August 2008

WilmerHale to $1500 / Hour?

We know that attorneys at top firms like WilmerHale can charge stunning rates — up to $750 an hour for litigation chair Howard Shapiro. But if you ask them, that’s a bargain. Wilmer moved for an award of attorneys’ fees after winning a $90 million verdict in a False Claims Act case. The usual lodestar […]

Biglaw

A Woman’s Place Is… At Cravath

This week, Working Mother magazine, in association with Flex-Time Lawyers, released its second annual Best Law Firms for Women rankings. Some of the firms on this year’s list are notorious sweatshops, more likely to help women freeze their eggs than they are to aid either sex in raising a family. I contacted Deborah Epstein Henry […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.14.08

* Liberal religious leaders say a new McCain online ad is intended to label Obama “the antichrist.” Is that worse than being compared to Paris Hilton? [Political Perceptions/Wall Street Journal] * Judge throws out murder case against New Orleans policemen who fired on unarmed residents during the Katrina crisis. [BBC News] * Blackberry vs. iPhone. […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 08.13.08

* We know how he feels about taxes. But when it comes to judicial nominations, Obama is keeping an open mind. [Washington Briefs] * A law firm in defense of its diversity record: we hold office screenings of Crash. [Lexis Hub / BBLP] * A Horse Walks Into… the AutoAdmit Litigation? Or: If you want […]

9th Circuit

ATL Idol: Week 3, Head-to-Head Round

We’re down to your last two ATL Idols: FROLIC AND DETOUR and SOPHIST. It’s time for them to face off in the third and final head-to-head round of ATL Idol, the reality-TV-style talent search for Above the Law’s new editor. You know the drill, but if you’re just tuning in, here’s how this round will […]

Real Estate

Lawyerly Lairs: Gotham Law Firms on the Prowl

If you’ll be interviewing at law firms this fall, make sure you double check the address of the place you’re headed to. Law firms are constantly on the move and trading spaces. From the New York Observer (which follows commercial real estate as obsessively as we follow law firm layoffs): Entertainment law powerhouse Pryor Cashman, […]

ATL Idol: Alex’s Farewell

[Ed. note: This is the farewell post of ALEX, who was recently eliminated from ATL Idol, the “reality blogging” competition that will determine ATL’s next editor. It is marked with Alex’s avatar (at right).] Farewell, all. And thank you for everything — the support and the criticism. This is a bitter-sweet moment. I was excited […]

Elizabeth Halverson

Judge Halverson Has Sung

A tipster dubbed yesterday “the day legal comedy died.” From the Las Vegas Review-Journal: While the Judicial Discipline Commission weighs the fate of embattled District Judge Elizabeth Halverson, voters delivered their own verdict Tuesday, deciding Halverson must go. Halverson, who faces complaints of falling asleep on the bench and harassing her staff, received less than […]

Fashion

Fall Recruiting Open Thread: Suitable Suits?

We’ve noticed that the comment thread on the cold offers post has morphed into a fashion advice column. Here are some of the on-campus interview attire questions that have been posed: — Is a light gray suit a bad choice for interviews? Dark brown shoes, black, or either? — What suit colors are acceptable? — […]

Job Survey

Associate Life Survey: Your Online Networks

We received 629 responses to Monday’s ATL / Lateral Link survey on social networking, and it looks like most of you are avid surfers. Overall, 81% of you use at least one social networking site or maintain a blog. Facebook was the overwhelming winner, as 94% of attorneys who use social networking sites have an […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 08.13.08

* Does using GPS to track suspects constitute an illegal search and seizure? [Washington Post] * Lawyers are demanding a criminal investigation into the death of a 34-year-old Hong Kong immigrant. A successful New York computer engineer, he died of cancer after not receiving medical attention while detained for months by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. […]

Vault rankings

Rejoice: The 2009 Vault Rankings Are Out!

Last week, we gave you a sneak preview of Vault’s 2009 law firm rankings: the top 50 firms ranked by prestige, and the top 20 firms ranked by quality of life. Now the complete 2009 rankings are available. In addition to the prestige and “best to work for” rankings, they include the diversity and partner […]