JD Journal » delay start dates

Holland & Knight Delays Start Dates

Erik Even — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:15:56 +0000

Holland & Knight informed 3Ls today that 2009 start dates are being delayed.

Recruiting partner Adolfo E. Jimenez:

The start date for our incoming entry-level associates will be January 11, 2010, instead of early or late fall. The firm will pay the incoming class members signing bonuses, study stipends, bar expenses and/or moving expenses as indicated in their offer letters. … We are also committed to an eight-week summer associate program.

In February Holland & Knight cut 70 lawyers and 173 staff positions across its 21 offices.

Holland & Knight is the 36th largest law firm in the world, providing representation in litigation, business, real estate and governmental law.

Update: Chadbourne & Parke Lays Off 25 Lawyers

Erik Even — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:55:03 +0000

Chadbourne & Parke has confirmed that the firm laid off 25 associates and counsel across its 13 offices worldwide today.

The associates affected were primarily in the firm’s transactional practices. All those laid off have been informed, and will be privately offered severance packages.

Chadbourne is delaying the start date for its incoming associate class until January 2010. The 28 associates affected will receive a $13,000 stipend to cover bar preparation costs and other expenses.

The firm does not anticipate any more layoffs.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP has some 400 lawyers and tax advisers in 13 offices in nine countries.

Venable Announces Layoffs

Erik Even — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:18:08 +0000

Baltimore’s Venable has announced layoffs.

From the official email announcement:

We understand that communicating this action by email is not ideal. However, it is important that you know of the Firm’s action as soon as possible.

Approximately 3% of our attorneys (16), 8% of our full time staff (43), and 7% of our paralegals (5) will be directly impacted. The individuals who are subject to the layoff are being offered severance packages, as well as professional assistance in locating new employment. As part of the severance package, the Firm is offering health care coverage that will be paid by the Firm through June 30, 2009. We ask that you provide our colleagues who are affected by today’s action the respect and compassion that they need in this difficult time.

For the innumerate, that’s 64 people laid off.

Also:

Venable will also delay the start of the incoming class of first year associates from September 2009 to January 4, 2010. The Firm will pay for the costs associated with preparation for, and the taking of, the Bar exam. In addition, the Firm will provide our incoming class with a $10,000 stipend in September 2009.

Venable LLP is a law firm, formerly known as Venable, Baetjer & Howard LLP. It was founded in Baltimore in the post-Civil War period. Today the firm maintains six Northeastern US offices and specializes in patent litigation, labor and employment law and white collar investigations. Venable employs nearly 600 attorneys.

Update: Latham Offering New Associates $75K to Take Year Off

Erik Even — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 21:38:00 +0000

Latham & Watkins is offering incoming lawyers $75,000 to take a year off.

The firm, which fired 190 lawyers and 250 staff last week, is pushing back the start date for all incoming lawyers from mid-October to mid-December, and offering the $75K bribe to those who wait a year to start work.

Latham & Watkins LLP is one of the largest law firms in the world, employing around 1,500 attorneys in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The firm was started in Los Angeles in 1934 and has extensive California roots, but its largest office is now in New York City.

San Francisco’s Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe is also offering $75,000 to its incoming lawyers in the US to begin in Fall 2010. Lawyers who take the money will be placed in a public-interest or government job for the year, or in a position with one of the firm’s clients.

Orrick said this week fired 300 employees, including lawyers, worldwide. In November, Orrick fired 40 lawyers and 35 staff.

The San Francisco-based firm, founded in 1863, has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices.

O’Melveny & Myers Delays Start Dates

Erik Even — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 18:46:04 +0000

O’Melveny & Myers, which yesterday laid off 90 attorneys and 110 staff positions, is delaying the start date for its new associate class.

The new start date is December 2009. Typically, the firm’s new associates start between September and November.

We will be providing our incoming associates with a bar stipend, as well as bar and moving-related expenses. We have not asked incoming associates to defer their employment for a year and have no plans to do so. As such, we are not paying any related deferral stipend.

O’Melveny & Myers LLP is the 19th largest law firm in the world. It employs 1200 attorneys in 14 offices worldwide.

Baker & McKenzie Bribes Trainees to Delay Start Dates

Erik Even — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:48:32 +0000

Baker & McKenzie has become the latest law firm to ask its incoming trainees to postpone their start date by up to a year.

The firm’s London arm has asked for volunteers from its 2009 and 2010 intakes to defer starting their training contracts by either six or 12 months.

Those willing to defer for 12 months have been offered a financial incentive of £5,000 ($7,160). There is no incentive offered to trainees electing to postpone for six months.

The next intake of 18 trainees starting in March 2009 is unaffected by the move. September’s projected intake is 21.

Bakers, which this year made 20 UK legal stuff redundant, said that it has no plans to force trainees to defer if there are not enough volunteers.

Baker & McKenzie was founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. One of the first law firms to be truly global, it employs more than 3,900 lawyers in more than 70 offices in 38 different countries.