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366 ABA Journal Paralegals articles.

Paralegals Outrank Lawyers on Best Jobs List

Much is made of the fact that federal judges must make substantial financial sacrifices when they leave private law practice. But the editors of a new best jobs list believe it’s better to be a federal judge, and better still to be a paralegal assistant. Lawyers were ranked 82nd on…

Jan 8, 2009 4:01 PM CST

What Your Secretary Wants for Christmas: Cash

With the holidays upon us, many lawyers presumably have already anted up. But for the procrastinators amongst us, Texas Lawyer offers a thoughtful gift-giving suggestion for lawyers seeking to show their appreciation to secretaries and legal assistants: Between $100 and $500, in cash. It should be enclosed in a card…

Dec 23, 2008 10:02 PM CST

Thacher Proffitt Announces Expected Dissolution

Updated: Thacher Proffitt & Wood announced its expected dissolution Monday evening following news that the troubled law firm had lost about half its 200 lawyers to Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal. “It is anticipated that Thacher Proffitt will discontinue the practice of law and will begin an orderly dissolution after December…

Dec 23, 2008 1:30 AM CST

Happy Holidays for Howrey Staff: Firm Gives $1K Across-the-Board Bonus

Staff at Howrey thought they were attending an ordinary quarterly breakfast meeting yesterday morning in the firm’s main conference room. So when managing partner Robert Ruyak announced a $1,000 across-the-board bonus for all nonlawyer staff, there were gasps and some tears, reports the Blog of Legal Times, relying on an…

Dec 19, 2008 8:09 PM CST

Dechert Gives Pink Slip to 72 Staffers

In a move apparently initially kept secret even from the attorneys affected, Philadelphia-based Dechert laid off 72 staff members throughout the country. That amounts to about 12.5 percent of the 1,045-attorney international law firm’s 570 United States administrative staff, reports the Legal Intelligencer in an article reprinted in the Am…

Dec 16, 2008 9:04 PM CST

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…

Dec 10, 2008 10:30 PM CST

Downturn Could Make Recommended Legal Staffing Ratios a Reality

The longtime recommendation for lawyer staff ratios has been three lawyers for every one secretary. Recent staff cuts at law firms, spurred by the economic downturn, could finally bring more law firms into compliance. Legal staffing at the top law firms is down 18 percent through September, according to a…

Dec 10, 2008 3:55 PM CST

Proskauer Rose Says 35 Associate Layoffs Due in Part to Low Attrition Rate

Many law firms are attributing lawyer layoffs to the economic downturn. The latest law firm to announce layoffs is citing an additional reason: Fewer associates are voluntarily leaving the law firm. In a statement issued yesterday, Proskauer Rose said it is laying off 35 associates and 25 administrative staffers, the…

Dec 5, 2008 12:28 PM CST

Brown Rudnick Lawyers Learn of Layoffs in Two Phases

It must have been a harrowing day on Wednesday for associates and staffers at Boston-based Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels. The law firm laid off 20 lawyers and 23 staffers that day, according to a press release issued by the firm, and everyone knew it was coming, Above the Law reports.…

Nov 21, 2008 1:03 PM CST

Pay Hikes Delayed, Business-Based Bonuses Axed at Bryan Cave

Associates at Bryan Cave will have to wait three months longer than usual to learn whether they will get a pay hike. And they won’t receive bonuses under the firm’s unusual business generation program after November tallies. The firm announced the news in a memo yesterday that was posted on…

Nov 21, 2008 11:58 AM CST

Squire Sanders Asks 30 Attorneys and Paralegals to Leave

Despite winning a hefty “bailout love” contract to do work for the U.S. Treasury Department recently, Squire Sanders & Dempsey is laying off 30 lawyers and paralegals. “We have completed annual reviews of all of our associates and, as a result of that process and with regret have advised some…

Nov 21, 2008 12:25 AM CST

Staff of Ratner Prestia Rally to Help Ailing Co-Worker

When Melissa Clemons was diagnosed with a rare form of brain tumor, her co-workers on the staff of Ratner Prestia rallied to her support. “Among the things the office staff has done to help Clemons and her family is organize a dress-down day on Fridays where staff members can wear…

Nov 18, 2008 8:28 PM CST

Alston & Bird Offers Early Retirement Incentive to Senior Staffers

Alston & Bird is offering an incentive for early retirement to staffers above age 55 who have been with the law firm for at least 10 years. Paralegals and other staffers who take the offer and retire by the end of the year have two choices, according to the Fulton…

Nov 17, 2008 7:02 PM CST

Board Says La. Law Partners Treated Staff as Attorneys, Seeks Disbarment

Two longtime Louisiana lawyers have been recommended for disbarment after a disciplinary board found in what a local newspaper described as an “often blistering opinion” that they allowed staff of their Baton Rouge-based law firm to act as attorneys. E. Eric Guirard and law partner Thomas R. Pittenger allowed non-attorneys…

Nov 13, 2008 4:50 PM CST

Answering the Dreaded ‘Portables’ Question

When looking for a new law firm job, there’s one inevitable question that seasoned lawyers often dread: “What are your portables?” Feeling stuck between a rock and a hard place–underestimating may kill the application, but overstating could lead to problems later–many attorneys have trouble providing a firm number. And, of…

Nov 6, 2008 11:22 PM CST

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