“Oops, I Was Laid Off Again”

No one wants that line as her theme song, especially in depressing (er, invigorating!) times as these.  Firms continue to “right size.” The latest example? Planned cutbacks at Dewey & LeBoeuf, which is “aligning” its resources (i.e., trimming lawyers and staff).  Story here.

No matter how challenging the market, lawyers and staff alike should be proactive to make sure their heads aren’t on the chopping block. Are you making your billables? Are you marketing yourself, your practice, your firm? Are you networking internally and externally and displaying plenty of drive? Are you bringing in business? Doing none of the above? Then don’t be too, too surprised if your name is on a pink slip. Have you done all of these things and been laid off anyway? Then you should be that much better positioned to find a new job or to open a new business. Don’t just sit around and wait for layoffs to happen.