SAN FRANCISCO — This year was the worst year ever for lawyer headcount at the nation’s largest firms, and California firms were not immune. Layoffs wracked the industry in the spring, but it wasn’t clear just how big the shrinkage has been at some firms until Recorder affiliate The National Law Journal issued its yearly ranking of law firm headcount on Monday.
Among California’s top 25 firms, Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker and Latham & Watkins lost the highest percentage of lawyers, at 22 and 19 percent, respectively. (For headcounts of all CalLaw 25 firms, see the chart on page 8.)
