They Said … What!?

FOR THE WEEK OF August 10

“In the old days, (law firms) didn’t get to pick and choose, but now they are (only) holding on to the strongest performers. They’re primarily focused on productivity.” – Hildebrandt consultant Lisa Smith, on the factors that determine which associates are more likely to be caught up in The Great Realignment. (American Lawyer)

“The fact is, the qualitative gene pool improves in the process of doing these layoffs.” – Unnamed chairman of a Northeast Biglaw firm. (American Lawyer)

“(We’re not) in recovery. It’s a slowing recession. We’re seeing fewer people employed, and those who are employed aren’t seeing their earnings power increased. It’s tough to see where a recovery can come from.” – Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington DC (Wall Street Journal)

“It’s a measure of just how terrible the economy has become that a loss of more than a half-million jobs in just one month can be widely seen as a good sign. The house is still burning down, but not quite as fast.” – Bob Herbert, columnist (New York Times)

“Everything kind of sucks,” – a 3L at Seton Hall University School of Law (National Law Journal)

“I have a theory that we may have several years where the so-called ‘first-year class’ will have people with varying graduation dates.” — Keith Wetmore, chairman, Morrison & Foerster, on plans by many top firms to defer recruit hiring until January, 2011. (National Law Journal)