August 2007
-
Biglaw, Bonuses, Education / Schools, Job Searches, Perks / Fringe Benefits
In Biglaw, Does It Pay To Have An MBA?
It’s often said — especially by associates who have nothing to do the whole day, then get an assignment at 5 p.m. that’s due the following morning — that lawyers (read: partners) aren’t very good managers. This shouldn’t come as a huge surprise, since very few of them are trained in management. This also explains […] -
Job Searches, Ridiculousness, Roy Pearson, Tort Reform
Roy Pearson: From Pseudo-Judge To Ex-Pseudo-Judge?
Last week we alluded to the possibility that Roy Pearson, plaintiff in the notorious $54 million pants case, might not be reappointed to his post as an administrative law judge. That possibility is now one step closer to being realized. From the Washington Post: A city commission has voted to formally notify Administrative Law Judge […] - Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so… -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 08.08.07
* Relaxed and confident, with a mischievous grin and a wag of her finger, our favorite lawyer-turned-politician declares: “I’m your girl.” [YouTube] * Crickets chirping on the Fourth Circuit, as former conservative bastion drifts leftward. [Washington Post] * If you employ illegal immigrants, watch out: the feds are coming. [New York Times] * WSJ Law […]
-
Litigatrix, Plaintiffs Firms, Television
Glenn Close and Damages: Dubious or Delicious?
If you’re looking for something to do in an hour and a half, why not check out the new legal thriller on FX, Damages? This new television series stars Glenn Close, whom we have worshiped ever since Fatal Attraction. We love a strong woman, who knows exactly what she wants — and will stop at […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 08.07.07
* A Brazilian judge has ruled that soccer is not a gay sport. The court reserved judgment on tennis and beach volleyball. [Keeping Up With Jonas] * Going against almost all of his D.C. Circuit colleagues, Chief Judge Douglas Ginsburg votes in favor of experimental drugs. Why are we not surprised? [SCOTUSblog; How Appealing] * […] -
Options Backdating, Trials, White-Collar Crime
The Brocade Verdict: A Report from the Trenches
We run ATL on a shoestring budget, so we can’t exactly afford to send reporters across the country. Taking the train up to New York, to cover a hearing in L’Affaire Charney, is already a big deal for us. So we’re delighted when tipsters give us eyewitness reports on breaking news. Today we had a […] -
6th Circuit, Animal Law, Bad Ideas, Gambling / Gaming, Sports
Lawsuit of the Day: Sixth Circuit Horses Around With Literary References
News of an amusing appellate decision, from that leading source of legal news, ESPN: A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that a filly can’t be named “Sally Hemings” after Thomas Jefferson’s most famous slave and reputed lover. The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled that the Jockey Club can legally bar horse owner […] -
Biglaw, Money, Skaddenfreude
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Haynes and Boone
Several of you have drawn our attention to this news, from the Texas Lawyer: Today, Haynes and Boone partners plan to tell the Dallas-based firm’s Texas associates their salary scale will increase, retroactive to Aug. 1, to the new market rate of $160,000 for first-year associates. Haynes and Boone partner Terry Conner says the new […] - Sponsored
How Generative AI Will Improve Legal Service Delivery
Learn how emerging tools will likely change and enhance the work of lawyers for years to come in this new report. -
Biglaw, Money, Skaddenfreude
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Boston Updates
Some Boston salary news, from a helpful tipster: 1. Goulston & Storrs: Raised to 160K. See here. I think that leaves Nutter, McClennan & Fish, Sullivan & Worcester, and Nixon Peabody as the only major Boston shops that have not raised to 160K. (Heck, even Day Pitney raised a little.) 2. Nixon Peabody: They should […] -
Biglaw, Kids, Perks / Fringe Benefits, Pregnancy / Paternity
Biglaw Perk Watch: Maternity Leave and Paternity Leave
Despite all the Biglaw bitching from unhappy associates, it’s generally agreed that the perks of law firm life are pretty sweet. We continue our series of posts on the fringe benefits of Biglaw. From a reader: How about a post on (paid) maternity/paternity leave and part-time schedule policies? We already did a post on part-time […] -
Advertising, Job Searches, Shameless Plugs
Job of the Week
As we’ve mentioned before, each week we’ll be highlighting an exciting job opportunity available through Lateral Link, ATL’s career partner. Here’s the latest offering: Employer: Vertis Communications Position: Corporate Counsel Position Description: Headquartered in Baltimore, MD, Vertis Communications provides marketing services from conception through design, production, and distribution for more than 2,000 clients, including grocery […] -
Drinking, Rudeness, Summer Associates, Violence
X-Summers: The IncrediPaul Hulk
At large law firms around the country, summer associate programs are nearing their end. But we still have a decent supply of summer associate stories. If you can add to our cache, please review our submission guidelines, and then email us. This latest SA tale is, like that of Aquagirl or Jonas Blank, something of […] -
Biglaw, Job Searches
Fall Recruiting Open Thread: The Midwest
Our fall recruiting open threads continue to generate a decent amount of comment traffic. Yesterday’s clean-up post for the Northeast generated over 80 comments. So we’ll keep on going. Here’s a representative email (echoed also in the comments to various posts): What are the odds of you doing a Job Search post for the Midwest […]
Sponsored
How Generative AI Will Improve Legal Service Delivery
Profit Powerhouse: Elevating Law Firm Financial Performance
Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
Sponsored
This AI-Powered Document Tool Will Meet You Where You Are
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
-
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 08.07.07
* The White House takes the offensive on warrantless wiretapping the terrorist surveillance program, which has now been blessed by Congress. [How Appealing (linkwrap)] * Jeri Thompson, wife of presidential possibility Fred Thompson: hottie, yes; lawyer, no. [WSJ Law Blog] * An editorialist expresses surprise that John Edwards can turn his famed charm on and […]
-
Biglaw, King & Spalding, Money, Skaddenfreude
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: King & Spalding
Good times for associates at King & Spalding in Atlanta. They get kidnapped, but they’re released unharmed. And now they get pay raises! We’ve confirmed the rumor from yesterday afternoon that King & Spalding has raised starting salaries for first-year associates. Here’s the email: We are pleased to announce that, effective January 1, 2008, the […] -
Biglaw, Shameless Plugs, Summer Associates, Videos
Still More on Summer Associates
These days it seems every other post on ATL is about summer associates. But if you haven’t tired of the topic — and maybe you haven’t, since many of you are summers yourselves — then check out a recent webcast we did, for ABC News, on the summer associate phenomenon: Summer Associate: Best Legal Gig? […] -
Blogging, Cellphones, Non-Sequiturs, Politics
Non-Sequiturs: 08.03.07
* Bored at work? Look up the campaign contributions of that partner you work for. [Fundrace 2008 / Huffington Post] * We generally find personalized cell phone ringtones to be pretty annoying. But if you’re going to have one, it might as well be legal-themed, right? [The Billable Hour] * Law bloggers, stand up and […] -
Summer Associates, Weirdness
A Very Odd Summer Associate Assignment
Remember the massive steam pipe explosion in New York City last month, which displaced a number of the city’s major law firms? It has spawned an amusingly bizarre project for one summer associate. This befuddled individual then turned to the law school listserv for help. (Random aside: Unless you WANT something posted to Above the […] -
Media and Journalism, Shameless Plugs
And We Don't Even Have a Publicist
Above the Law continues to attract attention from the mainstream media. Here’s an excerpt from the latest (delightful) piece, by Amanda Bronstad, for the National Law Journal: In the past year, at least two other blogs, Skadden Insider and Above the Law, have raised eyebrows for publishing internal information at firms, such as confidential firings […] -
Rank Stupidity, Summer Associates
Summer Associate Story, or Dumb Blonde Joke?
We haven’t given this cute little anecdote the full X-Summers treatment, since it doesn’t involve scandal, and it doesn’t conclude with anyone getting fired or no-offered. But we pass it along in case some of you might find it entertaining. From a source at Wiley Rein in Washington: We have an excellent summer class with […]