// Now is the time to be creatively proactive to move your career along. That is the sentiment from management.

— An anonymous Cooley associate, in comments given to the American Lawyer, on how corporate work had “hit a lull” at the firm, such that associates have reportedly been encouraged to work on training and development opportunities in lieu of billables. The unnamed associate, who billed 2400 hours last year, and is on track to hit 1900 this year, said colleagues are worried about the prospect of layoffs. Cooley has reportedly instituted a hiring freeze.

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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.

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Biglaw, Billable Hours, Cooley, Layoffs, On Course, Quote of the Day, Stealth Layoffs