Schiff layoffs Forum

[homestyle28]

Apparently mostly first years:

http://abovethelaw.com/2016/03/nationwi ... -the-curb/

[jarofsoup]

The thing is that this kind of kills the careers of those who get laid off.

When they try to make a move to a new firm the question is going to be why were you let go and Joe not?

[trebekismyhero]

Yeah, at least the first years got some time. They also did this to the incoming associates for whom it is too late to try and get another big law job. They have really screwed them over for the rest of their legal career. I understand 22 partners left and there would be repercussions, but this is pretty awful

[lavarman84]

Yeah, at least the first years got some time. They also did this to the incoming associates for whom it is too late to try and get another big law job. They have really screwed them over for the rest of their legal career. I understand 22 partners left and there would be repercussions, but this is pretty awful

It sucks but I think you're overstating things a bit.

[zot1]

I have a friend who was let go from a BigLaw firm shortly after starting for non-performance reasons but it wasn't a big layoff either. This person has been applying broadly since. No BigLaw interviews so far (it's been a year since this happen). No PI/gov't interviews either, presumably because resume screams BigLaw. Some, very limited, small firm interviews but no offers.

This person has been doing contract work since.

It is absolutely true that it's harder to get a job if you're unemployed.

Yes, this is just one story.

[Tls2016]

Yeah, at least the first years got some time. They also did this to the incoming associates for whom it is too late to try and get another big law job. They have really screwed them over for the rest of their legal career. I understand 22 partners left and there would be repercussions, but this is pretty awful

Nothing like being two months from graduating with biglaw lined up, your bar advance and your bar exam course and fees all paid for, thinking your future is golden, right up until the point you don't have a damn job. Or time to find one.

These 3Ls are going to have a rough time getting work if they don't have any contacts who can help them out. Firms have already hired the incoming class well before now and it won't be easy to convince them to take one more 1st year.

[2014]

Yeah, at least the first years got some time. They also did this to the incoming associates for whom it is too late to try and get another big law job. They have really screwed them over for the rest of their legal career. I understand 22 partners left and there would be repercussions, but this is pretty awful

Nothing like being two months from graduating with biglaw lined up, your bar advance and your bar exam course and fees all paid for, thinking your future is golden, right up until the point you don't have a damn job. Or time to find one.

These 3Ls are going to have a rough time getting work if they don't have any contacts who can help them out. Firms have already hired the incoming class well before now and it won't be easy to convince them to take one more 1st year.

They aren't 3Ls, they are graduates who have waited patiently for 9 months to start because Shiff has some people do spring start dates instead of fall. For a firm touting a record year, canning first years is borderline inhumane. I hope this is remembered come OCI,

[lavarman84]

I have a friend who was let go from a BigLaw firm shortly after starting for non-performance reasons but it wasn't a big layoff either. This person has been applying broadly since. No BigLaw interviews so far (it's been a year since this happen). No PI/gov't interviews either, presumably because resume screams BigLaw. Some, very limited, small firm interviews but no offers.

This person has been doing contract work since.

It is absolutely true that it's harder to get a job if you're unemployed.

Yes, this is just one story.

I'm not trying to be insensitive. It's a bad situation. Really shitty thing for a firm to do. But I do think saying it will ruin their entire legal career is an overstatement. There will probably be cases like your friend's where (s)he gets stuck in a really shitty situation (and you know...your friend might end up figuring a way out of his/her situation). But it's one setback in a very long career. I do think it's something a person can get past and overcome.

But yes, unemployment sucks and it's a terrible situation for a firm to thrust them into. There had to be a better way to handle this.

[jarofsoup]

The problem is that the legal market is going to assume the layoffs are for performance. That is just how things go. So a layoff is the same as being fired for performance reasons in the legal field. That is what is so fucked up about our industry.

[lacrossebrother]

They let eleven associates go because 22 partners left... I'd think it were more newsworthy if they retained all their associates despite the mass exodus.

It does not appear that the partner departures were a sign that the firm was struggling financially. Schiff Hardin reported earlier this month that it had a record financial year in 2015, with revenue up 14.7 percent over the year before to $277 million, profits per partner soaring 21 percent to $980,000 and revenue per lawyer increasing 17.4 percent over the year before, reaching $875,000.

Eisenstein said that she anticipates another strong year in 2016.

“Schiff Hardin is coming off a record year,” she said. “Going forward we are focusing on several key practice areas such as IP, product liability, corporate finance and environmental, and on our profitability, an effort which began last year and is ongoing.”

[lacrossebrother]

The problem is that the legal market is going to assume the layoffs are for performance. That is just how things go. So a layoff is the same as being fired for performance reasons in the legal field. That is what is so fucked up about our industry.

Do you think the firm should publish their names or something then?

[jarofsoup]

No. Wouldn't make a difference. should give them a few months of unpaid leave while they remain on the website to find a new job.

[Tls2016]

Yeah, at least the first years got some time. They also did this to the incoming associates for whom it is too late to try and get another big law job. They have really screwed them over for the rest of their legal career. I understand 22 partners left and there would be repercussions, but this is pretty awful

Nothing like being two months from graduating with biglaw lined up, your bar advance and your bar exam course and fees all paid for, thinking your future is golden, right up until the point you don't have a damn job. Or time to find one.

These 3Ls are going to have a rough time getting work if they don't have any contacts who can help them out. Firms have already hired the incoming class well before now and it won't be easy to convince them to take one more 1st year.

They aren't 3Ls, they are graduates who have waited patiently for 9 months to start because Shiff has some people do spring start dates instead of fall. For a firm touting a record year, canning first years is borderline inhumane. I hope this is remembered come OCI,

I don't understand cutting only 1st years and people who they have promised jobs. I'm hoping those people started looking as soon as the partners left. If the firm was like Dewey, however, they were most likely reassuring them that everything was fine.
It's so tough on the most junior lawyers to be thrown out. If the first years started in the spring last year, they should have a year almost. And the 3Ls must already have taken the bar. So that's something.

[Tls2016]

They let eleven associates go because 22 partners left... I'd think it were more newsworthy if they retained all their associates despite the mass exodus.

It does not appear that the partner departures were a sign that the firm was struggling financially. Schiff Hardin reported earlier this month that it had a record financial year in 2015, with revenue up 14.7 percent over the year before to $277 million, profits per partner soaring 21 percent to $980,000 and revenue per lawyer increasing 17.4 percent over the year before, reaching $875,000.

Eisenstein said that she anticipates another strong year in 2016.

“Schiff Hardin is coming off a record year,” she said. “Going forward we are focusing on several key practice areas such as IP, product liability, corporate finance and environmental, and on our profitability, an effort which began last year and is ongoing.”

It's newsworthy anytime. At least this is better than stealth layoffs. Not that it will discourage anyone from going to law school or thinking that law is a stable career.

[gaddockteeg]

Friend of mine was laid off. haven't asked him about it but I feel terrible for him.

[Johann]

Yeah, at least the first years got some time. They also did this to the incoming associates for whom it is too late to try and get another big law job. They have really screwed them over for the rest of their legal career. I understand 22 partners left and there would be repercussions, but this is pretty awful

Nothing like being two months from graduating with biglaw lined up, your bar advance and your bar exam course and fees all paid for, thinking your future is golden, right up until the point you don't have a damn job. Or time to find one.

These 3Ls are going to have a rough time getting work if they don't have any contacts who can help them out. Firms have already hired the incoming class well before now and it won't be easy to convince them to take one more 1st year.

They aren't 3Ls, they are graduates who have waited patiently for 9 months to start because Shiff has some people do spring start dates instead of fall. For a firm touting a record year, canning first years is borderline inhumane. I hope this is remembered come OCI,

[Actus Reus]

Yeah, at least the first years got some time. They also did this to the incoming associates for whom it is too late to try and get another big law job. They have really screwed them over for the rest of their legal career. I understand 22 partners left and there would be repercussions, but this is pretty awful

Nothing like being two months from graduating with biglaw lined up, your bar advance and your bar exam course and fees all paid for, thinking your future is golden, right up until the point you don't have a damn job. Or time to find one.

These 3Ls are going to have a rough time getting work if they don't have any contacts who can help them out. Firms have already hired the incoming class well before now and it won't be easy to convince them to take one more 1st year.

They aren't 3Ls, they are graduates who have waited patiently for 9 months to start because Shiff has some people do spring start dates instead of fall. For a firm touting a record year, canning first years is borderline inhumane. I hope this is remembered come OCI,

Such a dick move. These people have no chance now. Schiff makes people do some fellowships/PI before they start. A good program, but screws these people who now have no biglaw experience when they could have had 6 months.

[Anonymous User]

It doesn't matter what the firm says. The litigation and Chicago is so soft they're all just fucked.