February 2008
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Judge of the Day
Judicial Hottie of the Day: George Schiavelli
Judge George Schiavelli (C.D. Cal.), regarded in some quarters as a judicial hottie, is probably not feeling so hot right now. From the Los Angeles Times: A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury has ruled against a federal judge who was seeking $21 million after alleging that he was severely injured when he fell from […] -
Larry Lessig
Larry Lessig: Not the Next Obama
A brief update on an earlier story. Last week, we mentioned that celebrity cyberlaw prof Larry Lessig, of Stanford Law School, was contemplating a congressional bid. His prospective campaign would be centered on the theme du jour of Change (in this case, of Congress). Many ATL commenters didn’t think highly of the idea: “He has […] - Sponsored
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Attorney Misconduct, Benchslaps, Biglaw, Federal Judges, Intellectual Property, Lawyer of the Day, Legal Ethics, Perks / Fringe Benefits, Trials
Lawyers of the Day: McDermott Will & Emery(And they just canceled their associate retreat, too.)
Pity the poor partners of McDermott Will & Emery. Sure, their firm is highly regarded and highly profitable. But when they head off to try cases in far-off places, they often get benchslapped silly. You may recall the case of bankruptcy partner William Smith, who found himself in the deep-fat fryer after telling a judge […]
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Clarence Thomas, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Weirdness
Clearly He Is Trying To Set An Unbreakable Record
For his yearbook page, one of our most quiet high school classmates selected this quotation, by Martin Fraquhar Tupper: “Well-timed silence hath more eloquence than speech.” Justice Clarence Thomas concurs. As reported by the AP, “[t]wo years and 142 cases have passed since Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas last spoke up at oral arguments.” So […] -
Contests, Food, Weirdness
Everyone's A Winner Cooker at Nixon Peabody?
According to the non-theme-song song (mp3) of Nixon Peabody, the firm is “the best to work with” and “the best to work for.” At NP, “it’s all about the team, it’s all about respect, it all revolves around integrity.” And top of the line ingredients. From the Washington Post: Big-time lawyers are pros at waiting […] -
Clerkships, Job Searches, Job Survey
Featured Job Survey: Hiring Clerks?
There have been some rumblings on this blog of a slowdown in judicial clerk hiring, even as firms raise clerkship bonuses to $50K. Today’s ATL / Lateral Link survey digs a little deeper into who is (or isn’t) hiring judicial clerks, and what their bonuses look like. Update: This survey is now closed. Click here […] -
Barack Obama, Biglaw, Money, Politics, Skaddenfreude, Tax Law, Ted Frank
Obama, BigLaw, and Taxes(Or: Obama = $34,000 Paycut)
[Ed. note: Today we bring you some “news you can use”: a practical look at how political choices might affect your personal finances. This post is by Ted Frank, who blogs at Overlawyered.com and PointofLaw.com, and who has guest edited ATL in the past. Take it away, Ted.] BigLaw lawyers love Obama. If one searches […] -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 02.26.08
* President pushes House on FISA. [CNN] * EPA may exempt “toxic gases” from factory farm reporting requirements. [Washington Post] * Congress may ask DOJ to investigate Clemens’s testimony, not McNamee’s. [New York Times] * Ford pushing employees to accept buyout packages. [New York Times] * UAW strikes at American Axle in MI and NY. […]
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Department of Justice, Fabulosity, Hotties, Monica Goodling, Weddings
Breaking: Monica Goodling Is Engaged!
This just in: the super-fabulous Monica Goodling, one of ATL’s all-time favorite people, is engaged! Monica Marie Goodling, of Alexandria, is engaged to be married to Michael Krempasky, of Falls Church. The wedding is planned for later this year. The future bride, a consultant, previously served as senior counsel to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 02.25.08
* “Can Michigan universities use proxies for race after the ban on racial preferences?” Professor Brian Fitzpatrick answers in the negative. [PrawfsBlawg] * ATL’s new sports columnist, Marc Edelman, gets a shout-out from Brett Trout in Blawg Review #148. [BlawgIT via Blawg Review] * Who’s the most scandalous Filipino lawyer in America? Your undersigned blogger, […] -
Attorney Misconduct, Jack Thompson, Lawyer of the Day, Rudeness
Lawyer of the Day: Jack Thompson
Florida lawyer Jack Thompson, who is completely crazy somewhat colorful, has surfaced in these pages before. But he has never been an ATL Lawyer of the Day. With this post, we officially bestow the honor upon him. From Game Politics: [T]he Florida Supreme Court alleged [last] week that controversial Miami attorney Jack Thompson has “abused […] -
Lawsuit of the Day
Lawsuit of the Day Last Friday: Quack Attack
A very odd fact pattern. Attention law professors: perhaps you can use this as fodder for a final exam hypothetical? Railroad worker files suit claiming goose attacked him [Charleston Daily Mail] -
Law Professors, Law Reviews, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Parties, UVA Law
Musical Chairs: UVA Law Picks Paul Mahoney As New Dean
We bring you some news from the University of Virginia School of Law, which last year was voted America’s Coolest Law School by the readers of Above the Law. UVA has a new dean: Professor Paul Mahoney. Congratulations, Dean-To-Be Mahoney! Professor Mahoney, who will replace John C. Jeffries Jr. as dean when Jeffries steps down […]
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In-House Counsel
Skaddenfreude: Life on the Inside(Or: General counsels and in-house lawyers are doing quite well, thank you very much.)
We tend to emphasize Biglaw over the in-house world here at ATL. When we do talk about in-house lawyers, it’s often in the context of their complaining about the legal bills they get from large law firms — and how much first- and second-year associates earn these days, despite being short on knowledge and experience. […] -
Associate Bonus Watch 2007, Biglaw, Billable Hours, Bonuses, Money, Skaddenfreude
Associate Bonus Watch: Mayer Brown Announces(And penalizes associates for delinquent time entry.)
The powers-that-be at Mayer Brown have made their decisions on bonus and salary adjustments, as announced in an email last night. And it appears that they’ve taken a page from the Dechert playbook, according to one associate: “The second paragraph [of the memo] is a shock. We were never informed of financial ramifications for failing […] -
Job Searches, Job Survey
Featured Job Survey: Does the In-House Always Win?
We received 1,062 responses to our ATL / Lateral Link survey on in-house aspirations. As shown in the charts below, over half of associates are satisfied or even “very satisfied” with their current positions, but about half would still like to go in-house. Associate Responses: Are You Satisfied With Your Current Job? Associate Responses: Would […] -
Sports
Sports and the Law: Three New Opportunities for Fans to Invest in Sports
Until recently, fans were limited in their ability to become involved in the business side of sports. Now, however, three businesses are bringing fans a tad closer: (1) a soon-to-be launched, publicly owned professional football league known as the UFL; (2) a democratically run British soccer club called Ebbsfield United FC; and (3) an Internet-based […] -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 02.25.08
* DNC accuses Sen. McCain of election law violations. [CNN; Washington Post] * “Vista capable” class action certified. [MSNBC] * EA makes $2B bid for Grand Theft Auto’s Take-Two; execs respond by lighting street fires and shooting at cars. [New York Times] * Exxon Valdez case finally reaches SCOTUS, potentially turning on obscure piracy law. […]
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Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 02.22.08
* “Like to Golf? San Diego Law Firm Seeks Associate Rainmakers.” Maybe the associate who can lift 25 pounds can be your caddy. [ABA Journal] * Columbia law professor Hans Smit, whose Manhattan mansion we have covered extensively in these pages, turns down a $20 million offer for the property (which he bought for $325,000, […] -
Biglaw, Money, Skaddenfreude
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: A Little More on Seyfarth Shaw
A quick update on yesterday’s post about Seyfarth Shaw. A source there tells us: Here are the “official” numbers for Seyfarth NYC and “Others,” excluding Atlanta (no idea where they are — presumably lower). Great for the mid/upper classes, but no so great for 1st-2nd years. Some grumbling also from income partners since they don’t […]