By ALLISSA KLINE
Business First

Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel LLP plans to trim its workforce by way of buyout packages.

The law firm, whose attorney count has dropped 19 percent in the last year, announced this week that it will pay up to six months of salary and health-insurance benefits to eligible support-staff workers who leave their jobs under the firm's newly initiated "voluntary employee separation program."

Thirty-eight support-staff workers - employees such as paralegals, secretaries and accounting personnel - are eligible to take the buyout offer, Managing Partner Edward Piwowarczyk said. The firm would like to see up to 10 people accept the buyout, he said.

Those who are eligible were told March 30 about the offer. They have until May 15 to make a decision.

The deflating economy, combined with advances in technology, make it necessary to cut back on staff, Piwowarczyk said.

"Periodically, like every good business, you have to take a look at where you are," he said. "The numbers of attorneys are increasing because of a variety of technologies and the way you practice, but there are fewer letters and more e-mails. We've got more support-staff personnel than we need to effectively and efficiently (do business)."

Jaeckle Fleischmann's buyout offer comes on the heels of nationwide law-firm layoffs, including some here in the Buffalo-Niagara region. The tough economic climate is forcing many firms to cut back on both attorneys and support staff and halt any hiring in the near future.

Attorney Giles Manias, president of the Bar Association of Erie County, said he isn't aware of other local law firms offering buyout packages to support staff or lawyers. He said it's uncertain whether the local law community will be able to absorb Jaeckle Fleischmann employees who take the buyout.

"They'll be able to compete because of whatever knowledge of technology they've been using," he said. "But whether they'll find employment is anybody's guess."

Eligibility for the buyout program depends on the employee's years of experience at the firm. Those who are eligible must have at least four years' experience, Piwowarczyk said. The buyouts will range from two months of salary and health insurance to six months of salary and health insurance, depending on the worker's years of experience, he said.

In total, the firm employs about 60 full-time support staff, along with 64 attorneys - 15 fewer than it employed a year ago.

Jaeckle Fleischmann officials last week said the drop in attorneys stems from the Jan. 30 closing of the firm's Rochester office, along with the death of Adelbert Fleischmann and the departure of John Kolaga, who joined Damon & Morey LLP. The Rochester office closed after several Jaeckle Fleischmann attorneys who specialize in intellectual property quit the firm to join a Rochester-based firm.

None of those attorneys are being immediately replaced.

Piwowarczyk would not say what will happen if no one accepts the offer.

"We'll evaluate at that time," he said. "Obviously, some decisions will have to be made, but there's no sense in making those decisions until we have to."

The firm continues to operate from its Buffalo and Amherst offices.