Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is offering voluntary buyouts to its legal secretaries in the U.S., the firm confirmed Monday, though it made clear that the program is not planned as a precursor to layoffs.

Those who take the buyout will receive two weeks' worth of pay per year of service, up to 52 weeks maximum, the firm said.

"As we continue to focus on technology innovation and cost-effective solutions for our clients, as well as the practice needs of our lawyers, we have decided to offer our U.S.-based legal secretaries a voluntary separation opportunity. This is a purely voluntary offering, and we have no current plans for a group involuntary separation program, regardless of the level of participation in the voluntary offering," a spokeswoman for the firm said in a statement Monday.

Above the Law first reported the terms of the buyouts Monday.

The firm did not provide additional details regarding the number of employees expected to take the buyout.

While the firm is reducing the number of legal secretaries it employs, it is actively hiring for some alternative staff positions that have been on the rise in recent years, as firms have adapted to new technologies and consolidation in the industry.

According to the careers page on Morgan Lewis' website, the firm is currently recruiting legal practice assistants across several offices, with the hires reporting to a director of specialist timekeepers. The job description says people in this role will have "an opportunity to develop client relationships, routinely engage with practice group attorneys and legal professionals, and gain significant analytical and project management skills."

The firm is also hiring administrative practice assistants in Washington, D.C., who will, according to the job listing, "be responsible for providing a broad range of administrative support to our firm's practice groups."