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| Katlyn S. Caldwell and Addison Watson |
What does it mean when new arrivals are bailing out at a once-prestigious law firm? It's likely not a good sign. Specifically, it probably means the newbies see the firm as headed in the wrong direction, one that means the firm might not serve as a solid long-term home for a young lawyer.
That is one of many issues swirling around Birmingham's scandal-plauged Balch & Bingham law firm, according to a report at banbalch.com. Writes Publisher K.B. Forbes:
In August, after only two years at Balch & Bingham, Addison Watson departed to the private sector.
This week, after four years as a Balch attorney, Katlyn S. Caldwell looks like she has left the embattled firm abruptly.
With an ex-Balch attorney who allegedly solicited a child for sex online and another ex-Balch partner sitting in the federal penitentiary, young attorneys at Balch are exiting just like the exodus of legacy and money-making partners in the recent past.
Balch, it appears, continues to have problems with its few attorneys of color:
As the alleged racist law firm saw an African-American attorney depart after only eight short months, the embattled firm has hired three African-American attorneys in recent weeks.
Demonstrating alleged racial tokenism, Balch has placed each of them in a different office (Birmingham, Jackson and Atlanta).
Even with these diverse hires, about 95 percent of Balch attorneys are white, while 99 percent of partners are white.
Only 1 percent of Balch partners are people of color.
It all presents an image of a law firm in disarray. Writes Forbes:
Young people running to the exits and not dedicating decades with the firm appears to show turmoil, unsettling turmoil in what was Alabama’s once most respected and feared silk-stocking law firms.
And no matter the amount of window dressing Balch engages in, who can believe a law firm that refuses to apologize for the criminal and alleged racist misconduct in North Birmingham?
And sadly, now not even the freshmen appear to have confidence in Balch.
Perhaps these young lawyers feel they are being asked to do things that could get them in hot water.
ReplyDeleteGiven Balch's recent history, I would say there is a pretty good chance of that.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a young lawyer is more likely than a dinosaur to actually have integrity.
ReplyDeleteThat might be the case. If so, hats off to the young folks. The profession needs more like them.
ReplyDeleteThose young 'uns sure have big smiles. The photos must have taken right after they resigned.
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