The COVID-19 crisis has inflicted financial trauma on parts of the U.S. legal industry with unprecedented speed, with some law firms considering⁠—or already beginning to implement⁠—everything from pay cuts to layoffs to insulate their businesses from the worst of the economic fallout.

Industry consultant Eric Seeger said he spoke this week with a major litigation firm that said everything was on the table—laying off staff, pausing partner draws, cutting staff salaries, and culling underperforming lawyers and practice groups.