Showing that big US firms are in the same sort of pile as those in the UK, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom is to halve the size of its summer associate intake for 2010. The firm sent a letter to the US law schools it recruits directly from last week informing them that “in light of the economic climate” it would only be recruiting around 100 associates for its 2010 intake.

Skadden recruited 225 summer associates this year and expects to hire a little over 100 next year – the exact number will depend on offer acceptance rates.

Skadden recruiting partner Howard Ellin told the Am Law Daily that the firm will not rescind offers to any of its prospective 2010 intake. So if, for example, 150 of the intake accept, the firm will hire all 150 even though that number exceeds the figure it currently has in mind.

Ellin said: "[Rescinding offers] is unprofessional and a shock to our conscience."

Don’t think we head anything quite like that from UK firms.