According to a seasonally adjusted monthly jobs report released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,800 of the 190,000 jobs lost around the country in October came from the legal sector.
When not seasonally adjusted, the legal industry actually gained 1,500 jobs, but that’s likely a result of summer associates being weaned from law firm payrolls. In September, seasonally adjusted BLS data showed the legal sector losing 2,000 jobs.
In October, Cooley Godward Kronish let go of 58 staffers, followed by Foley & Lardner cutting 39 lawyers, and Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr shedding 57 staff members.
According to a recent analysis by the National Law Journal, a Daily Report affiliate, New York firms operating in Washington saw their overall head count decrease by 2.8 percent between April 2008 and April 2009.