Just laid off at Biglaw - advice?

[Anonymous]

Craigslist usually has posts looking for document reviewers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry to hear, OP. The good news is, he can get a job anywhere. Seriously. He is better off than most.
Most of us have no well to so relatives. Is THAT what people really think? Wow.

I am trying to be sympathetic, but your post sounds a bit entitled. As if everyone else is rich or something.

Anyway, if anywhere is equipped to handle a bunch of laid off lawyers, it should be D.C.

OP here, my point, not very well put was, I know of at least 2 familes who were laid off who were able to move into the basements of siblings, one in the DC area, one elsewhere. My point was, we have no backup for a roof over our head a few months from now. And for those who think a lawyer will be snapped up, there is a glut of laid off lawyers in DC. I have 2 medically fragile kids and am terrified. Sorry that sounded "entitled" to you. We don't have anyone who can loan us any money which was my point about "well to do". Is your family facing possible homelessness today? Is that something your K at DCPS is worried about? And 5 months from now, it could happen. To those who bought houses a long time ago, I don't think you have a good idea of how expensive the rental market has gotten here. Rents for a 2 BR (zoning prohibits 4 people in a 1 BR) can run close to 2K and I'm not talking spacious and luxorious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Just paid the bills and we are down to about 3 months of tight living expenses in the bank. First grader has only heard "laid off" but has asked what will happen when we become homeless. Friends have offered a temporary spare room but we are a family of 4. I am not even sure that the terror has really hit yet. Not sure we can afford even subsidized COBRA, laid off friends have put their kids on DC Medicaid. This seems so unreal. With DH loans and the kids' therapies we lived so close to the bone, didn't save enough for emergencies. The firm does provide outplacement, I think it might be the group mentioned above. Any good thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

Did he not get a severance package?

I'd really consider moving in with family. Cut everything you don't need.

Moving in with family is not a possibility. No one has the room. My mom lives in a retirement community and cannot have children on the premises for more than 30 days per year, she is on a fixed income. There is a few months of severance, a little bit of savings, and that's it. Should last until the end of the summer if we are lucky. DH is trying to get doc review work but with all firms struggling to keep their own employees busy, there isn't so much of it. Hopefully some will come through to stretch the money out longer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Craigslist usually has posts looking for document reviewers.

Thanks, will check that too. Hadn't thought of that.

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry OP. I work in Biglaw and I'm truly sorry your husband is in this position.

From what I can tell though, things ARE improving. We did layoffs last year and everybody got a new job within 3-6 months. Is the firm giving severance? They should be. Also, how senior is your husband and what practice area is he in.

I get why you are freaking out. I'd be totally scared in your shoes right now too.

But try not to despair. Keep positive. The economy IS improving. Recently at my firm a good number of attorneys have left for other jobs - in all fields. There ARE legal jobs out there. Recruiters have already started calling/emailing me again.

The more junior your husband is, the longer it may take him to find a job, but still...there are jobs out there.

Your DH should start talking to his colleagues NOW about opportunities. Maybe the firm can even keep him around a little longer. I know it will be embarrassing, but he should explain his situation (2 special needs kids, SAH wife, no good savings, lots of law school debt). There were a few associates that my firm laid off last year and some had similar sob stories. In one case, the firm rehired one person and EVERYBODY networked for these attorneys on their behalf. If he keeps quiet about his circumstances though, people might just not know to help him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry to hear, OP. The good news is, he can get a job anywhere. Seriously. He is better off than most.
Most of us have no well to so relatives. Is THAT what people really think? Wow.

I am trying to be sympathetic, but your post sounds a bit entitled. As if everyone else is rich or something.

Anyway, if anywhere is equipped to handle a bunch of laid off lawyers, it should be D.C.

Why post something like this? The OP's hurt and fear is already bad enough, without having to rub her nose in it by accusing her of being entitled. She's just reaching out and asking for advice and letting everyone know what her situation is, so as to receive the best advice.

OP, ignore that comment. It's just mean-spirited and unthinking.

I don't have any advice. I'm sorry for what you're going through. I hope your husband finds a job soon. Could you get a job?

[Anonymous]

My heart goes out to you. My husband was laid off this morning as well; while he is in a different field than your husband.

One idea for you, since you are renting, have you considered moving out the burbs where rent is much cheaper than $2k for a 2bedroom. The public schools might be better too

[Anonymous]

So sorry that your faced with this crisis. I agree with prior posters - be kind to each other, you will weather this - you may have to commute, live in a lower cost of living area, ask for help, but fortunately, attorneys can retool themselves - it just takes time, and the ability to work for less than what he's been making at biglaw. What's your husband's practice area? What firm did layoffs today? (The news hasn't hit the wires anywhere, and I thought the layoffs were a thing of the past - and some firms are hiring again). The other good news is that this is a much better time to be looking than last year at this time, although the competition is pretty keen, their are more jobs than just federal sector (which take 12-18months generally to land). Also, another bright side is that you're not tied to a job, so he can look nationally, if needed. There are several states (Texas comes to mind) that have weathered the slowdown just fine - and the cost of living is MUCH lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH should negotiate with BigLaw for a good severance package. Like health care for 1 year and use of outplacement services for a full year or until he is offered a full-time position.

10:07 here. Clearly you have never worked for BigLaw. That is totally unrealistic and he won't get close to that. I would be surprised if they pay or offer him any benefits beyond 3 months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH should negotiate with BigLaw for a good severance package. Like health care for 1 year and use of outplacement services for a full year or until he is offered a full-time position.

10:07 here. Clearly you have never worked for BigLaw. That is totally unrealistic and he won't get close to that. I would be surprised if they pay or offer him any benefits beyond 3 months.

Nope, that's what they offer and we're lucky to have it. Still way better off than staff, who don't get that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My heart goes out to you. My husband was laid off this morning as well; while he is in a different field than your husband.

One idea for you, since you are renting, have you considered moving out the burbs where rent is much cheaper than $2k for a 2bedroom. The public schools might be better too

OP here, so sorry to hear your news.

We have thought about moving, would love to keep older kid in the NW DCPS where they have been really good about her medical needs and where she has friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH should negotiate with BigLaw for a good severance package. Like health care for 1 year and use of outplacement services for a full year or until he is offered a full-time position.

10:07 here. Clearly you have never worked for BigLaw. That is totally unrealistic and he won't get close to that. I would be surprised if they pay or offer him any benefits beyond 3 months.

Nope, that's what they offer and we're lucky to have it. Still way better off than staff, who don't get that.

Which firm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry to hear, OP. The good news is, he can get a job anywhere. Seriously. He is better off than most.
Most of us have no well to so relatives. Is THAT what people really think? Wow.

I am trying to be sympathetic, but your post sounds a bit entitled. As if everyone else is rich or something.

Anyway, if anywhere is equipped to handle a bunch of laid off lawyers, it should be D.C.

Why post something like this? The OP's hurt and fear is already bad enough, without having to rub her nose in it by accusing her of being entitled. She's just reaching out and asking for advice and letting everyone know what her situation is, so as to receive the best advice.

OP, ignore that comment. It's just mean-spirited and unthinking.

I don't have any advice. I'm sorry for what you're going through. I hope your husband finds a job soon. Could you get a job?

I'm trying to look myself, I'm also a lawyer, did public interest works so was never well paying. I've been out of law school longer and stopped working when my older child had significant medical issues. My contacts are more out of date, so I'm probably a less employable lawyer. I'd be happy to do 20 hours at Starbucks for the insurance, believe me, but it's hard to compete for jobs people see you as "overqualified" for. I have no childcare for the little one, so it's an added consideration, it would be hard to do doc reivew "here and there".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH should negotiate with BigLaw for a good severance package. Like health care for 1 year and use of outplacement services for a full year or until he is offered a full-time position.

10:07 here. Clearly you have never worked for BigLaw. That is totally unrealistic and he won't get close to that. I would be surprised if they pay or offer him any benefits beyond 3 months.

I'm the poster who suggested negotiating. Although I have never worked for Big Law, DH has. And the truth is that most attorneys who are laid off are afraid to ask for more. I don't think that it would hurt for OP's DH to ask for extended health care coverage, given his family's circumstances. It might work, but better to ask and find out, then to never ask and not know.

Good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH should negotiate with BigLaw for a good severance package. Like health care for 1 year and use of outplacement services for a full year or until he is offered a full-time position.

10:07 here. Clearly you have never worked for BigLaw. That is totally unrealistic and he won't get close to that. I would be surprised if they pay or offer him any benefits beyond 3 months.

I'm the poster who suggested negotiating. Although I have never worked for Big Law, DH has. And the truth is that most attorneys who are laid off are afraid to ask for more. I don't think that it would hurt for OP's DH to ask for extended health care coverage, given his family's circumstances. It might work, but better to ask and find out, then to never ask and not know.

Good luck, OP.

I have worked in biglaw for a law time and love this advice. So what if the firm disagrees? What are they going to do -- let you go?