Preparing for an Unexpected Termination

A headline jumped out at me while I was searching for career tips to post on the Lexis Hub. We do, after all, aim to be helpful.  An article called   "8 Steps for Including Disaster Preparedness in Lawyer's Career Plans."   I wondered-should we scare everyone by including this information  on the HUB?  Unfortunately, that surprise last day is happening all too often in this economy, so it is worth addressing.

The article's author contends that attorneys are "uniquely ill-equipped" to deal with downsizing and the bad economy because associates handling the "grunt work" for firms are not initially exposed to clients and the business side of operating a law firm.  Sadly, like so many other professions and industries, the author notes that there is no loyalty in firms because the bottom line drives hiring and firing decisions.

Some of the tips provided for preparing for that "come to my office-we need to talk," conversation seem obvious. Update your resume, build a network.  Yes, those we know.  But  this article goes a bit farther with a few additional tidbits that could be helpful by encouraging us to start the preparation process long before the bad news hits.  I certainly hope you never have to go through a layoff or termination. But  an article like  this one comes along every now and then just to remind us to always have our eyes open.