JD Journal » public interest fellowships

Mintz Levin Defers Start Dates — Again

Erik Even — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:35:44 +0000

Boston’s Mintz Levin, which cut associate salaries this month, is deferring start dates for members of its incoming 2009 associates class, again.

Half the 2009 class will start in April 2010 — but the other half has been informed, personally by phone, they will not start until January 2011. The latter group will get an additional stipend and fellowship opportunities.

Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo is a general practice law firm employing 500 attorneys worldwide. Headquartered in Boston, Mintz also has offices in New York City, Washington DC, Stamford, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, San Diego, and London.

Proskauer Rose Defers Summers to Fall 2011

Erik Even — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:30:27 +0000

New York’s Proskauer Rose, which in March laid off 23 attorneys, is deferring its current Summer associates to Fall 2011.

Proskauer has not announced how many Summers will get job offers, and there has so far been no mention of stipends or fellowships.

The firm deferred its 2009 incoming associates class to March 2010 with a $20,000 stipend; those who deferred voluntarily to January 2011 got a $60,000 stipend.

If you have any information about deferrals at Proskauer Rose, send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1875, Proskauer Rose, formerly known as Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn, is one of the United States’ largest law firms, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Boca Raton, Chicago, Newark, New Orleans, São Paulo, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.

Ropes & Gray Offers Summers a $60K Fellowship

Erik Even — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 01:07:26 +0000

Ropes & Gray, which in July deferred its 2009 summer associates to “no earlier than January 2011,” is offering those associates a public interest fellowship worth $60,000.

The firm would not confirm rumors that every single one of its current summers was offered a job, but said there would be a “very high offer rate.”

In addition to the $60,000, public interest fellows will get medical, dental and vision coverage, plus a bar exam stipend. They may also accept a $20,000 loan, to be repaid after joining the firm.

Ropes & Gray LLP is a national law firm with offices located in Boston, New York City, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Washington, Chicago, Hong Kong and Tokyo; and a conference center in London. The firm has over 1,000 lawyers worldwide.

Weil Gotshal to Defer Summer Associates to 2012

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:08:39 +0000

Weil, Gotshal & Manges announced in March that it was deferring its incoming associates’ start dates to January 2010, and is asking new hires to voluntarily wait until 2011.

Today the firm told its current summer associates that, if offered a job, they can voluntarily defer their start date from January 2011 to January 2012.

Those deferred would get a $75,000 stipend and health care benefits, if they spend 1,000 hours doing firm-approved public interest work.

In May, Weil Gotshal eliminated 79 administrative positions across its US offices.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges is an international law firm headquartered in New York City. It is one of the largest and most highly regarded law firms in the world, with approximately 1,300 lawyers and gross annual revenue in excess of $1.7 billion.

Orrick Defers Summer Associate Offers to 2012

Erik Even — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:29:13 +0000

San Francisco’s Orrick, which laid off 300 employees in March, has informed its 2009 summers associates that any job offers will not start until January 2012.

Those offered positions will defer for one year, and participate in a public interest fellowship program in 2011.

Also the firm, which usually recruits on campuses in late Summer/early Fall, will hold recruitment between November 2009 and March 2010. This is to give current summers a chance to decide whether they will accept offers with Orrick, so the firm does not over-recruit.

Orrick previously deferred its incoming Fall 2009 class to January and March of 2010, and offered fellowships to those who chose to defer their start dates further to January 2011.

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, founded in 1863, has over 1,100 lawyers worldwide in 21 offices. The firm’s day-to-day administrative operations are centralized at a Global Operations Center in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Ropes & Gray Defers 2009 Summer Associates to 2011

Erik Even — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:55:50 +0000

Boston-based Ropes & Gray, which in March deferred its 2009 associate class, is deferring its current summer associates to “no earlier than January 2011.”

It is encouraging those deferred to find a public interest fellowship or a clerkship.

There has been no mention of stipends.

If you have any additional details about deferrals at Ropes & Gray, please send us a confidential tip!

Pillsbury Associates Still Waiting to Hear About Deferals

Erik Even — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:06:04 +0000

Pillsbury has missed its own deadline to inform 22 of its 54 incoming associates that they will be deferred again, to January 2011.

The other 32 will begin work in January 2010.

The firm had promised its incoming class that each member would be informed of their fate by last Friday, but this never happened.

Pillsbury offered $60,000 to incoming associates who would voluntarily leave, and public interest fellowships are available to those deferred.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

DLA Piper Defers its Deferred Associates

Erik Even — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:10:38 +0000

DLA Piper is making major changes to its associate program, including further deferrals of associates who were deferred back in April.

Eighty-five new lawyers were deferred to January, 2010. Now half of those will be further deferred to Fall 2010, and take public interest jobs in the interim.

This year’s incoming class is 15% smaller than last year; and only 65 summer associates were brought in for 2009.

DLA Piper is also working on a new compensation system for associates that abandons the tradition lock-step model and pays based on merit. The firm will also give more work to staff attorneys.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world, with more than 3,700 lawyers in North America and Europe.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Okays Deferred Associates as Interns

Erik Even — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 22:31:24 +0000

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s Committee on Judicial Ethics has signed off on a proposal that would allow deferred law-firm associates to work for the Trial Court as “volunteer interns,” while on the payroll of their firms.

The CJE concluded that Trial Court judges could maintain their impartiality by using a double blind system to select and manage the law clerks. Judges would not know who the employer of each clerk was, reducing the appearance that firms could exert influence over the judge.

In May the Massachusetts Trial Court rescinded offers to 25 incoming court clerks. It is expected to hold layoffs next week.

Shipman & Goodwin Defers Associates

Erik Even — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:38:46 +0000

Connecticut’s Shipman & Goodwin, which cut 26 jobs in April, is deferring three of its eight incoming associates.

The three associates joining its Hartford office will start in Fall 2010. The others will begin on time this Fall.

The firm is working on placement opportunities for the deferred associates.

Founded in 1919, Shipman & Goodwin has 335 employees, including 135 lawyers. In Hartford, the firm has 100 lawyers and about 150 support staff. Its other offices are in Stamford, Greenwich and Lakeville.

McDermott Lays Off 25 Associates, 47 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 17:14:43 +0000

McDermott Will & Emery, which last week cut pay for its summer associates, announced today it has laid off 25 associates and 47 staff.

Some first year associates were cut, but are being offered a public service fellowship. The amount of the stipend was not disclosed.

In March the firm froze associate salaries; in February, McDermott laid off 60 associates and 89 staff.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP, founded in 1934, is a prestigious international law firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. It is one of the top 10 largest law firms in the United States and one of the 20 largest in the world.

Mayer Brown Finds Work for Laid Off Associates

Erik Even — Thu, 28 May 2009 23:23:52 +0000

When Mayer Brown laid off 45 lawyers and 90 staff in April, it promised “placement opportunities with pro bono organizations and corporate legal departments for some associates.”

The firm has come through on its promise for nine former associates, who have been placed in year-long, in-house jobs at seven Mayer Brown corporate clients. The law firm will pay the lawyers a $60,000 salary plus benefits.

The firm also placed five laid-off associates at public interest organizations.

Mayer Brown is one of the largest global law firms both by number of lawyers and revenue. The firm has over 1,800 lawyers in key business centers across the Americas, Asia and Europe

Columbia Law School Announces Social Justice Fellowships

Erik Even — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:59:44 +0000

Columbia Law School has announced its Social Justice Pathways Fellowship program, which is basically equivalent to the kinds of public interest fellowships that large firms have been offering their deferred associates.

From the press release:

I [Dean David Schizer] am delighted to announce the creation of five new fellowship opportunities for graduates pursuing careers in public interest law and government service: the Social Justice Pathways Fellowships. Each of the fellowships will carry a $25,000 stipend to fund up to eight months of work. The members of the J.D. Class of 2009 are the first class eligible to become Social Justice Pathways Fellows…

The Social Justice Pathways Fellowships will be awarded to five graduates in the J.D. Class of 2009, presently unemployed, who seek job opportunities in public interest or government law offices…

Interested students are required to notify the Law School of their intent to apply for a Social Justice Pathways Fellowship by the end of May.

Founded in 1858, New York City’s Columbia Law School is one of the professional schools of Columbia University, a member of the Ivy League. Since US News & World Report began its survey of law schools in 1987, Columbia has consistently ranked among the top four institutions for academic reputation, and currently ranks 4th overall.

Pillsbury Offers Incoming Associates $60K to Drop Dead [Update]

Erik Even — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:34:00 +0000

Pillsbury, which has delayed start dates for its incoming first year associates to January 2010, is now offering $60,000 to associates willing to forget about working at the firm.

Other firms have been offering $75,000 for the same deal.

The firm has also announced a public interest fellowship program. Rather than paying associates to do work with a non-profit or government agency, Pillsbury will pay $5,000 per month directly to the employer.

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP is an international law firm with offices located throughout the US and globally, including key financial centers New York, London, Tokyo and Shanghai.

UPDATE

It appears that Pillsbury is deferring 32 members of its incoming class of new associates to January 2010; the other 22 don’t start until January 2011.

Wayne Law Announces Public Interest Fellowships

Erik Even — Tue, 12 May 2009 17:13:56 +0000

Wayne State University Law School has established the Public Interest Law Fellowships program, which this summer is providing $6,000 each to 10 students to intern at agencies and clinics in Michigan and the District of Columbia.

The fellowships were created by the Law School to allow students additional opportunities to gain practical experience before graduation, ease financial stresses, and offer needed assistance to organizations providing legal services to underserved constituencies.

Fellowship recipients, who will hold public interest jobs during the summer of 2009, were selected by a committee made up of Wayne Law faculty and alumni.

The Wayne State University Law School is part of Wayne State University. It has educated and trained lawyers since 1927, and its over 10,000 alumni serve as successful leaders of the bench and bar. Alumni include six of the last 10 presidents of the State Bar of Michigan; members of Congress; the former national president of the Federal Bar Association; and a quarter of all sitting judges in the Michigan judiciary.

Hogan & Hartson Offers $75,000 Deferral

Erik Even — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:39:56 +0000

Washington, DC-based Hogan & Hartson has joined the ranks of law firms offering a $75,000 stipend to extend the deferrals of incoming associates, in this case to December 2010.

The stipend will be paid this September. Associates who choose the plan will be able to start at the end of 2010, if they pass the bar.

Deferred associates can take time off or do public interest work, but they cannot do work for another private firm.

Associates have already received a $4,000 stipend, in addition to a bar stipend.

In April the firm cut 93 US support staff, and cut associate pay.

Founded in 1904, Hogan & Hartson is the oldest major law firm headquartered in Washington, DC. It is a global firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in 27 offices worldwide, including offices in North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Sidley Austin Announces ‘Pro Bono Assistance Program’

Erik Even — Fri, 08 May 2009 21:43:12 +0000

Sidley Austin is offering its incoming associates an optional deferral plan.

The “Pro Bono Assistance Program” offers a $75,000 stipend to associates who defer to January 2011, and do public interest work in the meantime.

The New York office is offering the plan to up to 20 new grads.

In March, the firm cut nine lawyers and 140 staff.

Sidley Austin LLP, formerly known as Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP, is one of the oldest law firms in the world. It is the sixth-largest US-based corporate law firm with over 1,800 lawyers, annual revenues of more than one billion dollars, and offices in 16 cities worldwide.

LexisNexis Announces Program for Deferred Associates

Erik Even — Thu, 07 May 2009 16:19:57 +0000

LexisNexis has announced a program of free access for new associates whose law firm positions have been deferred.

The Associates Serving Public Interests Research program, or ASPIRE, gives graduates complimentary access to federal and state case law, codes, regulations and law reviews. The idea is to give law school grads resources to effectively support their non-profit and public interest work.

Online training and other training materials will also be provided.

Any graduate accepted as an associate at a professional law firm whose start date has been deferred, and who has elected to pursue non-profit work during their deferral period, is eligible to participate in the program.

LexisNexis is a popular searchable archive of content from newspapers, magazines, legal documents and other printed sources. It serves customers in more than 100 countries, with 18,000 employees worldwide.

Morrison & Foerster Defers Start Dates

Erik Even — Wed, 06 May 2009 17:34:31 +0000

Morrison & Foerster has informed 40% of its incoming associate class that their start date has been pushed to April 2010. The remainder will start in November 2009.

Those deferred will get $5,000 per month plus a bar stipend, and reimbursement of health care premia.

Also, new associates can opt to join at an even later date than April 2010, if they do public interest work. Those who take this option will get a $15,000 bonus when they eventually join the firm.

Morrison & Foerster LLP has more than 1,000 lawyers in 19 offices. The firm was founded in San Francisco in 1883.

Georgetown Law Offers Fellowships, Health Care to Deferred Graduates

Erik Even — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 22:17:27 +0000

Georgetown University Law Center is offering its deferred 2009 JD grads, and those without offers, the chance of a public interest fellowship. The school is also offering on-campus jobs and health care benefits.

The law school will offer stipends to fund a number of short term, unpaid internships with government agencies or public interest organizations for Fall 2009. Participants will get $3,250 for three months. Priority will go to those who have not secured an offer of post-graduate employment.

Applicants are responsible for securing their own internships.

The school will also offer a number of short-term positions, up to three months, at Georgetown Law itself, starting in the Fall. The positions would include research assistants to faculty, the law library, and Law Center institutes and centers, or working for a Law Center office. Participants will be paid the standard research assistant rate.

Students currently enrolled in the university’s Premier health plan will be covered under the current policy until August. The plan can then be extended for six months to February 2010.

Georgetown University Law Center is Georgetown University’s law school, located in Washington, DC. According to the 2009 rankings by US News & World Report, Georgetown Law is the #14 ranked law school in the nation overall, and is #1 in clinical programs, #4 in environmental law, #4 in trial advocacy, #6 in health care law, #4 in international law, and #2 in tax law.

Schulte Roth & Zabel Lays Off 20 Lawyers; Defers Start Dates

Erik Even — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 18:50:31 +0000

Late last year, New York City’s Schulte Roth & Zabel laid off 30 lawyers.

This week the firm asked 20 attorneys to update their CVs. The layoffs affected the corporate, real estate, and litigation practices.

Those asked to leave have been given two months notice, and will get outplacement assistance.

The firm has also shortened its 2009 summer program to 8 weeks, and has deferred start dates for incoming associates to January, 2010. There is a $20,000 stipend, and some associates will be offered a public interest deferral that pays $75,000.

Schulte Roth & Zabel is one of the top 100 largest law firms by revenue. The firm was founded in New York City in 1969 and launched in London in 2002. The firm also has an office in Washington, DC. Schulte employs nearly 450 attorneys in its three offices.

Dechert Defers Start Dates

Erik Even — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:48:14 +0000

Philadelphia’s Dechert is deferring start dates for two-thirds of its 63 incoming associates

Three groups of 21 associates will start in Fall 2009, March 2010 and Fall 2010. Associates can indicate which start date they prefer, but the firm will choose the groups.

The March 2010 deferrals will get $17,500; the Fall 2010 group will get $75,000. There is also a bar stipend.

Those deferred are expected to take public interest fellowships or positions.

The firm laid off 10 attorneys in February and 125 lawyers & staff in March.

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.

Taylor Wessing Deferring Start Dates

Erik Even — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:52:57 +0000

Anglo-German law firm Taylor Wessing is asking for voluntary deferrals from its September 2009 and September 2010 incoming associate classes.

The 750-attorney firm will pay a stipend of £7,500 ($10,872). Deferred trainees will not be required to accept public interest fellowships.

The firm is offering its employees two extra weeks off each year, in exchange for a 4% reduction in salary. Taylor Wessing also plans redundancies, voluntary and involuntary, and unpaid furloughs.

Taylor Wessing LLP is an international law firm established in 2002, following the merger of UK law firm Taylor Joynson Garrett and German law firm Wessing. The firm has 13 offices around the globe; in Berlin, Brussels, Cambridge, Dubai, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, London, Munich and Paris, as well as representative offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Alicante, Spain.

UTA Law Offers Public Interest Fellowships

Erik Even — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:22:56 +0000

The University of Texas School of Law has announced its Long Career Launch Program, which will aid graduates whose start dates have been deferred, or who have not yet secured employment, find legal work experience in unpaid internships through November 2009.

The program offers a $6,000 stipend to work with a government agency or public interest organization. Organizations interested in bringing on UTA Law grads can contact the school directly.

The program is funded by a grant from the Joe R. & Teresa Lozano Long Foundation.

The University of Texas School of Law is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in existence since the founding of the University in 1883. It offers both Juris Doctor and Master of Laws degrees.

The school is number 15 on today’s US News & World Report list of top US law schools. It is tied with UCLA Law, which is offering its own internship program for deferred graduates.

Mayer Brown Extends Deferral Options

Erik Even — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:24:55 +0000

Mayer Brown announced at the beginning of April that it was deferring most incoming associates to January, 2010, with a deferral stipend of $5,000 per month.

Now the firm has decided to allow associates to voluntarily extend their deferral to October 2010, with the $5,000 a month payment and health benefits. A public interest fellowship is not required, although a program will be offered.

Mayer Brown is one of the largest global law firms both by number of lawyers and revenue. The firm has over 1,800 lawyers in key business centers across the Americas, Asia and Europe.

DLA Piper Defers Incoming Associates

Erik Even — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:48:43 +0000

DLA Piper is deferring start dates for incoming associates to January, 2010.

All deferred associates will get a $10,000 stipend in addition to a bar stipend.

The firm is also offering voluntary pro bono fellowships, which pay $5,000 per month throughout 2010. DLA Piper must approve the positions.

Recently, DLA Piper laid off or furloughed Dubai associates; cut partner pay by 11.4%; and laid off 20 lawyers & 34 staff in Asia.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world, with more than 3,700 lawyers in North America and Europe.

Goodwin Procter Defers Start Dates

Erik Even — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:38:24 +0000

Boston’s Goodwin Procter is deferring start dates for 60 members of its 125-person incoming associate class.

Half will be pushed back to January 2010, the rest to October 2010. At this time, the deferrals are voluntary.

Under what the firm is calling its “Make a Difference” program, the firm will help associates find year-long positions with non-profits, government services, pro bono legal services, and economic development & criminal justice entities.

Associates will get a $60,000 stipend.

Goodwin Procter LLP employs 900 attorneys in Boston, Los Angeles, New York City, Silicon Valley, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

Northwestern to Let Deferred Grads Postpone Loan Payments

Erik Even — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:43:30 +0000

Northwestern University Law School will allow deferred graduates to postpone their monthly student loan payments until they start working. The school is also offering short-term medical insurance to grads.

The loan forbearance is also available to alumni who have been laid off.

Northwestern has announced volunteer opportunities at its Bluhm Legal Clinic, and has identified other public interest employers who are interested in hiring interns.

The Northwestern University School of Law is a private American law school in Chicago, Illinois. It was independently founded in 1859 as the Union College of Law, and is one of eleven academic entities at Northwestern University. The school is currently ranked tied for 9th by the US News & World Report guide to the nation’s top law schools.

WilmerHale Defers Start Dates, Offers $75,000

Erik Even — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:24:54 +0000

WilmerHale is deferring start dates for its 2009 associate class.

Some associates will be deferred to January 20th, 2010, and others to March 17th of that year.

January associates will get a $10,000 deferral stipend on top of their $5,000 bar stipend. March associates will get a $15,000 bar stipend. Funny, if you do the math, there doesn’t seem to be a difference.

First years may also defer their start dates to Fall 2010, for a stipend of $75,000. The plan is voluntary, and does not require participation in a public interest fellowship.

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale & Dorr LLP has twelve offices across the USA, Europe and Asia. It was created in 2004 through the merger of the Boston’s Hale & Dorr and the Washington’s Wilmer Cutler & Pickering, and employs more than 1,100 attorneys worldwide. As of 2008, it was the 23rd largest law firm in the world in terms of revenue. In 2007, the National Law Journal ranked the firm as the 22nd largest in the United States by number of attorneys.

Alston & Bird Lays Off 14 Lawyers, 38 Staff – Kind of…

Erik Even — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:34:30 +0000

A few days ago, Atlanta-based Alston & Bird deferred start dates for incoming associates. The associates were offered the opportunity to participate in one-year public service or pro bono fellowships. This is common practice this year when biglaw firms defer associates.

Alston & Bird announced today it is laying off 14 lawyers and 38 staff. But the lawyers are being offered an opportunity very much like the pro bono fellowships for deferred associates; and they may even be able to get their jobs back.

From the memo:

Today, we have notified 14 associates in our transactional practice areas that the demand for legal services is not sufficient to support their full-time positions. In addition, we are reducing our support personnel by 38 staff members across several of our offices…

…we have established a program to place our lawyers in legal positions with public interest initiatives, pro bono and nonprofit groups, and clients through the end of the year… [T]hese opportunities have already been identified and will include continuing benefits, reduced pay from the firm, administrative support, and the possibility that, should demand pick up by year end, we will ask them to return to Alston & Bird.

Alston & Bird LLP is the second largest law firm in Atlanta and the forty-third largest in the United States. Founded in 1893, the firm has local offices in Atlanta; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; New York City; Washington, DC; Dallas; Los Angeles, the Silicon Valley and Ventura County.

Shearman & Sterling Defers Start Dates

Erik Even — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 22:23:25 +0000

New York’s Shearman & Sterling will defer its 2009 associate class.

From the memo:

In light of current economic conditions and the reduced activity in some of our practices, the firm is facing the challenge that it will be unable to offer all our incoming Class of 2009 associates the quality and breadth of work that we feel is necessary to properly train new lawyers. As a result, we are offering a Delayed Start Program to our incoming Class of 2009 associates that will allow you to defer your start date with the firm until 2010 while you pursue public interest, academic or personal development opportunities.

Incoming Class of 2009 associates who choose to participate in the Delayed Start Program will have an offer to join the firm as a first year associate in the Class of 2010, with the option to start on the first start dates for Class of 2010 associates. We have not yet determined the start dates for incoming Class of 2009 associates who choose to not participate in the Delayed Start Program, but… the earliest start date will not be before December 2009…

Participants in the Delayed Start Program will receive a stipend of $65,000. In addition, the firm
will pay for a bar admission preparation course and reimburse you for expenses associated with
taking the California, Washington, D.C. or New York bar exam…

In March, the firm laid off 78 staffers.

Shearman & Sterling LLP is a law firm headquartered in New York City, with 19 offices located in major financial centers around the world. It was founded in 1873.

As of 2006, it was the 17th largest law firm in the world as measured by 2006 annual revenue. Shearman & Sterling is a white shoe firm, the equivalent of the Magic Circle in the UK.

Mayer Brown Cuts 45 Lawyers, 90 Staff

Erik Even — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:09:49 +0000

Mayer Brown, which just cut 55 lawyers and staff in London, today let go 45 lawyers and 90 staff in the US.

From the press release:

Following the completion of an extensive review of its global operations, Mayer Brown announced today that it has made job reductions in its offices in the United States affecting 45 lawyers and 90 administrative staff…

The firm is also taking other measures:

* Postponement of the start date for most new first-year associates to January 19, 2010, with those affected receiving a $5,000 monthly stipend and subsidized medical benefits during their deferral period;

* Alternatives to full-time work schedules for lawyers in situations where this fits the needs of the individual and the practice; and

* Placement opportunities with pro bono organizations and corporate legal departments for some associates, who will receive a monthly stipend from the firm for one year and subsidized medical benefits.

Mayer Brown is one of the largest global law firms both by number of lawyers and revenue. The firm has over 1,800 lawyers in key business centers across the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice to Hold Job Fair for Deferred Associates

Erik Even — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:26:57 +0000

Volunteer Lawyers for Justice is holding a job fair next week for deferred associates who want public interest jobs in the interim before they start at their firms.

Many firms have offered their deferred incoming associates a stipend of they find employment at an approved organization.

The “Deferred Associates Fair” will be held on April 8th at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. The nonprofit Volunteer Lawyers for Justice trains volunteer attorneys to provide free legal assistance to low-income clients.

Twelve public interest legal organizations have signed up to participate so far, and there could be 20 or more represented at the event. Several law school clinics are also scheduled to attend.

Fried Frank Lays Off 99, Defers Class

Erik Even — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:14:44 +0000

Fried Frank laid off 99 employees, lawyers and staff, today.

Effective today, we are implementing changes that will result in an overall reduction of 41 associates and 58 administrative staff from our U.S. workforce. This decision is one we worked very hard to avoid. But we must respond responsibly to the current environment…

The start date of our fall 2009 class has been deferred to January 28, 2010. All incoming associates whose start date is deferred until January 2010 will receive a $10,000 stipend. We are also offering an opportunity for members of the fall 2009 class to defer until the fall 2010. We are encouraging those associates to develop their legal skills by pursuing a public interest or government position or by volunteering with a legal, political or community-based organization. Those who elect this deferral will receive a stipend of $70,000 plus health benefits. Finally, both of our summer associate programs in New York and Washington DC will now conform to a ten, not twelve-week schedule.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP is an international law firm with offices in New York City, Washington DC, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The firm had more than 600 attorneys worldwide.

Weil Gotshal Offers Big Bucks to Deferred Associates

Erik Even — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:04:49 +0000

Weil, Gotshal & Manges has announced it is deferring its incoming associates’ start dates to January 2010, and is asking new hires to voluntarily wait until 2011. Weil is also cutting its summer program from 12 weeks to 10 weeks.

Associates deferred to 2010 will be cut a $15,000 check.

Those who accept a deferment to January, 2011 will get another $75,000, in addition to the immediate $15,000 — if they spend the time at a firm-approved public interest organization.

Associate who choose not to work will get $60,000, on top of the $15,000.