“Big firms across the country have dramatically cut the number of associates attending their 2009 summer programs, a sign that firms don’t expect to see a talent shortage in fall 2010,” reports Law.com.
Many of California’s biggest firms have cut the number of associates in their programs compared to last year, some by 30 percent to 50 percent, according to data collected from the National Association of Law Placement…. The 10 largest firms nationwide also have cut their programs by similar amounts.
Industry observers said it’s another sign big firms might be backing away — at least for now — from the high-leverage staffing models typical of the boom days. Associate-partner ratios have already taken a dive from layoffs and deferrals.