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Bad news for anyone hoping BigLaw is doing better in Chicago. Sidley Austin apparently nixed its entire summer associate program at its Chicago office this year.

More at http://shillingmesoftly.blogspot.com/.

Let's hope this is just a rumor. How can they have no summer class? What are they going to do in 3-4 years when there are no experienced associates left at the firm? Those fat-cat partners need to take a cut if the firm's going to last.

Haven't most schools released their list of firms coming to OCI? Is Sidley on them?

fwiw, the 2010 summer at sidley fb group has 6 fans. maybe 5 current associates and an ip SA but still 6 people....

miamiman wrote:fwiw, the 2010 summer at sidley fb group has 6 fans. maybe 5 current associates and an ip SA but still 6 people....

And in 2008, they had 100+ SAs, enough to need an entire rooftop at Wrigley. 6 is nothing.

Jay Dub wrote: Haven't most schools released their list of firms coming to OCI? Is Sidley on them?

Sidley Chicago was did not come to CLS OCI last year, nor is it listed to come this year.

NY and DC offices are still coming though.

According to NALP, there are 20 SA's in Sidley's Chicago office.

Locke N. Lawded wrote:

miamiman wrote:fwiw, the 2010 summer at sidley fb group has 6 fans. maybe 5 current associates and an ip SA but still 6 people....

And in 2008, they had 100+ SAs, enough to need an entire rooftop at Wrigley. 6 is nothing.

you can't have it both ways though, right? first you're saying no SA class then when someone shows evidence suggesting there is one, you say "well, it's tiny."

im not saying 6 members (though likely more due to people a) opting out of the FB group and b) historical hiring for Sidley) is something to be especially proud of, but 6 is not 0.

Sdley Chicago has signed up for oci at SLS so unless they change their minds before August the rumor seems false.

legends159 wrote:Sdley Chicago has signed up for oci at SLS so unless they change their minds before August the rumor seems false.

Current summer class...not for next year.

do you mean oci 2011 cause they're signed up for fall 2010 oci

edit: n/m

Jay Dub wrote:Let's hope this is just a rumor. How can they have no summer class? What are they going to do in 3-4 years when there are no experienced associates left at the firm? Those fat-cat partners need to take a cut if the firm's going to last.

What they're going to do is end up paying through the nose for laterals. Transactional practices will come back and firms made the same mistake of layoffs/small classes in the wake of 9/11 and when the easy money machine increased demand for transactional lawyers, salaries for first years jumped from 125 to 160 - expect another jump, but more likely in the mid and senior level associate range in a few years. Partners will use the increased salaries to hike billing rates and will make even more money. All will be fine.

theghostofDrewTate wrote:

Jay Dub wrote:Let's hope this is just a rumor. How can they have no summer class? What are they going to do in 3-4 years when there are no experienced associates left at the firm? Those fat-cat partners need to take a cut if the firm's going to last.

What they're going to do is end up paying through the nose for laterals. Transactional practices will come back and firms made the same mistake of layoffs/small classes in the wake of 9/11 and when the easy money machine increased demand for transactional lawyers, salaries for first years jumped from 125 to 160 - expect another jump, but more likely in the mid and senior level associate range in a few years. Partners will use the increased salaries to hike billing rates and will make even more money. All will be fine.

I don't buy this. Where are the laterals going to lateral from? Smaller firms? If that's the case, won't corporations catch on and just higher the smaller firms for less money?

Jay Dub wrote:

theghostofDrewTate wrote:

Jay Dub wrote:Let's hope this is just a rumor. How can they have no summer class? What are they going to do in 3-4 years when there are no experienced associates left at the firm? Those fat-cat partners need to take a cut if the firm's going to last.

What they're going to do is end up paying through the nose for laterals. Transactional practices will come back and firms made the same mistake of layoffs/small classes in the wake of 9/11 and when the easy money machine increased demand for transactional lawyers, salaries for first years jumped from 125 to 160 - expect another jump, but more likely in the mid and senior level associate range in a few years. Partners will use the increased salaries to hike billing rates and will make even more money. All will be fine.

I don't buy this. Where are the laterals going to lateral from? Smaller firms? If that's the case, won't corporations catch on and just higher the smaller firms for less money?

Laterals will come from other big firms and the scarcity of the laterals is what will drive the price up. One of my good friends at work is a 2003 grad who did OCI in 2001 when the market was awful - people still got biglaw at that time, but it was open to very few people. The guy used to get at least 3 headhunter calls a day back in 2006 and early 2007. It will be the same in a few years when every firm is looking to hire - they won't hire laid off associates or small firm associates, they will want those scarce biglaw associates.

Sidley is slated for Duke OCI as well.

Anonymous User wrote:Sidley is slated for Duke OCI as well.

May I please reiterate once more that it is inconsequential that Sidley is slated to do OCI at a future date...this post refers only to the current class, or lack thereof, of the summer of 2010. And only the Chicago office, not any other market.

And again, OCI means nothing if no offers result from the "recruiting" visit...firms do it to stay in good standing with the top schools for the time when hiring improves...whenever that is.

legends159 wrote:do you mean oci 2011 cause they're signed up for fall 2010 oci

oh you sweet ruddy cheeked rising 2Ls so trusting and stuff

-underdawg (oops)

Anonymous User wrote:

legends159 wrote:do you mean oci 2011 cause they're signed up for fall 2010 oci

oh you sweet ruddy cheeked rising 2Ls so trusting and stuff

-underdawg (oops)

Anonymous User wrote:

legends159 wrote:do you mean oci 2011 cause they're signed up for fall 2010 oci

oh you sweet ruddy cheeked rising 2Ls so trusting and stuff

-underdawg (oops)

i'm just stating a fact as it stands. sorry i'm not a bitter rising 3L yet.

legends159 wrote:Sdley Chicago has signed up for oci at SLS so unless they change their minds before August the rumor seems false.

um

underdawg wrote:

legends159 wrote:Sdley Chicago has signed up for oci at SLS so unless they change their minds before August the rumor seems false.

um

What is is about there is CURRENTLY AT THIS MOMENT no summer class that you all don't understand. Right now, today, this second, as I write this, there is not an official summer class at Sidley's Chicago office.

Not talking about next year, not talking about what they plan for next summer, not talking about OCI that hasn't happened yet. Unless I have fallen through a wormhole and it's a year in the future, there is currency to this rumor.

Locke N. Lawded wrote:

underdawg wrote:

legends159 wrote:Sdley Chicago has signed up for oci at SLS so unless they change their minds before August the rumor seems false.

um

What is is about there is CURRENTLY AT THIS MOMENT no summer class that you all don't understand. Right now, today, this second, as I write this, there is not an official summer class at Sidley's Chicago office.

Not talking about next year, not talking about what they plan for next summer, not talking about OCI that hasn't happened yet. Unless I have fallen through a wormhole and it's a year in the future, there is currency to this rumor.

I think the point is that the majority of this board's membership are c/o 2012, so while Sidley's current state is unfortunate, most of us are just shrugging and hoping it will be better in the future. It's not news that most, if not all firms have contracted this summer.

The posts earlier in the thread support that they are pursuing a relatively wide T14 OCI schedule. Seems like they wouldn't bother if things were that dire, good graces with schools notwithstanding.

There's no real need to post the same thing over and over again.

edit: n/m

Guys, you are all the morons (esp legends)

Whether or not the OP is right, just because Sidley is coming to your school for OCI/OGI/EIW/EIP/whatever, DOESN'T mean they intend to take anyone. Many firms came last year with absolutely no intention to hire.

I don't know whether or not Sidley is having a summer class, but having them listed on the employer list for your interview week doesn't mean jack shit.

,