Comments on: Eckert Seamans Lays Off 90 Attorneys [Correction]

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:41:41 +0000

Eckert Siemen’s latest ad calls for more contract work, but are not hiring back. They want paralegals and non-barred attorneys so they can pay them even less.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 06:38:41 +0000

8:22 reply got it right. 90 contract attorneys’ contracts ended. Was pretty clear in all news accounts. Contract work is what it is, not a sign of the times. There have always been contract attorneys to do the grunt work for massive cases. They work according to their contracts and keep going. Eckert said they’re pushing for more new contracts. I’m sure they are. They make more money when they have more attorneys working. This blog is terribly misleading. This firm has actually added more permanent attorneys and grown in that way this year, while other firms are cutting salaries and permanent lawyers.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:01:41 +0000

I like how you post the comments but fail to correct the story. 90 contract attorneys did not have their contracts renewed because their tasks were completed, not 209. Get it right!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:07:39 +0000

Man, that’s ashame when an attorney has to take a temporary job much less get laid off from one (or not have your contract renewed). This is a terrible sign of the times. I remember about 12 years ago when there would be four full pages of attorney job postings in the NJ Law Journal. Today, there’s only half of one page! I do agree, however, with the cuts in the starting salaries of first-year associates at the “big” firms, if they’re even hiring first years these days. I never understood the concept of giving a first-year associate with no legal experience whatsover (ok, maybe a judicial clerkship) and no license to practice law $150,000 a year to start with a firm. Even if the jobs were plentiful today, you still need to earn your way to the top, in my opinion. You shouldn’t be handed the keys to the kingdom just because you were on Law Review. Try bringing in some business first before you get “paid”.

By: Erik Even

Erik Even — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:12:00 +0000

Yeah, it’s very clever to hire people “on contract” so you don’t have to provide benefits, and when you get rid of them it’s not a “layoff.”

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 04:28:19 +0000

TOO many people are getting laid off its sad.They get laid off and they dont have a job! Well at least they are hoping to hire some of them back. =)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 03:22:22 +0000

Get the story right. They did not lay off 119 in May and another 90 in June. In fact, it’s not a layoff when a temporary contract attorney’s contract is up. No, that’s called fulfilling your purpose and completing your task. 90 contract attorneys did not have their contracts renewed. That’s 29 less than expected. Quit trying to make a story out of nothing.