A sign of the times, from the front page of today’s Irish Times:

Law Society starts planning for unemployment among solicitors

CAROL COULTER, Legal Affairs Editor

THE LAW Society is seeking a “career development adviser” to help solicitors and trainee solicitors find careers outside law.

In an advertisement published in The Irish Times today, the society says this person will be a “key resource for solicitors who are facing unemployment, changed working arrangements or transition to another jurisdiction or career choice”. …

The full advertisement is here, from the Law Society website.

As Law firms’ profits contract, there are increasingly frequent stories of big US and UK law firms cutting partners and associates; and in Canada, the times, they are ‘a changing in the same way. From Slaw:

Great advice for lawyers who are (or might be) looking for a job

by Dan Pinnington on February 5th, 2009

Lawyers that have been laid off or are facing a potential layoff some time this year need to plan for a new future. If you or someone you know is facing a job search, Resolve to Manage Your Job Search by Kathleen Brady is a great article that contains a step by step guide to seeking new employment. …

Update: Solicitors A&L Goodbody seeking 45 voluntary redundancies