The Right Message When Firing Lawyers
Tough times have led to firings at some law firms, but they are often loath to use the term "layoffs" out of fear that doing so will hurt future recruiting. If law firms need to lay off associates, what is the right message? It's a question that arose last week after a departure email sent widely by a now-former eighth-year associate at the large law firm Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP landed on the law-industry blog Above the Law.

At most companies, only top performers are awarded the opportunity to work overseas, says Rich Folts, a partner in the Chicago office of executive-search firm Battalia Winston International. If you're eager to cross borders, be proactive by openly discussing your interest with your manager and human-resources personnel, advises Mr. Folts. Show how your career goals jibe with the company's strategy and demonstrate initiative by taking classes in international operations and learning a new language, he says.