Are law firms doing layoffs?

Asked by: Dolores Walsh  |  Last update: September 29, 2025
Score: 4.5/5 (64 votes)

Law Firms Turn to Layoffs Amid Slowing Demand There is a pattern in the names that opted for layoffs - they over-hired during the boom time in 2021-2022 and they were traditionally heavy on IPO and M&A work - both of which are going through a dry spell.

Are law firms laying off employees?

The short answer is yes. Law firm layoffs appear to be on the rise, at least in specific practice areas and within particular legal services.

Who is most prone to layoffs?

Professional and business services has the highest average layoffs per year, and mining and logging has the lowest.

Why are so many lawyers quitting?

So the two most common reasons for lawyers to leave the profession are (1) rejection of the stress/hours/work conditions, and (2) disappointment with the aspects of the profession that are not up to hopes and expectations.

Do law firms do well in a recession?

Many law firms are relatively recession-proof unless they specialize in business and corporate law, so most small and medium-sized firms don't feel as much of an impact as other industries do,” says David Aylor, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of David Aylor Law Offices.

USA LIVE: US Federal Judge Halts Trump's Freeze of $3 Trillion on Federal Grants | White House |N18G

40 related questions found

What jobs are hit hardest by a recession?

Some industries feel the impact of an economic downturn more than others. These industries tend to get hit the hardest. Hospitality and tourism - Many cut down on vacations and travel to save money. Entertainment and leisure - People tend to seek inexpensive, at-home forms of entertainment during a recession.

Is being a lawyer financially stable?

California has the highest average salary for lawyers, only being surpassed by the District of Columbia, where lawyers command an average annual salary of $226,510.

Are lawyers becoming oversaturated?

Law School Myth 5:

The job market for lawyers is oversaturated. While it is true that there are more law school graduates than there are jobs available in some markets, the job market for lawyers is actually quite strong overall.

What is it called when a lawyer quits?

Withdrawal from representation, in United States law, occurs where an attorney terminates a relationship of representing a client.

Is the lawyer career growing or shrinking?

Job Outlook

Employment of lawyers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2023 to 2033, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 35,600 openings for lawyers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

What jobs get laid off first?

However, patterns emerging during layoffs earlier this year show that non-essential departments, meaning those that don't contribute to the core functionality of the business, are the ones that often see cuts first.

Who usually goes first in layoffs?

The last employees to be hired become the first people to be let go. This makes sense logically. If they were recently hired, they probably haven't become as strong of organizational assets yet.

Who gets laid off first in a recession?

Particularly hard hit by the downturns of the last three decades was the manufacturing sector, which accounted for 90 percent of all job losses. These employment re- ductions were concentrated largely in the durable goods industries and almost exclusively among production workers.

Are law jobs decreasing?

At the 200 highest-grossing U.S. firms, job openings shrank by 19% in 2023, Leopard Solutions found. More than a dozen large law firms also laid off lawyers and professional staff last year.

Are law firms doing well?

Law firms had strong financial performance in first half of 2024, survey says. Another survey shows an 11.4% year-over-year increase in law firm revenue for the first half of 2024, a percentage that is more than double the 4.4% growth for the same period last year.

What is stealth firing?

Companies use "stealth firing" to quietly reduce staff without public layoffs. It involves dismissing employees for minor offenses to avoid public backlash. This tactic can harm company culture, leading to low morale and potential legal issues.

Why do so many lawyers leave law?

Part and parcel of stress, many lawyers struggle to maintain a healthy work-life balance due to the demanding nature of the profession. According to a survey conducted by the American Bar Association, more than half of all lawyers are dissatisfied with their work-life balance.

What is a bad lawyer called?

A bad lawyer, or pettifogger, used dubious means to get clients and to win cases. The mid-16th century word itself combined petty — "small," from the French petit — with the obsolete word fogger, "underhanded dealer," which probably came from a wealthy 15th century Bavarian family of merchants, the Fuggers.

How do you tell a lawyer off?

Here are some tips to keep in mind:
  1. Always terminate the relationship in writing. Even if you fire your attorney in a verbal exchange, you should follow up by sending a written termination letter. ...
  2. Get to the point. ...
  3. Be firm. ...
  4. Be polite. ...
  5. Ask for a copy of your case file.

Are lawyers highly intelligent?

According to the American Bar Association, various studies have shown that lawyers overall score high in certain forms of intelligence—typically the cognitive intelligences of linguistics and logical/mathematical—but low in emotional intelligence.

Is law a stressful career?

Lawyers are expected to provide expert advice, make critical decisions, and work under tight deadlines, all while dealing with the constant demands of clients, colleagues, and the court system. This can lead to burnout, anxiety, and depression, which are all too common in the legal profession.

How many lawyers are depressed?

A nationwide study of ~13,000 lawyers indicated that 28% experienced depression, 19% reported anxiety, 21% had alcohol use problems, and 11% had problems with drug use [3].

How much debt do most lawyers have?

Of lawyers surveyed by the American Bar Association (ABA), 85 percent borrowed money to cover their studies, with the average law school debt exceeding $100,000. Luckily, there are a few alternatives law school grads can explore to reduce their debt burden and make payments more manageable.

What is the typical life of a lawyer?

Daily job duties of a lawyer

Assist individuals and businesses as a guardian, executor or advisor. Make court appearances to represent clients or gather important case information. Review legal data, laws and evidence. Prepare, draft and review legal documents.

How hard is the bar exam?

The bar exam is hard. In fact, it may be one of the most difficult challenges you ever embark on. You must memorize numerous laws and consume a lot of knowledge to answer questions correctly. For many, it feels like trying to hold sand in your hands, knowing that you'll inevitably lose much of it.