01 Mar Big Law Firm Offers Buyouts to Secretarial Staff

As we see more and more efforts by major law firms to adjust to changes in the economy, technology and law practice, big firm Arnold & Porter has announced an offer to buy out its entire secretarial staff over the next year to encourage them to leave. The ABA Journal reports that the Managing Partner of the firm felt that it was time they recognized how different things are when it comes to creating documents and getting work done. The firm is moving to a “team-based” approach in its new offices in Washington, where it is based, in 2015.

When I started law practice, each secretary (now of course they are administrative assistants) worked for one partner and one associate. Higher level partners had their own secretary. Back then the secretaries spent a lot of time sitting across from a lawyer taking dictation “Mad Men” style. In more recent years, big firms have moved to a 4-lawyer-per-admin approach. This step takes us to the next level.

These days lawyers create their own documents and correspondence at their desktop computers, then distribute them through email. Same with litigation papers and filings. So what do the admins do? Make travel arrangements, answer the phones, help partners keep their schedule organized.  So you are still needed, admins. But technology, sadly for law firm employees, has significantly reduced that need.