Attorney Job of the Day - Banking Associate

December 12, 2008 Attorney Jobs, Job Survey, Lawyer Jobs, Legal Careers, Legal Employment, Legal Jobs No Comments

 

Job #5078-MH1054

Job Title: Banking Associate

Location: New York, NY

 

Click here to apply

 

Mid to Senior Level Banking Associate

Seeking an associate with a minimum of 4 years experience in general banking, acquisition finance and leveraged finance law.  Top drawer law school/law firm experience required.

NLJ 250

November 10, 2008 Attorney Jobs, Compensation, Job Survey, Lawyer Jobs, Legal Careers, Legal Employment, Legal Jobs, Legal Practice No Comments

 

The NLJ 250 is out. 

The National Law Journal’s annual survey of the country’s largest law firms shows (no surprise) that hiring slowed significantly in 2008.  Seven large firms announced layoffs this year and two major firms on the list, Heller Ehrman and Thelen, dissolved, affecting about 1200 attorneys.  DLA Piper stayed at the top of the list and K&L Gates climbed into the top ten firms

Among the findings:

Growth is down.  The top 250 firms increased attorney ranks by 4.3%, compared to 5.6% in 2007. 

16 firms entered or left the list with several firms from the south and east entering the list and several from the Midwest leaving.

K&L Gates grew significantly, becoming one of the ten largest firms for the first time through mergers and lateral hires.

The credit crisis led to layoffs at several large law firms.  Seven large firms announced layoffs totaling more than 200 attorneys.  Hundreds more lost jobs with the dissolution of Heller Ehrman and Thelen.

The 2008 NLJ 250

Directory of NLJ 250 branch offices

Index of firms listed

 

Fulbright & Jaworski’s Annual Litigation Trends Survey

October 21, 2008 Job Survey, Legal Careers, Legal Employment, Legal Practice No Comments

 

The latest litigation trends report is based on responses from 358 participating companies — including company officials who serve as general or deputy-general counsels for their firms. Of that pool, 251 respondents were U.S.-based firms.

The top ten areas most rip for lawsuits were labor and employment matters, contract disputes and personal injury cases, product liability, intellectual property/patents, insurance, environmental-toxic tort, regulatory, class actions and professional services.

A summary of some of the findings:

  • The economic slump will increase the number of lawsuits companies face
  • 34 percent of U.S companies expect to see what the study calls a “run-up” in litigation involving their firms over the next 12 months.
  • 21 percent of U.S. companies stating that no new lawsuits had been filed against them during the survey year
  • 45 percent of U.S. companies reported spending at least $1 million annually on litigation.
  • 19 percent of the U.S.-based firms stated that they were more likely to increase their in-house litigation staff.
  • 12 percent of the insurance companies surveyed had already engaged outside counsel regarding subprime lawsuits or investigations.
  • 11 percent of the financial services firms surveyed had done already engaged outside counsel regarding subprime lawsuits or investigations.
  • 15 percent of the insurance firms, and 22 percent of the financial services respondents are “bracing themselves for a subprime action or investigation.
  • 66 percent of insurance companies surveyed said they faced new lawsuits
  • 55 percent of retailers surveyed said they faced new lawsuits
  • 54 percent of manufacturing companies surveyed said they faced new lawsuits
  • 52 percent of healthcare companies surveyed said they faced new lawsuits

To get your copy go here…

 

Firms Predict Fewer Associate Hires in 2009

October 13, 2008 Attorney Jobs, Job Searches, Job Survey, Legal Careers, Legal Employment, Legal Jobs, Legal Practice No Comments

It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone that law firms plan on hiring fewer associates next year.

In Washington D.C., twenty two of the thirty largest law firms plan on bringing on fewer associates in 2008 than they did in 2007. Some will decrease hiring by only two or three attorneys, while others will cut hiring by as much as thirty percent. Collectively the firms that provided figures for a recent survey say that their associate hires will drop by five percent.

As the economy has faltered, workload has decreased, especially transactional work. With many lawyers afraid to risk a job change in a fluctuating job market, attrition is down. Firms are will be cautious in their hiring practices until the nature of the economic downturn becomes clear.

Lateral movement does remain strong, however, at the partner level. There is as much, if not more, demand at the partner level. Whenever news breaks that a particular firm may be having difficulties, recruiters start receiving calls from firms interested in recruiting partners who may be looking to escape a sinking ship.

Vault 2009 Rankings Available

August 14, 2008 Attorney Jobs, Job Survey, Legal Careers, Legal Job Search, Legal Jobs No Comments

The complete 2009 rankings are available. In addition to the prestige and “best to work for” rankings, they include the diversity and partner prestige rankings.

You can access all the rankings through this gateway page, or by clicking on the links below. Enjoy!

Top 100 Law Firms: 2009 Rankings (portal page) [Vault]
Top 100 Law Firm Prestige rankings [Vault]
The Best 20 Law Firms to Work For [Vault]
The Best 20 Law Firms for Diversity [Vault]
Partner Prestige Rankings [Vault]