Bass, Berry & Sims’ decision to delay hiring of first-year associates may not be an indication of the market, according to Southeast recruiters and other industry observers, who say they haven’t seen any slowdown in new associate hires across the market.

The Nashville-founded firm, which boasts the largest practice devoted to the city’s signature health care industry, decided to start its incoming associate class in January rather than the traditional September start date and will offer stipends to affected attorneys, a firm official confirmed on Wednesday.