Chadbourne & Parke confirmed on Wednesday that it had rescinded job offers to 11 incoming associates it had previously deferred. The firm had told the law school graduates they would be indefinitely deferred past January 2010. Chadbourne said it has paid each of the 11 deferred associates the balance of a $73,000 stipend promised after the firm delayed their start dates. The news was first reported on the blog Above the Law.
"Despite improving economic conditions generally and at Chadbourne, our most recent near-term projections led us to conclude that we could not justify increasing the first-year class beyond its current size and that there would be no positions available for the 11 deferred individuals," the firm said in a statement.
The 11 came from a total class of 28 incoming associates.
The firm said the decision has no effect on the other lawyers in the class or its 2010 incoming associates and summer class.
