Paralegals

Law Firm Employee Asks Amy About Unsanitary Lawyers

A law firm employee wrote the “Ask Amy” advice column with an unusual dilemma: how to cope with her unsanitary lawyer bosses. “I work in a small law firm where some of the men don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom and one even picks his nose at his…

Apr 6, 2009 2:02 PM CDT

Paralegal Loses Sex Claims, But Can Sue Texas PI Lawyer Over Firing & OT

A Texas judge has dismissed a paralegal’s civil litigation claims of sexual misconduct by a well-known plaintiff personal injury attorney, but allowed her to continue with other allegations. Harris County District Judge Tracy Christopher yesterday granted a motion for summary judgment for lack of evidence by attorney Richard Laminack on…

Apr 2, 2009 8:01 PM CDT

125 Laid Off at Dechert; 60 Cut at Edwards Angell

Two more law firms announced layoffs today. Dechert is laying off 125 people, and Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge is laying off about 60 people. Dechert says its layoffs affect offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Firm chairman Barton Winokur announced the layoffs in a memo provided to…

Mar 26, 2009 2:25 PM CDT

Manatt Reports 47 Layoffs in 6 Months, as Clifford Chance Cut Staff in NY & DC

The layoffs took place months ago, but Manatt Phelps & Phillips and Clifford Chance are just now confirming them. Since October 2008, Manatt Phelps laid off a total of 12 attorneys, 3 paralegals and 32 administrative staff nationwide, the firm says in a written statement provided to Above the Law.…

Mar 18, 2009 6:56 PM CDT

Another UK Law Firm Considers Sick Days in Layoffs

Too many sick days will count against lawyers at Allen & Overy as it considers which people to lay off. The London-based law firm plans to cut up to 250 lawyers and 200 staffers. Its redundancy criteria are: individual performance, business, sickness, disciplinary record, versatility, contribution and potential, Legal Week…

Mar 18, 2009 2:21 PM CDT

Morgan & Finnegan’s Accounts Frozen; Severance Checks Bounce

A judge has issued an injunction barring Morgan & Finnegan from selling or transferring assets in a suit claiming the dissolved law firm defaulted on its loan agreement. JPMorgan Chase contends Morgan & Finnegan owes it more than $4 million, the American Lawyer reports. Above the Law reported on the…

Mar 17, 2009 2:48 PM CDT

White & Case Layoff ‘Trifecta’ Distinction Came on Record-Setting Day

A legal blog is characterizing layoffs at White & Case as a “trifecta” because the law firm has the highest number of lawyer layoffs, staff layoffs and total layoffs. White & Case announced the layoffs of about 200 lawyers and 200 staffers last Monday, at the same time as two…

Mar 16, 2009 12:47 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

Paul Hastings Axes 44 Associates, 87 Staff; Chadbourne Cuts 25 Lawyers

Two more well-known law firms have confirmed layoffs today: Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker is asking 44 associates and 87 staff members to leave in its U.S. offices, and Chadbourne & Parke is cutting approximately 25 lawyers worldwide. This news follows layoffs announced earlier today by Venable, which is eliminating…

Mar 10, 2009 9:43 PM CDT

Venable Cuts 16 Attorneys and 48 Staff; 11-Day Legal Layoffs Tally Tops 2,500

The law firm layoffs tally since Feb. 27 topped 2,500 today, with news that Venable is eliminating 16 attorneys, five paralegals and 43 staff members. The firm, which is the latest well-known law partnership to cut its roster in response to the plummeting economy, is reducing its attorney ranks by…

Mar 10, 2009 5:24 PM CDT

Pain and Anxiety in Latest Layoffs, Delayed in Hopes of Better Times

The most recent wave of law firm layoffs comes after law firms delayed job cuts, hoping the economy would improve enough to avoid such drastic measures, according to a law firm consultant. The realization that jobs must be cut has some partners feeling tremendous anxiety, he says. In just the…

Mar 10, 2009 12:38 PM CDT

White & Case Lawyers Wait to Learn Bad News

Associates and staffers at White & Case likely had a sleepless night wondering if they will be among the 400 people expected to be axed. An internal memo dispatched at the law firm yesterday afternoon announced that about 200 lawyers and 200 staffers would be laid off. White & Case…

Mar 10, 2009 11:04 AM CDT

As Laid-Off Lawyers Look for Work, How to Find It Isn’t Clear

Only a year or two ago, when the economy was relatively strong, Aviva Tiegerman had no interest in hearing from the multiple legal recruiters who called her daily at the Manhattan office of Kaye Scholer. But now the 29-year-old Tiegerman, who was laid off in May from her job there…

Mar 7, 2009 2:30 AM CST

Akin Gump Axes 47 Associates, 57 Staff

A law firm thought to be on the verge of making layoffs today has now confirmed the bad news. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, which is based in Dallas, has announced that it is cutting 47 associates and 57 paralegals and staff because of economic conditions, reports Texas Lawyer.…

Mar 7, 2009 2:09 AM CST

21,000 Legal Jobs Lost in Last Year

The legal industry lost 4,200 jobs in February—the biggest monthly decline since the Wall Street meltdown of last fall, according to government figures released today (PDF). Legal employment, which includes nonlawyers who work in the legal services industry, declined from 1,154,400 in January to 1,150,200 in February. Legal services nationwide…

Mar 6, 2009 2:59 PM CST