First Bitches

Not that this firm is in any way relevant (i.e., not a peer competitor) to me; however, I feel compelled to offer some soothing words of advice for the attorneys being affected by the wave of layoffs that are in part due to lackluster performance and also to the sagging economy. Do not take your termination personally. Be a professional, walk tall and refrain from tearing. Your termination was a business decision. I am not here to make your dreams of financial wealth become true. I am not a genie, just a businessman with an acumen for making money. If you cannot bill quality hours, you are not useful from a business standpoint. Thusly, you must go. Some departments are slow. The lack of work means you must go. Again, nothing personal. Understand that older folks like myself built the foundation of most of these firms. We will weather the tough times and survive. If we have to get rid of excess baggage in order to stay afloat, we will not hesitate to do so; after all, I am not running a charity. Nothing personal, just pure business. I wish the terminated associates and personnel good luck in their future endeavors and let us share in communal prayer that this economy recover sooner rather than later.

pwnd!!!!!

UT LAW . TX rulez.

First Bitches

80-90% of biglaw firms are going to cut 20% of associates by the time this is done. Once there are mass partner expulsions, I might start to call bottom.

The ship is shipping. Time to secede from the Union.

3 - way to copy and paste what you posted earlier, dickhead. Are you already out of ideas?

BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!

SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!

Check out Am Law Daily: Cravath is pushing back start dates.

THIS WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN TEXAS

Ok, I'm off ATL until that G*dd***d Dealbreaker ad is gone. Someone let me know, ok? My name is Guest.

6 - may be also 20% of partners

Just decided against doing a layoff/no bonus copycat at paul hastttings....

maybe it will be sunny tomorrow

So this is 887 or thereabouts for the week? and Tuesday isn't even over yet?

Nom Nom Nom

More GRAPES!!!

yo, MysTTTal, why are you posting about this TTT and not about what's going on at CravaTTTh (which is admittedly a little higher in the TT than this TTT).

TTTrue STTTory, guesTTT

This comment is addressed to post no. 8. There are only so many ways to impart good wishes on the fallen associates and personnel. I am not going to try to euphemize what happened to these people in different terms. These are indeed tough times for all of us. Many of these associates have an overachiever complex. They cannot handle a termination well. Often, they take termination as a sign of personal failure. My initial message was intended to soften the impact of their recent misfortune and to elevate spirits in a time of despair. If I were a lot younger, I would flog you for showing your impudence. Show some sympathy for the recently terminated workforce and wish them well in landing on their feet instead of criticizing me for repeating the well intended message I expressed earlier.

10, 17 ATL posted about Cravath earlier today.

here at uva we no worries. the economy is burning, and we just play softball. don't be jealous.

As predicted before, we will see a 30 to 50 percent reduction from maximum in PH headcount before the end of this downsizing. With these two sets of cuts, we are well on our way.

To the remaining PH associates you have been warned before, now prepare yourselves.

This would never happen under President Cthulhu. Cthulhu-Nyarlathotep in 2012.

Ph'nglui mglw'nafh C'thulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!

Why is the info on this site so delayed on my BBerry - sometimes hours behind the desktop?

So where does PH stand in LA right now?

How many women? What %?

14 - TRUST me you don't want to that... As FAR as I know, ANother did that and it didn't work out so well for him!

Hopefully each of the affected associates will have access to credit facilities to purchase kidney transplants for their beloved cats. If this doesn't sound like a good idea to you, it's because you suck and you only love yourself.

-- 102 from the other thread

Wow big surprise Seth Zachary's comments to the American Lawyer were nothing but complete bull shit.

What a shiftless fuck.

Paul Hastings you stealth lay-off people two weeks before you announce lay-offs to keep the numbers down.

You are the worst law firm in this crisis.

Every partner who stands silently by while this is happening and is either: a) willfully blind or b) silently compliant should be ashamed of themselves.

Disgraceful conduct from disgusting management group.

"The actions we have announced today are necessary to ensure the continuing health and competitiveness of the Firm, as well as our ability to provide excellent service and value to our clients."

So, with less people (brain drain) you provide better service and value? Give me an f-ing break. that is one of the dumbest statements I have seen lately.

Lets rewrite to what it should have said:

The actions we have announced today are necessary to ensure the PPP of the partnership, as well as our ability to continue to exist because we have no idea what we were doing or how to run a business.

DAAAAAAAAVE!!!!!!

Well played 28.

How did San Diego fare?

What'd I tell you? I predict a wave of first year suicides. But people please, don't forget to publicly implicate your firms, if you're going to do it.

QUINN REMAINS

If I do it, I will definitely publicly implicate my firm.

-suicidal laid off 1st year

36 --don't even kid around about that.

19 - better, thanks.

-8

>>>So where does PH stand in LA right now?<<<

515 South Flower Street, same as always

Has anyone heard if there will be further layoffs at Reed Smith?

38, you an OMP or something? Yah, the firm doesn't care until you publicly attach your suicide to their name.

I don't care about the firm -- I have nothing to do with the firm. I just don't think we should joke around about suicide at a time like this (or ever for that matter).

"Accordingly, today we have completed a regretted but necessary step of reducing our workforce in the United States by 44 associates and 87 staff. We appreciate our colleagues' contributions to the Firm during their tenure. They will be eligible for severance."

why does Texas own the legal community nowadays?

34, you should be ashamed of yourself. There might be some of us who are actually suicidal after undergoing the stresses of the day. You should not chide someone to make hasty decisions becuase it might fulfill your goal of bringing shame (even if it's well deserved) on PH.

quinn sucks

Here's a way for Paul Hastings to save money: fire Seth and Greg, and in their place substitute a computer running this simple algorithm:

(1) Wait for virtually every major law firm to do something.

(2) Find the firms that did it in the least transparent and most dickish manner.

(3) Wait a couple weeks, and then do something ever so slightly more dickish.

The computer is sure to be much cheaper and less patronizing than Seth and Greg, and the results will be indistinguishable!

43, who says I'm joking? I got canned as a 1st year, I have massive student debt, and no one is hiring? What are my reasons for continuing to live here?

-suicidal laid off 1st year

shut up 46. i'm not telling anyone to do it if they're not already going to do it.

When I get laid off from Paul Hastings, I'm going to accidentally replace "Hastings" with "Weiss" on my resume.

49, assuming that you're not just schtick, are there no people in the world whom you care about and who care about you in turn?

36, 49, sorry, but that's just ridiculous. Is your self-worth so tied to one narrow idea of career success that you can't imagine living without it?

Get it together, man.

49-- get a deferral and spend some time thinking about other options. Once you get over losing the biglaw salary, you will be surprised at the happiness that exists outside of biglaw.

through early morning fog I see....

Suicidal - you will get through this. Things will eventually turn around. Talk to your lenders. Start looking. Some smaller firms are still hiring. Stay positive.

WTF does "eligible for severance" mean?

Severance to be paid as long as a ridiculously binding agreement is signed?

F these people, if they are so worried about being bad mouthed then maybe do a better job during the exit process, actually put some effort into the process so people leave fully understanding and accepting the decision.

smaller firm = 40k salary = life of misery as sallie mae's cunt muscle.

-suicidal laid off 1st year

49 - either do it or don't, either way gtfo these threads

59. No.

-suicidal laid off 1st year

Can we please stop feeding the "suicide" trolls? Please? Suicide occurs because of mental illness, not all-of-the-sudden because of "student loans."

so do people think this is beginning of MORE layoffs at PH?

45:

Because we are still living off the now-past oil boom, and TX firms in general didn't grow as fast as, for example, the CA firms. But, don't worry, the reaper is coming for us soon to.

TX Associate.

61, you don't understand suicide very well. a lot of people who do it are not mentally ill.

I like Partner Emeritus. He also brings a ray of amusing sunshine to my otherwise dreary day.

Not only is 40 right, the savings from these layoffs can be used to pay expenses related to having their name appear at the top of the 515 S. Flower building.

Layoffs like this mean Sallie Mae's cunt muscle is growing larger and larger daily. Soon it will be the drooling, flapping cthonic membrane that swallows the corporate firm paradigm. Have fun living inside a vagina.

CHOKE YOURSELF

Lawyers suffer from depression and alcohol abuse and huge rates in the best of times. It's really not that funny to make cracks and follow-up cracks about suicide now. These are the kind of comments people in teaching or counseling professions know to take seriously. Please seek help if you need it. The NYSBA Lawyers Assistance Program has resources for lawyers (nysba.org), and universities have them for their students.

We need to figure out a student loans policy
http://www.blackbooklegal.com

Or use the savings to pay SAs to do absolutely nothing.

If you are going to commit suicide, then do so, and decrease the surplus associate population,

-- Biglaw Partner

Suicidal 1st Year:

Stop acting like such a p*ssy. Get off your sorry ass and go do something, anything. Go join the Marines -- they'll make a man out of you.

Can we get some details about the lay offs of this major employment law firm? And people, if you are distressed about things, you need help, but this isn't the place to look for it. Just take it day by day, don't make a permanent decision based on a temporary setback. And it is temporary.

72, if you're a BigLaw Partner, wouldn't you WANT a surplus associate population?

73. No.

ALL WILL FALL

AND

QUINN REMAINS

I hope biglaw partner gets raped

63 -- you're obviously not a TX associate if you still believe in the myth that energy prices drive TX law. There is still a huge demand for energy regardless of what prices do from quarter to quarter, and in case you haven't heard, the new president intends to rebuild the grid, invest in alternative energy, etc. Energy isn't going anywhere. And TX firms (esp. V&E and BB) are way way underlevered -- both had been trying to increase their leverage but fortunately didn't have time to before the crisis hit.

Read this. It'll teach you how to manage a firm (scroll to middle where it talks about firm leverage and non-equity partners):

http://www.adamsmithesq.com/blog/

Notice how v&e and bb are in damn good shape. notice how the firms laying people off have huge leverage a lots of non equity fat.

How about providing some context, Mystal?

"Round 3"?

What's the cumulative percentage downsizing of total attorneys at Paul Hastings after this round?

75 -

No jackass. Surplus means there are too many associates wasting time on ATL rather than billing and increasing my profits.

Biglaw Partner

I don't know why these firms can't decide the big law model doesn't work. Pay these people at lower salaries, job share, contract work. This is crazy. Come on big fat ass partners, do something creative.

Here's a golden oldie for all my little suicidal friends . . .

Through early morning fog I see

visions of the things to be

the pains that are withheld for me

I realize and I can see...

[REFRAIN]:

that suicide is painless

It brings on many changes

and I can take or leave it if I please.

I try to find a way to make

all our little joys relate

without that ever-present hate

but now I know that it's too late, and...

[REFRAIN]

The game of life is hard to play

I'm gonna lose it anyway

The losing card I'll someday lay

so this is all I have to say.

[REFRAIN]

The only way to win is cheat

And lay it down before I'm beat

and to another give my seat

for that's the only painless feat.

[REFRAIN]

The sword of time will pierce our skins

It doesn't hurt when it begins

But as it works its way on in

The pain grows stronger...watch it grin, but...

[REFRAIN]

A brave man once requested me

to answer questions that are key

is it to be or not to be

and I replied 'oh why ask me?'

[REFRAIN]

'Cause suicide is painless

it brings on many changes

and I can take or leave it if I please.

...and you can do the same thing if you please.

http://www.law.com/jsp/tal/PubArticleTAL.jsp?id=1202428236375&The_Fire_This_Time_Thoughts_on_The_Coming_Law_Firm_Hiring_Crisis

I am compelled to respond to poster no. 70. I neither know nor care to know how you were raised but I do know you are part of the problem America faces today. We are in a financial crisis because people like yourself acted irresponsibly with regards to money and financial decisions. No one put a gun to your head or coerced you to leverage yourself to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. You gambled with your future and you are now letting a temporary setback justify your request for loan forgiveness? You are no better than a drug junkie that goes into a methadone clinic to ask for real heroin. People like you disgust me. Stand up to your responsibilities and pay your student loans. I recall testifying in Congress back in 1996 about the fact that people who discharged student loan debt in bankruptcy deprived other students from getting loans in the future to futher their education since the William D. Stafford program would become insolvent if student loans were discharged. I was very relieved that my testimony was part of the impetus that galvanized Congress into making student loans non-dischargeable as part of the 1998 amendment to the Bankruptcy Code. Now quit whinning, be a productive member of society and re-pay your student loans!

I love contract attorneys, We make lots of money from them and can hire/dismiss them without jumping through hoops. The days of 6:1 leveraging are over and will not return. PPP will take a hit, but so will losses in lean years.

Biglaw Partner

81, you are a moron. His suicidal shtick is because he got laid off as a first year and now has huge loans and no job prospects. Why are you advising him to off himself? How does a laid off associate offing himself affect your profits you dumbass?

First in this thread to eat a gun

79:

I don't disagree with most of what you say; I want to believe it and at one time did, but I can assure you that not all of the claims in your post are correct. Sorry.

The "Partner Emeritus" character would be much funnier (i.e., negligibly funny) if it were at least half-believable. "Thusly"?? "Quit whinning"?? I'd counsel you to try harder, but it's obviously just an aptitude issue.

Someone please remove 78's comment.

Wasn't Paul Hastings the firm that fired an associate after her miscarriage? Klassy.

92 -- what does that have to do with anything?

Quit with the suicide BS --- it's not funny.

LA firms are struggling. Gibson, Munger and Irell --- only places to go in CA?

Someone please remove 91, i am offended

93--

Nothing, really.

--92

At one point do most of these firms stop? Fall of 2009? Early 2010?

92,

Yes they did have that incident, which made for some sensational reading in tabloid style, however it's worth noting she was not laid off because of her miscarriage, regardless of how great of a headline it makes.

93 -- It matters because if you're, say, an associate or a law student, you want to understand why the firm is doing what it's doing. You have to know the context.

Is the firm struggling with the business climate, but trying to react in a way that preserves its reputation and keeps things running smoothly? Did its management react to specific client demands, or is it just following the trend and deleveraging? Is it recklessly chasing PPP at the expense of keeping the firm operating effectively? Does it give a damn about its associates?

92 isn't inclined to give PH the benefit of the doubt. And I don't blame him/her.

There can't possibly be any more layoffs.

Are you joking? There ARE going to be more layoffs -- at Paul Hastings.

"We've received a bunch of emails and comments that there was an attempted suicide at the MetLife building above Grand Central (home to Barclays, among others) approximately 30 minutes ago."
http://www.dealbreaker.com/

102 - Paul Hastings is not in the MetLife building.

I got laid off but not from Hastings. I too am losing my home, insurance, and unable to pay any loans off which I have several. All I can say is I hope the youth of today are not able to borrow money for a law education because of the hell this Biglaw whores have played a large part.

I am going to kill myself soon, but I would never jump off of a building. I am currently selling off some stuff on Craig's List and I am learning how to become a heroin addict--It eases the transition-- a lot more that the token severance I received.

I assume I will overdose, at least that is the plan.

Regretfully, unlike many of those in the D.C area, I am not politically collected nor do I come from wealth. Most of the silver spoons types are still gainfully employed.

I guess, when all is said and done, I could have done worse in my life, I could have been a ass-sucking partner compulsively working 80 hours a week in order to steal all the hours from those targeted for execution.

I have no regrets. And I am sure the memo I received wishing me well and expressing regret for my termination was heartfelt and sincere : )

All I ask before I kill myself is that God remove my hope that all of the partners at the firm I worked for get killed and maimed in a horrible plague or accident--leaving their children with no one to care for them /

I am a PH associate and I do think the firm cares about its associates.
The firm is doing better than other firms (ex. Latham) and while I know that it's all relative, I think that the partners have done a good job of keeping the ship as steady as possible during an incredibly tough year. They haven't frozen salaries and make efforts to keep associates busy when their group is slow by shifting them over into other groups. I know this, because I am one of those associates.
Ultimately, however, the firm is a business and there is only so much work to go around, therefore business decisions have to be made. It stinks.
I know some good associates that were let go today and I wish them all luck.

Texas firms have cash.

Hoping that all the suicide comments are jokes and normally I appreciate some cynicism, but...

Things will go uphill from here. You made it this far, you will succeed again, in law or in another profession-- perhaps you will end up finding something that will make you happier. Your loved ones, your health, the things you enjoy in life are all more important than a job, even if you have invested heavily to get here.

Don't let this get you down. Do whatever you need to do to get through the next few months, day by day, and don't lose sight of the things that really matter. Try to find a job (any job), learn to live on a very tight budget, borrow great books from the library and read them, go on a low-cost backpacking vacation if you can afford it, pursue something you'd really like to do even if just on the side. As hard as it is, try to enjoy being away from the pressure cooker for a while. Your life will get back on track if you don't let this derail you.

Good luck to all.

105 - Let's see how supportive you are of PH's tactics once you end up on the chopping block....probably next week. Your state of denial will serve you well. No, I wasn't laid off from PH - I am just disgusted with how they have treated their associates.

No doubt that Greg, Seth and that dipshit that heads the lit dept. will announce an increase in billing rates tomorrow. I cannot wait until the PH partner layoffs start.

If you want me to poop in a box and mark it "guaranteed" I will. I've got extra time.

108:

All I am saying is that if it had to be done, then it had to be done. Obviously, I would be anxious and upset if it happened to me and I feel bad for some of the good people that got the short end of the stick.
I know I will be ok, because I am billing a lot.

I hope you suicidal lawyers are just joking. When I graduated college in 1982, the economy was also awful. I worked at a restaurant. Everything passes. If you can't pay your student loans, you may want to file a Chaper 13 (you'll need a hardship discharge from the Bankruptcy Judge for the student loans). Just get any type of job and do a five year plan that will wipe out your debts at the end of the plan.

Big law staff guy here.

Hey this stuff is depressing man. I rather read the soap opera blogs on the KS layoffs then this crap.

The suicide comments are disturbing. If ATL gives a shi* about the legal community as a whole, it should offer a free add to a suicide hotline or something geared toward lawyers and depression.

It should replace the Dealbreaker add.

ATL has fed into the "holier than thou" culture of biglaw and continues to provide a platform during biglaw's restructuring. Do something to help.

111: the idea that you think your safe b/c your billing a lot is funny. Yeh, maybe it makes it a little less likely, but at the end of the day the partners adn people making a decision are about little else than the 160K plus they are paying you. There is always someone else billing as much or more than you.

It's PedoBear!! - Run for your Poopers!

111 - I was billing a lot too, up until the minute I was axed.

Everything is great at Quinn - incompetence as usual.

http://abajournal.com/news/confidential_settlement_revealed_in_quinn_emanuel_brochure/

Can anyone provide legit numbers on the offices, practice groups, and years affected?

Wonder if the 44 includes the few that have been let go over each of the past few weeks or if this was a fresh 44 that just got notified today for the first time?

I am compelled to respond to poster 85:

First of all, "thusly" isn't a word, but here's what is: "pompous", "self-important" and "poser." You are obsessed with how prestigious you are, yet criticize others for wanting the same.
Second of all, welcome to America. Here, we do not consider taking out student loans "gambling on your future." America is supposed to be a place where if you work hard, you can, at the very least, keep yourself out of crushing debt. Going to a PUBLIC law school today means taking out at least $50,000 a year, not to mention what you would owe if you also had to take out loans for college. Not many people can afford that and, frankly, if the system makes it too much of a risk to take out loans to get an education, we are not utilizing our best and brightest (just like in the sixties when there were racial and religious quotas and assholes like you ended up getting these jobs). The people who work at big firms are the ones who bought into this fucked up system because they believed the bullshit of people like you who have money and therefore think that they deserve it. They HAVE worked hard, which is how they got these jobs in the first place. Trying to better yourself does not mean you deserve to suffer at the hands of a recession.
If you weren't such a dick, I'd feel sorry for you. You focus on things like golf and Afghan Hounds because you are deeply unhappy with who you are-- and at your age, that's pathetic. Life is not about prestige and what you have, but you are certainly in no position to criticize those who think it is.

What seems to be missing from this discussion is how mismanaged Paul Hastings (PH) truly is - I know because I used to work there. PH has raised its rates 6 times in the last 3 years - the latest came this January (mid-level associates bill close to $600 - partners bill $800+). While companies are trying to lower costs and increase productivity, PH has done the exact opposite. The reason for layoffs is not solely the economy. The mentality there is so idiotic. Jamie Wareham - head of the PH litigation group - has often said that PH only wants to work for "rate insensitive" clients. Who the hell is rate insensitive - Bernie Madoff? This mentality is rampant at other firms as well.

105/111--i was billing so much until the moment i was let go that i was still getting emails from partners to get sh*t done today when i got back to my desk. don't be so cocky. yes, business is business, but you need to know that the selected "reductions in force" are not necessarily linked to so-called business demands.

I'll be checking back in here after the 11:00 meeting (probably with a morning beer in hand) to read about how all of the PH associates got no-bonused. To all of you arrogant fuck associates there that walk around with something stuck up your ass--don't spend it all in one place.

Oh, and if you end up needing some work, I might have something for you if you learned how to do anything except doc review before you got canned.

Now quit pretending you are still billing and go pawn that custom frame you bought for your Harvard diploma for some gas money.

Until ATL takes the initiative and puts up a banner...

Kristin Brooks Hope Line
1.800.SUICIDE
Calls are connected to a certified crisis center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Please call for help if you need it.

122:

Dead on balls accurate.

See my post at 109 (not as detailed as yours, but same idea). I am sure they can still find plenty of rate insensitive clients in these times though. Wait, maybe not.

And I wonder what their current and potential clients would think if they knew that is how the firm viewed them?

If any of these suicide comments are real, here is the phone number for the Kristin Brooks Hope Center, National Suicide Prevention hotline: 1.800.SUICIDE (784-2433)

Elie/Lat: Please consider placing a list of references somewhere on these pages. There are enough references that some people might not be joking. Thanks.

Thanks, 125.

~127

121, come on. I guarantee "Partner Emeritus" is a law student having you on. You picked up on "thusly"; you should have drawn this conclusion.

Real estate (understandably in this market) was the hardest hit. Sad.

3 ... 85:

I really hope you are who you insinuate to be ....
I will soooo enjoy knowing that Obama's policies (which are as good as in effect) will cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Now this motivates me to go on! And your elitist sorry ass probably voted for him too... LOL

Good points, 121, but clearly Emeritus' posts are a joke. Not funny enough to make me pee my pantaloons, granted, but entertaining nonetheless. It's amazing to me how many people make jokes in their comments and how many more people simply don't get them. On that note, I'm gonna go kill myself.

Our firm never lays people off. Ever.

There's no swifter way to reveal your idiocy than to show sad, dogmatic and irrational support for failed economic policies of the past. Hey... you should run a law firm!

SUICIDE-RELATED COMMENT

69, and all the other concerned citizens on here posting NYSBA and other suicide prevention organizations:

Maybe if NYSBA, NYC Law and other lawyer organizations offered assistance to their respective members who have been laid off and find themselves making $405/week on unemployment offered real assistance --- such as, for instance, waiving membership dues and assistance with paying for CLE --- laid off associates would feel like they're not alone and that real help is out there. Has anyone checked lately how much CLE and NYC and NYS dues are???

F--k all of you lawyers. I was an associate at a large NY firm until about 3 months ago when I got let go. Yes, I made some dumb mistakes (like sending opposing counsel some internal notes regarding our strategy for litigating a pretty substantial case) but it was an honest error. The friggin partner I was working for hit the ceiling when she found out (a ball-busting bitch if ever there was one) and she had another partner fire me the next day. I've been working at Marie Callender's for the last month or so and it's actually a lot more fun than practicing law. Nobody calls me on Saturday to tell me to get my ass into the office and work (unless I'm scheduled to work on Saturday) plus I don't need to report the tips on my tax returns. Waiting tables isn't half bad. Some of you fucks should try it.

What about PH incoming associates? Delayed start dates?

105/111- You are not simply safe because you are billing a lot. One day that might stop (like it did for your real estate and corporate colleagues) and you'll be out the door too.

As for PH being better run than Latham, let's examine what what we know: Latham is STILL more prestigious, Latham paid more in bonuses (historically) than PH, and Latham gave their laid off people DOUBLE the severance PH did. Which firm is better? For all of Seth's idolization of Latham, he is really not following its lead in the ways that count for associates.

Perhaps it is because he only cares about the PPP and not about the people at the firm.

I hope you are next.

This comment is in response to post no. 121. Rest assured I do not take pleasure in the effects of our economic recession. My partners and I have made some very difficult decisions in light of Warren Buffett's self-coined economic "Pearl Harbor." Nevertheless, I do not feel sympathy for today's generation of attorneys that cry penury because they have become unemployed and have responsibilities to meet. Welcome to the real America.

I posted earlier about how people, such as my father, endured and lived in abject poverty during the Great Depression. He survived and I am of the pedigree that will do whatever it takes to beat adversity. My comments are designed to challenge, not mock, today's generation of attorneys to surmount the temporary setback of unemployment. Most laid off attorneys are presumably bright and possess the essential tools of survival. So some of you won't be working for my firm anymore. It is not the end of the world and it is not the time to capitulate. There are many enterprising options that exist, even in our dour economy. My message to these young attorneys is to find these opportuinities and stop luxuriating in self-pity.

What I keep reading about is young lawyers asking for a bailout from student loans. This is preposterous. These people would rather bankrupt Sallie Mae and deprive future generations of students from being able to finance their education. All because some took a gamble to become a lawyer and claw for an opportunity to work for a firm like mine. This is entirely egocentric. And you have the nerve to call me pompous?

I worked hard in life to get where I am. It wasn't easy. The difference between you and people like me is that you follow rather than lead. You wait for a bailout rather than get off your posterior to accompllish something proactive to extract yourself from your rut. You are not deserving of a bailout. Live up to your responsiblity.

I won't address your other petty comments about my use of thusly, my affinity for golf and my ownership of best in show dogs. I can assure you I am quite happy and you should consider yourself fortunate to have my counsel on these message boards. i guarantee you can learn a lot from someone of my caliber and experience in life.

136 -- sending internal work product to the other side is an big error, you idiot. You deserved to get fired. Now the only risk is that you give someone a chicken pot pie when they ordered the turkey.

This comment is in response to post no. 121. Rest assured I do not take pleasure in the effects of our economic recession. My partners and I have made some very difficult decisions in light of Warren Buffett's self-coined economic "Pearl Harbor." Nevertheless, I do not feel sympathy for today's generation of attorneys that cry penury because they have become unemployed and have responsibilities to meet. Welcome to the real America.

I posted earlier about how people, such as my father, endured and lived in abject poverty during the Great Depression. He survived and I am of the pedigree that will do whatever it takes to beat adversity. My comments are designed to challenge, not mock, today's generation of attorneys to surmount the temporary setback of unemployment. Most laid off attorneys are presumably bright and possess the essential tools of survival. So some of you won't be working for my firm anymore. It is not the end of the world and it is not the time to capitulate. There are many enterprising options that exist, even in our dour economy. My message to these young attorneys is to find these opportuinities and stop luxuriating in self-pity.

What I keep reading about is young lawyers asking for a bailout from student loans. This is preposterous. These people would rather bankrupt Sallie Mae and deprive future generations of students from being able to finance their education. All because some took a gamble to become a lawyer and claw for an opportunity to work for a firm like mine. This is entirely egocentric. And you have the nerve to call me pompous?

I worked hard in life to get where I am. It wasn't easy. The difference between you and people like me is that you follow rather than lead. You wait for a bailout rather than get off your posterior to accompllish something proactive to extract yourself from your rut. You are not deserving of a bailout. Live up to your responsiblity.

I won't address your other petty comments about my use of thusly, my affinity for golf and my ownership of best in show dogs. I can assure you I am quite happy and you should consider yourself fortunate to have my counsel on these message boards. i guarantee you can learn a lot from someone of my caliber and experience in life.

* Unfortunately I am not as proficient with computers as my younger counterparts. This is a repeat post. I was not signed on and I do not want anyone else taking credit for my thoughts.

139 -- go back to Gilligan's Island, Mr. Howell. What a pompous ass.

139:

Go home to your empty house and fuck yourself.

Can't believe mystal is still here. Bush league. And if anyone tells me I'm fired, I'm going to slap them with a white leather glove I keep in my desk for precisely that purpose.

To 140, go fuck yourself. It wasn't that big a deal. You sound like that bitch of a partner I worked for. You probably take great pleasure in emasculating men because your daddy didn't pay much attention to you? Am I right. No, I haven't mistakenly given someone a turkey pot pie instead of chicken one. I can tell you this, if you were to ever come to one of my tables I'd inject a little of my DNA into your a la mode. Chances are a bitch like you would enjoy it.

hey 139, your father lived in abject poverty...you forgot to mention that he raised an abject prick. Who the fuck cares about your life story. You're still a piece of garbage and probably haven't popped a boner in 20 years.

Can anyone at Skadden confirm the rumors that conference rooms are booked for Friday for MASSIVE layoffs?

147, not SKADDEN!!?? Saints preserve us.

wow...the original bateman from princeton review is all grown up...and doing this partner emeritus nonsense. i prefer the old bateman shtick.

139:

Waaaaaiiiiiit a minute. Did you say you have best in show dogs? Holy shit, I'm going to become a partner just like you some day!!!! Thanks Bud! You changed my life.

136, you sound like a class A fuck-up. Are you up to the task of waiting tables? Any, yes, you do have to report your tips!

Total number of associates laid off in Atlanta?

147 - Go troll elsewhere.

138:

Yeah- you're right. Latham is so great and so well run that they pushed incoming associates start date back by a year and froze current associates salaries. I guess that's where they got the extra cash for an extra month or two of severance for the others.

Keep putting up posts about how I'm going to get laid off. They make me laugh because I am that arrogant.

Do you realize how scary this sentence is considering the point of today's memo was just to inform the firm of today's layoffs? -->

"we cannot predict any material improvement in 2009 and expect 2010 to be a challenging year as well for law firms and their clients."

In other words, all of you 3L's that think you are coming to PH in Fall of 2009, um, we cannot predict the economy, but we can predict that you will not have that job we offered you. This is getting beyond sad now.

Thank Obama for making a recession a depression with his continual "you think things are bad NOW? just wait..." schtick

I'm going to go out on the limb and say 136 probably had certain "fit" issues at his firm, which may have led to his being recommended for alumni status.

While I know there were some very good attorneys let go today, and I wish them the very best of luck, I should also point out that there were some good staff members and secretaries let go, too. It's a very scary, unsure time for every single one of us, no matter where we are or what we do.

Getting back to PHJW. They are asses. Everyone in the industry who knows Jamie rolls their eyes and wonders how he has managed to parlay his marginal talent into a leadership role at a major firm. This goes for people who knew him at both his former firms and people in the industry who know him. Imagine, a head of lit at a major international firm who has never tried an actual case. Shocking really. I invite Jamie or one of his accolytes to post his litigation wins on this blog.

Let's see yours.

Is PH TTT? Where does it stand in LA?

S&C start date Oct 5th

162 -- Who cares about S&C's start date? I'm sure it will change soon . . .

I think Atlanta cut 7 or 8 associates, including 3 first years.

No doubt that good, hardworking folks were let go today. It is certainly not some evil plot to dump associates right and left; there simply isn't enough work. In my office (3 were let go), none of the first or second years were affected and the partners have actively talked to associates about their concerns.

What I don't understand is why PH treats its associates so badly? I am given good work consistently and am treated with respect (I am a woman). Other women I know are given ample maternity leave. When I had a family emergency the firm was extremely understanding about me leaving for a week and certainly didn't expect me to worry or even think about my work obligations. Salaries weren't frozen and the expectation is (at least in my office) that folks will still get their bonuses (albeit lower amounts than last year).

Since when did law firms become charitable organizations? Its a business and the economy sucks--everyone is laying folks off and PH did what it needed to do. No one likes it. Everyone wishes they didn't have to do it, but it is what it is.

Laid off CWT '05 hotties asking price for BBBJs now down to $99!!! There's always a silver lining! I told ya so!

I want to grow up and become like Partner emeritus.

1L at Fordham

159 -- I think the answer to your question would be something along the lines of "his book of business is huge." And strangely, none of those $50 million-a-year clients seem to be worried about his "record."

Thanks for playing, try again.

You are all so fucking stupid. Unless you generate business, and unless you are out trying to bring in work, you ARE NOT safe. No one is safe. Non-Equity partners will be next. But I bet not one person let g brings in business, no matter how small. Everyone, everyone on this board and at these firms have had at least 18 months to prepare, to do something.

As the old joke goes, Jesus is coming, look busy. I have no sympathy for the fact that you were too stupid or, more likely, lazy to try and bring in business.

yes

Cut the suicide comments, folks. My dad was a lawyer with a white shoe firm and took his life when I was a little kid. It lives with you forever- you NEVER forget it. It's an evil thing to do to the people who love you. When you don't think it's worth hanging on, tie a knot in the rope and hang on. If only my dad had hung on for another year, the job market would have changed for him- it did for other people.

Don't get mad, get even. There are too many smart, well-trained people here who have been laid off lately for all of you to waste your lives kvetching about BigLaw jobs lost. Get together, get some ideas going about new ways to make money- maybe in law, maybe not. Some people make money when the economy goes south; they find opportunity in financial crises. Start thinking, start networking, look for opportunities where other people see crisis.

no

I am 169 and I totally agree with 171. Now is time to network (I think you should have done it earlier, but....) God loves a trier, not a crier.

171, Hear, Hear

159:

Great point. On a similar note, Steve Korniczky, the "global" chair of the IP group, has never first chaired a patent case, let alone won one. What a fucking joke. Can't believe this didn't catch p to them sooner. I would love to see a counterargumnet on this one, too.

Let's face it, at this point, most firms are laying people off not because they need to but because they can.

Biglaw, unlike other industries, refused to engage in traditional (i.e., non-stealth) layoffs because of the stigma attached to it. Now that a significant number of firms have gone on the record and laid people off, the dam has broken and firms really have little to lose and much to gain by slashing staff.

With the exception of the top tier firms, such as Wachtell, Simpson, Debevoise etc., there is little reputational damage in doing layoffs, and that may change even for the top firms with time. As usual, there are a number of firms - call them the wanabees, such as Fried Frank, Willkie, Milbank, Sidley etc. - who refuse to accept second tier status, and will cut attorneys via stealth layoffs.

Bottom line: there will many, many more layoffs.

PH has been laying people off on the sly for many many months. check out the NY corporate and RE groups- decimated over the past year.

168:

Whoe does he represent??? Financial companies? Whoops. No book and no trial experience. Sounds like a first year. You are so fucked and you have been sucking his dick for how long trying to make partner? See you later biatch.

TO ALL LAID OFF ASSOCIATES -- First, sorry for the all caps. I understand the anxiety, anger, and sadness you're experiencing but this is not the end of the world. Really. I know you must have heard this or thought about this, but things could be much worse and you're smart, well-educated, and personable things will work out. That said, there likely will be a period of uncertainty and unemployment but use that time to better yourself and do the things you want to do. There will be plenty of time for work. Good luck to everyone.

Also, to the idiots who spend their days posting stupid sh*t (e.g., 166, 167) on this site, don't you have something better to do with your time?

This comment is in response to post no. 171. I believe your father may have worked for my firm. Did he commit suicide in 1981? If it is the same man, I would like to express some words of sympathy and comfort to you. Your father was a good man and a hard worker. I remember the firm commemorated him by observing a minute of silence (non-billable of course). In the wake of his untimely demise, we learned that he despised being a lawyer. Simply put, while he may have had the aptitude to practice law, he simply was not cut out to be a lawyer. Being a lawyer means more than being able to research an issue and solve a problem. It also involves optimal time management and the ability to cope with intense pressures. Many associates possess the impressive credentials on paper to practice law but are not cut out to be lawyers. I see more and more lawyers graduate from law school who are not cut out for this business. It is regrettable that most of these lawyers get into the business with the sole purpose to chase the illusory fantasy of becoming wealthy. As I mentioned before, only 5% of attorneys become partners at major law firms. The rest just wither away into oblivion and if they were smart enough, saved enough money to live a comfortable life. I think going to law school, with its exorbitant price tag, is a foolhardy proposition. If you want to become wealthy, you have a better chance playing and winning the lottery. And so I use your father's memory as an example that will perhaps convince a young student who is contemplating pursuing a career in law to not do so. Trust me, your father's memory may have just spared a life. Adieu and Godspeed.

Really 180? Do you not have something better to do with your time? Read a book, go to the gym, find a girl, have drinks with friends. You spend your day working your (unfunny) schtick on ATL? That's embarrasing.

I'll tell you what, I'm really regretting the "PH FOR LIFE" tattoo that I got on my ass during the associate retreat last year.

ATL, uninentionally seems to be sensationalizing the layoffs. There is no point to continuing to devote at least 1/3 of your posts to layoffs.

It makes those of us who have jobs scared out of our minds. It doesn't help us determine which acquaintances and friends have lost their jobs because most firms don't take the names off the websites until the three months are up and it probably encourages other firms to do layoffs.

Can't we have some positive news on this site?

Yeah, UM, Partner Emeritus, I have this to say: Tell your 55th and Madison colleague Mike to think first next time when he's been doing stealth lay offs since Octobfr 2007 and has his dick sucked regularly by one oh his subordinates (that's not a lie, guys, that's the real deal) and, um, if your firm even survives speaking from a long term BIGLAW girl who was laid off by you in April of 2008 (and it's not Shinyung Oh... it's in New York) I'd be really f*cking surprised if you survive at all depending on the duration of the downturn. But good luck to you. You're really gonna need it. And, um, Emeritus, you better save your coal and save every wick of every candle and pull in the curtains of your counterpane because that's what Scrooge did and the Ghost of Christmas Future still came haunting.

183:

Read between the lines -- you are fucked.

30--

If you think that's one of the dumbest statements you've seen, you're obviously not considering the viewpoint of your clients (if you have any).

As a client of several major law firms, I don't want to pay exorbitant rates for attorneys who lack the experience to justify those rates. From what I've read on this site, some attorneys are billing 50 hours per month? At that rate, it would take them four years to get the experience I accumulated in 12 months when I started practicing in 1999. I shouldn't have to pay 4th year rates for someone with essentially one year of experience.

at least 6 (very good) associates in dc office, 4 in litigation. so not all RE or corp as everyone claims.

at least 6 (very good) associates in dc office, 4 in litigation. so not all RE or corp as everyone claims.

Yo, yo, Mr. Partner Emiritas, check yourself cause Dhalsim in the hizzy.

We met at Penn Station last week. I summarize our conversation 'thusly':

P. Emeritas: "I worked hard in life to get where I am. It wasn't easy. The difference between you and people like me is that you follow rather than lead. You wait for a bailout rather than ..."
Dhalsim: *sliding kick* ... "YOGA FLAME!!"
P. Emeritas: "Shit I'm fire!"
Dhalsim: "I will add your time-blasted skull to my necklace!"

Goodnight. Time to practice yoga tricks.

Comment removed by moderator.

#171 is right. People have lost everything but their lives and hung on through wars, natural disasters, the Holocaust, the Soviet gulags, you name it, and managed to rebuild and often thrive and grow rich. Make the same choice they did and resolve to overcome this big setback and challenge.

Laid-off lawyers could try to give John Grisham a run for his money in the best-selling legal potboiler department. Maybe an attorney will hit the jackpot with a "Devil Wears Prada"-style novel and movie deal.

This comment is addressed to posts nos. 181, 183 and 184.

181:

Perhaps you should be more concerned about what you do with your time. I happen to be semi-retired. If I choose to languish on this site, it is my prerogative. You on the other hand, if you work for a quality firm, are owned. If I knew you were working for me and wasting your time on this website, you would be terminated with prejudice. I am not here for your amusement and I find your immaturity to be unsettling. I am here to give sound advice to those recently terminated associates and students considering a career in the law. Be productive and offer a positive message rather than write puerile criticism.

183:

I find your behavior to be unacceptable and if I found out you worked at my firm, you would also be terminated with prejudice. Stop coming to this gossip mongering site. Don't read the rumors. If you don't read the rumors, guess what? You have nothing to be paranoid about. Concentrate on your current assignments and be grateful you have not been tapped on the shoulder, at least not yet.

184:

Your attempt at witty banter fails. My firm will survive the economic downturn. As for disgruntled associates bringing down the firm? You should be a comedian. Don't you know that in the past most (99%) of the associates that file a lawsuit against their former employer wind up on the losing side? Besides, it is a kiss of death to their career as they are blacklisted indefinitely from the legal community. Your threats are meaningless and by the time this economy cripples a decent claimant's complaint, they will readily accept a paltry settlement. That is just the way life works. Accept it.

191: Oh baby we're in the works. I scared the SHIT out of the employment department of Paul Hastings' New York employment department after my stealth lay off in New York when I sued them and took them to mediation and my mediator said, in earnest, "They want to know if you've already shopped a screenplay."

182, you must live such a boring life. How much f*cking time have you spent on this site today working on this unfunny bit of yours?? Do you have a girl friend? Friends? I feel very sorry for you.

192, you must live such a boring life. How much f*cking time have you spent on this site today working on this unfunny bit of yours?? Do you have a girl friend? Friends? I feel very sorry for you.

192, you must live such a boring life. How much f*cking time have you spent on this site today working on this unfunny bit of yours?? Do you have a girl friend? Friends? I feel very sorry for you.

192, you must live such a boring life. How much f*cking time have you spent on this site today working on this unfunny bit of yours?? Do you have a girl friend? Friends? I feel very sorry for you.

I just heard a rumor that Sughrue Mion (patent boutique) was laying of it's entire incoming class. Elie, can you guys please investigate and put the rumor to rest. Its worrying those of us in the IP law crowd.

The sky is NOT falling.

However, the Biglaw hiring model has been a total failure lately.

Law firms are getting rid of 10-25% of associates and you guys think Biglaw is going down the toilet. Guess what, law firms used to lose that many associates voluntarily. The problem is, associates aren't voluntarily leaving anymore, so law firms are forced to conduct layoffs.

Firms have always factored these large voluntarily attrition numbers into their hiring forecasts. Unfortunately, they didn't account for the effect of the recent gigantic salary increases on attrition, nor did they account for reduced demand due to the economy. But give firms a break. They are expected to predict their labor needs TWO YEARS in advance, which is impossible.

The summer programs are a complete waste of money and of no benefit to law firms if they can't use them to weed out the bad candidates. Firms are expected to magically make work for 150 summer interns, just when all of their clients are going on vacation. They are expected to give offers to at least 90% of summer associates, or they are blacklisted from law schools. Never mind that the economy is tanking and some summer associates are far better than others. They have to give offers to everyone who doesn't completely screw up. It doesn't work and the mess has finally caught up to us.

The hiring system needs an overhaul.

194, 195 and 196:

Smoooooooooooth. How much time do you fucking have to erroneous post, realize it, fix it, and then double post. Nothing better to do, I guess? You people are amazing.

200 = 192.

layoffs in LA seem to be 5 RE (no first years), 1 Tax, 2 CORP (both 1st years); OC dropped 2 CORP (no 1st years); SF dropped 2 CORP (no 1st years).

Staff occurred across all departments. Most offices are having "town hall" meetings after the already planned bonus meeting. No word on length of severance packages but associates are being offered placement and their names are being kept on the web and phone directories.

Severance package was 3.5 months.

I wonder why the firm gave the 1/2 month and didn't either round up or down. Maybe it just wanted to be able to say people would be paid through June?

All other benefits, including medical, terminate this month.

I wish I had been laid off from Latham.

PH has raised billing rates 6 times in 3 years? I assume their rates are still lower than Latham's, despite higher PPP?

If lower demand is the real problem (rather than too many associates), then these firms should lower their billing rates.

Yeah, the poster behind Partner Emeritus is a complete loser. The same goes for certain others, but he trumps them all given how much time he spends on this site.

Bullseye 199. Bullseye.

are we really at the point where we're comparing prestige based on severance packages? because that's just sad.

with that said, latham, gibson, and omm are and will always be more prestigious than ph. and it's not because of the severance.

How is it here? PH has cut 30% or more associates over the past year. In many groups there's now a 2:1 associate to partner ratio.

From a numbers standpoint, perhaps it's not any different here than at any other firms - the economy's hurting. But Seth and Greg have developed a calculating, too smart for their own good but actually transparently moronic approach to PR that equates to treating associates like shit. Last time, they insisted the cuts were performance-based when they clearly were not. A couple of the more caring or gossipy partners came around telling us that our former colleagues were not good performers when we knew that they had gotten second and third tier bonuses a few months back (or had taken maternity/paternity leave and therefore had lower hours). Management was woefully silent and pretended like nothing had happened. This time, the cuts came with no warning and associates were locked out of their computers an hour after they were told.

The partners here are delusional. Look around you, guys. You ask how we (the few associates left) are doing. There's some work to be done but we all rush out of the office early due to malaise and depression.

What you need to do is get rid of some in your own ranks. There are partners who were paid 3X more than they originated last year. If '08s are not safe, new partners who brought in $200K worth of business last year and who will not bring in more this year or next year should not be either. Seth & Greg: equity partnership is expensive. Imagine how much you could save by getting rid of a few non-performers in each office. You could call them performance-related cuts because it wold be true. After all this is a business, right?

Well, partners, the associates want to see you get fucked. If it's happening to us, it should happen to you too - and harder. If we're casualties as a result, then so be it, but at least you will have fallen.

With great power comes great responsibility, Cocksuckers.

191 - really? Hmmm......I'm not sure that's quite how it went, but you go ahead and blow of steam.

I'm going to hit the jackpot with my book. It won't be the insiders who get it, it will be the people outside of big law....ESPECIALLY THE BIG BUCK PAYING CLIENTS.....who will see these firms as never before.

It's coming.

24, Your Blackberry is loading a cached version until the cached version expires. Force it to actually retrieve the page from the server (e.g., refresh) each time and it will be up to date.

I am going to kill myself today. I whore myself out to an abusive biglaw pimp who f*ked me hard and tossed me aside.

If the biglaw pimp is married, out the sucker.....for real. Make his life hell.

Live to fight another day, guys. Start a solo shop or go into business with a classmate, get some good clients, then when those guys actually need big firm work -- dangle it in front of the jackass that fired you -- and then tell them (diplomatically) to fuck off and that they can't have your client's $250K in billables and send the work to some *other* guy that that partner fired a few years back. I am here to tell you, it was the most satisfying telephone call in the world.

to all associates, be careful out there, as your support staff is likely out for blood. just got called into a meeting telling us that we need to distance ourselves from the support staff. supposedly, they heard grumblings by some of their "plants" that the staff has been discussing getting together to sue our firm for racial discrimination if they get fired. we had a large minority hiring push several years ago. guess no good deed goes un-sued.

you have been warned.

It's comforting to know that while many of my colleagues at PH, including myself, now face a world of uncertanities, that Partners will be enjoying a fun-filled weekend at their Partners retreat in Carlsbad in 2 weeks. These lay-offs were necessary, how else are they going to fund a weekend at a 5 star resort along with tee-time, massages, fancy dinners, and lets not forget the "strategy meetings" for the upcoming year..In other words, we need a retreat to figure out how many more heads will be on the chopping block in the coming months.
I was laid-off yesterday at PH, but I am not surprised, I was well aware of the "stealth lay-offs" in the previous months, so it was only a matter of time. Don't be ignorant people no job is secure!

It's comforting to know that while many of my colleagues at PH, including myself, now face a world of uncertanities, that Partners will be enjoying a fun-filled weekend at their Partners retreat in Carlsbad in 2 weeks. These lay-offs were necessary, how else are they going to fund a weekend at a 5 star resort along with tee-time, massages, fancy dinners, and lets not forget the "strategy meetings" for the upcoming year..In other words, we need a retreat to figure out how many more heads will be on the chopping block in the coming months.
I was laid-off yesterday at PH, but I am not surprised, I was well aware of the "stealth lay-offs" in the previous months, so it was only a matter of time. Don't be ignorant people no job is secure!

Can someone please post a BigLaw layoff list of shame?

Oh those wonderful firm retreats..... I remember them fondly. Have you no shame PH? I say it's time to expose biglaw to the clients. Trickle down economics. If the clients can't take these retreats anymore because of the bailout, I don't think their lawyers should either. Because, ultimately, the taxpayers are funding this shit now. As a matter of fact, I think this is going to be my next submission to my editor.

to all the associates that were canned yesterday by PH and done so in a bad way, remember that when you are inhouse counsel. also, though, some firms had to do it, but did it in a dignified way. remember that as well.

As a legal secretary for the past 45+ years, I have worked at firms that have laid off secretaries and attorneys when there was an economic downturn. However, from the comments of so many of you whining pantywaists, I can tell you that the secretaries who were laid off behaved in a more classy and adult manner than most of the posters on this site. Too bad your parents never taught you how to deal with adversity. You aren't in college any more, so put on your big boy boxer briefs and learn how to deal with real life. Stop wallowing in your self-pity and do whatever you need to do to keep body and soul together until the economy improves.

'No laughing matter. I work at MetLife Bldg and the suicide did happen, right outside my window.

So get with it people. This is tragic, very tragic. No one knows from what floor he jumped, but he landed on the roof of the tenth floor which extends out from the main tower.

It isn't possible to open the windows without a special key. So either he got a key, or busted the glass with something before he jumped.

Very, very sad. "
http://dealbreaker.com/2009/03/unfortunate-unfounded-rumor-of.php#comments

Paul Hastings chews up their young and spits them out. Beware young, talented, aspiring lawyers - those old golf playing goats are just as bad as Madoff - they made off with your career - to Carlsbad they go.

Not only are most of these posts illiterate, but they illustrate exactly how naive most of you are. How long does any lawyer expect to keep their job when they don't have any work. If you didn't see this coming, than you are a fool. When corporations are laying off 10's of thousands of employees, what did you think was going to happen. Hope you enjoy your belly aching, but frankly no one really cares. No job in any industry is safe nor guaranteed.

221, admit it. You love it. The anxiety and grief spilled out in an anonymous post from a lawyer losing her job is like manna from heaven for you. You don't know what anyone's parents taught them, except, perhaps, the the value of the many years of hard work and diligence it took to get the job they have lost. Which is why its easy to predict that mostwill pick themselves up and they will have a great deal more to look back on in their careers 45 years from now than you. So why don't you try to contain your glee and spare everyone your rather poorly branded life lessons. Besides, Partner Emeritus has got this covered.

Can someone confirm the group breakdown of the associates laid off in ATL?

Did they layoff that chain-smoking, nervous freakshow who's the paralegal manager in the NY office? I interviewed with this loser last year and the friggin guy was so nervous and scared that he made me feel scared for not being nervous.

Did they layoff that chain-smoking, nervous freakshow who's the paralegal manager in the NY office? I interviewed with this loser last year and the friggin guy was so nervous and scared that he made me feel scared for not being nervous.

Young parents better watch out at PH...you are more at risk of your maternity/paternity leave being extended through firing - not just the women - I know

Someone should write an article and title it "Partners enjoy a fun-filled weekend retreat at 5 star resort, while lay-offs were made due to the economic downturn."

225, How dare you suggest that I would be gleeful at someone losing their job. Just try to remember that you lawyers aren't the only ones suffering in this economy - you just think too highly of yourselves to think of yourselves among the masses who don't have the exalted "Esq." after their name. For your information, back in the day, legal secretaries were eligible to take the Bar exam after seven years working in law firms - without a college/law school education, so don't make the mistake of thinking you're all so very special. I suspect they did away with that in order to preserve YOUR jobs, not mine.

It is the ones just starting out as well as the administrative infrastructure that are being hard hit by Paul Hastings' partners...being picked off with no rhyme or reason except it seems that the nicer , smarter ones are being let go first ... maybe they are too much a threat to #223's old goats.

What happened at the 11:00 bonus meeting?!?!?!

Better late than never. Just like these mo'fuckas at PH.

The ship be sinking...

You can still "apprentice" your way into taking the bar exam without a law degree.

I second 233 -- What happened at the meeting?!

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And I'm kind of guessing that Paul Hastings New York City knows EXACTLY who I am. Fuck with me then. I dare ya.

This is addressed to post no. 237.

Another pompous would be writer. You have a better chance of getting published on the wet dream letters section in Penthouse. I believe Scott Turow and John Grisham have already sensationalized the legal profession ad naseum. What could a sniveling plebe like you add to the mix? Read my non-sequitur for 3/11/09. You lose on all accounts. Chest thumping will get you nowhere. Do yourself and the ounce of dignity I hope you possess a favor, spare yourself of additional ridicule and penury. You are irrelevant, like a small nugget of turd that won't go down the toilet. Eventually you will get flushed down.

237: you are disturbed. And yes, I realize that you too are putting on a bit and may in fact be the poster you're responding to. But that is precisely what makes you disturbed.

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How do you get a comment removed by a moderator?

PH = biglaw shithole.

Yes, they are lying pieces of shit who only care about PPP. Fuck everything else, including their clients -- who continue to be victimized by a billing system which rewards inefficiency.

Just heard from an insider...next round of PHJW cuts coming soon. However, they are reverting back to the "performance" model.