first

Good. There are too many lawyers.

Good. There are too many lawyers.

@3 - epic fail.

Love, 1

2 & 4: Y'know that after they get laid off they're still lawyers, right?

My, how this warms the cockles of a government attorney's heart. Wonder where I'll spend my two week vacation this year? Maybe I'll volunteer at a homeless shelter for laid-off BigLawyers.

We'll be doing the layoffs tomorrow, but announcing on Monday just for fun.

Again, where's that K&L moron who thumbed his nose at the Parker Poe layoffs in Charlotte? Man, karma is a bitch.

Shakespeare was right - the first thing we do, let's kill all the lawyers.

Why do you book the conference rooms in advance to do layoffs? Not like they are being used anyway.

7 - I made more money in BigLaw in 5 years than you will in 12 do the math, enjoy the vacation at Club Med, I'll be in Paris spending my severance (which is more than you make in a year). I spent your income last year on seats for my Porsche -- now THAT has to hurt.

-- Laughing all the way to the Bank

12 - you must have a teeny tiny weenie.

That's ok, 12, I don't mind. I'm just biding my time until I come into BigLaw on a short partner track. Our balance sheets will even out in the long run, and I did it without the drudgery of those junior associate years.

-7

7 = soon to be laid off K&L associate.

12 = soon to be laid off K&L associate.

"Maybe in the sub-cocklar region...we just don't know."

TMWP.

12: and when the severance cash runs out, and you've sold the Porsche into the secondary market (where prices have plunged, as all the other d-bags like you have to unload their toys), you will do what, exactly?

This would also dovetail nicely with the anticipated formal announcement of the Bell Boyd acquisition on Monday. It would be reasonable to expect another round of layoffs at Bell Boyd tomorrow too.

The ship be sinking...

14 - With no solid law firm experience...keep dreaming, you know what we do with lateral resumes like yours? We post it in the bathroom. You will be lucky to go in-house

18 - I'm still using money I earned in 1998, I'm good for at least 20 years, when they cut your shitty govt job or force 4 day work weeks what will you do? Forced furlough MoFo - google that shit.

18 - I imagine that, at that point, 12 will swallow his pride and come work for DOJ. Which is fine, we could use a few good attorneys, and we're getting applications in droves.

www.cowtax.com

14/12, If you are laboring under the delusion that when the hiring begins again (in approx. 2030), the people to into big firms will be EPA/HUD schmucks with TTT pedigrees, I feel pity for you.

When "the books open up again," the people getting hired will be laid off performers from shitty areas, e.g., real estate and securitization, mid-levels who would not have been forced out but for the recession, and blank-slate juniors with great credentials who can be retrained from their nonprofit bylaws/assigned counsel work taken on during the recession.

You couldn't get a biglaw job when times were GOOD. You will spend your life drinking at the trough of government TTT, like the blank-eyed cow you no doubt are...

Cheers,
New to this thread

DOJ
Down & Out Janitor

Big law is like a beautiful woman; she always will have suitors and when things start going south, she can callously cast off TTT scum such as myself...

As an aside, "Quick Fire Pool" on Miniclip.com is a damn fine game.

12: I dunno how much your firm pays you, but GS-14 ain't half bad. Especially in Texas.

Big law is like a beautiful woman; she always will have suitors and when things start going south, she can callously cast off TTT scum such as myself...

@12....oh thats rights...money does buy happiness...clearly

Gosh, 21, you're right. No big firm has ever hired a government attorney with a clerkship and 6 years' litigation experience. Guess I'll just kill myself.

-7

Thanks Obama, for ruining the stock market.

The details after the jump were old news. How about posting some of the other tips?

12

I got to start out at GS11-Step 6, 5 years later, I pull in about $200k/year working 50 hour work-weeks (we get time-and-a-half for all overtime hours, plus premiums for working on bullshit federal holidays like Washington's Day or whatever) and taking 5 weeks worth of vacation. Enjoy the extra $30k plus your (non-existent) bonus while I enjoy a life. I guess I'll just have to take another 2 week vacation to Hawaii to ease the pain.

Oh, and when you're just about to make partner and some son-of-a-bitch laterals in and takes your spot because he's had 7 years of front-line experience while you've been fourth-chairing depositions and doing doc review, don't worry about the indignity of it all--I'll fire your ass quickly.

30 - Money bought your mother...and I'm happiest when shes on the business end of my fandango so yes....money does indeed buy happiness. I wouldn't expect you to understand. Your money barely buys groceries.

I am BigLaw. Government lawyers are girly men. Me smash. RARRR

24 is not safe for work.

firings are confirmed for tomorrow.

Big law is like a beautiful woman; she always will have suitors and when things start going south, she can callously cast off TTT scum such as myself...

Big law is like a beautiful woman; she always will have suitors and when things start going south, she can callously cast off TTT scum such as myself...

Big law is like a beautiful woman; she always will have suitors and when things start going south, she can callously cast off TTT scum such as myself...

Would the gov't lawyers and their bashers please STFU and get a room. Sheesh, this thread is about layoffs.

24: I have a friend who came to our firm from EPA. He went to Northwestern for undergrad and the U. of Chicago for law school. If that's "TTT" to you, more power to you.

Big law is like a beautiful woman; she always will have suitors and when things start going south, she can callously cast off TTT scum such as myself...

24 is not safe for work.

firings are confirmed for tomorrow.

Enough with the speculation. Reserving a bunch of conference rooms and having an "emergency" partner meeting do not necessarily mean layoffs.

34 - GS-11 sounds like a F-ing Honda. Stop trying to justify your poor choice in legal careers. You will never make partner in BigLaw you haven't the requisite disciipline. You will probably never even make it into a T10 law firm unless you kill yourself in your govt job working for pennies. and I passed 200k 3 years ago son -- how long did it take you to get there. Oh and by the way, that hotel you reserved in Hawaii - I own it.

You're right 45. They're probably calculating how big the associate bonuses will be.

Fail.

46= d-bag

I am the BIGGEST LAW. I will never be laid off.

45: Of course not - the K+L partners are probably just trying to quickly decide how much to increase associate bonuses...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

46= d-bag

46 - My law is bigger than yours.

47 - law firms have more to do than just consider associate bonuses and associate layoffs. Sure, layoffs might happen tomorrow, but they also might not. Don't be so dense to think that meetings and conference room reservations only have to do with the future of all the associates.

Of course, there still could be layoffs tomorrow. But these meetings and conference room reservations don't prove anything.

--45

We here that Friday/Monday may be D Day for many people at K&L. Does anyone have any insight on that means for us here at Bell Boyd about the drink the K&L Kool Aid?

"Kalis stressed -- twice -- that if there are any mass layoffs, the firm will comply with all laws regarding such actions. Audience members viewed this as an assurance that K&L Gates would comply with its WARN obligations (and avoid WARN lawsuits)."

The audience members are idiots. WARN obligations are pretty minimal, and the only associates who have to worry about whether or not their firms will comply with WARN are fucked anyway, because their firms are going under. Even Kalis isn't so stupid as to talk about WARN - it would be like taking about Nazis at a country club in Boca. Of course they will comply, and it's only like 60 days if the layoff is big enough anyway. If your firm is so ghetto that they are laying off a large enough group to be subject to WARN with less than 60 days notice or severance, then I guess that you can rejoice about WARN.

Hmmm. 46 can't spell, and knows nothing about how law firms hire laterals. Plus, it's 4:15 pm and he's trolling on ATL.

Conclusion? 46 = poser law student.

We hear that Friday/Monday may be D Day for many people at K&L. Does anyone have any insight on what that means for us here at Bell Boyd as we are about the drink the K&L Kool Aid?

It will be tomorrow.

Question: Does anyone else ever forget to wipe? I forgot this morning and now I have this awful itching going on.

We hear that Friday/Monday may be D Day for many people at K&L. Does anyone have any insight on what that means for us here at Bell Boyd as we are about to drink the K&L Kool Aid?

Who would I rather hire for a tax controversy, with big money on the line:

1) A former IRS LMSB attorney who had the time to get both a) his CPA license and b) an LL.M. in Taxation (for free) from NYU while battling 8th years to senior partners from BigLaw.

OR

2) A BigLaw lifer with little to no courtroom experience and no clue about how the IRS actually investigates/prosecutes these actions.

And the sizzle for the steak--I graduated magna from UMich mo'fuckas. Not all of us are sheep. Looks like your BigLaw shepherds left you high-and-dry.

20- please dont stop. even though i know its coming i still get a good chuckle.

Who would I rather hire for a tax controversy, with big money on the line:

1) A former IRS LMSB attorney who had the time to get both a) his CPA license and b) an LL.M. in Taxation (for free) from NYU while battling 8th years to senior partners from BigLaw.

OR

2) A BigLaw lifer with little to no courtroom experience and no clue about how the IRS actually investigates/prosecutes these actions.

And the sizzle for the steak--I graduated magna from UMich mo'fuckas. Not all of us are sheep. Looks like your BigLaw shepherds left you high-and-dry.

Hmmmm. 56 thinks he knows more than 46 about law firm lateral hiring practices when he really has not clue and thinks govt work is seen as more than a joke. Plus, he thinks it is 4:15 pm everywhere in the world...meaning he is unaware of time zones.

Conclusion? 56 = brainless no talent aTTTorney from UPennState who went to work for a government agency because it was either that or back to Safeway.

Children....Children...Act your age and play nicely.

I would hire 46 because he's brotastic!

boring.

I would hire 46 because he's brotastic!

Good luck K&L.

-Former K&L Summer

61/63 - you went to UMich State...damn man you pretty much served yourself with that one... you almost had him. EPIC FAIL.

Also, you dont know how to post correctly, hit the button once man, thats all you need.

Hey 17...Maybe in the kidney's maybe even in the colon

61, that makes so much sense that it can't be true. Surely law firms will reward 7 years of doc review and due diligence over real-world trial experience and proven track records. Won't they?

umm 70. Mich St is not UMich.

Me = EPIC WIN.

Children.....Children....tsk. tsk.....Now act your age and play nicely.

73 - UMich = UMich State trust me ...that's like saying UPenn is not UPenn State, I think Joe Pa would beg to differ. You Failed. Deal with it. Also if its not T5 it ain't shit...but it certainly explains why you went to work for the government. You lose this round sir.

All your law are belong to us.

Balls.

70-

I wouldn't have posted it twice if this $0.02 system ATL uses didn't inform me that it had a fatal error doing it the first time. My apologies for the double-post nonetheless--lesson learned.

And UMich, in case you didn't hear about us at the People's College of Law, actually means the University of Michigan Law School. Daddy should have used a Trojan = Michigan State. Thanks.

70 is a too. Ok UMich might be UMich State. Hell call it UMich bunghole. It's still a good school. Toolshed.

76 - EPIC WIN

75 = braggadocious pre-law sophomore who thinks his daddy's trust fund will land him at HYS. Please kill self when you fail miserably at the LSAT and end up at Northern Kentucky School of Law.

Any K&L insiders with the poop, or must we continue the BigLaw v. Government Royal Rumble?

70 is a too. Ok UMich might be UMich State. Hell call it UMich bunghole. It's still a good school. Toolshed.

Current formula for ATL posts:

Will [Random BidLaw Firm Name] Will Layoff Associates [Random Day]?

76/77:

Do you have any info or are you just curious?

76/77:

Do you have any info or are you just curious?

76/77:

Do you have any info or are you just curious?

76/77:

Do you have any info or are you just curious?

76/77:

Do you have any info or are you just curious?

What's interesting to me is that most firms are choosing layoffs over salary cuts. This suggests layoffs are more palatable to the firms, and maybe even to associates (despite the mou-mou-ing seen here). Or, there simply is no work, at any price. Of course, it's also very possible salary cuts (and I mean cuts, not freezes) will follow, but even so it's still interesting to me that layoffs have come FIRST. The historical increases in associate pay pretty well track the stock market gains and bull market of the past five or six years, which as we know are toast. I'm not sure what to make of it all. It's just odd to me that layoffs appear to be less of an admission of failure than salary cuts. Though I guess cuts in bonuses also amereliorate the need for salary cuts. And layoffs, regardless of how economically motivated, also allow a firm to retain mostly it's "stars" at the old high salary I suppose. Just musing. I'm not sure I have a point.

The postings here went down hill fast...and keep falling.

The timing of this is fishy. Smells like three day old fish. Do these layoffs have anything to do with absorbing the attorneys and staff from Bell Boyd? Seems like everyone of these mergers results in mass layoffs.

Speaking of, why has ATL not fixed the problem with the post button?

85-89: WTF?

Epic Fail, and stop pushing Post Comment.

hey who am i?

76/77:

Do you have any info or are you just curious?

haha and fyi, 76 is not 77. We're just both awesome.

Why are people so f*cking stoopid on this board? We all know that Michigan is not Michigan State and that Penn is not Penn St. It is a joke to get a rise out of the jackholes on this board who easily get their panties in a bunch. Carry on.

I was amazed to discover how smooth my taint was after I shaved it.

84 is right, what the fuck is happening in BidLaw? Are the bids up or down? Who's making the bids nowadays? How will this affect eBay buyers?

I'm curious-

Is Biglaw in any way like a beautiful woman?

Does UMich=UMich bunghole?

How much are the seats in a Porsche (not a Cayenne or a Boxster, but a real Porsche)?

24,

You are living in a dream world that when the "books open up" firms are going to hire the guys that got laid off. Most of them are done as big firm lawyers unless they work in some niche practice area that blew up in the next couple of years.

And i'll break it down for you
1) Firms never hire people with holes in their resume. Just doesn't look right for them regardless of the reason for the hole
2) Why hire some 6th year with the appearance of not hacking it to compete for partnership in 2-3 years when you can go out and get a 3rd year with basically the same experience and evaluate that associate for 6+ years before they take them into the club.
3) under you scenario firms won't start hiring until 2030 - why would they want to hire some 50 year old when 27 year can do the job
4) It really is forced attrition by the firms because they aren't getting people to leave because of the economy.

Bobby Jindal here with a Republican response to the K&L Gates layoffs and saying you elected Republicans to champion limited government, fiscal discipline and personal responsibility. Instead, Republicans went along with earmarks and big government spending in Washington. Republicans lost your trust -- and rightly so.

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

Why would they fix the post button when their advertising rates are at least partially determined by the number of comments?

98 - there are two schools of thought.

Bears. Beets. Battlestar Gallactica.

75 is a moron. 10 years out of law school, no one will give a shit what law school you went to. All that matters is your book of business.

Equity Biglaw Partner

101-108 I considered posting multiple times just for irony, but then I figured it would look like I was trying too hard. And I was right.

- 92

94:
I don't get it. Do you have any info or not? I don't get the point of your snicker.

94:
I don't get it. Do you have any info or not? I don't get the point of your snicker.

99 - you got it about right. It is bitter medicine, but it is the reality.

110 - shareholder at your 3 member personal injury shop can hardly be considered "Equity BigLaw Parter" you can't stretch the truth that far sir. Also the only people that say what law school you went to doesn't matter are people that went to bad ones, such as UMich State.

FAIL.

I have it on good authority that you need to chill. You're confusion over nothing is going to lead to premature male pattern baldness.

This post is surprising. I know a girl in K&L's Dallas office who was told in December that she'd be laid off. Don't know if it was under the auspices of a "performance review." But I think she'd only been at the firm since the fall ...

101-108 = Lat lol

Oh and btw 82, it's on! BigLaw associates finally have the time to peel their eyes away from the 10,000 page discovery document they just go and try to pathetically overcome the social awkwardness their forced imprisonment has imbued them with by posting anonymously on a legal blog.

It all makes me so mad! I want to leave today at 5:00, get home in time to watch hockey, play with my little chillins, and figure out what else to do with my 7 hours of free time. Oh wait, I can! I guess I'll use one of those hours to email back those three recruiters who keep pestering me income partner positions.

Oh, and to all of those out there who think government law is a joke--I would put good money down that 99% of the top defense lawyers (white collar, criminal, etc.) worked for the Dark Side first before switching and cashing that experience in for more money than you'll ever see after you laid-off asses land in-house.

You are living in a dream world that when the "books open up" firms are going to hire the guys that got laid off.
__________________________________________

Sadly true. People who are fired now (and that's what it is, whether you call it a RIF, layoff or "performance-based termination") are not going to be re-hired in Biglaw in 2010 after relaxing at home for a year. They are just going to have to find something else to do.

118 = EPIC WIN.

K&L doesn't have debt, but you do. Enjoy the severance.

101-108 = Lat lol

Oh and btw 82, it's on! BigLaw associates finally have the time to peel their eyes away from the 10,000 page discovery document they just got and to try to pathetically overcome the social awkwardness their forced imprisonment has imbued them with by posting anonymously on a legal blog.

It all makes me so mad! I want to leave today at 5:00, get home in time to watch hockey, play with my little chillins, and figure out what else to do with my 7 hours of free time. Oh wait, I can! I guess I'll use one of those hours to email back those three recruiters who keep pestering me about income partner positions.

Oh, and to all of those out there who think government law is a joke--I would put good money down that 99% of the top defense lawyers (white collar, criminal, etc.) worked for the Dark Side first before switching and cashing that experience in for more money than you'll ever see after you laid-off asses land in-house.

118 - I'd take that bet. Lets put 60k on it....Oh wait...that's your GS-11 sector 6 ABCD pay scale salary. Hmmm.....

115. You are clearly clueless on how biglaw works, you must be a law student or a first year. I will likely fire 20 just like you next week. Good luck on the bread line. 110

this is awful news for UPenn State's satellite campus in Philly.

120 - By 'fire 20' I assume you mean fire the 2 associates you have in that shit shop you call a firm 10 times. You are correct about the book of business but ask yourself this...How the F do you think someone accumulates that book? It is not by attending Case Western Law School - I can assure you that. Not only will my T5 JD get me a bigger book 100x quicker than your Tier 2 shit scrap of a degree - It also affords me something you will never have - RESPECT.

Served.

Prediction: Regardless of the quality of their work product, the only summer associates that will be getting offers this summer are those who are good-looking . . .

The debt thing is a joke. So instead of borrowing money from the bank and paying back interest, they "borrow" the money from the partners interest free. This was a great idea for the firm. Don't have to pay interest and can say we are interest free.

Well it sucks. The partners get shit for pay and many have to take out their own line of credit from the bank until we get our true up. All that happened is the firm pushed the interest payments onto the partners and call the firm debt free.

It's all smoke and mirrors. I truly hope we have something better to advertise than being debt free.

Crazy biglaw, they think totem pole alive!

126=Miata Owner

130 = Case Western Law School grad

130 = Case Western Law School grad

And so it continues.

To all you Bell Boyd people, I suggest you contact your brethren in North Carolina and ask them how the "merger" is working for them. And the Hughes Luce partners, ask the boys in Seattle how things are working for them.

This is just another move by the Pittsburgh Cabal to reemphasize that K&L is the master, not Nicholson Graham or Preston Gates or any other portion of the Kalis Empire. Ave! Pete! And Mary, the consort!

130 = Case Western Law School grad

130 = Case Western Law School grad

130 = Case Western Law School grad

126, you are a joke. Do you know how many times my firm has fired Harvard grads, even in good times? What do you think I am going to give you the name of my firm so Ellie can post it? JD gets you in the door. It has zero impact after that. Any other actual Big Law partners here? They will all agree with me. The stress of having your offer rescinded must be getting to you.

130 = Case Western Law School grad

130 = Case Western Law School grad

130 = Case Western Law School grad

123 and whatever else you were- A real baller would buy a new Porsche, not replace his fucking seats...If you're rich then I'm Peter Kalis.

123-

Um, I'm 6 years out and I make GS-15 Step 7, or $140,000. Add in the $50,000-$60,000 in overtime (before special merit bonuses) that I make, and I'm doing just fine. Just riding out the storm of layoffs before they realize they're thin at the top.

If a hiring partner is stupid enough to take a former 3rd year associate who's been working as a barista for 2 years over a battle-trained and tested litigator with inside information on "The Man" that actually makes his value commensurate to his billing rate, then he can keep slopping it up on the Acela from DC to NY. In 2 years I received more training and experience than any BigLaw associate would in their whole partnership track.

I loved it when junior partners would come in with this smug look of satisfaction on their face as they were flanked with an army of pale, nervous associates. In fact, it was almost as good as the way they all walked out with their tail between their legs after receiving a verbal smack-down from someone who actually knew what he was talking about.

Content military lawyer reporting in. '05 JD from a mid-level Jesuit law school a lot of the elitists would mock as a TTT. Leaving the service this summer and starting a federal district court clerkship in a major market. For the posters who mock government service, it has opened lots of doors to me that weren't open when I was a law student. Not only have I no shame about it, but I'm immensely proud to have sacrificed quite a lot to get to this point. I've gotten hands-on practical experience- handling a contested jury case- murder no less- in the first two years of my career. Add to that tons of time face-to-face with clients, flexible work hours, and a lot of perks. At the same time, a lot of govt atty jobs are no picnic. There are always some folks working on the weekends in my office and I rarely have a 9-5 day. Sure, there are do-nothing govt attys out there who just push paper all day and rarely do anything challenging or that impacts the big picture, but there is a lot of intellectually demanding work on the govt side.

I take no pleasure in what's happening with all of these lay-offs. Quite frankly, I've second-guessed myself a few times about the clerkship, even though it would end in fall 2011, presumably when the big firms are hiring again as I hope to have a decent shot at a job there. At the same time, it could get much worse so I'm just trying to be grateful for what I have right now.

Grow up, 126. Some rainmakers went to T14 (not necessarily T5) schools, but just as many went to schools you degrade as "TTT." Once you enter the real world (and you clearly have not yet joined the workforce), you will understand that when it comes to making rain, street smarts and persona > book smarts.

So, this is essentially our current dialog:

-Gov't lawyers: "Gov't law rules and I will make partner over you!"

-BigLawyers: "Gov't law sucks and I make more money than you and if you didn't go to a top 10 law school you went to a TTT!"

-Laid-off associates: "We'll all get hired when the economy picks up!"

-Non Laid-off Associates: "Nobody will hire laid-off associates again, ever!"

-Law Students: "U STTTate Penn Michigan!"

_____________________________________

Jesus, now wonder we're all getting laid off...Seems about right.

Few associates will sleep peacefully tonight. That said, I stand by my earlier comment. The real bloodbath will begin when partners realize they can't pay the rest of 2008 plus estimated Q1 '09 taxes. Panic begets panic.

144 - you are assuming street smarts and persona cannot be combined with T5 book smarts. This is another excuse TTT law grads have. The old "you have book smarts but I'm street savvy" argument. It's right up there with the 'race card' both laughable and archaic.

126,

Anyone who signs "served" at the end of an anonymous blog comment does not get respect...Trust me. You belong in a teenie-bopper dance movie with that dude from the tv show Sister/Sister.

Classy 143. Well said.

Classy 143. Well said.

Classy 143. Well said.

147 - YOU HAVE DONE NOTHING. YOU ARE STILL IN SCHOOL.

148 - You should learn words like 'served' because the 2nd year associate that will replace you is bound to use it as he kicks you out of your office.

CHILDREN...Children--I am not going to say this again. Play nicely and act like big boys and girls.

147 - I bet you were always well prepared to get called on in class. Good job! I'm sure clients will line up to hire you as soon as you graduate.

147 is a joke. I bet mommy tells you that you're #1 before she tucks you in every night, doesn't she?

So true, 145. Reading this blog has made me feel as though I dropped 30 IQ points this afternoon. Not good, not good at all.

147 is a joke. I bet mommy tells you that you're #1 before she tucks you in every night, doesn't she?

No wonder dealbreaker doesn't link to ATL anymore

142, which is it? Do you get home at 5:00 because your job is so easy or do you make bank in overtime? Pretty sure it can't be both.

BIG PICTURE PEOPLE:
Any word of places other than K&L and Latham expecting layoffs tomorrow? Keep hearing tomorrow will be bad, but no other rumors seem to be making the rounds.

147 - 144 here. I didn't say that book smarts cannot be combined with street smarts and persona -- I just pointed out a true fact: some of the most successful rainmakers I know don't have "brilliant" minds. On the other hand, some of the "genius" types I've known make excellent worker bees -- but they're not popular with clients, and they don't bring in business because people are uncomfortable with their lack of social skills and the fact that they are painfully introverted. Their thinking is much like their writing: proper, still and very, very boring.

The guy two doors down from me is playing a guitar and singing "Born to Run."

Good times for bankruptcy lawyers.

144/162 here. Sorry about the typo in the last sentence of my post. It should have read: "proper, STIFF and very, very boring."

Well put, 145. May we get back to the thread of impending layoff disasters, or shall we push the desks out of the way and let the G-Men square off with the Biggies?

ATL: I am looking at an advertisement on the site which appears to feature two pictures of Angelina Jolie, side by side. One has her lips thinned, and the caption reads "Thin lips are ugly on anyone."

I disagree with that statement, but that's not the point.

My point is, do you think there is even the slightest possibility that she authorized that ad?

Maybe its a lookalike, I'm not the most celebrity-aware invididual on earth. But I don't think it is, personally. And there are a lot of out of work lawyers here. To me, that ad looks between 40 and 100 hours of billable copyright work, a TRO, and some CASH.

Hello All 109-165 here, I apologize for my petty bickering, truth be told I am sad an am taking out my frusteration on Govt lawyers. I apologize.

I hope we all are still employed in the coming year. Govt + BigLaw = love.

165: FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

143 - My military experience opened doors and got me a BigLaw job, despite my TTT school. The interviewers were more impressed by the Trade School ring.

Good luck and Semper Fi.

and a right of publicity claim.

Who keeps saying that what lawschool you went to has anything to do with getting clients? Do schools teach anything about rainmaking? Of course not. Clients call who they call because they've developed a personal relationship with that lawyer and trusts him or her to get the job done. That comes with reputation, interaction, and track-record. GC's don't just open the HLS database and pick a lawyer at random when they have a problem. You know how many people have ivy law degrees? Like a million. There are a ton in every firm. There's one in the office next to you. My nanny was a Harlan Stone Fiske Scholar or whatever you want to call it. To think that your phone will just magically start ringing off the hook because you went to a 'non-TTT' is tragically naive.

Very well, 168, but we need some rules.

First rule of ATL Fight Club is you don't talk about ATL Fight CLub.....

160-

Your logic skills are excellent! Hastily generalize much? If I want to take off one day at 5:00 or 2 weeks to Hawai'i, I can do it. Will I do that every day (leave early) or month (take a 2 week vacay)? Absolutely not. Point is, I do interesting, substantive work that your slave-drivers don't allow you to touch until you're a partner. Add to that some pretty sweet benefits, a nice work-life balance and an actual vacation policy--I'm doing just fine. By the way, I make the extra $50,000-$60,000 working 50 hour work weeks (on average). If I wanted to kill myself, I could do way more. Don't you wish that you could get paid $102 for every hour over 2,000 you put in?

To all obnoxious law students, please listen to a perspective other than t14-v10 or bust:

I would pay $30,000 every year to have a life, a family that actually recognizes my face, interesting work, great pay ($200k is pretty damn good, let's get some perspective people), 3-5 weeks off and abundant career options available to me when I jump ship.

Will you start out around $60,000 - $70,000 base? Yep. Add on your overtime, however, and you're pretty close to $100,000 - $110,000. Not a bad living to make, and by your 5th or 6th year, you'll be pretty damn close to BigLaw associates (sans bonuses) in re: compensation. Not only that, you might just have a life, a family and a tan.

Sick of it after those 5 years (which is the minimum time needed to get a lifetime pension)? Parlay that experience into big bucks in the private sector like the 95% of government lawyers that have done it before you. Go to a lifestyle firm, if you enjoy your family, and make $600,000-$750,000 billing out for 2,000 hours--which is exactly what I have lined up in San Diego for 4Q 2009. Taxes are here to stay baby, they never go out of style!

167 = Hilary Clinton

K&L DC associates are in my thoughts.

Former K&Ler

Is it staff, associates AND non-equity partners, or some subset?

More like K&L GREATS amirite??

173 - Thank you. I just hope your San Diego firm isn't Luce Forward - their proverbial ship be sinkin'.

I think that as far as anyone knows, it could be all three.

What is a DealbreaKer?

As they should be 168. Thank you for your service to our country. We all owe you, and all of our troops, a tremendous debt.

Hoorah, 168. Our warriors make some of the best lawyers.

-Equity Partner, Gulf War vet (Army), and former federal prosecutor.

This could be really ugly. K&L's OC office has been hanging by a thread ever since the merger, and Palo Alto has never gone anywhere. Even LA has been static for years. And the PGE legacy partners have just finished the two year guarantees they got when the two firms merged. I go to think that Portland, Spokane and Anchorage lawyers might be looking for another place to hang their hats soon.

I know that they cleaver has already been swung on Boston and Newark, but there's a lot of people in NY with nothing to do.

Pete was once quoted as saying that K&L was the best 1500 lawyer firm with 1800 lawyers.

7 - haven't commented in this thread yet, don't have anything against government attorneys, and actually agree that your career trajectory makes a lot more sense than the BigLaw life route (which I think would suck beyond the telling). But damn, you sure have a lot of time to post on ATL for someone who is trumpeting all of his real life experience in the courtroom.

Biglaw Partner here.

It doesn't matter if you went to a T10 school or a TTT , we simply want lawyers who can get the job done. We will take gov't lawyers as partners and make partners from our associate ranks. Every road is different.

To make rain you need both personality and intelligence. One is not enough. SO WHAT -- once you make partner you still have to work hard. Its our job.

Times are tough -- Both attorneys and places we work at will take hits, some very good lawyers will be casualities - not of their own doing, some great firms will cease to exist. I read today that some gov't legal jobs were rescinded. No one is safe.

In the end, we need to be up lifting, stop bickering and act like professionals. If you can provide helpful information -- do it. If you are in need of helpful information -- ask. If you are posting to stir up trouble -- stop. We are defenders, act accordingly.

183 - are you K&L in NY? How do you know the cleaver has fallen in Boston and Newark? Did something happen there today?

Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole.

FIRST, to call pablo picasso an asshole.

186-

I know a bunch of income partners' contracts in Boston and Newark were not renewed. Some of them have left already. Some will be leaving soon. Also, there will be a significant number of equity partners who will fall to the income partner ranks, all in order to make Pete and the Cabal look good when the PPP numbers come out.

If you don't have your own book with f*&^ you ##, watch out!!!

Listen to those who know -- a book of business is what matters. I don't care where you went to law school. It's your book that matters. And it better be big enough to give you political clout. Otherwise, feel smug all you want, but you are just a high-paid lawyer who will get the boot when the time comes. School you went to stops mattering about ten seconds after you enter the building on your first day.

Oh and those that think laid off lawyers won't get biglaw jobs again -- what planet are you on? Plenty will. Plenty will.

185 has got it right.

But what does he know? Oh, that's right, he's just one of the few here who probably has practiced law for 10+ years.

I'm a 3L about to graduate from a T15. Some of the least impressive people from my summer associate gig went to T10 or T5 or T-whatever schools. I had many of the other summer associates from higher ranked schools asking me basic, basic questions.

Like a previous poster said: your school stops mattering the second you show up on your first day of work. People who think otherwise clearly haven't held a real job before and are in for a rude awakening.

I can already see the clueless T-5 poster on the day he gets fired.. "But.....but......but I went to Harvard!"

Reality will kick him in the nuts soon enough.

Why are there so many comments in this post? Someone pls summarize. Tks.

-182

"Hoorah, 168. Our warriors make some of the best lawyers.

-Equity Partner, Gulf War vet (Army), and former federal prosecutor."

182 = Mark Rush

and by the way, we are witnessing the end of days,

its Revalations people,

John 3:16 and James 1:12, LIVE IT!

NY to 190!!!!!

You are living in a dream world that when the "books open up" firms are going to hire the guys that got laid off.
________
Why does it have to be this way? This is why it sucks working for law firms. These bigshot partners need to eat some humble pie, and I hope they do so in 2009.

People who got laid off will be hired. Everyone will know that there was simply not enough work to go around.

I'm glad a partner finally weighed in--some of you biglaw associates are incredibly delusional about how the real world works. You're all on the precipice of getting fired, whether you went Ivy or T10 or T14. No one cares about your pedigree when there's no work to be had.

And those gov't attys will be coming in as partners or special counsel--I've seen it. They have actual experience and may actually have a book of business. Some V10 T10 fool who's spent 2500hrs a year reviewing docs or taking throwaway depos don't have a shot.

why are all of you so nasty?

34/142/174 And all other gov't lawyers:

As a 1L, I was wondering if you could clarify a few things:
Do government lawyers really make time and a half for overtime? I was doing some research and for a GS15, Step 7, the overtime hourly rate is equal to the hourly basic rate:

http://www.opm.gov/oca/09tables/pdf/dcb_h.pdf

Also, it was my understanding that attorneys are exempt from the FLSA overtime regs since they're professionals.

Can anyone clarify this

193, very insightful; except there is no god other than Uncle Pete K. and MZ, aka "The Man"

189 / 183 -- I had not heard about that, but I also have not yet spoken to an income partner who got a raise. Most got cuts, on top of the 12/31 debacle...

I hope they use the cash they save on my salary to pay for the big neon "K&L Gates Center" sign they are going to put on top of the Freemarkets/Arriba building. From now on every time I go to a Pirates game -- yes I am indeed a Pittsburgh Pirates fan and I always buy at least a block of tickets -- the obnoxious sign will stab me in the heart like management is apparently going to stab us in the back.

We were just curious about the caliber of your education, 191.

I have only been to Pittsburgh twice, but PNC Park is a really nice ballpark. Sucks about the jobs and the pirates though.

202 - Or perhaps they will spend it on installing the $25,000 piece of art in the DC lobby facing the right way. hint - the fancy decorated side goes on the FRONT.

185,

BS that you are a "Biglaw Partner."

The term "TTT" is only used by law students who angry Chicago grads.

185,

BS that you are a "Biglaw Partner."

The term "TTT" is only used by law students or angry Chicago grads.

185 - Well said...

185:

"Pete Kalis here"

Sure as shit.

185 - FOUR!

I should have yelled "TWO"

To all the puffers on the board who are preaching the "book of business" bullshit, please explain one thing: How in the hell will laid-off associates be able to develop a book of business the way you did, i.e., slaving away for a partner's client until the partner grew bored/retired/died, subsequently inheriting the client and thus waltzing into partnership? No one can deny that's the path the vast, vast majority of current partners followed. And don't say that associates just have to work harder to bring in clients. If so, then set the example--fulfill your fiduciary duty to your partners by capturing more business, or stay in the office past 6:00 billing hours and bringing in revenue, rather than walking home on the backs of your associates while blithely placing the blame on them for your failures. You fuckers who got in when times were good and when succession was a given are now preaching to the folks who are doing no less than you did. Sure, the game has changed; things are different. But at least acknowledge that your smug twatness is borne out of nothing more than the giddy realization that you were in the right place at the right time.

Reed Smith >>> KL Gates

183/189. You are an idiot. "Pete"?? You two on a first name basis? Also, PPP already came out. What are you doing? Sitting with the K&L website open and rattling off office locations to sound like you know what you're talking about? Sounds like it. Again, you are an idiot. Proof read your posts, too.

Oh, another point, the Legacy PGE contract issue came up a while ago.

201. You at least sound legit. It's true, partners are not happy about the comp that just came out.

205. That installation is hideous. How do you know it's backwards, though?

This shit be stinkin'

213

I forget but someone told a fellow associate back when it was installed. I mean, it make sense that it's backwards, no? Think about it. Why put the fancy - veiny stuff? facing the elevators? It should obviously face the lobby.
But it cost to much to fix so I guess the decision was sort of a collective "eh." who will notice?

wow. my apologies. 215 here. That was just a horrific spelling attempt on my part.

to be fair I'm one of the few employed associates left so I've been working a lot and I'm really tired.

(I didn't mean that it a nose rubbing kind of way, I am just really tired).

Serious question for the government lawyer -- how does overtime for the government work? (i.e., do all legal positions offer it; and when are you allowed to work overtime -- do you need approval, do things have to be busy).

Just a couple of comments - 1) Govt lawyers I have gone against in court seem to be really weak, extremely overworked litigators that didn't have time to prepare for their case and present sort of half ass cases. Without the whole "sovereign immunity", "our regulations are so complex you must defer to the agency", and the "high standards of review" govt lawyers would be screwed.

2) How do Govt lawyers lateral in with a book of business? The point has been made several times in these posts and it just doesn't cut the mustard. Maybe you can acquire a big book quickly based on your experience and the comfor that must give clients but I can't see how you could come into a law firm with any business.....

3) I'm working late so hopefully I won't be fired tomorrow.

The bickering and abusiveness on this thread are amusing.

The truth is that the overwhelming majority of people working in giant pseudo-corporate law firms are miserable, to some degree. The firms (as illustrated clearly over the past 9 months) have no appreciation for the efforts of their employees, serve the interests of thieves, and have no honor.

On the whole, the work most of these firms do is valueless, amounting at best to skimming off of an overly-complex legal system and profiting through artificially limiting access to information.

The ones screaming loudest about how successful and rich they are are likely the most miserable of all, overcompensating for their hollow lives wasted doing meaningless paper-shuffling. Even worse are the wretched losers that claim some kind of superiority for having had the experience of shuffling papers and lying for a few years.

You people deserve each other.

219 -- But besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the show?

213

I was on a first name basis, bendejo. And the PPP argument is for next year. Every year is a "banana" for that place. Ask the income partners what happened on 12/31.

I know that many of the PGE people are unhappy, because they thought it was a marriage of equals, and it wasn't. They have lost a lot of their perks, and because of the constant rate pressure, which never lets up, they have lost a number of good clients.

211 -- Gee, bitter much? It's the perennial question from associates -- How do I develop my own book of business? Well, some people figure it out and some don't. Some, as you say, inherit clients, while others go out and get their own.

But guess what, life is unfair. You seem to think firms should go by the rule of "Let's extend partnership to the guys with the best resumes." Sorry, but firms are businesses, not resume-swapping mutual masturbation clinics.

K&L Gates? Oh yeah, I remember that place back when the NIP was under $200K and PK was just a smart guy banging his partner's wife. Hmmm. I suppose he's still a smart guy, and rumor has it, still banging his partner's wife. Oh well, at least the NIP has more than doubled. And that's what really matters. That, and make believe diversity efforts.

221

I don't need to ask. Plus, I'll give you the PGE unhappiness. You're right about that. Learn how to spell your insults, though.

xoxo
213

I believe he stopped banging his partner's wife temporarily, until he became head of the firm and could do it again with impunity.

12, you are the typical ass that gives lawyers the bad name so many already have. Also, you give the reason so many are laughing at all of you who are being kicked out.

If you have made all that money why are so many brokers and those such as yourself worried about the money & losing their condos.

12, you are the typical ass that gives lawyers the bad name so many already have. Also, you give the reason so many are laughing at all of you who are being kicked out.

If you have made all that money why are so many brokers and those such as yourself worried about the money & losing their condos.

Enjoy Paris, you won't be missed here.

12, you are the typical ass that gives lawyers the bad name so many already have. Also, you give the reason so many are laughing at all of you who are being kicked out.

If you have made all that money why are so many brokers and those such as yourself worried about the money & losing their condos.

Enjoy Paris, you won't be missed here.

Kalis has been very patient, but he is a follower not a leader - buying up/merging with under-performing law firms only delays the inevitable day of reckoning. His $4 million a year compensation is payment for short-term growth in top line - it was $2 million pa a couple of years ago. What is the spirit of the age ref compensation - alignment with long-term success. Buy put options on K & L stock! Some of us partners have been looking for the other side of our desired trades. We wish! Some great people at the firm but please step forward Larry Platt - human, smart, genuine - and no I am not related, but PK and many of Management Committee just don't have much to offer any more.

213-224

My Spanish English dictionary gives two spellings, one with a p and the other with a b. Still means the same thing.

Love you, too.

221