Midwest’s Midsize Law Firms Faring Better Than Large Urban Rivals
Midsize law firms in the Midwest, outside the biggest cities, are hiring lawyers, opening offices and bringing on new associates this fall as they fare better than many larger urban rivals in the face of the recession. Firm leaders say their better fortunes are mainly tied to being less dependent on capital markets and big M&A work than their megafirm brethren. Less expensive overhead, lawyers with broader skill sets and lower billing rates have also helped the Midwest firms escape the need to ax employees and expenses.
