What follows is a series of e-mail communications between a Skadden associate and support staff regarding reimbursement for meals on Christmas Day. For big firm associates, it really doesn't get too much worse than this. These emails are currently being forwarded around -- I can't vouch for their accuracy, but they did contain a whole lot of confidentiality notices that...

He's really only doing it because he thinks Bashman is a cooler name than Ingersoll. But while we're at it, need any associates???...

I almost thought it was April 1 when I read this....

The aptly named Morrison & Foerster recently jettisoned some of its pro-bono clients, Tibetan asylum seekers, in favor of the cash-wielding Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad. Commitment to pro bono. That's the "MoFo Difference". (Note to self: when naming company, be sure to pass along name to a 14-year old boy for all possible permutations...

There is a double standard for women when it comes to professional clothing. On the one hand, anything besides a suit* is just too sexual for the office. On the other hand, pant suits aren't conservative enough. Mixed messages, anyone? Let me tell you, some bizarre transformation invariably occurs to women lawyers around here. They simply are unable to dress...

Choate dumped 13 associates this week (ahem, excuse me, they've 'realigned their staffing') in a cost-cutting move. Perhaps in response to growing concerns about big firms cutting loose incoming associates left & right, the firm left their incoming class of 21 unperturbed. If I were one of them, I wouldn't be breathing a big sigh of relief or letting my...

This is just dirty! Sullivan & Worcester* canned 5 associates this week and 6 of the 11 first-years slated to start work there in just two weeks. The firm had already shoved back the new associates start date. I'm not sure if they thought they were doing these new lawyers a favor by grasping onto straws, but as a former...

Ford is asking its corporate attorneys in the UK to slash their bills! The auto giant has "requested" its legal advisers to come up with alternative ways of billing them, like success-based billing. I don't know if this entirely makes sense --in the English legal system, the loser pays the fees of the prevailing party. Of course there are incidental...

"They wanted to go for the brass ring and really live the good life. What they don't seem to get is that the key to living the good life is to avoid that brass ring like the fucking plague." The Onion just always gets it right, even though it's all made up. Check out this funny jab at Hale &...

Bear Stearns follows Lehman Brothers and Deutsche Bank in telling employees to "suit up or ship out" [at this point I think we've exhausted the entire lexicon of nautically related metaphors]. Those who dare challenge the leviathan will at least get a stern dressing-down. I would definitely look for this to happen soon in at least a few firms that...

This month's JD Jungle (one of those hip & irreverent magazines, except it's for law students, so it's kind of an oxymoron) has advice from a legal secretary who's seen 30 new classes of associates buzz through the firm. Unfortunately, the article isn't online yet. I'll post it when it becomes available. [Post updated to include link.] Law students should...

Nixon Peabody and Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar have signed a "memorandum of understanding to merge." Unfortunately, some lawyers will have to be canned if they occupy "duplicative positions." The new firm will be keeping Nixon's name. I guess we know who'll wear the pants in the family (and which duplicative lawyers will be disinherited). I'm crossing my fingers they'll keep...

I don't think this article accurately conveys the importance of paralegals (and it completely ignores secretaries). I'm pretty sure that it's always a bad move as a first-year to assume you know more than the support staff. They know more than you do about the actual practice of law, they can do it better, and are smarter (if for the...

Morgan Lewis is following Dechert's lead and bumping first-year salaries to $125k. Apparently they did so even though they laid off 50 associates last year. Probably not the best of moves for per partner profits. I am sure the question that is weighing heavily on all our minds is, When will Howard's firm jump into the fray? They're currently at...

The Boston Business Journal was very busy this week reporting on major inter-firm defections, the difficulties NY firms face when expanding into Boston, and Testa's use of the "performance review" as a layoff device (not really anything new there!). Characteristically, Testa's managing partner denies that layoffs were done under the guise of performance based terminations. I've heard way too many...

Things aren't looking good for Mintz Levin. Partners are leaving, profits are dropping, and they've made major cuts of support staff. Now they're bribing incoming first-year associates to walk with $20k or stay with a $3k per month stipend (deferring to next fall) and a non-compete agreement. That's a pretty raw deal. At least Brobeck is including incentives to work...

First Year Associate Salary: $125,000. New Big-City Firm Wardrobe: $5,000. Sucking on a partner's shoe: Priceless. I just might be in love. Stroock & Stroock & Lavan has just revamped their recruiting website. Explore. It's funny. I promise....

The Boston Business Journal reported to me: 6 lawyers, 5 partners, 3 secretaries all left Peabody!* The group, which practices real estate, is moving to Nutter. Nutter's managing partner "emphasized that Nutter didn't approach Peabody with the idea of acquiring a practice group." (emphasis added) Of course, if they hadn't bothered to emphasize it, we probably wouldn't think that's exactly...

I think I've figured out the next "perk" firms will dream up. That way you'll get to buy your own gadgets and you'll still be reachable 24/7!! Note to naive law students -- all those wireless gadgets and other perks aren't all they're cracked up to be....

Dechert is bumping first-year salaries by $20k to $125k for its Philly & Princeton offices (the Boston office already pays $125k for first-years, down from $135k in 2001). It's a stupendously awful idea. Boston firms did the same thing in response to salary hikes over in Silicon Valley. If one firm raises the salary, most others must follow to maintain...

The eight partners jumping Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar's sinking ship for Weil's Boston private equity practice say it was "not a reaction" to the Hutchins Wheeler and Nixon Peabody merger. It just so happened that "Hutchins Wheeler and Nixon Peabody and we [the moving partners] and Weil Gotshal started discussions in tandem." Yeah, I don't believe you....

Smaller Boston firms actually racked up per partner increases in 2001. Some of them were even able to achieve such a feat without resorting to lay-offs (although there are never numbers on forced exits and attrition rates). Despite record lows in hiring and record highs in firing in 2001, The Boston Business Journal reports it was merely the last quarter...

The rumor mill is grinding again, and this time, Mintz Levin is the grist. After profits plummeted by $200,000 per partner and the recent cuts to its support staff, it wouldn't at all be a surprise to hear Mintz is losing some of its buoyancy. The firm had planned to book 30% 3Ls as interviewees in the upcoming fall recruiting...

After a massive power outage disrupted my spaghetti & meatballs preparations last night, I had nothing better to do than read the Hale & Dorr propaganda recruiting materials they so kindly forwarded to me in the mail. (Note to 1Ls: apply to all the firms after December 1st, even though you don't have a snowball's chance in hell of getting...

The Miami Herald reports Vinson & Elkins, who advised Enron on its shady transactions, is touting its experience in hiding cash as a client-attracting strategy. The former lead counsel for Enron says, ''We have nothing to lie low about." As you might remember, Enron hid its debt in the off-shore special-purpose entities Vinson & Elkins is so skilled at creating....

A few days ago Kausfiles reported the LA Times' comparison of Doris Kearns Goodwin's No Ordinary Time and the sources she "allegedly" filched from. You can see my spin here. This week, Alex Beam of the Boston Globe reports Nussbaum and Ropes & Gray are at it again: The LA Times article is ''junk journalism,'' Nussbaum says. ''Any time you...

More on Peabody & Arnold - in case you didn't get it the first time, Peabody & Arnold has also rescinded all offers to incoming associates (according to a source)....

We all know that Doris Kearns Goodwin is a plagiarizer. But did Ropes & Gray really think their seal of approval (see Kausfiles) would prevent people from examining "her" book closely? Obviously her lawyer has to run damage control, but to actually say to the New York Times (4/31/02) -- "Under the auspices of the law firm of Ropes &...

Yes, it is the ever-unbiased Vault.com annual prestige rankings. Hale & Dorr, Fish & Richardson, and Testa are tops in Boston for quality of life. I am certain if you piddle around the site you will find a lot of great information on collegial atmospheres and relaxed working environments. Really, who are they kidding?...

Yes, Virginia, we are laying off associates and cutting back on summers! Here and here. Don't forget to make a good impression if you've actually got a job....

Peabody & Arnold is laying off 110 employees. At least they are retaining a consultant "to help associates assess their options." Umm, yeah, and just exactly what options would those be? I think the paralegals & support staff probably have a better chance than the lawyers!...

Gee, it would sure be fun to live in Minneapolis! (You know, the city's trademark is "The Coolest Place on Earth!"). It's uh, the City of Lakes! I really don't think that even massive cost of living adjustments could drag me to Minnesota. How do they get profits/partner of $3M+ out there anyways?...

Yes indeed, there are law journals that devote entire issues to attorney unhappiness....

The sad, sad story of one NYC Associate....

The day after the bar exam, Hutchins, Wheeler & Dittmar told incoming first-years not to bother coming in and canceled all OCI/fall interviewing. Turns out they are in merger discussions with Nixon Peabody. Seems an ominous start to recruiting season....

The AmLaw 100 survey is full of very interesting things! Profits per partner (generally) go down among large Boston firms. Mintz Levin -- 710->510 Hale & Dorr -- 835->750 Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault -- 825->745 Ropes & Gray -- 800->750 Goodwin Procter -- 755->855 Bingham -- 855->870...