Laid-Off Biglaw Attorneys

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

If it were business as usual then maybe. But right now because of the pandemic? I think any new employer will understand that someone doing a job search right now is doing it for a furlough or termination reason.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

If you're still on the website they won't ask. Also, your in-firm references won't say "Lucy was fired." 1, You need to have a conversation with your references to talk about what is happening, your plans, ask to use them as a reference, talk about what they would say about you. So you already know your references won't say that. And 2, I don't even think your references can reveal why you're leaving for HR reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

If it were business as usual then maybe. But right now because of the pandemic? I think any new employer will understand that someone doing a job search right now is doing it for a furlough or termination reason.

Nope. The legal field is uniquely oversaturated, unforgiving and prestige-driven. No one wants to hire an unemployed lawyer. They think if you were a star, you would never have been laid off. If you weren't a star, they don't want you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

The guy this happened to at my old firm was still an employee, just unpaid. Not sure if they paid health insurance costs or not.

Never heard of this kind of arrangement in other workplaces. So, the firm is not paying you, but pretend you are still employed by them? Can the employee file a lawsuit to require salary (for example, after leaving the firm)? Are you sure law firms can do that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

The guy this happened to at my old firm was still an employee, just unpaid. Not sure if they paid health insurance costs or not.

Never heard of this kind of arrangement in other workplaces. So, the firm is not paying you, but pretend you are still employed by them? Can the employee file a lawsuit to require salary (for example, after leaving the firm)? Are you sure law firms can do that?

It’s what law firms do. It’s perhaps unique. But done all the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

If it were business as usual then maybe. But right now because of the pandemic? I think any new employer will understand that someone doing a job search right now is doing it for a furlough or termination reason.

Nope. The legal field is uniquely oversaturated, unforgiving and prestige-driven. No one wants to hire an unemployed lawyer. They think if you were a star, you would never have been laid off. If you weren't a star, they don't want you.

+1, at least as it applies to biglaw.

Plus, the “staying on the website” thing is a “thing” in biglaw. People don’t really see it as dishonest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

If it were business as usual then maybe. But right now because of the pandemic? I think any new employer will understand that someone doing a job search right now is doing it for a furlough or termination reason.

Nope. The legal field is uniquely oversaturated, unforgiving and prestige-driven. No one wants to hire an unemployed lawyer. They think if you were a star, you would never have been laid off. If you weren't a star, they don't want you.

Then go to a non- big law firm. Probably better for your overall health and happiness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

The guy this happened to at my old firm was still an employee, just unpaid. Not sure if they paid health insurance costs or not.

Never heard of this kind of arrangement in other workplaces. So, the firm is not paying you, but pretend you are still employed by them? Can the employee file a lawsuit to require salary (for example, after leaving the firm)? Are you sure law firms can do that?

PP here and you definitely cannot sue because you agree to those terms as part of the severance agreement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

If it were business as usual then maybe. But right now because of the pandemic? I think any new employer will understand that someone doing a job search right now is doing it for a furlough or termination reason.

Nope. The legal field is uniquely oversaturated, unforgiving and prestige-driven. No one wants to hire an unemployed lawyer. They think if you were a star, you would never have been laid off. If you weren't a star, they don't want you.

Then go to a non- big law firm. Probably better for your overall health and happiness.

Oh, they don't want you either. No law firm wants to hire anyone not seen as top talent. And there are millions of law schools so there is a neverending supply of new lawyers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Associate here. Firm gave me 3 months to find a new job. True layoff/not performance related. How do I negotiate more time?

Sorry that you're going through this. Just ask. Even though it's a true layoff, they should want you to land well. Also ask to use their executive coach and career counselor to help you with interviewing and resumes. And, no matter what, ask them to keep you on the website until you have a new job, even if it takes longer than 3 months. It's so hard to find a job if it looks like you are currently unemployed.

But then what do you do when the interviewer asks you what your current employment is, and when they check your references and find out that you were terminated even though you're still on the website? Won't that dishonesty be worse?

If it were business as usual then maybe. But right now because of the pandemic? I think any new employer will understand that someone doing a job search right now is doing it for a furlough or termination reason.

Nope. The legal field is uniquely oversaturated, unforgiving and prestige-driven. No one wants to hire an unemployed lawyer. They think if you were a star, you would never have been laid off. If you weren't a star, they don't want you.

Then go to a non- big law firm. Probably better for your overall health and happiness.

Oh, they don't want you either. No law firm wants to hire anyone not seen as top talent. And there are millions of law schools so there is a neverending supply of new lawyers.

I'm sorry but this is a load of shit. I bought it hook line & sinker as an associate but then I finally did leave for a well-regarded boutique full of big law cast offs and many are very honest about the fact they weren't stars at their prestigious former firms.

[Anonymous]

If you are laid off from big law during COVID 19, what would you ideally negotiate in terms of severance? I would start with:
1. 3-4 months of full pay severance
2. Staying on website for 6 months
3. Help from references with job search / no disparaging remarks about being “laid off” if firm is called as a reference

Am I missing anything else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are laid off from big law during COVID 19, what would you ideally negotiate in terms of severance? I would start with:
1. 3-4 months of full pay severance
2. Staying on website for 6 months
3. Help from references with job search / no disparaging remarks about being “laid off” if firm is called as a reference

Am I missing anything else?

Resume review service, interview prep/job coaching service. Thats standard though.

[Anonymous]

6 months access to PLI or similar, so you can stay updated and retool. I suggest starting with Intro to Bankruptcy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are laid off from big law during COVID 19, what would you ideally negotiate in terms of severance? I would start with:
1. 3-4 months of full pay severance
2. Staying on website for 6 months
3. Help from references with job search / no disparaging remarks about being “laid off” if firm is called as a reference

Am I missing anything else?

What leverage do you have to negotiate anything in severance? Do firms even offer severance?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are laid off from big law during COVID 19, what would you ideally negotiate in terms of severance? I would start with:
1. 3-4 months of full pay severance
2. Staying on website for 6 months
3. Help from references with job search / no disparaging remarks about being “laid off” if firm is called as a reference

Am I missing anything else?

What leverage do you have to negotiate anything in severance? Do firms even offer severance?

Best leverage is to go to a client. They don't want to piss you off if you'll then be on the other side to block business coming their way.

Another thing you can definitely ask for is using the firm's network for in-house jobs. Can Partner X send my resume to Y Company? Does Partner X know about any openings at Y? In-house jobs are so word of mouth/network driven. Try to use the network as much as possible.