October 2008

While we have been focusing on associate layoffs, law schools continue to ruin the U.S. News Law School Rankings. Yesterday we learned that Alabama Law School is offering people $20 worth of iTunes cash to simply apply to Alabama. How does this impact that U.S. News rankings? Because the magazine counts acceptance rate as part […]

It’s been a dark week on ATL. Layoff news has been pouring in: 21 attorneys cut at Katten, up to 60 at Sonnenschein, and 20 at Clifford Chance. To prevent you from jumping out your windows, we’re revisiting a Wall Street Journal article from earlier this month on the silver lining for law firms during […]

Many people know Fred Baron as “The King of the Toxic Torts.” He, along with long time friend Sen. John Edwards, made a lot of money as plaintiff attorneys. But his story now has nothing to do with the plaintiff’s bar. Fred Baron is in the final stage multiple myeloma, a kind of bone marrow […]

If there are Thelen associates that are not actively trying to get another job, if there are “incoming” Thelen first years who are waiting for “concrete answers” from the firm: this is your last warning. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200, just remember that your closest exit might be behind you. This morning […]

[Ed Note: Do you have a question for next week? Send it in to advice@abovethelaw.com] ATL, I am a newly minted federal law clerk stuck in a small city where I don’t know anyone. The 12 hour work days I have been recently putting in have made meeting new people rather difficult. During a recent […]

The 2005 collapse of Refco Inc. is best remembered around here for a former Mayer Brown partner being indicted along with the company. But the case has also lead to ongoing class action litigation. That is pretty much all you need to know to appreciate the appeal filed in the Southern District this August. The […]

* “Barack Obama looked like a prosecutor delivering a polished summation in a long civil case, Joe the Plumber v. George W. Bush. John McCain was closer to a personal injury lawyer, staring into the camera to address ‘Joe the Plumber’ as if he were standing by with an 800 number.” [New York Times] * […]

Katten Muchin Rosenman has officially announced that they have parted ways with a number of attorneys. According to partner and spokesperson Tasneem K. Goodman: Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP this week eliminated the positions of 21 associates and counsel across multiple offices and practices. This measure was taken to further improve the firm’s efficiency, to allow […]

Legal analyst and pop-culture sycophant Russell Wetanson has been running a fairly aggressive campaign against California’s Proposition 8. The measure would ban gay marriages in California, as we have discussed before. Wetanson sent around the following email to subscribers to his blog: No On Prop 8. No On Prop 8. No On Prop 8. If […]

The results of the July 2008 Virginia Bar Exam were supposed to be posted today. And when the site went dead today it looked like the results would be coming soon. But that was at noon. And now everybody is freaking out. But we’ve been through this before with the Illinois results. Everybody just needs […]

* Is there any doubt that Lucy grew up to be a lawyer? [Doyle Reports] * Great. Now A.G. Cuomo is angry. If there was ever a man who needed his father to buy him a baseball team … [Dealbreaker] * Additional Heller lifeboats. Only partners need apply. [Legal Pad] * If you let children […]

Given the state of the world, we can understand some anger at the Big Guy Upstairs. And the best way to deal with anger is in the courtroom, right? So thought former Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers. He sued God last year, “seeking a permanent injunction to prevent God from committing acts of violence such […]

Today is not a good day to be Carlo Rizzi. We’re getting word that Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal is laying off a bunch of attorneys and staff today. The big number we are hearing is that 60 associates and staff are out of jobs. According to one tipster, the layoffs are being carried out nationwide, […]

Gary J. Simson, best known for his incessant bitching about the U.S. News rankings, is stepping down as dean of the Case Western Reserve School of Law: We write to inform you that Gary J. Simson has agreed to resign as dean, effective at the end of this academic semester. Starting today, Robert H. Rawson […]

Perhaps the Clifford Chance layoffs were just the beginning. We’re getting multiple reports that Katten Muchin Rosenman is laying off associates in their Chicago office, today. Right now. Katten representatives did not respond to inquiries made last night or today. Meanwhile, the Charlotte-firm of Moore & Van Allen has laid off 20 staff members today. […]

A NALP report confirms what we see everyday: minority women partners barely exist. The National Law Journal reports: Minority women remain the most underrepresented group among law firm partners, according to the report. They currently make up 1.88% of partners at law firms. By contrast, the report found that minority men make up 4.21% of […]

We mentioned yesterday that Simpson Thacher has been chosen to advise the government on the massive $700 billion bailout plan. They were chosen on Friday and are already racking up billable hours on it. Six other firms were approached by the Treasury, but only two expressed interest. Zach Lowe at the American Lawyer reports: Cleary […]

We received just over 1,200 responses to last week’s ATL / Lateral Link survey on politics in the workplace, and two things immediately became apparent. First, there aren’t that many good political lolcats, so we’ve decided to make do with an lolronpaul (h/t punditkitchen). Second, now that the general election is in full swing, political […]

A lot of people have been asking how Schulte Roth & Zabel are doing during the economic downturn. It’s a relevant question given Schulte’s large book of hedge fund business. But even as hedge funds are slowing down, Schulte could get a lot of work thrown their way if there is any fire to these […]

* Even if pro-bono work is masturbatory, can it be any worse than fellating paid clients? [Legal Blog Watch] * A quick history lesson. [Cracked] * Chief Justice Roberts has some fun with his dissent. [The BLT: The Blog of the LegalTimes] * Nichols Kaster could help laid off Heller Ehrman employees get their accrued […]