First after Crickets

If it looks like a duck and it walks like a duck and you call it a rabbit - does anyone really believe you?

Associates once again pay the price for poor management of yet another law firm.

exactly the thing that happened last year - fake "bad" reviews and severances over the holidays. this year will be much worse...

Perhaps the tipster is next to go. MANDATORY, not manditory [sic].

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

There is no such thing as a performance-based termination of a first year associate. All first year associates are incompetent; to imply that these were somehow too incompetent strains credulity. I'd say they've lost credibility, but at this point what firm has any left?

16th

Nothing quite like getting a review as a senior associate being told "hey, here's what you need to do to make partner in the next two years" and being told, three months later, that due to your performance you are being let go. I just got that song and dance. Charming.

15 - Scatman Crothers for one, Wildman Harris for another.

If business is slow and everyone knows it why blame the associates? The economy is in a really bad way and finding a new job will be hard enough without telling the whole legal world that the laid off associates, including first years, were poor performers. I think most of us understand that they weren't billing a lot of hours because the work was not there. OMM is continuing to compete with Dechert for who has the least class.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

I think past posts on O'Melveny have already established it for the TTT craphole it is; this is just more confirming evidence.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

To answer #7's question -

now, yes; in another 10 years after we move closer to socialist labor policies, not so sure.

jesus dude... hit post ONCE. just once. it'll go through. talk about abnormal behavior...

16th

So let me get this straight....

Olson says they are not laying off associates for financial reasons but that the associates that were laid off were done so for financial reasons.

WTF?

I don't understand these firms being sneaky like this. Everyone gets that the economy is a disaster right now and there's going to be some contraction. Why not make the cuts that you need to make, fess up to them, and get on with it? Instead, Dechert and OMM have created a reputation for themselves as sketchy places, and now will be avoided for years.

When Obama signs card check into law and associates start organizing, things are gonna be a little different at these firms.

this is howrey do it

Perception....

Don't appear weak, bury head in sand...hope in six months your still alive when you finally pull your self out.

Why tell the truth when a lie makes you feel better about yourself?

Did first-years really get told to leave? There's no way that could be performance related...

I think past posts on O'Melveny have already established it for the TTT craphole it is; this is just more confirming evidence.

Isn't this relatively normal behavior? Are firms not allowed to let associates go?

How can FIRST years be told it is performance related. So are the first years associates who started this fall. That is outrageous.

Congratulations Dechert. You may get a stay owing to the fact that another TTT will soon take you off the front page. Stay classy.

OMM and Dechert must merge in order to survive.

elie - can we please get a LIST of SHAME going?? all firms who have conducted layoffs - stealth or otherwise. maybe make it a two-tier list?

I concur with the other commenters and call BS on OMM. Performance-based firings are usually scattered across the firm, not limited to one practice group. First years are never let go for performance reasons -- it takes about a year for attorneys to gain their footing and for a firm to even begin the process of accurately assessing their capabilities. I'm in a split litigation/transactional practice, and transactions are way down. Thankfully, litigation is keeping us afloat. But I can see that first-years in transactional practices would be slow right now. That's not their fault. OMM just did them a huge disservice by claiming it was. I've never said this on this blog, because I think it's entirely low-brow, but, seriously, this was a totally TTT move.

7: Yes it's "relatively normal" during an economic downturn. By the way, it's also "relatively normal" for industry blogs to report on layoffs.

So.... when the economy's bad, no firm can fire people for performance reasons?

People go into law because of the job security. Every T10 law student can do the stuff that finance people do and make a lot more money but they dont because that sort of stuff has huge downside. Why would you ever want to be a lawyer if you are paid less than finance idiots and have the same job insecurity.

"How can FIRST years be told it is performance related. So are the first years associates who started this fall. That is outrageous."

My thoughts exactly. Many first-years haven't even had billable work yet. This is performance-related only in the sense that it relates to the performance of the economy, in general, and the partnership, in particular. Bullshit.

Commenter # 7-14 = Commenter #22-28

Those laid-off first years are going to be screwed - how will they keep up thier loan payments?

Glad I didn't go to OMM.

Serious question: When Obama signs card check into law and associates start organizing, which will take priority, seniority at the firm or seniority from law school?

How can FIRST years be told it is performance related. So are the first years associates who started this fall. That is outrageous.

@17 - yah, it sucks & I feel your pain. But unless you've got golden handcuffs, this can be a blessing for you. Do as follows: 1. Get the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of every client you've ever spoken with/e-mailed/copied/ associated with for every goddamn project you've worked on (and those your friends worked on, too). For the attorneys who fucked you, locate their clients' information. Be shamelessly aggressive . 2. Cultivate three or four partner allies at your shop who'll give you good recommendations notwithstanding the ass-fucking you just got. 3. Negotiate at least 4 months severance. 4. Start calling your law school alumni, too. 5. Go to a bank with a business plan, get a $50k line of credit, and then open your own shop. 6. Celebrate the opening by raiding a handful of former clients, since you can now provide faster, better, and cheaper services. 7. Profit.

Similar thing happened to me. Now I'm managing partner in my own shop. My income's slightly lower (80%, about), but I leave at 4:00 p.m. to pick up my kids. I dump cases I don't believe in, but we've still got more work than I know what to do with.

My current office is higher up, larger, and nicer than the managing partners' at my old firm. And (here's the pissah) my friends at the old shop are dropping hints they want to leave and join my operation. Heh.

You know this is a good post, Elie, when 40+ comments in not a single swipe has been taken. More like these, please.

51: no, those associates who are finishing their first year.

Damn, OMM went full Trig Palin on this one. All I wanted to see was their O O O'Melvy face.

52: Are you hiring?

I just accepted my offer at OPE&C.

Suck it good, SMU.

The "first year associates" just completed their first year.

Performance layoffs - just a wolf in sheeps clothing of economic related layoffs.

Way to rock, 52. Seriously, best of luck with your practice. That's really awesome.

If OMM is laying off first years, that speaks volumes about the firm's financial condition. First years are: (1) the cheapest attorneys at a firm, so if they can't afford them, they are truly hurting, and (2) easily retrained to work in other, more in-demand, practice areas, so that means OMM's other areas must be slow or overstaffed already. OMM is in trouble.

"Steve Olson, Partner in charge of the partner compensation committee left a voice message claiming that there have been no associate lay offs due to OMM's financial state, which he maintained is strong, ***and the associates who were told that they were let go, were told that for financial reasons."***

What the hell does the last part of that sentence mean?

Agreed, 61. This seems incredibly short-sighted on OMM's part.

The layoffs must be for financial reasons based on the doublespeak delivered by Olson.

If you say it's performance related they don't get unemployment and your insurance rates don't go up

OMM is doing shitty all over. Their SV office recently fired a junior to set an "example" for the others. Associates are leaving their NY office in droves, given how the merger never quite worked out the way they wanted.

IS this O'Melveny place a sister to Jacoby and Meyers?

I don't understand Dechert and Skadden DC being sneaky like this. Everyone accepts that the economy is like Mystal's writing right now and there's going to be some contraction. Why not make the cuts that you need to make, own up to them, and move on? Jesus flippin Christ on a platter.

How odd that the transactional department at OMM has all of the attorneys at the firm who are "underperforming." Especially since this isn't related to the economy in any way, shape or form.

How is it that firms, chock full of attorneys whose job is to craft persuasive arguments and tear apart the holes in bad arguments presented by the other side, think that any of this posturing is believable??

52- good luck getting "credit" at all anymore. have you been paying attention, even banks can get credit from each other... hence the "credit crisis"

52- good luck getting "credit" at all anymore. have you been paying attention, even banks can get credit from each other... hence the "credit crisis"

52 is such a liar. He thinks you should go around asking partners for recommendations... so that you can go into business for yourself? He leaves at 4:00... but has more work than he knows what to do with? What a joke.

If you put lipstick on a Mystal, it is still just a Mystal.

MW

"Steve Olson, Partner in charge of the partner compensation committee left a voice message claiming that there have been no associate lay offs due to OMM's financial state, which he maintained is strong, and the associates who were told that they were let go, were told that for financial reasons."

These are not the words of Steve Olson. These are the words of a tipster who couldn't be bothered to read what he wrote and a blog that copies and pastes anonymous tips as if they are the gospel truth, never to be edited for any reason, ever. Obviously what Olson said was that when the firm conducts performance reviews, ever year, it always lets some associates go, for performance reasons.

MysTTTal - it's time!

52 has AIDS, a lot of AIDS. More AIDS than he knows what to do with.

Lipstick Mystttal

Does OMM new york still have that goofy, somewhat recruiting coordinator? she's like 6'2'', big boned with major league yabos.

Greenberg Traurig just laid off two first year associates in its corporate department in New York. What is even more interesting is that there are no mid level associates left in the corporate department, just a few 7th, 8th, 9th and.

74 - unless you're Steve Olson, your words are meaningless. And if you're Steve Olson, shouldn't you be firing more 1st years?

78 - by 1st years, do you mean brand new kids or the rising 2nd years?

Orrick DC is cutting its emerging markets department way back.

h2o

77 - nope, she went to heller. woops.

65 -- that's false. You are still entitled to unemployment benefits if you've been laid off for performance reasons. Otherwise what the hell would be the point of unemployment benefits. You pay into the system in every check (along with your employer) and if you get laid off you're entitled to collect.

You may be confusing the fact that you are not entitled to collect unemployment benefits if you left voluntarilly -- say in exchange for a severance package.

Fact... OMM in New York has been firing 1st year corporate associates in the last two weeks. At least three confirmed....

" All first year associates are incompetent; to imply that these were somehow too incompetent strains credulity"

I believe it.

To all law students who are considering Biglaw:

1) Remember to pad your hours to meet your billables requirement. Start with your required hours and then make the work you have fit into those hours.
2) Don't read too fast; readly slowly, preferably 2 pages an hour.
3) Don't solve problems quickly, stretch them out unless specifically ordered to solve them quickly by a senior partner.
4) Tell partners how great and smart they are every day.
5) No one cares about your class rank or law school the day after you start at the firm.
6) You work for the law firm, not the client. Remember the client hired your senior partner, it's the client's fault if they get robbed.
7) You are your number (billables).

If you follow this advice, you will survive, I promise.

52
Very similar to the business plan I am developing, though credit will be much, much harder to come by now. I think government grants might be useful now, though, even though those may be hard to come by right now as well.
In case I am unable to follow through on my own entruprenurial enterprise, are you hiring?

70 and 72=Haters, jealous that they still have to worry about their own job security. Plain and simple.

Its going to be a happy holiday season for the OMM eight. Hope they didn't arleady pay out the down payment on their new pools Clark Griswold style.

86 - that is precisely the end game associates are left with in the big law environment.

Fact... OMM in New York has been firing 1st year corporate associates in the last two weeks. At least three confirmed....

1st years = class 2007...They are not 2nd years until January.

#65, 83 is right (mostly). You can't never show up to work, get fired, and collect unemployment. But if you generally showed up when you were supposed to, and yet your employer thought you weren't doing a good enough job and fired you, then you can collect unemployment. The government doesn't care if you're dumb, lazy, and don't try. They just want to make sure that you showed up, and put a quarter of your ass into the job.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

84 is lying. I'm in that class, and we're all still here.

OMM has been in trouble for like 2 years now. Weren't there layoff in NYC last year? I think their PPP were dropping for some reason.

This is why laterals and new grads should go the "best" firm they can.

Any word on Milbank?

84 here. This is a fact #93. They will be paid till the end of November then your friends will no longer be there. It's called Stealth and just because your friends might be too embarrased to tell you about this unfortunate situation doesn't mean it's not true.

ESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

Law school students and lawyers are so damn naive. Virtually every "top" firm has either a substantial M&A, real estate, private equity, capital markets, or securities offerings practice. Over the last several years, virtually every major law firm has relied heavily on investment banks, hedge funds, PE funds, etc. for a substantial amount of their transactional revenue.

Those law firms' banking clients that have survived now survive in a different form and will see much much lower ROE going forward. With profit margins lower, regulations tightened, and prop trading ceasing to be the money making machine that they once were, there will be fewer # of transactions for the foreseeable future, and billing rates will be driven down. Premium billing in hot areas will be much harder to justify. The top few firms that have been busy the last few months dealing with the crisis are perhaps benefiting in the short term, but they are hurting themselves in the long run by helping create an environment where their PPP and RPL will simply have to come down.

We are now month 14 into this downturn. If the extreme slowness in the transactional practices of these top firms continues for several more months, how can anyone deny that every major firm will have to lay people off?

Having a substantial number of your associates in affected areas billing barely more than 1000 hrs is simply not sustainable given the massive overhead law firms have.

Wake up and smell the coffee.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

86 is right. What a sad world we live (work) in.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(i am a hypocrite)

86 = genius. wish i followed those rules.

92 - I hope your judgment is better than it appears (you knew this would happen but posted it anyway).

98 -- You are dead on! Every firm will do mass layoffs! And they will revoke offers!

All these complainers who act as if they are entitled to an absurd salary of 160K when they have no idea how to practice law make me want to hurl. But please get a grip on reality and stop acting as if that law degree and bar membership guarantee you a good job for life. Although rare, even a first year has control over his/her destiny. At my old firm, there was a first year who impressed the hell out of the partners and had steady work (choice assignments, not doc review) and had to turn down other work because she was too busy. This was when other first years and 2nd/3rd/4th years were idly surfing the internet pretending to work.

New York to 145!

I kid, but why not?

81, I'm at Orrick DC. We don't have "emerging markets" in this office, so there's nothing to cut, and we've been adding partners from Hogan, Akin, Heller, and Patton Boggs. Did you mean Orrick Silicon Valley? Or maybe Cooley or MoFo DC?

Charlotte to 100k.

Stealth layoffs are no stranger to any of OMM's offices... they did a round last December, another round this summer, another round in recent days and I'm sure that there will be yet another round this December.

All those kidding themselves that all of this is performance based--- are you also buying that Sarah Palin is a great fit for the White House?

Here are some other facts for you- this week OMM laid off 20 staff in NY and 27 in LA. Some of these were just brutal... people who have been at the firm for 15+ years... people with kids... people who just had kids. And none of them had performance issues before...

Own up OMM.

Admit you are hurting and stop making everyone hate you.

OMM would be better off being honest that they are BLEEDING and at least then others would feel badly for them.

Stealth layoffs are no stranger to any of OMM's offices... they did a round last December, another round this summer, another round in recent days and I'm sure that there will be yet another round this December.

All those kidding themselves that all of this is performance based--- are you also buying that Sarah Palin is a great fit for the White House?

Here are some other facts for you- this week OMM laid off 20 staff in NY and 27 in LA. Some of these were just brutal... people who have been at the firm for 15+ years... people with kids... people who just had kids. And none of them had performance issues before...

Own up OMM.

Admit you are hurting and stop making everyone hate you.

OMM would be better off being honest that they are BLEEDING and at least then others would feel badly for them.

95 - quit it. you make everybody who accepted there liable for your comments. they are fine.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

*furiously considers being a hypocrite while compiling latest mail merge*

- nervous T-10 1L

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

What's the story with Skadden DC's office building? Place looks like a morgue.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

Despite the fact that this post is about O'Melveny & Myers, I feel compelled to mention the fact that Skadden has some of the most astoundingly stupid people for associates.

-V4 3rd year

OMM has decided to decrease the size of their summer class in L.A. by giving fewer callbacks.

Any reports of them rescinding offers or being oversubscribed despite giving fewer callbacks

I hate you all. You're like the grammar nazis who have ruined this board.

- 92

Hope too many people didn't accept their offer at OMM with the urging of all these accept your offer threads.

Agree with 118. Part of the reason for that is that, according to Skadden's website, they have about 122 associates who went to Harvard. Partners and senior associates I've worked with who went to Harvard 8-40 years ago are smart people and good lawyers. Associates, for the most part, who have gone there in the last few years are the most socially awkward, lazy, self-important people I've ever met. They might not be astoundingly stupid, but they are stupid and they suck.

Whats the story with all of the stealth layoffs at #92?

I hate you all. You're like the grammar nazis who have ruined this board.

- 92

I hate you all. You're like the grammar nazis who have ruined this board.

- 92

I hate you all. You're like the grammar nazis who have ruined this board.

- 92

I hate you all. You're like the grammar nazis who have ruined this board.

- 92

H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person

all. You're like the grammar nazis

I'm a douche

- 92

Nah, more like the grammar Ustttashi.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

52 here.

@70/71: got my LOC 2 yrs ago. Yah, it might be harder now, but seriously don't underestimate a pretty business plan. Better if you have some equity to put behind it.
@56, 87 - Mebbe, but only if you're into commercial litigation in Boston.
@ 72. No. Not you.

52/133

I am into litigation in whatever field gets me further experience and in whatever city I can find available work. I am not picky. I am also a tried and true Sox fan, which should help, right?

87

#84: I also do not believe you. Give us a reason to not doubt your credibility...

52-133 - What's your shop called?

Mystal, can we get some IP blocking on multiple posters or do you get paid by the comment?

There is something wrong with OMM. Not only did they layoff people in their LA and NY office but also in their Silicon Valley office. In addition, the partners in M&A group in SF left to go to Sherman. OMM should just own up and admit these are not performance based but an attempt to keep their high PPP and claim they are still top tier. Glad I left that dump.

Glad I gotta outta there when I did!!

Glad I gotta outta there when I did!!

Glad I gotta outta there when I did!!

There is something wrong with OMM.
__________________________________________

Gee, really? No putting anything past you, 138.

They laid off multiple 1st years in Silicon Valley in corporate. I wonder what %age of their first years in corporate got laid off firm wide (these are first soon to be, or would have been, second years)

What does TTT mean?

why not, just for fun. you're welcome lat.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

why not, just for fun. you're welcome lat.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

why not, just for fun. you're welcome lat.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

why not, just for fun. you're welcome lat.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

Vinson & Elkins in Dallas has a very very good looking recruiting coordinator. Best I've ever seen, and I've seen a few.

143 - Can you elaborate?

NEW BIG 3 IN LA: LW, GDC, PH!!

150: at least two first years got laid off for "performance" reasons in the corporate/China practice in Silicon Valley.

The ATL post details a few in Los Angeles; and someone in the comments stated that some first years in New York corporate got laid off as well. It seems like they're cutting across the board (speculatively); how many corporate first years could there have been firmwide anyhow?

151: claiming that PH is one of the big 3 in LA is PH is laughable and utterly ridiculous. There's at least...another 10 offices in LA that are more coveted than PH after LW and GDC (including OMM)

152 - name them.

- not 151, not affiliated with PH, but curious

not 152, but can name a couple:

munger
irell

150 here. 143 - thanks for info. between lw/gdc and ph stands at least irell, munger, kirkland, possibly sidley.

150 here. 143 - thanks for info. between lw/gdc and ph stand at least irell, munger, kirkland, possibly sidley.

unofficial LA rankings -

Latham
Gibson
Munger
Irell
OMM
Skadden
S&C
Kirkland
PH

Does somebody want to take a stab at SF/SV rankings?

#157: Seriously?

Latham & Gibson, sure, but Irell #4? Maybe if you're an angry asshole who takes pride in being an angry asshole? Irell sucks and most rational people avoid it like the plague.

Skadden, S&C aren't "LA" firms at all in culture or prestige. Kirkland is decidedly TTT. Sidley is worse. Horrible partners and even more disgruntled associates, esp. those from east coast schools.

The rankings should be more like

Latham
GD&C
OMM
Munger
Manatt
MoFo
Sheppard Mullin
QuinnEmanuel

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

Could someone help me figure out how to post once to this blog? TIA.

the big three in LA have always been LW, GDC, OMM. but OMM will drop out. munger and irell should be up there.

159: manatt, sheppard? yeah. right.

Agree with 163: Manatt and Sheppard are dogs.

Agree with 163. Sheppard Mullin = lame. And adding the bottom-of-the-barrel and last-to-leave lawyers from Heller didn't help.

159? are you nuts? just because S&C and Skadden aren't LA-based firms it doesn't mean their big offices in the city don't exist and don't do high quality work.

Also, not including PH at all invalidates that list.

I'd put the general order as:

LW, GDC, Munger, Skadden, OMM, Irell, S&C, Mofo, PH, Quinn

The LA market is as follows:

First Tier:

1) LW
2) GDC
3) Munger
4) Irell
5) Quinn

Second Tier:

Mofo
Skadden
OMM

Third Tier:
Kirkland
PH
S&C
Sidley

Fourth Tier:

The rest (including Sheppard)

167 -

As far as bonuses and compensation, the NY firms, Quinn, Irell, and Kirkland paid more than LW, OMM and GDC.

So how are you ranking your firms? Wouldn't people want to go to the places that pay the most?

168--
no. if you want to make lots of money, be a successful plaintiff's attorney--how many partners at any of the firms you mentioned fly around in their own private jet?
I'm not saying it's typical or that the majority of plaintiff's attorneys don't struggle to make a modest salary that is well below BigLaw; but if your criteria is 'the places that pay the most' then everyone would be gunning for the plaintiff gigs.
Given the raw statistics required for jobs at Munger and Irell, their lawyers seem likely to have also made the cut at LW, and yet LW has higher PPP...
Prestige and pay may show strong correlation, but they are not determinative. Hell, BigLaw 2Ls make more than John Roberts. I guess they rank higher?

Winston & Strawn - Chicago office is in the midst of stealth layoffs...corporate and other transactional law associates are on the chopping block

SIMPSON THACHER is laying off associates and it is a known fact around the firm! everyone is scared! they started with seniors and are moving down to mid levels and juniors! Review has been moved up either to cut more people and/or to cut the number of bonuses given. Simpson thinks it is slick but it cannot be going around screwing people! The truth always comes out...

171- Thank you for letting the world know what is going on at Simpson......I totally agree with you b/c i know of a few people that were laid off from Simpson

171- Thank you for letting the world know what is going on at Simpson......I totally agree with you b/c i know of a few people that were laid off from Simpson

My friend is a 5th year at Simpson and was just asked to leave. She never had a bad review and was a diligent worker.......

ATL please cover these Simpson rumors!!!!!!!!!

ATL please cover these Simpson rumors!!!!!!!!! please investigate! talk to your sources! Simpson associates that know anything please send your tips!

I hear Latham had stealth lay offs recently of first years

Simpson is doing SNEAKY layoffs.........they are really covering their tracks!!!

Damn, what a kick to the ballz. It may very well be true that these guys were picked on a "performance based" standard, but the fact remains that the economy was probably the driving force behind the layoffs. Glad to see the firm helped them out with a press release to the world saying that they suck.

Simpson? Really?

Simpson's doing lay offs?

SO WHAT? I'M STILL A ROCK STAR. I'VE GOT MY ROCK MOVES, AND I DON'T NEED YOU.

Memo to all law firms

Please use the following format so you don't look ridiculous and get ripped to shreds by 20 somethings posting on a board:

___(insert firm name here) today told ___(insert number of attorneys laid off here)_____ associates in the firm's___________ practice they would be laid off as sluggishness in _______ matters continues despite ________________.

Those attorneys affected by today's decision are held in high regard by the firm. These layoffs were not performance-driven, and those affected will receive severance packages and outplacement services.

Yes the almighty *prestigious* Simpson is getting rid of associates by any means necessary!

The people laid off at OMM were WELL below their billable hour minimums. Such people are laid off every year, and it will happen to litigation too. All this speculation is silly. You all need to get laid more.

184 is the head of OMM or Simpson

I guess it's time to catch up on those engineering classes and get that patent attorney license.

182 and 184: your posts are as transparent as the pathetic cya message your firm put out. Maybe your form letter should read:

As our profits continue to shrink in this struggling economy, we were forced to lay off _____ (number of attorneys). We do so under the cowardly guise that everything is fine here at OMM and that layoffs are inevitable. Despite the obvious negative implications that come with such a letter, we consciously chose to do so, and we acknowledge that our firm philosophy will always be to protect our public image, even at the expense of the dignity and livelihood of the very people who make up the firm. Lastly, we anticipate that the associates and partners who will be fired in the next round will be performing below standard. Thank you.

"ATL please cover these Simpson rumors!!!!!!!!! ...."

Dang. I don't even work at Simpson, and they laid me off!

In times like these, the pretenders fall away from the real big boys. The true ballers of the law firm world--Wachtell, Cravath, S&C, Paul Weiss, and Kirkland--show their strength.

How does this affect other OMM offices, i.e. centurty city?

189 kirkland troll. at least in LA, that place is a sinking ship.

189 Paul Weiss has also been doing layoffs. Cravath gave a ton of cold offers to summers (which is better than laying off but still)

Simpson Associates: Can you please give your input about the layoff rumors?????? We would love to hear from current Simpson attorneys or those that were supposely laid off

Will the same rep/attorney/douchebag from OMM please STOP posting about Simpson?? You're pathetic.

@184 (or anyone else who cares to respond):

So stealthily laid off associates at OMM (and likely all other firms doing the "performance" or stealth layoffs) were well below minimum billables. Was the "evaluation" in which they were laid off the first time the firm intervened regarding their hours? Were the associates neglecting to ask for more work?

As a junior associate who was told by a Chicago-based firm to hit the road, I will admit that my hours were low, but my reviews were very good. I was also reassured (during the formal review process (except for the last, unscheduled review) and informally) that my hours weren't "my problem" and that they were aware of my capacity and that I would be busy once the firm had more work it could assign.

So, yeah. Their hours sucked, but if OMM led them on about their hours not being a problem and told them that their performance was still very good, to turn around weeks later and tell them they have three months to find a job is pretty devastating.

I know the bottom line is everything, but if they were receiving reassurances from OMM the whole time, then OMM (and other firms) deserve what they get from this and other blogs.

everyone who is confused out there about the economy, you may have noticed that things are not going so well. the reality is that any firm with a significant corporate practice and most of those without will lay off associates in this economy. if you think you are safe you have no clue on how the real world works. every firm will be letting people go, either through stealth layoffs or otherwise.

195- how many people were told to hit the road from your firm?

192- for real?

@ 197 - I don't know. They were very secret about them.

Fortunately(?), I have a very good relationship with the partner who actually laid me off. They told me that other associates in other offices were affected, but wouldnt' say how many. They also acknowledged that the lack of deals was the direct cause of the layoffs, and that I was picked because my hours were lagging.

Incidentally, s/he was the partner who was reassuring me that the firm didn't expect me (or anyone in my group) to hit targets because of the finance slowdown (and because of other office-specific issues). S/he felt pretty bad, but these decisions came "from high."

196- PREACH! Some of these comments are so naive. It is time for a lot of these firm trolls (a$$ kissers) to wake up and smell the coffee.

199- the decisions came "from high"? from God? Was it Manifest Destiny for them to let you go!

We only ask that firms keep it real. If the layoffs are due to lack of work then say so. Dont mask it as performance related b/c by doing that they are screwing people over even more......

189 = unsubtle Paul Weiss troll.

@199 - this is a red state, but no. I only meant Chicago.

But if God is responsible for the firm's direction, then they must have done something pretty bad, 'cause He must be pissed.

People posting constantly on this board = performance layoffs circa 2010.

This is my first time reading this board, and I'm astounded at the idiocy. Firms lay people off for performance reasons. When the economy is bad, they lay even more people off for performance reasons, because you need to do more to prove your worth when times are tough. Welcome to the real world.

I really get the sense from reading this crap that a lot of you are just entitled little whiners who think your whole career should be like your 10 weeks as a summer associate, and that you somehow deserve to get paid $200,000 a year to attend social functions and blog.

The staff cuts at OMM are sad, but taking away the jobs of entitled little whiners? I wish it happened more...

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

Squire Sanders & Dempsey might be next on the watch list.

Squire Sanders & Dempsey might be next on the watch list.

Then by your logic, 205, Heller laid off the entire firm for "performance reasons"?

"Performance reasons" (e.g. incompetence or absenteeism) are infrequently the true cause of layoffs. Most attorneys who work at firms show and deliver a competent performance, although there are certainly the occasional exceptions. Rather, 205, firms hire and fire almost always because of economic reasons, e.g., a senior associate is dismissed because the level of business in his/her practice group will not support another partner, or associates are laid off en masse because the firm's partners are not able to close enough sales to generate business for the firm.

#205, Suzanne Ryan- is that you??

What about Simpson Thacher, any layoffs at the firm? I work at STB and have heard rumours, but nobody said a word. It's kinda slow here so that would not surprise me. If there have been layoffs management has done an amazing job in keeping it secret.

What about PHJW? A bloodbath is coming (although very quietly)

What about PHJW? A bloodbath is coming (although under the radar).

187 - that pretty much sums it all up.

187 - that pretty much sums it all up.

95 - Definite "performance-based" layoffs at Milbank, but everyone knows it is economy-related.

205. Post of the Year.

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey should definitely be on the watch list.

212--- made me ROFL

Any update on Winston?

Avoid McDermott LA. Morale is terrible as is the work flow.

223 -- I think the better advice is to avoid McDermott altogether.

224, Are you saying that McDermott offices other than LA are bad too. I know the IP group has completely imploded. What else?

224 -- no, McDermott just sucks. In a good market or in a bad.

JESUS H. CHRIST -

A primer on how to post ONCE to this crap blog.

1. type your stupid witty comment (which no one wants to read a single time anyway, much less a dozen).

2. hit post comment. accept the fact that the page does not do anything.

3. scroll up and click on the headline again, and you're done.

Rest assured, your comment will appear. For the love of god, stop hitting post comment like you're having an epileptic siezure!!

(and a pre-emptive F-off to the person(s) who copy and past this trying to make me look like a hypocrite)

227 -- you are such a douche.

The exorbitant cost of fuel this past year has seriously damaged our economy.Just as the article says...the price of every product and service has risen drastically. People are losing jobs and homes as a at an ever increasing rate as a direct result. Many have been financially forced to stop taking necessary medication. We have a very scary state of affairs in our country right. I fear we will be hearing some very sad stories this winter about those who couldn't afford to keep their homes warm.Our government needs to take drastic and swift action to begin to replace some of our use of oil and harness free sources of energy such as wind and solar and increase the development of hybrid and electric cars and make them more affordable for the average Joe. It would cost you an average of 60 cents a gallon to charge your electric car.We spent 168 BILLION borrowed dollars on the last stimulus pkg.that did nothing for our economy in the long run.168 BILLION would have gone a long way toward providing cheap clean energy to America. I just read a fascinating book by Jeff Wilson Called The Manhattan Project of 2009 (Energy Independence Now)We have so much available to us in this country such as solar and wind energy.We need to educate ourselves and be proactive in electing officials that will make our desperate plight a priority.We need to demand those already in office help our country move toward energy independence.

People are losing jobs and homes as a at an ever increasing rate as a direct result. Many have been financially forced to stop taking necessary medication. We have a very scary state of affairs in our country right. I fear we will be hearing some very sad stories this winter about those who couldn't afford to keep their homes warm.Our government needs to take drastic and swift action to begin to replace some of our use of oil and harness free sources of energy such as wind and solar and increase the development of hybrid and electric cars and make them more affordable for the average Joe. It would cost you an average of 60 cents a gallon to charge your electric car.We spent 168 BILLION borrowed dollars on the last stimulus pkg.that did nothing for our economy in the long run.168 BILLION would have gone a long way toward providing cheap clean energy to America. I just read a fascinating book by Jeff Wilson Called The Manhattan Project of 2009 (Energy Independence Now)We have so much available to us in this country such as solar and wind energy.We need to educate ourselves and be proactive in electing officials that will make our desperate plight a priority.We need to demand those already in office help our country move toward energy independence.

229. 230: wtf? idiots.

226: you are posting on ATL at 12:16 am on a friday night/ saturday morning and you feel qualified to rag on mcdermott? if you were at work, your firm sucks. if you were at home, you suck.

Sidley Austin is laying off associates in the securitization group - I work here and just heard that 3 colleagues were terminated.

OMM - remember this is the law firm that is managed by the same genius (A.B. Culvahouse) that picked Sarah Palin.

They dumped 14 NY litigators at all levels last December and went out of their way to try to convince the legal press that it was all routine and "performance related", not economy-related. I was one. For 5 1/2 years, nothing but excellent evaluations. Then it seems my work suddenly went down the toilet on one case in six weeks. These are unprincipled people, who will say anything. But the chickens eventually come home to roost.

234 -- I'm sorry to hear about that. That's some underhanded sh*t.

Has anyone heard about the stealth Heller layoffs? I hear it's pretty bad.

Does anyone know how OMM's summer class is shaping up? I am curious if the bad press over the last year has affected summer associate recruiting at all.

17, I'm in a somewhat similar situation, unfortunately. I've been considering doing something like 52 suggests (transactional, my background) -- if you are thinking the same, it might be worth talking. A corporate boutique sounds interesting to me, but a minimum on size is pretty important for marketing and getting basic clients.... For anonymity, I'm at tempaccount208 at gmail.

17, I'm in a somewhat similar situation, unfortunately. I've been considering doing something like 52 suggests (transactional, my background) -- if you are thinking the same, it might be worth talking. A corporate boutique sounds interesting to me, but a minimum on size is pretty important for marketing and getting basic clients.... For anonymity, I'm at tempaccount208 at gmail.

I worked at OMM and I have to say I'm sorry for all the people who lost their jobs, but that firm sucked. I'm glad I got out while I did.