Why is this surprising about Proskauer? They were the first to lay off first years, and gave them a very small severence (two months).

There is a typo in the timeline. It doesn't make sense as written.

"Getting pushed back a couple of months or even a year is one thing, if there is actually a job waiting for you on the other side."

What's the other thing?

Elie, you suck.

Comment removed by moderator.

Did the incoming associates get an additional stipend?

"deferment extension" = laying off pre-first years.

Congrats Proskauer on figuring out how to be an even shittier firm.

SO...IT BEGINS...

The sky be falling.

Elie, you have the WRONG information about class of 2010 start dates. We were told that the earliest we would start would be fall 2011. So, now 2009 has a year deferral similar to what 2010 will have.

This better not be a trend.

There is no ship.

I teach a required basic course in law school and the kids asked me first day whether they can expect to be employed in 3 years. I told them they better concetrate on grades.

Proskauers Vault rating went from 40 last year to 48 this year. Any guesses where it will be next year?

"This better not be a trend."

It probably will be. I'm not happy about it either.

just like the magic man - now you see him, now you don't

Time to start building my class . . . If you or someone you know has been super-deferred, call me at 922-2222.

14 - incorrect Proskauer went from 40 to 39 in the Vault ratings - get your story straight - surely not the top of the food chain but a decent ranking.

How you like me now?

@ 18 - which vault rankings are you consulting? get a clue

These firms had already done more to "cut costs" than what the other firms had to do so although I really feel for their incoming class, hopefully this is just an issue for these particular firms and not everyone else. I will not be able to wait out an extended deferral.

My heart goes out to the deferred starting associates. I'm in the same boat (waiting on starting) but my start date here in Houston is in a couple of months. Here's to hoping that they don't push us back too.

The ship be sinking...

ATL really sucks at getting accurate facts re: Proskauer. Note to Elie: find better Proskauer tipsters.

Elie, what's the additional stipend? For Chrissakes, Weil is giving 2009'ers 15k (to tide them over for the rest of this year) plus 75k if they elected to defer for Jan. 2011. Other firms have deferred to March 2010 with no stipend at all. As you can see, huge discrepancy, which makes this story useless without such information.

that's not all proskauer has done to incoming associates. ive heard something far far worse

These firms are trying as hard as they can to get as any people as possible to find alternative employment. They have no intention of bringing the entire class of 2009 online in November 2010 or at any other time. It's more likey about 20-40% of the class will start. All these "deferments" are simply a attempt to demoralize as many as people as possible so they find other work.

If not enough people drop out voluntarily, the grim reaper will start sending out revoke offers by next Spring. Head for the life boats now.

The ship is not sinking. It is just you who is being thrown overboard.

26 - what've you heard?

Attention Proskauer classes of 2009 & 2010:

They don't want you. Go somewhere else. Especially you 2010's who are now being overrun on your "fall 2010" start date by the 2009's.

You were reasonably intelligent to get a SA position at this firm. Figure it out.

The Firm does not owe anyone of you wankers a living. If you do not make money for the Firm, then why the FUCK should you be there?

And yes, Proskauers ranking in Vault did drop to 48

So Mintz Levin incoming associates, who interviewed in the fall of 2007, summered in 2008, and graduated in 2009, won't start working until 2011.
That is the most ridiculous hiring model I've ever heard of.

31- The firm doens't owe anyone anything, but they should be upfront with incoming associates. It would have been a HELL of a lot better to know last Fall or Spring that your offer wasn't really there.

Now, incoming associates can't apply to LLMs, clerkships, DOJ Honors, or even state AG programs.

Deferred = Reserve Attorney. Ready to be called up if there is a crisis but otherwise receiving just part-time wages until actually needed.

It sounds like Proskauer is just hoping that these kids will find jobs elsewhere by the time they are actually allowed to start work at Proskauer.

Hogan & Hartson is next! Mark my words!

Despite Mintz's representations to the contrary, it did not personally contact all of its associates before this news broke. That firm needs to work on its communications with its employees.

I am God's partner in matters of life and death.

I'm Barack Obama?

my friend's starting at proskauer in november this year - so i'm not sure this information is accurate. maybe some people were deferred to november 2010 but definitely not all

40 - this deferral extension only applied to the PR New York office.

40 - Your "friend" better read the fine print.

What a dogshit move. Those lazy fucking partners at Proskauer need to get off their fucking asses

31. True, but professionalism and common courtesy demand that employers be honest about their hiring. Many 2008 SAs were told, repeatedly, by members of recruiting committees across this country, that it would be "no problem" to start at their preferred date. They were told that the economy wouldn't impact hiring, because "we hire for the long term." Many people, human beings with lives and families, uprooted and moved across the country to take the Bar in the place their new firm was located. Then, when it was too late to change gears, the firms started in on the deferrals, etc. "So sorry kid, you have to figure out how to survive in an expensive city for another year and pay off your 6-figure debt without any sort of permanent employment."

The class of 2009 is completely justified in their outrage. We didn't create this economic or legal bubble, but we're being asked to pay for it with a smile. Well, fuck you. You (i.e. middle aged partners and the rest of your self-serving generation) caused this mess and you owe us an apology for it.

Correction 23 -- The ship be sunk.

I'm thinking of a Restatement section 1 to 90...

31 for the win

Well my friends, it's actually happening. Our worst fears are being realized. This will quickly become a trend that most -- if not all -- firms will follow.

We all knew in our hearts that these January (or March) deferrals were arbitrary dates they picked out of a hat. Our firms only wanted to delay dealing with the problem -- the problem being us. So now we waited patiently only to get fucked again.

When my firm calls me to extend my deferral, I am going to freak out on them. I don't give a shit anymore. I won't wait around for another year for the *hope* that I can eventually start at the firm.

The sad part is that the firms will lose the best talent with this deferral strategy. The smartest among us will be able to move on and find other employment. The people with the worst credentials, on the other hand, will be the ones to hang on to that sliver of hope of someday starting. So the firms will continue their downward spiral.

Attention Dewey, Sidley, Milbank, et al.: Pick up the phone and get this shit over with already. The sooner you let us know, the better we can adapt.

Isn't Mintz-Levin the name of that McLovin kid?

Welcome to the party. 2011 start date is super cool. I can fell myself getting dumber each passing day.

Mystal, you make me embarrassed to be a black man.

GULC3L

Dear Firms,

Please tell us (or give us a stipend) if you are going to postpone our start dates again. Our situation makes career decision-making just about impossible. I don't want to throw my offer away; I like my firm a lot. But I need to know asap if I'm going to get pushed back again.

- a parent with an "offer"

"The class of 2009 is completely justified in their outrage. We didn't create this economic or legal bubble, but we're being asked to pay for it with a smile. "

Seriously, your sense of self-entitlement disgusts me. At least I can take some small amount of joy in your suffering and anxiety.

All us deferred associates should start our own biglaw firm. I shot managing partner douche bag!

"Lose the best talent" hilarious.

28 = Win.

TO ALL FIRMS, IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING SUIT TELL US NOW, PLEASE

2 - Cry me a river - they got two months salary, at an already insane rate, which means their two months is more then most of the people impacted by this economy received when they were laid-off. When will we step up and admit that we have it far better then most?

What 44 said, except that I don't care for an apology. I just need to know when I'm going to start, if ever, so I can start making other plans if necessary. I realize that partners don't have crystal balls, but that doesn't entail justification for multiple delays.

I agree with 53.

In fact, you could argue that because they went to law school in such abundance, they do have some accountability for the oversupply of fresh researchers, um, I mean 1st year ASSociates on the market.

"...or give us a stipend..."

Hey, wouldn't be great if EVERYONE being deferred or laid off were getting a stipend?

53. You are a jerk.

It is absolutely ridiculous that we are being bounced around like puppets by these law firms. Most of the kids in biglaw could have found suitable replacement jobs if our firms had been honest with us much earlier. I think its fair to be a little bit upset. It's really asinine to accuse every person with a disappointed expectation of being "entitled." Law employment is not supposed to be a complete and utter crap shoot. Show a little decency and allow deferred associates to be upset about the changes being made (as you would most certainly be in their shoes) without some bitter fool like you calling them entitled.

don't confuse disgust towards those few who feel entitled to receive a job with your feelings towards those who (without any sense of entitlement) earned an offer and merely feel "entitled" to transparent communication with their firms

Maybe PR should open another office to further drain its capital.

I must admit that while this must be incredibly frustrating for those looking to start your legal careers, let's not forget one simple and straightforward fact. There are too many lawyers. Period. Too many law schools, too many students, and too many current lawyers. So surely this can't come as a surprise, you knew when you entered law school that you were embarking on path that was already oversupplied. I have empathy for you as uncertainty is difficult to deal with, and while the legal profession may not have caused this recent economic bust, the legal profession was already inefficient, overbilling, and overstaffed long before 2007+ came along. And if you were oblivious to the circumstances of the legal industry, well then shame on you, it wasn't exactly a secret was it?

61, don't most lawyers get a severance? Also, do you see how a laid off lawyer is free to find a new job, but a delayed starting date associate is not in the same way? Do you see how a person working for several years is expected to have some savings funded by that very firm as opposed to a person who has been a law student for 3 years who has agreed to forgo other opportunities to join that firm. Idiot.

To 34 & 44,

Professionalism is for dullards and courtesy is only practiced by the weak. For law firms to get big and strong, they must feed on something. After so many years, none of you seem to understand that it is your blood which law firms drink. Deferring associates to yet a later start date is the right decision. It costs nothing on the one hand and creates a valuable option on the other. In the unlikely event that issuance and transactional activities pick up on Wall Street next year, the extra help would be most welcomed. If things go as expected, they can always be told at a later date that it did not work out after all. Yes, this means that people get treated very badly; but like I said, to get big and strong and to stay that way, firms must take care of their own nourishment first. If you go soft and put people before the firm, then it is likely that the firm will be adversely affected. Remember always that none of these deferred associates have come to give but only to take as much as they can grab. These would be associates are free to look for another job, but of course there are none available. Since they have no other choice, having a slim chance of working at a big law firm is better than having nothing at all. In conclusion, the decision to defer actually maximizes the utility of both the firm and its employment supplicants. As much as you would cry foul, this is the outcome that creates the greatest happiness in what is obviously a very bad situation.

31

53,

What you don't realize is that these kids got a 170 on the lsat and an A in contracts. That means they have earned secure employment at 5 times the average american income, regardless of economic conditions.

53 and 58 get therapy. waaaaaaay too angry at people who were laid off

33 - Almost as rediculous as committing a job to someone 2 years in advance, isn't it?

What a bummer. Mintz kids, what did they offer you?

Good luck -- you're a resourceful bunch and you'll land on your feet.

I'm convinced that those using the "entitlement" argument are crap law students without the same opportunities as these deferred associates. It's not possible that some biglaw mid-level who walked the exact same path just a few years ago fancies himself so superior to those trying to walk the same path.

What the heck do you get out of attacking these incoming associates? makes no sense

There is a gross over-supply of lawyers in USA. Period.

Completely inaccurate info in this post Ellie. PR has start dates spread out from November 2009, January 2010, March 2010, April 2010, and November 2010. Some people who were slated for March were moved until April 2010 and November 2010. The vast vast majority of the class will be working by March 2010, with an unlucky handful with longer deferrals. Incredible this gets on ABL without even the slightest fact checking.

Kids? Who are you people?

The entitlement of these kids is un-frickin'-believable. I graduated from college in the mid-90s with a degree from the most prestigious school in my original field. There were NO JOBS - we were in the middle of a recession. I had a job offer rescinded from me a month before I graduated, leaving me jobless (and no, I did not recieve "severance" or a "stipend"). At no point did I scream that I was "owed" an apology, job, stipend; I hunkered down and looked for ANY employment I could find. Seriously, if you are unable to deal with the ambiguity of having $75K to play with for the next year, turn down the money and hit the pavement, kids. I honestly have no clue what the hell you are whining about.

71 is hiring partner at next firm to extend deferrals

Wow 76. You need to write that down in a book, what a heroic life. I can't wait.

and who is 74?

17- in a word, "awesome."

76 -- There was no recession in the mid-1990s. The recession of the early 1990s was technically over before the election of 1992.

37: what is your source regarding H&H?

76 -- Check it out (no recession in the mid-1990s): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_recessions_in_the_United_States

Waiting for a PE "hybrid tough love" comment.

76 - did you suffer from a tuition bubble, too, bitch? If these kids didn't have 150-200k in non-dischargable debt, they wouldn't be fucking fretting so much.

The firms cannot accurately predict demand and they are trying to avoid over-hiring and then laying people off and/or going under.

Hiring program going forward.
a) Every person who has an offer and who has been deferred is on permanent deferment until further notice.
b) Here's 10k. Go get drunk.
c) We intend to make offers to people for permanent employment when we can in order of deferment, that is FIFO, oldest first.
d) There will be a modest interview process at such time for those who are then still interested in being hired, to make sure you aren't in prison, on probation, and, we hope, did something law related other than breaking it so as to indicate to us that you kept your head in the game. Bartending in Fiji probably doesn't qualify. Opening up a local practice in Fiji does. Staff lawyer for Covington probably doesn't qualify under our "must not obviously be a psycho" rule. Staff lawyer somewhere else is ok.
e) we will have a smaller summer program on these terms, and we understand that many law students will not want to be an SA under such terms, but there's not much we can do about it.
f) So go get jobs, clerkships, whatever, and maybe we'll see you on the flip side. And don't worry too much for us, frankly, there will be oceans of eager beaver law students in 2012 2013 so we'll do ok regardless.

Managing Partner, Biglaw

85 - so fuckin true.

- 3 months of GradPlus already paid, 3 more months until Staffords kick in

To be clear, a deferral equals no love for the deferred.

65:

Yeah, firms were just jumping all over themselves to let everyone know how over-extended they were. That must be why firms still, to this day and despite wave after wave of layoffs, insist that they are "well positioned to weather the storm." Firms have been playing this game of cat and mouse with law students forever - they'll take them whenver they need them, overpay them, and then drop them to do it all over again with the next crop.

Do law students know that when they enter law school? Not really - they don't know where the economy is going over the next three years (nor do the supposed experts), if the firm slightly over-hired over the last couple of years and now has to cut back on their class (because none of them will ever admit it), or whether their law school was cooking numbers on employment to satiate USNWR (sure, you can assume some twisting of the numbers, but how much?). All the while, a vast number of attorneys (probably including you) that are currently employed were merely lucky - the right financial circumstances at the firm allowed them enough time to become entrenched without anyone ever taking a hard look at their true worth - and they now sit there with this holier than thou attitude talking about how "entitled" law students are when they complain that the firms and law schools have essentially conspired to hide the ball since the day they signed up to take the LSAT.

What world do you live in where all of this information is just neatly packaged and available for easy prospective law student consumption? Do farts smell like roses there?

86---fuck you

I apologize for my son's lame post. His mind might be a little fuzzy after having worked the graveyard shift at McDonald's.

#85 - law school tuition relative to strarting biglaw salaraies relative to average debt at graduation, wasn't much different in the early 90s than it is today. what does differ is today's lack of work ethic, which has been overtaken by a massive sense of entitlement, on the part of today's graduates. tiy alkis have (for the time being) loawer income tax rates than in the early 1990s.

nevertheless, I feel sorry for 2009 graduates whose lives are on hold with a 12 to 18 month deferral. why not sign up for Ron Emmanual's public service program?

WHAT IS THE OVER/UNDER ON CADWALADER NO-OFFERS?

You all have no right to anything. The self-entitled glow that you all seem to emanate is dimming quite a bit.

What would you expect from a firm that hired Gary Bettman

No career path has guarantees, but some biglaw firms (Proskauer, front and center) have had an easier time throwing new and about-to-be associates under the bus. Someday soon the economy will turn around, and Proskauer (and others like it) will get associates who want but can't find work anywhere better.

"What you don't realize is that these kids got a 170 on the lsat and an A in contracts. That means they have earned secure employment at 5 times the average american income, regardless of economic conditions."

So? I've met many a recent law grad who had a 170 LSAT and an A in contracts that, still, couldn't hack it in a competitive environment. Getting an A in contracts is indicative of an ability to get an A in contracts--and apparently to develop an overinflated sense of self-importance.

97 - learn to recognize a flame.

85 - I am sorry you made a poor choice and borrowed more than you can now pay back. That's basically the crux of your argument -- that you borrowed a lot of money thinking you would make a lot of money, without realizing there were elements of risk involved.

92 -
1. I'm not sure I believe that without substantiation.
2. Even if true, recently graduated law students are facing a *decrease* in starting salaries (and a salary freeze if they are lucky enough to start work); their debts obviously do not decrease correspondingly. Note that most law schools are actually *increasing* tuition this year. There has to be something done about this. Moreover, there was no permanent contraction in the legal market in the 1990s, so your setback was much smaller in comparison.
3. I'm not sure who "ron emmanual" is, or what "tiy alkis" is, but what good are lower marginal rates when we have no income to tax?
4. What the fuck does work ethic have to do with anything?

At 86 -- Staff lawyer for Covington probably doesn't qualify under our "must not obviously be a psycho" rule. Staff lawyer somewhere else is ok.

The problem with taking staff lawyer jobs with firms is that many firms that are stringing deferred graduates along are also unwilling to let them work anywhere else for conflict of interest reasons. Absolute purgatory. Here's 10k. Go find a job waiting tables to pay rent as the interest on your loans piles on.

98, with the way these law school brats act, it's not unreasonable to think they're being entirely serious.

102,
I made the original comment. It was a flame. Good point, though, its too close to reality.

99 - and the crux of your argument is what? That no one who has to borrow money to pay sticker at a top school should go? I sense more than a tinge of hindsight bias.

104-99 has no argument. She's just pointing out the ridiculous beliefs held by others. Ok? Why are you still here?

Next they will push the start date back to 2050... and the new associates will be hired directly into Proskauer's office in.... SPACE.

Next they will push the start date back to 2050... and the new associates will be hired directly into Proskauer's office in.... SPACE.

104--why are you so angry? Is it self-entitlement?

89: The world I live in is quite conveniently called the "real" world, and not the TV version. If you're telling me that you and every other lawyer and law student isn't aware of the fact, and yes, its fact, that the US has an oversupply of lawyers and not enough teachers, doctors, nurses, and engineers, then you need to pull your head out of the clouds or books, perhaps both. I'm not a lawyer, though in my youth (Im now 40) briefly considered it as it was deemed challenging and somewhat prestigious. A quick survey from any magazine, book, or informed professional even 20 years ago would tell you the same; "there are too many lawyers". And certainly too many chasing too few BigLaw-type jobs. As I mentioned before, some quick math weighing the ever growing number of law school, students, and grads compared to the number of high paying jobs comes to the same result, there are too many applicants and not enough jobs. To be sure, some will persevere and "make it", but to state that you or others were "duped" by law schools, firms, or a bad economy is simply either amazingly naive or just stupid and sloppy. This information isn't nor does it need to be "neatly packaged" as you put it, a little investigation, due diligence, and analysis is all it takes to come to the OBVIOUS conclusion. Where supply is greater than demand, the price declines until equilibrium is restored. In this case, both prices (wages) and jobs are both declining, which is unfortunate for those seeking them, but once again, in no way surprising. Law is no different than any other profession, what had made it different to a degree was the 3 years necessary to obtain the degree, thereby imposing a barrier to entry. But now that there are so many school and so many lawyers, that barrier no longer exists, and as more flood the market already saturated with lawyers, it seems unlikely to change anytime soon. Welcome to the real world my friend, best of luck!

22, Houston should be fine for the better firms -- there are some exceptions. NY and LA will be harder hit, anything that depends on project finance or m and a.

Just to say it again, anyone deferred in NY and Ca, except maybe IP attorneys, should assume there is no job.

BTW, was it just me or was this post by Elie particularly incomprehensible? One of the more important posts this summer too. It's too bad.

Who wanted to work at Mintz anyway? The chance of partnership was remote and the skills learned there (if any) are not transferable into the real world.

108 - No wonder you either can't find a job or have a job at a lousy firm that has deferred you . I'm not angry. I marvel and some-what enjoy your stupidity.

104.

For the record - even if i were angry, I know that my own opinions are something I am entitled to --- but I have to earn a job.

Milbank and Paul Hastings will be next to do this.

109,

No one was trumpeting the oversupply of lawyers argument in 2007 when things were booming.

I'm not disagreeing with you, just pointing out that peoples' moods and opinions change during booms/busts.

109, in late 2005, when I made the decision to go to UChi, there was such a shortage of lawyers, Biglaw firms were hiring from tier 4 schools. There was no such "obvious conclusion" to come to.

I can understand the anger, I really can. But, seriously folks...law schools are incredibly overpopulated and turn out thousands of newly minted lawyers who, unfortunately, don't know their head from their ass. I cannot imagine sitting around waiting and doing nothing else if i received a deferral. that's just plain stupid. If you think for a moment that you are: a great lawyer; one of the smartest; one of the best; irreplaceable, etc. you're wrong. Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

We are all mere cogs in a giant machine. At any given moment, one of us can fail, and our employer can drop in the next one and hardly miss a beat.

Get over yourself. You aren't that good. Really.

92, I find that hard to believe. What do you base your opinion on?

And for those that keep talking about the entitlement of Gen Y grads, what about the sense of entitlement from the partners to increase their PPP every year by double digits? It was not sustainable, and it had to end sometime. Or the sense of entitlement from partners who are collecting their checks and billing 1600 hours, rather than going out and making some rain to keep people at their firm employed? How do people expect a Gen Y associate to show a partner they're a hard worker when there's no work to be done?

Biglaw is dead. As much as it sucks for us, it sucks a lot more for the asshole partners who overuse the word "entitled." After all, we're not the ones who have invested in an obsolete business model. We're the ones who will invent the next one. 10 years from now, the phrase "legacy firm" will be part of the vernacular, and it won't be a compliment. A 45-year-old Pan Am pilot felt like king shit in 1984. But at least he wasn't personally liable when the company went tits up in 1991. Nice crib, Managing Partner. I look forward to buying it from you in ten years, for less than you paid for it.

This double-deferral is gutless, though. At least my midlaw firm was decent enough to rescind me outright, so I could move on without worrying about having to pay back my stipend and bar expenses, or destroying my career by looking for another job after I had accepted an offer.

Hang in there, people. This won't last forever.

117 is spot on. The busier /better firms have work to give out, and they are the ones that did not fire first years or keep on deferring SAs. In good times, everyone does well. Bad times separate the men from the boys

Proskauer's fiscal year ends Oct 31 - is it really that shocking that they don't want the kiddies to start until the new year kicks off?

As a currently deferred associate, I'm interested to hear some more ideas about we can do in the meantime to strengthen our resumes?

Agreed: In the grand scheme of life, no one gives a shit how much debt I'm in, nor is anyone obligated to hire me so I can pay it off. My colleagues who are under the impression someone should hire them because they went to a T1 (as I did) are sorely mistaken. Surely, though, one can understand our plight (although, I have to say, anyone who didn't see continued deferments coming is akin to the investment banker who didn't anticipate the housing bubble bursting; not so great at what you do - reasoning/analysis).

Nonetheless, we find ourselves between quite the rock and the hard place. It's too late to apply for jobs elsewhere, and even if we did, we don't know for how long we are available as we're not sure when we will start.

Personally, I'd appreciate some insight and suggestions about how to navigate the current waters, as opposed to continued bashing that excessively uses the word "entitlement."

121
There is no meantime.

How much are the stipends?

121 -- personally, I'm contemplating suicide. Things will not improve for a long, long time. Life just sucks so hard for us.

HA HA I fooled you all. I am FIRST!!

121. I would apply for a job. If you are fortunate enough to find employment, you will have a decision to make if/when your current offer materializes into something real. You can either quit to take it, or turn it down.

that's kind of the beauty of at will employment. there's nothing that says you are beholden to anyone. Of course, you are experiencing the ugly underbelly of the flip side of that.

I feel your pain. I get resumes constantly. Some willing to work for free...its a bloodbath out there. worse because you have no real experience. you need to get some. go where you can get hand-on, actual legal experience in a field that you enjoy. maybe that's the public defender, maybe it's the local prosecutor. Maybe it's an internship in the law dept. of a local corporation, whatever. You need something tangible on your resume.

law clerk at fancypants biglaw isn't it. it's imaginary as far as experience goes...

good luck.

124- Don't be short-sighted. Before suicide there's always leaving the country and those $150k+ loans behind for good...

-Biglaw junior assoc with lucky timing

Mintz Levin is in ENORMOUS trouble, and is likely headed the way of Testa in a very short timeframe.. 30% pay cut to the already extremely depleted associate ranks, massive layoffs, the double-deferral, and anything else they can do to crush associates..

121

It's a networking issue. Lots of people are sympathetic, especially older alums of various schools you may have attended. Every once in a while there may be a good secondary connection to be made.

it is a skill and I'm not real qualified since I've never been good at it -- but I get hit by grads on the alumni list, one out of a hundred i can help -- and even a waitress at J Alexanders who picked up on a conversation i was having. I was actually able to help her after some very persistent follow up on her part. You really need to have some very specific ideas about what you want to do and where though.

No one's going to hire off a resume for a long time to come.

118, personally liable? You should ask your corporations professor what an LLP is.

130, yes. You should ask your banker what he requires when he loans money to an LLP (or LLC, or PC, etc.) law firm.

-- 118

Proskauer Rose will likely dissolve within 2010, given its current financial status.

Anyone of the dozens of associates, partners, staff and others already laid off over the last 6 months (or so) knows, the business model of 5-6 rainmakers, with 35 service partners, and far fewers associates, in a given section, for example, all of whom had little institutional business to begin with and and less than zero in this market, are thrilled to be out. This business model can't survive and likely won't. The FOB's are finally very very nervous and should be. Anyone still there should wake up and smell the roses, the days of making the few rich are over. I agree with Dubya above.

As one of those related to one who has been laid off, I can only say:

He who laughs last, laughs best!

The partners shoud be ashamed of themselves. the greed is staggering. Looks like there will be some cheap office space in Boston coming open

What's the scoop on Mintz? I give the founders credit for starting a successful firm when antisemitism was rampant, but now . . .

?

The Proskauer tipster flat out lied to you. The latest NY summer start dates got deferred to is April 2010 (pushed back from March 2010). Not all of them were pushed back either, a good number still start in March.

95 - So true!!

109:

In the same breath you told someone to take their head out of a book and then refer to one for factual information. Such logic is astounding. Thank god you did not enter the legal profession.

And you're wrong, by the way.

The word I have from the DC office is that the class of 2010 will receive offers to start in late 2011 with NO stipend. This is with the exception of Boca and New Orleans, which were able their summers positions to start in the fall of 2010. What a firm!!!!!!!!!!!

The word I have from the DC office is that the class of 2010 will receive offers to start in late 2011 with NO stipend. This is with the exception of Boca and New Orleans, which were able their summers positions to start in the fall of 2010. What a firm!!!!!!!!!!!

The word I have from the DC office is that the class of 2010 will receive offers to start in late 2011 with NO stipend. This is with the exception of Boca and New Orleans, which were able their summers positions to start in the fall of 2010. What a firm!!!!!!!!!!!

Any more news from proskauer on start dates? stipend amounts? when paid?