Greedy Links: Surviving the Downturn

The months-long downturn in the legal market has made associate and staff layoffs into near-daily news, with sources like Law Shucks estimating more than 7,500 jobs lost in the nation's largest firms.  It's clear that a lot of GAs are wondering where the axe might fall next, and what they will do if it falls on them.  Given the state of the economy and the legal profession, of course, clear answers to those questions are unlikely to present themselves.  However, sprinkled in among all the pink-slip stories and dire predictions have been a few efforts to provide context and direction, or, failing that, a little gallows humor.

• Some in the legal staffing industry remain refreshingly optimistic, like Robert Half Legal, which finds that "only" 10% of the firms it surveyed even anticipate workforce reductions this year.
• Adam Smith, Esq., suggests that associates' pain might be minimized in forward-thinking firms willing to seek other ways besides layoffs to cut costs.

• Legally Drawn advises the enterprising associate not to shy away from new revenue-generation models.
• FindLaw offers 10 tips for anyone who's lost a job on how to control the financial damage.
• With widespread speculation that traditional law firm business models are now undergoing a permanent alteration, the Washington Post recently looked into the future of outsourcing and "virtual" firms.
• Above the Law has reports of big firms "insourcing" with recent law school graduates.
  
• The New York Times found that pro bono work can keep skills sharp and possibly even facilitate a career change, for those who do their due diligence and find the right organization to volunteer for.
• Finally, this ABA Journal story should remind you that it could be worse: instead of being merely unemployed as an associate, you could be getting yourself sanctioned as an inexperienced solo.