Just days after Akin Gump confirmed they were closing their Austin office, Akin Gump would like to see some of its staff head out the door. Yesterday, the firm announced to staff in several offices, including New York, D.C., and Dallas, that they had an opportunity to participate in a voluntary separation program.
Reducing the ranks of legal secretaries and other support staff has been a Biglaw trend to watch for a few years now. With more and more technical advances, and lawyers’ increased proficiency with that tech, the need for hordes of staff has just decreased.
Reached for comment, a firm spokesperson responded (emphasis added):
Like many law firms, we are adapting to the shifting support needs required to best serve our clients. To address these needs in a manner that is consistent with our culture, the firm recently announced a voluntary separation program for several U.S. offices whereby qualifying staff in those offices who might otherwise be considering other career or life options are presented with the opportunity to voluntarily depart the firm in exchange for a generous severance package. Regardless of the level of program participation, the firm has no plans to announce involuntary departures.
Akin staffers will be relieved to hear there are no current plans for layoffs. But everyone knows even the best-laid plans can change, and we are hearing folks on the ground are worried about that possibility. As one tipster characterized the buyout program, “Not good. Not good at all.”
People may not like it, but at least it is better than a pink slip.
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Kathryn Rubino is an editor at Above the Law. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).