How did laid-off 1st-yr associates from 2009 get new jobs? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I know many BigLaw firms laid off massive numbers of associates in 2008/2009. How did those associates, especially the first-years with no experience, get back into BigLaw after that?

[mvp99]

I know many BigLaw firms laid off massive numbers of associates in 2008/2009. How did those associates, especially the first-years with no experience, get back into BigLaw after that?

I think most of them didn't and then there was a shortage of midlevels

[Anonymous User]

I know many BigLaw firms laid off massive numbers of associates in 2008/2009. How did those associates, especially the first-years with no experience, get back into BigLaw after that?

I think most of them didn't and then there was a shortage of midlevels

So where did those attorneys go? They wouldn't have had enough experience to go in-house, and there wouldn't be enough extra judicial clerkships or positions at DA offices for everyone.

[Anonymous User]

I know many BigLaw firms laid off massive numbers of associates in 2008/2009. How did those associates, especially the first-years with no experience, get back into BigLaw after that?

I think most of them didn't and then there was a shortage of midlevels

So where did those attorneys go? They wouldn't have had enough experience to go in-house, and there wouldn't be enough extra judicial clerkships or positions at DA offices for everyone.

Doc review? Random midlaw/biglaw positions they could find? Other careers?

[TLSModBot]

This is why the whole "Law school -> Biglaw" thing is so terrifying. You pretty much have ONE shot on a very specific hiring track to make it into Biglaw, and if you don't make it or get laid off early for whatever reason, that's it. Game over and hey you still have to pay your loans.

[mvp99]

I know many BigLaw firms laid off massive numbers of associates in 2008/2009. How did those associates, especially the first-years with no experience, get back into BigLaw after that?

I think most of them didn't and then there was a shortage of midlevels

So where did those attorneys go? They wouldn't have had enough experience to go in-house, and there wouldn't be enough extra judicial clerkships or positions at DA offices for everyone.

those without enough exp or gap in their resumes are probably inactive now

[A. Nony Mouse]

I know many BigLaw firms laid off massive numbers of associates in 2008/2009. How did those associates, especially the first-years with no experience, get back into BigLaw after that?

I think most of them didn't and then there was a shortage of midlevels

So where did those attorneys go? They wouldn't have had enough experience to go in-house, and there wouldn't be enough extra judicial clerkships or positions at DA offices for everyone.

Of course there wouldn't be. That's the problem. People had to leave law.

[sinfiery]

No one really knows. There really is no concrete system in place to find out if they left the law for good or found their way into a legal job once the market started turning around or through enough scrapping in tough times.

[star fox]

This is why the whole "Law school -> Biglaw" thing is so terrifying. You pretty much have ONE shot on a very specific hiring track to make it into Biglaw, and if you don't make it or get laid off early for whatever reason, that's it. Game over and hey you still have to pay your loans.

PAYE

[TLSModBot]

This is why the whole "Law school -> Biglaw" thing is so terrifying. You pretty much have ONE shot on a very specific hiring track to make it into Biglaw, and if you don't make it or get laid off early for whatever reason, that's it. Game over and hey you still have to pay your loans.

PAYE

oh of course nvm everything's awesome

[star fox]

This is why the whole "Law school -> Biglaw" thing is so terrifying. You pretty much have ONE shot on a very specific hiring track to make it into Biglaw, and if you don't make it or get laid off early for whatever reason, that's it. Game over and hey you still have to pay your loans.

PAYE

oh of course nvm everything's awesome

No, I'm saying rather than "game over" it's just "go on PAYE" which may still suck or w/e, idk

[lacrossebrother]

Pretty sure law school is an awesome three years and most people who go see >5% (or whatever PAYE translates to) increase in their income. Either massively so, or fulfillingly so.

No clue to the OP

[twenty 8]

Makes me wonder what is happening to the hundreds of attorneys who were recently displaced when their firms went under. I read that a number of firms conducting layoffs gave their associates 60 days’ notice but most struck out before they could land anywhere.

[Anonymous User]

info on idle lawyers per state etc. https://lawschooltuitionbubble.wordpres ... -by-state/

[Monochromatic Oeuvre]

I know many BigLaw firms laid off massive numbers of associates in 2008/2009. How did those associates, especially the first-years with no experience, get back into BigLaw after that?

The large majority never got back into Biglaw. That's exactly why c/o '08-'11 are comparatively pretty small (and thus commanded high bonuses).

I don't know why you assumed they did. As has been said, if you don't cop Biglaw right out of school and last at least two years (maybe a little earlier, it depends), you're basically toxic and firms just move on to the next year (where 36,000 1Ls will compete for the 4,000ish Biglaw jobs).

[sinfiery]

info on idle lawyers per state etc. https://lawschooltuitionbubble.wordpres ... -by-state/

The idle lawyer statistics were super interesting

If only we had a few years of pre 2008 statistics to use as a benchmark

[Johann]

doc review followed by leaving law. or shitlaw making 40-50k to trying to solo. the latter are probably doing fine today.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a 1st year at v20.

there are 2 people here who were laid off around 2009. One was a 3rd year associate at v50 who ended up working as a volunteer AUSA (aka special ausa) for free for a year. Then was hired at my firm after the economy picked up. Was just made partner last year.

Another was a '10 grad, got no offered from summer at v100. went unemployed for 1 year. Doc review for another year. Mid-law for another year. Started as a 1st year associate at my firm last year. It's kinda weird that he's only 1 year ahead of me and i'm a '15 grad, but honestly could be way worse.

[Total Litigator]

The handful that I knew ended up okay. Because their credentials had been good enough for biglaw, they were able to land in gov or at midlaw in practice areas that werent affected as much by the economic slump/crash. Those who did land in gov or midlaw who wanted back into biglaw or to get into big(ish)gov were able to do so for the most part. That being said, I'm sure there are examples abound the of opposite experience (e.g., doc review, back to pre law school job, etc.)