McDermott Will & Emery Issue More Deferrals

McDermott Will & Emery associates were supposed to start work in January, but many are now being deferred again. Details are still sketchy, and it appears that no firm dates have been given yet. Associates will be brought in when their respective practice groups need them. In the meantime, they will draw a $5000 per month stipend.

Is it just me, or is it a bit harsh to issue these deferrals so late in the game? Presumably the affected associates, should they have been lucky enough to secure gainful employment while waiting to start work, have already informed their employers that they would be leaving in January. It’s certainly not inconceivable that many of them made holiday plans based on the presumption that they would be drawing a much larger salary come January.

This must be how it feels to wake up Christmas morning and find a lump of coal in your stocking.