The incoming class of associates at Mayer Brown is scheduled to begin work in January after being deferred back in April. Later that same month the firm offered voluntary extension to October of 2010 with a $5000 per month stipend plus benefits, along with assistance securing public service experience in the meantime. Now we’ve learned that the firm is once again asking 18 of its 119 incoming associates to push back their start date until October, although it’s still being called a voluntary deferral. It’s unclear how voluntary the deferment actually is. If you have any specific information on the options available to those being asked to hold off starting work, please send us an anonymous tip here.

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.