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Career Center: First-Year Associate Survey Results

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Members of the “lost generation” who managed to snag those elusive Biglaw offers are generally being viewed as welcome additions to their firms.  According to our survey results, the majority of respondents report that Class of 2009 and 2010 associates started on time, and have enough billable work.

Although most of the more senior associates think the first-year associates will be cut first if the economy heads south again, a number of newbies are actually very confident about their job security. (That’s especially true of first-years at this New York firm.)

What are some of the other survey findings?

Despite all the deferral drama, over half of survey respondents report that their firm’s Class of 2009 associates started on time:

  • 56% report a fall 2009 start date.
  • 25% report a first half of 2010 start date.
  • 9% report staggered start dates ranging from fall 2009 to early 2011.
  • 6% report a second half of 2010 start date.
  • 4% report 2011 start dates, indefinite deferrals, or rescinded offers.

For the nearly half of respondents who indicate that there is plenty of billable work for the Class of 2009, all levels of associates at their firms can peaceably coexist:

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  • 48% report enough billable work.
  • 35% report enough billable work only in certain practice areas.
  • 13% report an inadequate amount of billable work.
  • 2% think there may be enough billable work for the Class of 2009 by the time they
    start work.

Even better start date statistics for Class of 2010 associates:

  • 62% report a fall 2010 start date.
  • 25% report a first half of 2011 start date.
  • 4% report a second half of 2011 start date.
  • 4% report staggered start dates ranging from fall 2010 to early 2012.
  • 4% report 2012 start dates, indefinite deferrals, or rescinded offers.

The amount of billable work available to the Class of 2010 is on par with the Class of 2009:

  • 41% report enough billable work.
  • 28% report enough billable work only in certain practice areas.
  • 19% report an inadequate amount of billable work.
  • 10% think there may be enough billable work for the Class of 2010 by the time they start work.

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Finally, according to respondents in their second year and beyond, if the economy heads into a double dip recession:

  • 66% think that their first-year counterparts will be laid off first.
  • 19% think all associates are at risk of getting laid off.
  • 9% aren’t worried about any layoffs at their firms

While we didn’t specifically ask the 2009 and 2010 classes for thoughts on their job security in another recession, many say they are confident that their firms wouldn’t lay them off.

For more information on the Classes of 2009 and 2010 at the top firms, check out the ATL Career Center, hosted by Lateral Link.

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