V&E pushes back first-year associates' start date

Vinson & Elkins just joined the growing list of Texas firms pushing back the start date for incoming classes of first-year associates. V&E hiring partner Thomas Leatherbury of Dallas says the incoming associates were notified last night that they can choose a new start date of either Nov. 2 or Jan. 4, 2010. He says “either start date is fine,” but the firm wants the new associates to talk to the practice group leaders and department heads in their areas to “get some input” before making a decision. The Houston-based firm is offering an incentive for the Jan. 4, 2010, date: a $10,000 salary advance the associates will not have to repay. Leatherbury says the firm is deferring first-year associate start dates this year to ensure “plenty of high-quality work for everybody when they show up” and to give more training time to the current class of first-year associates whose practices have been affected by the downturn in demand for legal services. The firm expects 47 incoming associates, including 38 in Texas, says Leatherbury.
-- Brenda Sapino Jeffreys