October 2006

Law Schools

The Misadventures of a UVA Gunner

The Virginia Senate race between Republican incumbent George Allen and Democratic challenger Jim Webb has been one of the most bizarre and entertaining races in recent memory. To recap, here are some of the things we’ve been treated to in recent weeks: — the magnificent spectacle of “Macaca”-gate;— a Southerner’s dramatic discovery of his long-lost […]

Biglaw

Non-Sequiturs: 10.31.06

* If your workplace is all about face-time, then use sparingly. [Call In Sick] * Let’s clean up our cities. First the pigeons, then the homeless. [Newsweek] * Wild, wild horses…we’ll ride them someday — a celebrity cause waiting to happen. [Vanity Fair] * Whatever happened to the good old fashioned kegger? Stick to the […]

Biglaw

Another Day, Another Law Firm Merger

On the heels of the Dewey Ballantine/Orrick announcement, news of another law firm merger: Partners at Thelen Reid & Priest and New York’s Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner voted to combine the two firms Monday, creating a 617-lawyer firm that, based on last year’s revenue, would have placed 56th on the Am Law 100 […]

Biglaw

Musical Chairs: 10.31.06

Tons of moves to report today — and these are just the highlights: New Partners: * Latham & Watkins — which, as discussed yesterday, is very popular with Supreme Court clerks — has elected 26 new partners, in offices around the country. That’s enough lawyers to start a whole new law firm. You can check […]

Litigatrix

Separated at Birth: Sheila Birnbaum and Harold Koh?

When we surfed over to the WSJ Law Blog a few minutes ago, quickly scanned the page, and saw the photo for this post, we thought it had to do with Yale Law School. But upon closer inspection, we learned we were wrong. Instead, it was a post about Skadden Arps partner Sheila Birnbaum. Birnbaum, […]

Celebrities

The Eyes of the Law: Judge Williams’s Portrait Ceremony

If you, like us, find Supreme Court justice sightings more thrilling than Brangelina spottings, you would have died from excitement at the portrait ceremony for Judge Stephen F. Williams. Judge Williams is the brilliant former law professor who now sits on the venerated D.C. Circuit. Back in the day, before he assumed senior status, Stephen […]

Biglaw

Interview Horror Stories: And Then He Suggested She Buy a Subaru Forester

Law firm recruiting season is winding down, but we remain interested in your job interview horror stories. To read prior stories, click here, then scroll down. (Note: The “horror” in “interview horror stories” is loosely defined. Stories that are somewhat embarrassing or mildly amusing will suffice.) Most of our interview horror stories involve interviewees saying […]

Holidays and Seasons

A Happy Halloween from ATL

A friendly reminder from ATL: Today is Halloween. If this slipped your mind, be sure to stop by your local CVS / Duane Reade / RiteAid on the way home, and pick up a bag of miniature chocolates for the trick-or-treaters. Some lawyers, judges, and law professors get into the Halloween spirit. For example, back […]

Crime

Morning Docket: 10.31.06

* “Colombian Supreme Court: grabbing a woman’s behind is a crime.” [Herald-Tribune via How Appealing] * One week until elections — there must be some litigation somewhere. [Wall Street Journal via [How Appealing] * Justice O’Connor spoke in Utah this week, and she and Justice Breyer shed some politico-rhetoric in Washington. [CNN] (For related links, […]

Canada

Criminal Justice, Canadian Style

Yesterday we implied that Canada isn’t tough on crime. Maybe we should take that back. Check out this interesting case: “Return to the Court With a Verdict of Guilty.” That’s what a Canadian judge told the jury in a marijuana possession case, where the defendant claimed he possessed the marijuana for medical reasons (though he […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 10.30.06

* The German court is right — long distance relationships are a bitch. [Reuters] * Blonde Justice shares her views of the new legal drama Shark. James Woods is pretty universally acknowledged as a horndog / lucky bastard, but despite his stellar Dirty Old Man credentials, how can we watch him in anything anymore without […]

Crime

Ex-Judge of the Day: Glenn Staege

We worship federal judges — for their brilliance, their probity, and their service to our nation. We have a somewhat lower opinion of state court judges. Many state judges are talented and dedicated public servants (and some of them later serve on the federal bench). But some of them are like the Not-So-Honorable Glenn Staege: […]

Biglaw

Last Year’s Supreme Court Clerks: Where Are They Now?

If you’re wondering where your favorite October Term 2005 Supreme Court clerk wound up — like, for example, this Kathryn Judge groupie — the National Law Journal has the answers. Check out this juicy article (free access): Latham & Watkins is the “in” spot this year for recent U.S. Supreme Court clerks leaving the rarified […]

Celebrities

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe: Splitting Up, Lawyering Up

After enduring copious coverage of Heather Mills’s and Sara Evans’s marital woes, we finally get to read about an A-lister’s split. From TMZ.com: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe have separated. The couple’s rep released a statement to TMZ Monday morning that says “We are saddened to announce that Reese & Ryan have decided to formally […]