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Morning Docket 01.26.09

piggy bank squeeze.jpg* The country’s top newspapers are full of law firm recession news. The New York Times looks at the salary freeze phenomenon at top firms, with some help from David Lat. [New York Times]

* And the Wall Street Journal reflects on the recession’s effect on law firms, focusing in on the demise of Heller Ehrman. The same thing that ruined baseball is putting the squeeze on mid-size firms: senior players shopping themselves to other teams. [Wall Street Journal (subscription)]

* The Patriot Act has led to legal trouble for many a non-terrorist airplane traveler. The law has been used to prosecute plane passengers who spilled bloody Marys, used profanity, and engaged in “overt sexual behavior.” [Chicago Tribune]

* Public Service Announcement: Get free make-up at Dillard’s, Macy’s, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s thanks to a class action settlement over price fixing. [Virginian-Pilot]

* Contempt of court, moral turpitude charges, and a suspended law license won’t stop Andrew Fine. [Los Angeles Times]

* Edward Genson, Rod Blagojevich’s chief defense attorney, said good night and good luck to the governor on Friday, hinting that Blago refuses to listen to his advice. [Associated Press via Wonkette]

* Congratulations to the new batch of Skadden fellows. Harvard, NYU, and Michigan students make a strong showing among this year’s recruits to the “legal Peace Corps.” [Skadden Arps via PRNewswire]

Comments

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1 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:30 AM

law firm recession

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:31 AM

Any confirmation on possible Cahill layoffs?

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:31 AM

Pfizer counsel?

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:32 AM

Wait, so the rumor is that a lot of senior lawyers have been taking steroids? What the hell are you talking about?

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:34 AM

Dow + Rohm & Hass off

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:38 AM

Iceland's government will officially collapse tommorow

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:44 AM

Lat loves salary freezes, apparently. Douchenozzle.

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:47 AM

This blog (non legal) has some great commentary on the recession issue. \justmarvy.blogspot.com

9 Posted by Pacific Reporter | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 9:58 AM

Kash for EIC!

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 10:39 AM

Economy falling apart and Skadden funds a new batch of fellows. Bravo.

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 10:41 AM

What is the gist of the WSJ article?

12 Posted by nervous T10 1L | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 10:41 AM

*gives michigan skadden fellows a high five*

Go Blue! Nervous supports you!

You guys have more guts than me, I took the money and ran. But that's because I'm a nervous T-10 1L.

-nervous T-10 1L
4 interviews
3 offers
1 sa position

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 10:58 AM

Hey nervous - Congrats on the offers....models and bottles soon enough.

Good to have ya back

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 11:11 AM

Lat: “There is this sense that firms didn’t act prudently during the boom and now they are getting religion, and that it’s better late than never"

You mean like ramping up fixed costs by jacking up salaries for first years by 20% to feed the sense of entitlement that blogs like this engender? Interesting.

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 11:16 AM

For an effective debunking of the Chicago Tribune's 'Patriot Act' article (originally published in its sister paper, the Los Angeles Times) see:

http://patterico.com/2009/01/22/la-times-has-substantially-misleading-story-on-the-patriot-act-and-unruly-airline-passengers/

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 12:01 PM

14 - Associate wage increases lag firm billing rate increases. Don't put the cart before the horse. If feeling that you deserve a greater share of your billing rate as that figure increases, then, yeah, call me entitled.

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Monday, January 26, 2009 1:09 PM

The Tribune article was debunked as pure crap several days ago at Popehat and Patterico. Maybe you could replace the headline to reflect this?

Read 15's link. Very disappointed, Kash.

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Tuesday, January 27, 2009 1:06 AM

it's richard fine, not andrew!

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