COVID-19 has forced a lot of Biglaw firms to take a hard look at exactly how and where they are spending their money. And one firm that has been taking an axe to expenses is Nixon Peabody. Unlike some other firms that cut expenses and salaries as the first austerity measures to combat the economic upheaval surrounding the novel coronavirus while keeping as many people as possible gainfully employed, Nixon Peabody went right for cutting jobs.
As we’ve previously reported, the firm laid off/furloughed approximately 10 percent of non-partner attorneys and did massive staff layoffs. Now we’re hearing from law school students that were supposed to start work as summer associates at Nixon Peabody that the firm has left them, “shit out of luck.”
As tipsters report the firm has canceled their summer program. While that isn’t, unfortunately, unheard of in these times, Nixon isn’t extending the summer associates offers of future employment (either after graduation for 2Ls, or next summer for 1Ls). That is bound to sting, especially when the majority of other top law firms are making their summer associates offers. And, yeah, based on the emails Above the Law is receiving, folks are angry indeed:
Only a few weeks before I was slated to move, they called telling me I’m basically shit out of luck and no guaranteed offer…. They didn’t even have the decency to let me know back in early April. They had to do it only a few weeks before the program was supposed to start to fuck everyone over with housing and zero notice to look for a new summer internship. And now with NO 2L summer job, I likely will have to head into 3L hiring. It’s so annoying because I was good enough of a student to have landed a biglaw summer associateship! I had other options but I CHOSE these guys and completely got shafted. RIP.
When reached for comment, a spokesperson at Nixon Peabody confirmed the cancellation of their summer program and noted the firm will offer summer associates a $5,000 stipend and 1L summer associates will be considered for next year’s summer program.
Best of luck to those that now find themselves without a clear career path due to COVID-19.
If your firm or organization is slashing salaries, closing its doors, or reducing the ranks of its lawyers or staff, whether through open layoffs, stealth layoffs, or voluntary buyouts, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Our vast network of tipsters is part of what makes Above the Law thrive. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477).
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Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, and host of The Jabot podcast. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter (@Kathryn1).