// A lot of chairs feel that slower deal flow, softer economy and softer performance in many firms has a silver lining in that it gives them cover to address areas of weakness in their firm that were harder culturally to address in a strong economy.

What I hear chairs and managing partners indicate is they’re thinking about cleaning up.

googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Enable lazy loading. googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ renderMarginPercent: 150, mobileScaling: 2 }); // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-top-300x250" ); googletag.enableServices(); });

— Kent Zimmermann, a law firm consultant with the Zeughauser Group, in comments given to the American Lawyer on the potential thinning of the associate herd that could be on the radar for Biglaw firms in light of today’s economic uncertainties. He said firms are looking at “whole offices and practices” when it comes to counseling out weak performers.

Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Enable lazy loading. googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ renderMarginPercent: 150, mobileScaling: 2 }); // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-middle-300x250" ); googletag.enableServices(); }); googletag.cmd.push( function() { // Enable lazy loading. googletag.pubads().enableLazyLoad({ renderMarginPercent: 150, mobileScaling: 2 }); // Display ad. googletag.display( "div-id-for-bottom-300x250" ); googletag.enableServices(); }); Enter your email address to sign up for ATL's Layoff Alerts. hbspt.forms.create({ css: '', portalId: '470182', formId: 'a36cdf6b-a5b0-4a87-9125-aaf8c7d90fd6' }); Topics

Biglaw, Layoffs, Quote of the Day