JD Journal » summer associate program

Quarles & Brady Cancels 2010 Summer Associate Program

Erik Even — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:46:13 +0000

Milwaukee’s Quarles & Brady has “suspended” its 2010 Summer Associate Program, citing its commitment to hire its new 2009 associates class, which has been deferred to January 2010.

Quarles & Brady LLP is based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. According to the National Law Journal’s 2007 rankings, it was the 90th largest law firm in the United States, and the second-largest firm in the state of Wisconsin. The firm also ranked 137th in profit per attorney on the 2007 AmLaw 200 survey.

The firm was formed in 1974 by the merger of two older firms, Brady Tyrrell Cotter & Cutler and Quarles Herriott Clemons Teschner & Noelke.

Day Pitney to Revamp Summer Associate Program

Erik Even — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:23:11 +0000

Day Pitney, which in May laid off 20 lawyers and deferred incoming associates to January 2010, has announced it is revamping its Summer associate program for 2010.

The new eight-week program will focus on apprenticeships and practical experience, shadowing lawyers and getting one-on-one coaching. The program will also include workshops and community service activities.

The new program will be introduced at the firm’s headquarters offices in Hartford, Connecticut and Florham Park, New Jersey.

Compensation information has not been released.

Day Pitney employs 382 attorneys spread across nine offices in four states and the District of Columbia. In 2007, Day Pitney ranked 113th on the National Law Journal’s list of the 250 largest American law firms.

Setfarth Shaw Cancels 2010 Summer Program

Erik Even — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:05:53 +0000

Seyfarth Shaw, which laid off 50 people in May, has announced it will not host a Summer associate program in 2010.

The firm stressed that the cancellation is a one-time decision, and is not permanent. It will also continue to hire from law schools.

Last year’s Summers will start in either January or October 2010, and this year’s Summers who get offers will begin in January 2011.

Chicago’s Seyfarth Shaw LLP is a full-service law firm founded in 1945. It has ten offices.

Morris Manning Slashes Salaries

Erik Even — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Atlanta’s Morris Manning, which recently canceled its 2010 Summer Associate Program, is slashing salaries based on how much work a particular practice group is bringing in.

The real estate, commercial lending, and general corporate practice groups are taking 15% salary cuts. All other groups will see 10% cuts.

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, is 175-lawyer firm with offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Duluth and Savannah, Georgia; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Washington DC; Beijing and Taipei.

Summer 2010 Trifecta: Squire Sanders Cancels Program

Erik Even — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:23:36 +0000

Squire Sanders has decided not to plan a 2010 Summer associate program, although the firm intends to reevaluate its hiring situation in the Spring.

This on the same day that Thompson Hine and Ballard Spahr notified law schools that they have canceled their 2010 Summer associate programs.

The firm is still accepting resumes, which may be evaluated in the Spring.

Squire Sanders cut associate salaries by 10% in May, and laid off 30 attorneys.

Founded in 1890, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP has 32 offices in 15 countries across the globe.

Thompson Hine Also Cancels 2010 Summer Program

Erik Even — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 18:14:53 +0000

On the same day that Ballard Spahr and Squire Sanders made similar announcements, Thompson Hine has decided to cancel its 2010 Summer Program.

The firm may still recruit for specific practice groups.

In February, the firm imposed an across-the-board $17,500 base salary reduction on associates and other non-partner lawyers.

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

Ballard Spahr Cancels 2010 Summer Program

Erik Even — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:43:58 +0000

Ballard Spahr has followed the example made by Morgan Lewis last week, and canceled its 2010 Summer Program.

The firm made no formal announcement, but notified law schools of the decision.

Thompson Hine and Squire Sanders made similar announcements today.

Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll employs more than 550 lawyers in twelve offices located throughout the mid-Atlantic corridor and the western US.

Morgan Lewis Cancels 2010 Summer Associate Program

Erik Even — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 20:44:07 +0000

Morgan Lewis has announced a series of steps designed to save cash, including the complete cancellation of its 2010 Summer Associate Program.

The firm will do no on-campus interviewing this Fall; and current summer associates are seeing their start dates pushed back to 2011.

The firm also intends to end lock-step compensation in 2010, switching to a merit-based system.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is a law firm that was founded as Morgan & Lewis in Philadelphia in 1873. It has 1,400 lawyers in 22 offices worldwide.

Winstead Lays Off 20 Employees

Erik Even — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 19:58:32 +0000

Winstead, which in April canceled its 2009 summer associate program, has let go 20 employees, according to the Dallas Morning News.

No additional information, such as whether lawyers were affected, is available. If you know anything about layoffs at at Winstead, please send us a confidential tip.

Winstead PC has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, Texas; and in Washington, DC.

Morris Manning Cancels 2010 Summer Associate Program

Erik Even — Thu, 21 May 2009 17:17:06 +0000

First, Manhattan’s Skadden announced that 2009 Summer Associate Program 3Ls, if they are offered jobs, will not begin until 2011.

Now Atlanta’s Morris Manning has said they will not have a 2010 Summer Associate Program at all.

From the memo:

This decision was made because we don’t know when the economy will pick up, we feel that our first obligation should be to making sure that our existing lawyers are productive rather than committing to bring in a whole class of additional associates, and we believe that when and as we need to hire additional lawyers there are very likely to be a lot of well-qualified experienced lawyers available as well as well-qualified third year law students, since so many firms have contracted significantly and reduced or eliminated their summer programs.

This is incredibly bad news for anyone currently in law school, or thinking about law school. For the foreseeable future, law grads will have to compete for jobs directly against legions of more experienced, unemployed lawyers.

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, is 175-lawyer firm with offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Duluth and Savannah, Georgia; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Washington DC; Beijing and Taipei.

Skadden Warns Summers: You Will Be Deferred to 2011

Erik Even — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:13:27 +0000

The 2009 Summer Associate Program at Skadden has begun. And the 3Ls have been warned that, if they get an offer to join Skadden, they won’t be starting in 2010 — they will be deferred to 2011.

There are no further details on 2011 deferrals, as those decisions, such as precise start dates and stipends, have most likely not been made, and will not be for some time.

Do you have any additional details? Send us a confidential tip!

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, founded in 1948, is a prominent law firm based in New York City. With over 2,000 attorneys, it is one of the largest and highest-grossing law firms in the world. Forbes magazine called Skadden “Wall Street’s most powerful law firm.”

Sedgwick Detert to Cancel 2010 Associate Class

Erik Even — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:43:43 +0000

In what is undoubtedly going to be a major trend, Frisco law firm Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold is the first prominent firm to announce that it has entirely canceled new associate hires for 2010.

The firm says it simply cannot predict if it will need any new associates. It intends to skip only the one year of new associate hiring.

Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP is an international litigation and business law firm that provides counseling, risk management, litigation management, trial, appellate and transactional legal services to sophisticated corporate clients. Founded in 1933 as a three-person firm in San Francisco, Sedgwick now has more than 400 attorneys in offices around the world.

Attorneys Disappear from Troutman Sanders Website

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:35:04 +0000

In March, Atlanta’s Troutman Sanders said layoffs were likely. Now legal industry news sites have noticed that 28 names have mysteriously disappeared from the firm’s roster of attorneys on its web site.

The firm refuses to confirm a specific number of lawyers who have left the firm, and will not give circumstances behind why lawyers have left.

The firm offered a voluntary buyout package last month.

Troutman has pushed incoming associates to January 2010, and cut two weeks off its 2009 summer associate program.

The firm, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Newark, Norfolk, Orange County, Raleigh, Richmond, San Diego, Shanghai, Tyson’s Corner, Virginia Beach and Washington, DC.

Chapman and Cutler Laying Off ‘Underperformers’

Erik Even — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:11:38 +0000

Chicago’s Chapman and Cutler is taking steps to reduce costs, including laying off an undisclosed number of “underperforming” lawyers, and possibly cutting salaries.

The firm has canceled its traditional May partners’ retreat and shortened its summer associate program to eight weeks. Chapman has been paying $160,000 to first-year associates, but may reduce the pay to $145,000.

It has also eliminated its public relations budget, which may be why it thinks stealth layoffs are a good idea.

The firm may shed more employees by early summer. The firm is hiring in New York, where it opened an office with one partner in February. Chapman’s other two offices are in San Francisco and Salt Lake City.

Schiff Hardin Cutting Costs to Avoid Layoffs

Erik Even — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:24:24 +0000

Chicago’s Schiff Hardin has announced it is taking steps to cut costs, in the hope of avoiding further layoffs.

From the memo, signed by managing partner Ronald S. Safer:

I know you have read with interest, and undoubtedly some trepidation, the news of law
firms slashing personnel, lawyers and staff alike. We have no intention of following that lead…

… We will curtail our summer associate program by shortening it to 8 weeks and making the program more content focused. We will delay the start date for our Fall Associates to January 1, 2010…

…we will eliminate this year’s Staff Appreciation Luncheon and Picnic. We will not have Holiday Parties this year. Similarly, the Attorney Dinner Dance will not be held this year. The Equity Partners’ Retreat will be replaced by a business meeting which will be held in Chicago. We will, however, hold our Service Recognition Luncheon for staff again this year…

… Associates, like Partners and Of Counsel Attorneys, will be responsible for 100% of the premium for health and disability insurance. We will continue to share this cost with members of our staff…

Finally, we are offering a Voluntary Early Retirement Option…

Thank you for your consideration and understanding.

The firm laid off some administrative staff in February.

Schiff Hardin employs more than 400 attorneys, practicing out of seven offices nationwide.

Rumor: Winstead Revoking Offers to New Associates? [Update]

Erik Even — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:00:12 +0000

Last month Winstead, a Texas law firm with seven offices, canceled its 2009 summer associate program. The firm is offering $5,000 each to the 2Ls who are left without summer employment.

Now online sources are claiming the firm has revoked offers to incoming associates, without any kind of severance.

The firm denies the revocation rumor, stating that start dates have merely been deferred, with stipends.

If you know anything about the situation at Winstead, please — send us a confidential tip!

Winstead PC has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, Texas; and in Washington, DC.

UPDATE:

A JDJournal tipsters says:

I can confirm that incoming associates have had their offers rescinded without any severance at the Houston office. It happened to a close friend of mine. In fact, the news was delivered without so much as an apology. Worse, the firm promised to do everything possible to help with outplacement, but when contacted about it, simply said they would “let them know if anything comes up,” i.e. they aren’t planning to do anything. It’s odd, really, that they would offer a severance to 2Ls without a summer clerkship, but nothing to a 3Ls with rescinded permanent offers.

Robinson & Cole Cuts 11 Lawyers, 19 Staff

Erik Even — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:37:40 +0000

Robinson & Cole has laid off 30 people today.

…Robinson & Cole has eliminated 11 counsel and associate attorneys, and 19 support staff positions. These cutbacks are taking place among the firm’s seven offices in the Northeast. Other prudent expense reductions will be made across the firm.

The Hartford, Connecticut firm plans to maintain its summer associate and incoming fall associate programs for 2009.

Squire Sanders Cancels on 2Ls

Erik Even — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:57:25 +0000

Squire Sanders, which recently pushed back incoming associate start dates to January, 2010, has informed last year’s 1Ls they are not being invited back this summer.

Some 2Ls may still be offered full-time work, based on their performance last year.

Founded in 1890, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP is a US-based law firm, with 32 offices in 15 countries across the globe.

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.

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.

Goldberg Kohn Cuts 9 Associates, 14 Staff

Erik Even — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:08:49 +0000

Chicago’s Goldberg Kohn has cut about one-quarter of its associates, and will slash pay and scale back its summer associate program.

The firm dismissed nine associates and 14 support staff, and reduced salaries for all remaining lawyers and staff, with the exception of associates. The firm now has 29 associates and 48 partners.

Goldberg Kohn is also reducing the length of its summer associate program this year to eight weeks, and has delayed the start date for its incoming class of first-year associates.

An independent study of 88 of Chicago’s largest law firms ranked Goldberg Kohn third overall based on its lawyers’ academic credentials.

Update: Katten Lays Off 69

Erik Even — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:14:11 +0000

Katten Muchin Rosenman has confirmed it is laying off 69 people today, and cutting the salaries of “underutilized” associates.

The firm is also scaling back its summer associate program, and deferring start dates for incoming first years.

From the press release:

…like many law firms, we have had to make some very difficult staffing decisions, including today’s layoff of a relatively small number of our attorneys and staff. These reductions included 12 associates, seven non-equity partners, four other attorneys, six paralegals and 40 staff members.

This layoff was relatively small due to a new Katten program that will creatively reduce costs while preserving dozens of jobs. Under the program, underutilized associates will be placed on a lower compensation scale. This scale reduces an associate’s base salary by 20 percent if he or she did not bill within 200 hours of their billable target in 2008, but offers the chance for them to earn back their total base at the end of this year if they meet their hours going forward…

In conjunction with our new compensation program, we are implementing a number of additional measures designed to cut costs, including reducing the length of our summer associate program from 10 weeks to eight weeks and reducing summer associate salaries by 20 percent. We are also delaying the start date for incoming first-year associates until February 1, 2010, the beginning of our fiscal year. These associates will be compensated with an additional stipend.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP has offices in Chicago; New York; Los Angeles; Washington, DC; Charlotte, North Carolina; Palo Alto, California; and Irving, Texas; with an affiliated entity, Katten Muchin Rosenman Cornish LLP, in London, England. The firm has over 650 attorneys practicing in more than 40 areas.

Morris, Manning & Martin Rescinds Offers, Cancels Summer Program

Erik Even — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:01:40 +0000

Atlanta-based Morris, Manning & Martin has rescinded offers to six of its incoming first-year associates, and canceled this year’s summer associate program.

The firm will pay the “laid off” first-years their $5,000 starting bonus. The firm says it rescinded offers to the six 3Ls because it does not have enough work for them.

The firm has transferred associates from its corporate and real estate departments into litigation.

If the economy recovers, Morris Manning says it will offer jobs to the 3Ls whose positions it has rescinded.

The cancellation of the summer associate program affects nine law students, eight 2Ls and a 1L. The firm plans to resume the program if the economy improves, and will make a decision on its 2010 program by this summer.

Morris Manning laid off four associates this year, but does not plan to make any additional reductions.

Winstead Cancels 2009 Summer Program

Erik Even — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:30:05 +0000

Winstead PC, a Texas law firm with seven offices, has canceled its 2009 summer associate program.

The Am Law 200 firm is offering $5,000 each to the 2Ls who are left without summer employment.

Winstead has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, Texas; and in Washington, DC.