a closer look at the NALP summer numbers.

[cynthia foster]

As we reported earlier this week, NALP has released its summer hiring numbers.  The data is searchable through the NALP site here, but we've compiled two tables that we believe will be helpful in your interpretation of the data.  Overall, as was expected, firms nationwide are shrinking their summer class sizes.  1Ls in particular have been impacted.

This first table reflects the current AmLaw 10.

Firm	2L Summer 2008	2L Summer 2009	% Change	1L Summer 2008	1L Summer 2009	% Change
Skadden	241	218	-9.54%	27	3	-88.89%
Latham	259	158	-39.00%	3	0	100.00%
Baker	64	44	-31.25%	20	0	100.00%
Jones Day	206	198	-3.88%	30	7	-76.67%
Sidley	179	150	-16.20%	23	7	-69.57%
White & Case	181	92	-49.17%	8	0	100.00%
Kirkland	172	160	-6.98%	17	0	100.00%
Greenberg	45	43	-4.44%	10	0	100.00%
Mayer Brown	175	109	-37.71%	25	2	-92.00%
Weil Gotshal	169	159	-5.92%	27	5	-81.48%

This second table reflects the current CalLaw 10, at their California offices.

Firm	2L Summer 2008	2L Summer 2009	% Change	1L Summer 2008	1L Summer 2009	% Change
Latham	116	78	-32.76%	1	0	100.00%
DLA Piper	28	13	-53.57%	1	TBD, at least 1
Morgan Lewis	27	24	-11.11%	0	TBD, likely 0
Paul Hastings	66	61	-7.58%	16	TBD
O'Melveny & Myers	91	73	-19.78%	1	1	0.00%
Gibson	81	76	-6.17%	3	not reported
MoFo	84	54	-35.71%	13	TBD, at least 5
Orrick	62	39	-37.10%	4	4	0.00%
Bingham	27	32	18.52%	4	0	100.00%
Pillsbury	29	20	-31.03%	3	not reported

According to the numbers above, Bingham might be one of the safer destinations in California.  Take heed, though.  Bingham's been doing layoffs for the last year.  The increase in its summer associate class, while pretty substantial, is tempered a bit by the fact that the firm has been letting associates go.

These charts beg the question: What's a law student to do? Where's a law student to go?

While we don't claim to be an oracle, we all know the internet is.  And it's got some scuttlebutt.  Jones Day is one of the only remaining firms with a notable presence in California to abstain from economy-related layoffs (see comments for, um, commentary), and actually increase their summer sizes. Those class sizes, broken down by California office, are below.  Note: Jones Day's 1L summer hiring numbers are conspicuously missing from the NALP data.  Read into that what you may; I would wager that it means they may be trying to get rid of their 1L summers.  But 2Ls, take heart and read on.

Jones Day Office	2L Summer 2008	2L Summer 2009	% Change
Los Angeles	12	11	-8.33%
Silicon Valley	7	8	14.29%
Irvine	3	5	66.67%
San Francisco	5	15	200.00%
San Diego	3	2	33.33%

Jones Day has traditionally had a pretty bad reputation.  Nicknames like "Jones Day and Night" have been coined to describe the culture at the firm, and Jones Day scores toward the bottom of firms in California in a national survey of summer associate opinion.  (Note: Jones Day does score well when matched up against other Bay Area firms, however.)

One might argue, however, that sucky work is better than no work.  So if you're interested in trying to ride out the recession with a firm that has taken the fewest number of shots at summers and associates, Jones Day might be worth a look.  And they don't seem to be too paranoid about macroeconomic factors: they just opened up offices in Dubai and Mexico City.

Comments

[eve isk]

One might argue, however, that sucky work is better than no work. So if you're interested in trying to ride out the recession with a firm that has taken the fewest number of shots at summers and associates, Jones Day might be worth a look. And they don't seem to be too paranoid about macroeconomic factors: they just opened up offices in Dubai and Mexico City.

[cardiology emr]

Yeah, I think they don't seem to be too paranoid about macroeconomic factors.

Kevin

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