The intrepid Julie Kay, working her beat:
In another sign of the hard times facing the legal industry, particularly in real-estate heavy South Florida, two local law firms — Holland & Knight and Shutts & Bowen — have laid off non-lawyer staffers.Hmm. Harbinger of things to come?
On a day that could be dubbed Black Friday in South Florida legal circles, Tampa-based Holland & Knight, one of Florida's largest and most venerable firms with 1,150 lawyers, laid off 70 staffers Friday, including legal secretaries, IT and accounting staff. No lawyers were laid off.
The layoffs of about four employees in each of Holland's 17 offices represented 5% of Holland's non-lawyer workforce.
Shutts & Bowen, a 200-lawyer, Miami-based firm, Friday laid off nine people, all entry level file clerks or paralegal clerks. No lawyers or legal secretaries were affected.
The news comes on the heels of a decision announced internally Friday by Fort Lauderdale-based Becker & Poliakoff to temporarily and immediately chop all lawyer salaries by 12%. The firm, which is heavy in condo and real estate representation, said it was forced to take the action since clients are delaying payment in this lean economic environment.
8 comments:
The perks of working at a big firm don't always pay off in the end.
SLF, I've been reading the comments left by the other lawyers and don't worry I'm not going to be one of the ones who tease you about the Princess. But there is something I want to say. I read her post about going to see Madonna and read the comment you left. What are the odds you and the Princess were at the same concert and didn't even know it? And out of all the million plus blogs that are on the web you found hers? Not to sound like a girl but it's kind of sweet and somewhat romantic don't you think?
SO IN LOVE
SO IN LOVE, YOU DO SO MANY THINGS WITH A SMILING FACE.
SO IN LOVE, EVERYTIME WE KISS, IT'S SUCH A PLEASANT TASTE.
THAT'S WHY I KNOW THIS FEELINGS GOOD STRONG, TRIAL & ERROR WE SEEM TO GET ALONG.
I WANA TESTIFY IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME.
LET ME RECTIFY I MEAN IT HONESTLY (EEW)
LIFE IS CRAZY, BELIEVE ME, IT IS TRUE (EEW)
WE DON'T ALWAYS MEAN, THE THINGS WE SOMETIMES DO.
I COULD BE, YOU KNOW IT'S TRUE, YOU KNOW WE'RE SO IN LOVE.
LAY ME DOWN, REST AWHILE, YOU'RE MOVING MY EMOTIONS.
SO IN LOVE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO WORRY, YOU HAVE MY DEVOTION.
THIS LOVE AFFAIR IS BIGGER THAN WE TWO,
9:47, SFL must be keeling over at his desk after finding that out.
Lawyers without their secretaries, god god the horror! Who's going to bring me my seven cups of coffee during the day?
9:47, I read her post. SFL's heart must be torn in half.
BTW, how many of you pictured the princess dancing on the hood of your car? Come on, you all were thinking it.
The ones who were laid off perhaps they can get a job downtown working as 'ambassadors.'
11:28, I just pictured it.
11:45, good one, they'd still be dealing with irrational and unreasonable people....
9:47,
Perhaps fate had a part in all this.
Kind of reminds me of her Valentine's Day posting.
I left the above comment unfinished. I was called away for an emergency meeting. I'm sure you know what that's like.
In case you're wondering, I'm the person that has been giving you advice about the princess, urging you to tell the princess how you feel.
I believe her feelings for you will be reciprocated but she may be hesitant to admit them. Think of the situation from her standpoint. The only thing she knows about you, is you are a lawyer in the city of Miami. Whereas the princess blogs on a daily basis writing about her day and sometimes even purges her feelings. (She has developed quite the fan base at least in the office I work in. Once a day her name comes up) Or could it be the princess believes you may think less of her and look down on her because the way her mother chose to bring her up? She hardly had the typical up-bringing. The princess could be under the impression you don't approve of her way of life? Or plain and simple the same problem as yours, she is afraid of having her heart broken if she tells you her feelings and you don't reciprocate back? May I suggest something to break the ice? Why don't you introduce yourself to her? Hopefully the princess will in turn return the favor and tell you her name therefore creating a bond of trust. You must be asking yourself what my motive is for giving you this advice or if I have any ulterior motives? I do this out of the goodness of my heart. I am simply trying to help you avoid making the same mistake as I did a long time ago. When I was in high school I was in love with a girl but she never knew how I felt about her. I spoke to her only on two occasions, she asked me about a question related to a homework assignment. I never worked up enough courage to even ask her to any of the dances or even on an after school date. There were numerous times when I could tell she wanted to talk to me but I was so shy I would turn away. Four years later graduation day came and we both went our separate ways. I never heard or even saw who I considered my one true love again. Everyday I thought about her thinking what if I had asked her out, how different my life would have been? Or maybe we wouldn't have been compatible and broke up after one date? For thirty years a big question mark loomed over my head. Five years ago our school had its' 35th reunion. Her name was on the attendance list. I was excited to see her. SFL it was as if time stood still, she looked as beautiful as ever. I admit I was apprehensive in approaching her but there was no way I was going to let another thirty years slip by. I managed to work up the nerve. We had a lovely conversation and she confessed something to me, she was in love with me all through high school. Can you believe that?! Two people who were in love with each yet neither knew of the others' feelings. She wasn't sure if I felt the same so she kept her feelings bottled inside. We missed out on so much. SFL don't make the mistake as I did. You remind me so much of myself and the mistakes you are making by not speaking up. I wrote the above statement after reading her sweet Valentine's Day post. Maybe you did catch a glimpse of her at the Madonna concert and then she disappeared leaving you wondering if she was real or just an 'apparition?'
Have you had a chance to read her very first posting? She writes about signs as she did on her Mother's Day post. She wondered why she never went to Loggia, perhaps you were there that day her ex and his lawyer were having lunch? The princess writes in that post: "I asked the universe for a sign, I'm wondering now if there was a reason Senor Bling and his lawyer kept on asking me to join them at that restaurant and whether or not the gentleman who asked about my key was the universe's way of telling me to end my relationship with SB. To go through life unknowingly crossing paths with the man I'm destined to love and be with, I guess when the time is right our hearts will meet. To fall in love and be in love is when you completely come undone. I didn't come undone with SB."
SFL have you considered the possibility the princess didn't go in because it wasn't the right time for you and her to meet? Perhaps now is the time. Fate sometimes has unique ways of bringing two people together. First the concert then you finding her blog.
I urge you to be bold and make the first move. What's the worst that can happen- she says no? Then so be it, you will be able to move on. Don't go through life wondering 'what if?' the way I did. Otherwise it's going to eat at you. You owe it to your lovesick heart to pour your feelings to the latin minx. (my little nickname for the princess). Don't play it safe SFL or you'll be left behind in the shadows. The greatest opportunities only arise from taking a risk in life. Good luck.
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