Comments on: The Month in Layoffs – March 09

By: Rose

Rose — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:31:04 +0000

As long as we are spilling the beams. And I hope the IRS reads this. Many laws firms take write offs. But, that individual write off, is not seen by the company person paying the bill. For example: AB owes $10,000; It is written off by $4,000. Now AB owes, $6,000. Well, accounts payable rep at AB does not know this and somehow, it pays the $10,000. Now, keep in mind that $4,000 was written off (and this is included in losses for law firm''s 1120 return). The law firm cashes the check. Balance is zero and that EXTRA $4,000 goes into a secret coded pool of money – wherein gee, I wonder who gets it; could it be the equity partners. Must be nice to get $25,00O EACH QUARTER AND A $50,000 BONUS AT THE END OF THE YEAR. WHILE YOUR SECRETARY GETS $900, AFTER TAXES! YOU ASS HOLES!

By: Rose

Rose — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:22:02 +0000

I just read all of your comments. All are real and I have felt them first hand. In my case, it is true at my firm the partner in charge is messing with secretary(s) and the secretary is walking around telling people. There is tons of liars and cheats all over the place. Some of the staff, secretaries do not work and have been getting a free ride for years. The partners let some nitwits run the Human Resource Departments and ruin peoples lives! I know two secretaries that died because of HRs behavior, and then they have the nerve to go to the funeral! Don't worry what goes around comes around. Chicago Law Firms will fall and fall big. Law was not like this years ago. Before 1990, it was pleasure to go to work. I ran to work with pillows on my feet. But today, Greed is what is going to kill this country. But, we all have to have hope. Remember, you did the best job you could (I hope). Your resume is your integrity. And in the end, the only evaluator we need to make happy, IS GOD HIMSELF SO SEES EVERYTHING AND LOVES YOU. DO NOT MAKE THESE PEOPLE HAPPY BY HATING THEM. BE HAPPY THAT YOU ARE OUT OF THIS HOLE.

By: Rose

Rose — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 14:12:21 +0000

Lynne you hit it right on the head. God Bless You, I am in the same boat you are in. We will swim to victory. You can email me if you want..

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 15 May 2009 16:14:18 +0000

I know what you mean about the big law firms. For me, it is all based on greed. I worked for a huge law firm in Chicago and they actually did not lose hardly any money for 2008, but yet they found the time to let all of the paralegal secretarys go, making much more work for the secretaries. Then to top it off, they offered buyout packages to secretaries who had been at the firm over 10 years and should the secretaries declined they still went after them and then fired them. Where is the sense of justice and loyalty from employees – it is totally gone. Very dissappointing to me.

By: Elana

Elana — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:24:17 +0000

I worked for the biggest law firm in Canada and know how much money the senior partners billed out and how much compensation they, as well as all of the other lawyers, earned. It never ceased to amaze me how the CEO would send an e-mail out quarterly to let all of the staff know how well the firm was doing. Revenues were up and business was booming. Associates are on retreat to Acapulco; partners are on retreat in Arizona. Meanwhile, within a short time of each of these announcements, inevitably one of the perks enjoyed by the staff would suddenly disappear. It never failed. I am just happy that I am no longer a part of BigLaw. I seized my opportunity to join a company that treats us all well and the perks are unbelievable. Good timing too…that big firm is not quite so big any more!

By: Mary

Mary — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:52:01 +0000

Try working for an attorney who bills at least $450-500 an hour. Tell me their ego isn't inflated as well. Working at W&S the attorneys billed exhorbitant invoices and they wonder why their clients can't pay their bills. Look at our former govenor – owed at least $550,000 in legal fees and I would not be surprised if W&S wrote them off like many other bills. What I do not understand why would a law firm have on call over 25 floaters (with no work to do) and then lay them off 6 months later. They were promising false hope with a company who supposedly one of the best law firms.

By: nofanhere

nofanhere — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:52:00 +0000

At $300+ an hour, and the freewheeling obsession with billable hours, the legal trade is overdue for a reality check. I hope this represents a permanent change in lawyers' bloated fees as the internet spreads legal information, and more work is outsourced to Asia. Face it: fewer and fewer people can afford to pay you.

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 10 May 2009 15:07:12 +0000

Anyone who has been laid off by law firms in Chicago we should unite and hold a rally in Chicago to show the citizens of our community how many people have been affected by downsizing in the legal profession. I am sure the number of people attending would be overwhelming. This domino effect of downsizing has got to stop now or the previous middle-class wage earners will be the new poor. Common, let's make a stand!

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 09 May 2009 12:58:58 +0000

What is with all the layoffs of staff in the Chicago office of Winston & Strawn? They are sending employees home who have been loyal to the firm for over 15 years, have great skills, etc. Are they merging with another huge law firm where they can feed their huge bank accounts and egos? Where are all the great employees supposed to work if law firms keep laying off people. I think a class action lawsuit is in order to stop this. Thank you.

By: cunning69

cunning69 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:31:12 +0000

Michael, are you suggesting that Larry, Curly and Moe pay for "silence"?