Archive for February 2009

Biglaw Reversed Perk Watch: No More Tech Stipend at Weil

By Kashmir Hill

Weil.gifFor Biglaw technophiles, one of the nicest firm perks is the technology stipend: a couple of thousand dollars to lavish on a new shiny toy. With the BlackBerry Curve 8900 debuting to rave reviews, and rumors in the tech world of a new iPhone on the horizon, there are lots of toys to get worked up about these days.

Alas, associates at Weil, Gotshal & Manges will not be taking part in the tech spending frenzy. One associate reports that their stipend fell victim to economic pressures last week:

They eliminated our $2K tech stipend for first and second years ($4K for the first two years). It was a bit strange, though, because anyone who had used their $2K before today gets reimbursed. So if you bought a laptop yesterday, you get a laptop. Otherwise, no laptop for you!

Congratulations to all Weil associates who placed their laptop orders in the first two weeks of January.

Tech toys are not the only perk being reversed. The associate tells us that the partner mentoring budget was cut as well.

What’s the latest perk erosion at your firm? Feel free to discuss in the comments or to send us a tip.

Morning Docket 02.02.09

By Kashmir Hill

life without lawyers.jpg* Dahlia Lithwick reviews the new book, Life Without Lawyers: Liberating Americans From Too Much Law. She disagrees with Philip Howard’s argument that “Americans are slowly being choked to death by law.” [Slate]

* Change is a-comin’ at the Justice Department. [New York Times]

* The new chairman of the Republican National Committee is Dewey & LeBoeuf partner Michael Steele. He’s also the Republicans’ first black party chairman. [New York Times]

* Memo from the Weil fashion police: black trench coats and mannish pant suits for women are not okay. [ABA Journal]

* Goodbye, billable hours! Hello, flat fees. With a shout-out to ATL. [The Inside Job/U.S. News & World Report]

* The Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-23 to become the winningest Super Bowl team in history with six victories. Our search for a legal tie-in yielded this article with questions about watching in church, betting on the game, and the use of the “Big Game.” [Chicago Tribune]