Dozens of legal secretaries quitting Reed Smith over job change

PITTSBURGH — Reed Smith, the largest law firm in Pittsburgh said it expects 66 legal secretaries, 44 of which work in its 17 U.S. offices, to depart due to a streamlining initiative that replaces their post with an executive assistant role.

The change is part of a firmwide project called the connectivity initiative, launched last November, that aims to transform and modernize the business.

“In June 2021, recognizing that some of our secretaries may lack interest in the EA role, we offered a voluntary separation program to all legal secretaries in the U.S. and a voluntary severance program for all legal secretaries in the U.K., with an enhanced severance package,” a Reed Smith spokesperson said Wednesday via email. “Those who chose to remain with Reed Smith will now move into the EA role and be provided with personalized development to ensure they have the necessary skill set for their new role. The firm has created a transition team to ensure continuity in administrative support during the transition to the EA role.”

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