t have to tell you that the legal job market is bleak. On average, firms hired 44 percent fewer summer associates this year, according to an American Lawyer survey, and some canceled their programs altogether. Some firms still are deferring the first-years they hired…

Oct 1, 2010 8:40 AM CDT

17,500 BigLaw Jobs at Risk? Consultant Denies ‘Evil Plot’ by MPs

A law firm consultant who blogged about the possible loss or shifting of 17,500 BigLaw jobs is trying to put a lid on speculation about the reasons for her forecast. In an interview with the American Lawyer, Hildebrandt managing director Lisa Smith said her words were “just some initial thoughts…

Sep 29, 2010 2:38 PM CDT

Laid Off From BigLaw, Lawyer Posts Fliers Seeking Cleaning Work

A lawyer laid off last year from her $160,000-a-year job in BigLaw has posted fliers seeking work as a housekeeper. Alice Lingo has sought jobs as a lawyer and a paralegal, the New York Daily News reports. She has applied for 15 jobs as a waitress and 30 jobs as…

Sep 10, 2010 11:52 AM CDT

Legal Sector Adds 1,000 Jobs

The legal sector added 1,000 jobs law month, according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It was the second month of job gains in the legal field, the American Lawyer reports. The government originally reported that the legal sector lost 800 jobs in July, but a…

Sep 7, 2010 12:39 PM CDT