JD Journal » paralegals

Working as a Legal Associate

jim — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 04:48:34 +0000

The most featured members of a law office are lawyers but they are not the only employees who work 50 or more hours per week in the office on cases. Other members of law offices who are just as important as lawyers are people who work as a legal associate. A legal associate is more commonly known throughout the legal world as a paralegal or a legal assistant. A legal associate is responsible for most of the legwork on a case, keeps law offices running smoothly, and keeps lawyers from being bogged down with paperwork. These associates also assist lawyers during trials in the courtroom, keeping all of the evidence and paperwork sorted for easy access, keeping the trial running quickly.

Anyone interested in working as a legal associate will need to obtain a degree in paralegal studies, which can be obtained at the associate’s and bachelor’s level. There are close to 1,000 schools in the United States that offer some form of paralegal training according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those working in legal associate jobs must have a strong understanding of the English language and be able to use rhetoric very well, which makes writing case reports easier. Other important aspects of the job that should be known are clerical and administrative procedures as well as how a courtroom works and the knowledge of laws covered by the law firm where the legal associate works.

Someone just starting out as a legal associate will expect to work roughly 40 hours per week, performing menial tasks such as clerical work. As the associate becomes more experienced and better known in the firm, he or she will then be trusted to perform legal research on laws and historical cases. Rarely will a paralegal be asked to travel with a lawyer to cover cases in different parts of the country. Once all of these responsibilities begin to increase, the paralegal will see his or her workweek increase in hours, especially as deadlines approach of cases they are researching and preparing.

The two most common types of legal associate jobs in the United States are the corporate legal associate and the litigation legal associate. The corporate legal associate will work with private corporations on shareholder agreements, employee contracts, employee benefit plans and stock option plans. The litigation legal associate will work in the public sector of the legal world analyzing legal materials. Most legal associate jobs will also entail writing up contracts, mortgages, and separation agreements while supervising others working in the office that have less experience.

The average legal associate will bring home roughly $46,120 annually, which comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top ten percent of legal associate jobs will average $73,450 annually and the bottom ten percent of legal associates will average $29,260 annually. The salary varies depending on the experience of the associate, their geographical location, their education and the firm where they work. An associate who is a federal employee will make more than an associate working in a private law firm or a legal services company.

Walmart’s Slogan, “Save Money, Live Better” Now Extends to Legal Services

joshua — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:31:05 +0000

Walmart’s legal department announced plans to form an in-house pro bono program in which its attorneys, paralegals, and support staff will participate in legal aid projects in the Arkansas community.

The company’s initiative makes Walmart has become the 100th signatory to the national Corporate Pro Bono Challenge(SM), a voluntary benchmark developed and administered by Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), a partnership project of the Pro Bono Institute (PBI) and the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), designed to encourage and promote pro bono service with in-house lawyers and legal departments.

In addition, the Walmart legal department and the Walmart Foundation announced today they will make a $115,000 donation to Legal Aid of Arkansas and the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission. The grant will help the Commission continue its efforts to address key issues raised by low-income clients, including family law, consumer practice, financial, housing, and employment matters.

In a press release, Jeff Gearhart, executive vice president and general counsel of Walmart was quoted as saying: “Our pro bono effort is a natural extension of our company’s overall belief in being a good corporate citizen. Helping to ensure that access to legal services is a reality for all of our citizens, regardless of their ability to pay, is consistent with Walmart’s commitment to making a difference in the communities that we serve.”

The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness.

Major Layoffs at Dechert Today

Erik Even — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:10:15 +0000

Today Dechert, which laid off 63 lawyers and 62 staff in March, let go a significant number of associates, plus paralegals, staff attorneys and legal secretaries.

The firm has not made any official announcement or released precise numbers, but blawgs with sources inside the firm suggest that 25 associates were let go.

If you have any details about layoffs at Dechert, please — send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1975, Dechert LLP is an international law firm of more than 1,000 lawyers with top-ranked practices in corporate and securities, complex litigation, finance and real estate, and financial services and asset management

In 2006, Philadelphia’s Dechert was ranked 37th largest law firm in the world based on revenue. In 2007, the National Law Journal ranked the firm 25th largest in the United States based on number of attorneys.

Saul Ewing Hires Buchanan Ingersoll Team

Erik Even — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:55:20 +0000

A group of seven attorneys, including three partners, from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney will join the Wilmington, Delaware office of Saul Ewing.

William E. Manning, Teresa K.D. Currier and Richard A. Forsten are joining Saul Ewing as partners, while James D. Taylor joins as Special Counsel. Joining the firm as associates are Jennifer Morgan Becnel-Guzzo, Michael J. Farnan and Andrew H. Lippstone.

Manning joins the Litigation Department and will serve, with Stabler, as Co-Office Managing Partner. He will also Co-Chair Saul Ewing’s Higher Education Practice Group with James A. Keller.

Currier joins the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Department, and Forsten will be a partner in the Real Estate Department.

Taylor, Becnel-Guzzo and Farnan will join the Litigation Department, and Lippstone will be a member of the Real Estate Department.

Three secretaries and two paralegals from Buchanan Ingersoll will join the attorneys.

Saul Ewing LLP is a full service law firm with 260 lawyers in nine offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and the District of Columbia.

DLA Piper Slashes Salaries

Erik Even — Fri, 15 May 2009 19:35:40 +0000

DLA Piper, which this week laid off 24 lawyers and 100 support staff across its UK offices, today announced salary reductions.

From the memo:

Our partners… have already accepted significant reductions in our projected 2009 compensation, and compensation levels for Of Counsel and Senior Counsel have also been reduced. We are now taking the further steps of bringing US associate salaries and staff salary increases into alignment with market realities.

We are making an adjustment of our base associate compensation in our major markets to $145,000. In those markets where the starting compensation has been $145,000, we are adjusting it to $130,000. Adjustments to all associate salaries at other class levels will be determined and communicated on a case-by-case basis based on class year and performance levels. We will continue to reward associates for exceptional performance in 2009 through our bonus program, taking into consideration both the associate’s performance and that of the firm. We also will not increase paralegal and staff compensation for this year. The timing and implementation of all of these actions will take effect June 8th and be reflected in the June 19 paycheck.

The firm intends to “examine and develop advancement and compensation alternatives,” whatever that means.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world, and is the only firm with more than 3,700 lawyers in North America and Europe. DLA Piper is a legal services organization whose members and affiliates are separate and distinct legal entities. Together, the organization operates in 28 countries and 66 offices throughout the world.

Lewis & Roca Brings on Team from White & Case

Erik Even — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:51:07 +0000

Phoenix, Arizona-based Lewis & Roca has launched a new Mountain View, California law office, staffed with an intellectual property team from the Palo Alto office of White & Case.

The three attorneys and two paralegals will be joined by further hires as business picks up, and may move to Palo Alto.

Lewis and Roca LLP is based in Phoenix. In 2007, The National Law Journal ranked the firm the 198th largest in the United States, and second-largest in the state of Arizona. It has six offices.

Herbert Smith Targets 33 Lawyers, 51 Staff; Freezes Pay

Erik Even — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:34:25 +0000

Herbert Smith announced today it has begun a redundancy consultation at its London HQ, targeting 84 positions.

The redundancies target 24 fee earners and professional support lawyers in the corporate practice; 9 fee earners and PSLs in real estate; nine paralegals and 42 support staff.

Herbert Smith also announced that it is freezing pay for all London staff except trainees, whose salaries will be cut to £60,000 ($87,000) in September.

Some bonuses will be paid to support staff and fee earners.

Herbert Smith was founded in the City of London in 1882 by Norman Herbert Smith, and today has 230 partners and 1,200 fee-earners. It is widely considered to be the UK’s leading litigation practice.

Eversheds to Lay Off 10 Lawyers, Defer Start Dates

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:21:59 +0000

Eversheds has launched a redundancy consultation targeting 10 lawyers in its real estate practice.

The firm may find new positions within Eversheds for some of those affected.

Eversheds has laid off 73 lawyers and staff since September 2008.

Also, the firm will defer start dates for roughly half its incoming associates, offering £5,000 to defer for a year. That’s $7,400 — for a whole year. It’s unclear if the offer comes with a cardboard box to live in.

Eversheds is also offering deferred associates a 12-month contract as a paid paralegal with the firm.

Eversheds LLP is one of the largest full service law firms in the world. Headquartered in London, it has 40 offices in major cities across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and China.

United Law Group Hiring 70

Erik Even — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 20:59:06 +0000

The Orange County, California office of New York’s United Law Group is hiring more than 70 attorneys, paralegals, processors and customer service representatives to staff a new office in Irvine.

The employees will help litigate homeowner debt-related issues. That includes going after “predatory loan modification companies.”

The firm has already hired about 130 staff members for the 33,000-square-foot office.

United Law Group also has an office in Fort Lauderdale.

Bose McKinney & Evans Lays Off 25

Erik Even — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:42:12 +0000

Indianapolis, Indiana’s Bose McKinney & Evans is cutting 10 attorney, two paralegal and 13 staff positions.

The cuts affect 7% of the attorneys and 11% of the staff of the firm.

If you know any additional details about these layoffs, please — send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1855, Bose McKinney & Evans also has an office in Washington, DC.

Manatt Lays Off 12 Attorneys, 35 Staff

Erik Even — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:49:56 +0000

Since October, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has laid off employees nationwide; 12 attorneys, 3 paralegals, and 32 administrative staff.

The firm blamed the economic meltdown.

Manatt’s Los Angeles headquarters has been the hardest hit by the layoffs.

If you know any additional details about these layoffs, please send us a confidential tip.

Founded in 1965, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP is a firm of approximately 450 attorneys and other professionals. The firm earned revenues in excess of $240 million in 2007.

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.

Wiggin and Dana Lays Off 14 Attorneys, 14 Staffers

Erik Even — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:28:05 +0000

Connecticut’s Wiggin and Dana this week laid off 14 attorneys and 14 staff.

In January, we reported that the worsening economy had affected Wiggin and Dana in the same way that it has challenged all businesses, including our clients and other prominent law firms. We announced then that the firm had eliminated 14 administrative staff and paralegal positions. As part of our ongoing review of operating expenses and in connection with our continuing efforts to reduce costs across-the-board, we have further concluded that a reduction in our attorney ranks is necessary. After careful consideration and with great reluctance, we have decided to reduce our attorney ranks by 14. These reductions took effect today, and we have met with each of the 14 attorneys to inform them of our decision.

What’s up with the number 14? Is it numerologically significant? Will it protect the firm from the angry spirits of laid off associates?

Founded in New Haven, Connecticut in 1934, Wiggin and Dana LLP has offices in Stamford and Hartford, Connecticut; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York City.

Associates Have to Make Do With Fewer Staffers

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:46:57 +0000

Layoffs of legal support staffers have pushed the staffing ratios at some law firms to one support staffer for every four lawyers.

The layoffs are forcing associates to take on more legal research and other tasks once handled by paralegals and law librarians.

David Sturgess, managing partner of Updike, Kelly & Spellacy in Hartford, said his firm has a ratio of one support staffer for every three lawyers after layoffs, but he knows of some firms with 1-4 ratios.

Law firm consultant Peter Giuliani said many of the staff cuts are being made in departments handling information technology, billing or other areas that can be outsourced. In New York, he said, many law firms made significant layoffs in their law libraries.

For the most part though, firms aren’t cutting secretaries. “In my experience, secretaries are usually a protected class,” Giuliani said.

Frisco DA Lays Off Lawyers, Staff

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:27:15 +0000

San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris laid off at least five staffers and two attorneys last week.

Harris blamed the City by the Bay’s $500 million budget deficit.

The staff laid off include three paralegals and two investigators.

The office had 253 total employees, including 123 lawyers, before the layoffs.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera and Public Defender Jeff Adachi have said that they have not had to lay anyone off for budget reasons. But they, like Harris, have cut vacant positions.

Kamala Devi Harris is the first female District Attorney to be elected in San Francisco, the first African American elected as District Attorney in California, and the first Indian American elected to the position in the US. She was cited by the New York Times to be among the seventeen most likely women to become the first female President of the United States.

Faegre & Benson Lays Off 58 Staffers

Erik Even — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 22:38:55 +0000

Faegre & Benson has announced the layoffs of 58 staffers.

With regret, we will reduce by 58 the number of Legal Administrative Assistants, Administrative Department Staff, and Paralegals in our U.S. offices. Tomorrow will be the last day at the firm for the individuals impacted by this decision.

An additional nine members of our staff accepted the Voluntary Separation Package offered earlier in the month. Their last day will be Friday, February 27.

We want to express our thanks and appreciation to each of these individuals for their hard work and dedication. We wish them well. They will be missed.

Faegre & Benson is the largest law firm in Minnesota and one of the largest in the Us. The firm employs more than 525 lawyers throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Faegre was established in Minneapolis in 1886 as Cobb & Wheelwright.

ATL: Thompson Hine Cuts Jobs, Salaries

Erik Even — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:17:56 +0000

Tipsters to Above the Law report that “at least 50″ lawyers and staffers have been laid off from Thompson Hine.

The sources claim that 12 lawyers, 5 paralegals, and 29 secretaries have been laid off from the firm’s Ohio offices.

There is also the claim that the firm has cut every associate’s salary by $20,000 per year.

Founded in 1911, Thompson Hine employs more than 400 lawyers in eight offices in Ohio, Washington DC, New York, and Belgium.

Via ATL.

Fenwick & West Lays Off 36 Staff, Freezes Associate Salaries

Erik Even — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:58:33 +0000

The Bay Area’s Fenwick & West laid off 36 staff yesterday, and is freezing associate salaries for the upcoming year.

But unlike other major San Francisco area law firms, such as Cooley Godward Kronish and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, it did not cut attorneys.

The 36 Fenwick employees who were laid off included support staff and paralegals, and account for 10% of the firm’s staff. Laid-off staff members will be getting two to six month severance packages depending on seniority.

Gordon Davidson, chairman of the nearly 300-lawyer Mountain View-based firm, said Fenwick didn’t cut attorneys because of the lessons of the dot-com boom, when the firm doubled its hiring and then was forced to cut associates in 2001.

“We over-hired in 1999 and we, like everyone, did a layoff,” Davidson said. “It’s better to have moderate growth as opposed to reacting to the twists and turns of the market.”

Davidson said the time and money spent hiring and training new lawyers out of law school makes it a bad bargain to lay off associates. The firm has been more cautious about hiring lawyers in recent years as a result.

The firm had 226 attorneys in 2003, and as of last August, counted 247 full-time equivalents. This week, the firm lists 266 attorneys on its Web site. In contrast, Cooley went from 464 attorneys in 2003 to 645 in 2008.

Idle corporate associates have been redeployed to work on litigation, Davidson said, adding that the firm is also optimistic that M&A deals will return to keep them busy.

Fenwick has reported its financial results for 2008. Revenue was up 7%, but profits per partner dipped by 2% to $995,000. Revenue per lawyer also fell 2%.

Update: Linklaters Set to Eliminate Up to 270 Jobs

Erik Even — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 21:36:11 +0000

Just a week after announcing mass layoffs, Linklaters is launching a formal redundancy consultation, with up to 120 lawyers and 150 business support staff in London expected to lose their jobs.

The firm said today that all UK staff are involved in the consultation, which is likely to affect between 100 and 120 lawyers, representing up to 18% of the firm’s UK non-partner fee earners; and between 130 and 150 business services staff losing their jobs.

Linklaters has 680 lawyers in the British Isles, excluding partners, consultants, trainees and paralegals, though the firm also has a number of UK-qualified lawyers based in foreign offices. The firm has 1,197 support staff in the UK.

Trainees will not be affected by the cuts, which are expected to be concluded within the next few months, but paralegals may be cut.

The firm’s New York office will lose less than five associates. Support staff cuts are still under consideration.

A “New World” indeed.

Squire Sanders Latest to Lay Off Staff; May Merge With Seyfarth Shaw

Erik Even — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 17:06:00 +0000

Alvin Davis, managing partner of Squire Sanders‘ Miami office, has told the National Law Journal that Miami employees laid off at the firm include “a couple runners, some staffers and a few people in accounting.”

A long-time administrative assistant was also laid off, according to sources within the firm.

Davis said he did not know if there were layoffs firmwide. Drez Jennings, spokesperson for the firm, did not return calls for comment, and lawyers there said the firm had a strict lockdown on any information about layoffs.

Squire Sanders has 850 lawyers in 32 offices worldwide.

But while Davis said no lawyers were laid off, sources inside the firm said that lawyers indeed had been laid off, but were still working at the firm until they find jobs elsewhere.

In November, 30 associates and paralegals were asked to leave the firm, including three associates from the Phoenix office.

The firm is reportedly in merger talks with Chicago’s Seyfarth Shaw and could be paring down to become a more attractive merger partner.

Via NLJ.

US Legal Market Lost 7000 Jobs in 2008

Erik Even — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:53:05 +0000

According to the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal services industry in the United States shed some 7,000 jobs between December 2007 and December 2008.

The numbers include lawyers, paralegals, public relations specialists, secretaries and other positions; and reflect layoffs by firms nationwide over the last few months, and the dissolutions of Am Law 100 firms Heller Ehrman, Thelen, and Thacher Proffitt & Wood.

In all, 2.6 million US jobs were lost in 2008, the biggest fall in more than six decades.

But the number of legal services jobs actually increased in December by 1,300.

Paralegal Impersonated Attorney in Family Court

Erik Even — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 19:37:24 +0000

A lawyer who sent his paralegal to a court hearing where she advocated for a client should be censured, a Disciplinary Review Board has ruled.

Both the District VIII Ethics Committee and the DRB have determined that attorney Neal Pomper of Highland Park, New Jersey, breached the Rules of Professional Conduct, assisting the unauthorized practice of law, and violated ethics rules.

Pomper sent paralegal Larissa Sufaru to a hearing in Somerset County Family Part in May 2006, with client Bruce Finney, whom Pomper represented in a child support matter. At the hearing, Sufaru identified herself as a lawyer, entered an appearance on the record, allowed herself to be addressed as “counselor” without objecting and advocated for Finney on the support issue.

The DRB opinion did not explain how it became known that Sufaru was not an attorney.

Pomper claimed Finney was awaiting the result of a blood test to determine paternity and he thought the hearing would address only that issue and not child support. Finney had asked the court to put off the support hearing until paternity was resolved. The notice for a “hearing after blood test” stated, “You may bring an attorney with you, although an attorney is not required.”

Even if there was confusion, nonlawyers are also not allowed to represent clients at paternity hearings.

Pomper testified he had “severely admonished” Sufaru for going ahead with the support hearing and had “taken steps” to prevent a recurrence. He also refunded Finney’s $750 retainer.

Via NJ Law Journal.

Goulston Cuts About 40

admin — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:26:26 +0000

Boston-based firm Goulston & Storrs PC has laid off about 40 members of its staff, including administrative support positions and a handful of paralegals. According to the firm, no lawyers were let go.

Co-managing partner Kitt Sawitsky said the cuts were done to correct an overstaffing of secretaries at the firm. The firm now has about one secretary for every three lawyers.

“A ratio of 3-to-1 was the goal, and as we entered these economic times and had not achieved the 3-to-1 ratio through attrition, we decided that we wanted to get to that ratio and we were going to do it now,” Sawitsky said.

Goulston & Storrs employs about 200 lawyers.

Sawitsky said that his firm does not currently anticipate laying off any associates.