JD Journal » lawyers survey

Study: Dublin Solicitors Suffering Wage Cuts, Layoffs

Erik Even — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:26:45 +0000

A survey by the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association reports that 40% of new and low-level solicitors in the city have taken pay cuts averaging 15%; and 40% of incoming new solicitors have been laid off or lost their job offer.

Furthermore, 40% (there’s that number again) are working without a contract; and 30% are considering changing careers.

The study questioned solicitors with less than five years experience.

Established in 1938, the Dublin Solicitors Bar Association is the largest bar association in Ireland.

Berwin Leighton Top UK Firm for Lawyer Satisfaction [Correction]

Erik Even — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:10:04 +0000

Berwin Leighton Paisner, CMS Cameron McKenna and Norton Rose are the top three UK firms for lawyer satisfaction, according to a survey by Legal Week of 4,000 solicitors below partner level.

The Legal Week 2009 Employee Satisfaction Survey says the three firms have the top lawyer satisfaction amongst the 25 largest UK law firms. The top five is rounded out by Allen & Overy and Bird & Bird.

The rankings are based on lawyers’ judgments of criteria such as firm prestige, work/life balance, being valued as an employee, quality of work, client interaction, salary & bonuses, partnership prospects and billable hours expectations.

The bottom five include Eversheds and DLA Piper.

UPDATE

This post originally listed the top five in the wrong order. JDJournal regrets the error.

Magazine: The Hartford Has ‘Best Legal Department’

Erik Even — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:28:19 +0000

Incisive Media’s Corporate Counsel magazine today announced the selection of the in-house attorneys of The Hartford Financial Services Group as winners of the magazine’s fourth annual “Best Legal Department” competition.

Corporate Counsel’s editors also named the legal departments of Exelon Corporation and IBM as finalists.

The in-house legal department at The Hartford was selected for its work and success in negotiating, structuring and closing a critical deal with global insurance giant Allianz SE in record time. In the midst of the financial service industry’s meltdown last September, the agreement brought The Hartford a crucial $2.5 billion capital infusion that played a key role in saving the company from insolvency.

The legal team later repeated its stellar performance, enabling The Hartford to acquire a troubled bank under a tight deadline, and allowing the company to qualify for participation in the Treasury Department’s TARP program.

The magazine’s editors cited Exelon Corporation’s legal department for its efforts in expanding pro bono work and improving lawyer diversity. The 580 lawyers in IBM’s global legal team were recognized for their groundbreaking work and innovation across a variety of areas.

Winners were selected from responses submitted to a detailed questionnaire developed by the editors and reporters of Corporate Counsel and distributed to the general counsel of all Fortune 500 corporations.

Founded in 1810, Hartford Connecticut’s Hartford Financial Services Group, aka The Hartford, is a Fortune 100 company, and one of America’s largest investment and insurance companies.

Study: 25% of Firms Expect to Hire in 2009

Erik Even — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:27:53 +0000

According to Robert Half Legal, one quarter of lawyers surveyed believe their firm will hire in the next 12 months, most likely in bankruptcy and litigation.

The survey questioned 300 attorneys at law firms and corporations in the United States and Canada.

About 65% said that staffing levels would not change, and 10% said their organizations would reduce their staff.

Then again, in last year’s survey 45% of lawyers believed there would be an increase in hiring in 2008, and half said staffing levels would remain the same. Only a prescient 3% anticipated a decrease.

So, I’ve got some nice big grains of kosher salt here, if anyone’s interested.