Clients are refusing to pay for work done by summer associates, and some are continuing to negotiate with firms to not have first year associates assigned to their files.

1. Feature
Are things looking up for recent graduates?
By Joshua Nave
According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, things may be looking up slightly for new graduates. The paper cites
several firms, including powerhouses such as Morris, Manning & Martin and McKenna Long as showing signs of optimism. Work has
begun to pick up again across the board and firms are reacting by reversing some of the cost saving measures they took in 2009.
Morris Manning and McKenna Long cut salaries in 2009, but With law school enrollment up, the market is still in danger
this year have restored salaries to pre cut levels in some of being saturated. Now is the time to be proactive and
practice groups. They have also resumed their summer start making contacts in the legal community. If you’re still
program, which was cancelled entirely last year. Fisher & in school, remember that grades and class rank are only
Phillips announced that they would be raising associate half the story. In this legal market, who you know is almost
salaries by 10%. Across the board we’re starting to see a as important as what you know. Get involved in the legal
rebound in the legal market, although there’s still a ways to community by joining professional organizations, volunteering
go. at legal aid clinics, doing pro bono work with groups that use
student lawyers and make contact with partners at firms that
As we reported last week, clients are refusing to pay for work interest you. What you do while still in school may be the
done by summer associates, and some are continuing to difference between finding a good job upon graduation and
negotiate with firms to not have first year associates assigned pounding the pavement.
to their files. This increases the cost of hiring and training
a newly minted JD for firms, many of whom are reacting by
increasing lateral hires rather than risk the money on a new
associate who may or may not be around long enough to
recoup the investment.
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