Morning Docket 5.19.09
* A word of advice to the new summer associates: Paralegals can’t be trusted. [Legal Intelligencer]
* SCOTUS dismissed the lawsuit that sought to punish top Bush officials, including former Attorney General John Ashcroft, for detaining Muslims that were not involved in 9-11. [Christian Science Monitor]
* Military commission trials for Guantanamo detainees present many of the same challenges that the Bush administration faced, in spite of Obama’s facelift. [New York Times]
* The White House passed on an opportunity to bring a case involving gays in the military to the Supreme Court. Are they stalling and playing politics or are they right to say that the law should be changed in the legislature and not the courts? [Wall Street Journal (subscription)]
* What do potential SCOTUS nominees and ambulance chasers have in common? Uh, hopefully nothing…[Esquire]
* The court will hear a case against Sarbanes-Oxley in the fall term—is this the time to question too much oversight? [Washington Post]
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What about Skadden telling summers that they will be deferred until 2011 IF they get an offer!?!? Firmwide.
Also seems like a $10k stipend will be given and people will be deferred until fall 2011. Ridiculous.
LATHAM NY laid off the majority of its first years after Bob Dell and Dave Gordon repeatedly reassured them that they had a place at the firm.
1, it's better to be deferred than laid off as a first year. LATHAM NY laid off the majority of its first years after months of providing reassurances.
Since it's hip to be square, I'm going to add a little clarification to the crappy MSM coverage of yesterday's SCOTUS decision (Eliza, this is not your fault -- you've done a pretty good job of late). SC(r)OTUS (heh) ordered dismissed only the claims against certain high-level lawyers including Ashcroft because they weren't sufficiently pleaded, and the dismissal is to be made without prejudice. Most of the defendants (and all of the substantive causes of action) remain, and even Ashcroft et al. aren't freezy-beezy if more substantial allegations can be made in an amended complaint.
so did you rely to your detriment on those reassurances?
you know, it seems like, if you renewed your lease an your apartment, you have really depended on the word of the firm, and so there should be some damages you could get? maybe go to small claims court or something? for the rental cost? just wondering
LATHAM REALITY:
firing a majority of first years in NY without notice (other than terrifying rumors).
LATHAM RECRUITING:
"It is difficult to sum up what makes Latham so unique in writing, but hopefully as you navigate through our web site and read about our participatory management style that associates and partners enjoy, our diverse, collegial and supportive work environment, and the programs and governing structure that have been in place from the firm's inception, it will become clear to you that Latham & Watkins stands apart from other large law firms. You may also find that we differentiate ourselves from the competition in ways that are most important to you as a prospective candidate."
6,
I'm not admitted to the bar yet, but you may want to try Sec. 90 of the Restatement (Second) of Contracts. We learned about it in Contracts and it seems that it could allow you to estop this law firm from pulling back your offer. Just a suggestion.
Please remember that latham also fired half of 2nd and 3rd years and also a third of 4th, 5th and pretty much all 8th years.
8, gee thanks a lot!!! that's really helpful! i didn't learn about that in contracts because i went to GW
9, NEVER FORGET
LATHAM NY fired 45% of it's associates in 2009.
They truly are a well managed well diversified law firm. Very collegial too.
Remember when LINKLATERS beat LATHAM 2 to 1 in the safest law firm poll.
LOL at LATHAM
Painting with a bit of a broad brush on the paralegal article, no?
13 - Stop stealing my stuff you damn paralegal!
Fish & Richardson is giving its summers moving belts instead of tote bags this year. They will be assisting in the closing of two offices this summer.
Pounding my secretary in her ass on a Tuesday.
Jan Schlictmann
Given that I have $250,000 in debt and no job, I would rather tell Glossu Rabban to his face that he will never be the Baron's heir to the House Harkonnen instead of relying on a paralegal.
8: Are you a 1L? Obviously here, section 90 is of no significants.
Anyone else not hear a word about recieving their starting stipends yet?
When I think of Latham, I think of Aleksey Vayner, except Vayner didn't crush his dancing or tennis partners with a 495-pound bench press.
18 - You should lose your license you incompetent oaf. A promise has been made, it was reasonably relied upon to the detriment of the promisee, a clear cut action for promissory estoppel has been established.
I weep for your poor unfortunate clients.
#17 = gay racist NAMBLA recruiter from Texas
21: pwn3d. I love it when idiots like you write serious responses to long-running joke comments.
23 - OMG PONIES! I love it when idiots like you write serious responses to to people writing joke responses to long-running joke comments.
You must be fun at parties.
They call me the Fat Cobra.
Everyone is focusing on Restatement 90.... What about 86? I think there's a valid claim there. Didn't these Latham guys promise you bonuses and reassurances because of the great work the associates had already performed for the partners? You may want to consider pleading this in the alternative.
22 = incompetent paralegal
23 = Idiot of the year.
23 : pwnd^10000 for trying to call someone out for getting pwnd and failing.
Reading comprehension. Or haven't we taken the LSAT yet?
Paralegals should be rounded up, taken to a south Pacific island, and nuked. Glass 'em; glass 'em all!
FYI--there are competent paralegals out there. And, in fact, many paralegals know all of the scuttlebutt, like how to best interact with difficult partners, which partners get along, which associates are stars and which are zeros...all of this is helpful info for summers. So yeah, there was one shady paralegal who stole some crap. I seem to recall some dishonest judges and attorneys on this site as well.
My favorite thing about people who $hit on paralegals--many of them used to be paralegals themselves prior to law school. My how time flies and how fungible memories are....
FYI--there are competent paralegals out there. And, in fact, many paralegals know all of the scuttlebutt, like how to best interact with difficult partners, which partners get along, which associates are stars and which are zeros...all of this is helpful info for summers. So yeah, there was one shady paralegal who stole some crap. I seem to recall some dishonest judges and attorneys on this site as well.
My favorite thing about people who $hit on paralegals--many of them used to be paralegals themselves prior to law school. My how time flies and how fungible memories are....
FYI--there are competent paralegals out there. And, in fact, many paralegals know all of the scuttlebutt, like how to best interact with difficult partners, which partners get along, which associates are stars and which are zeros...all of this is helpful info for summers. So yeah, there was one shady paralegal who stole some crap. I seem to recall some dishonest judges and attorneys on this site as well.
My favorite thing about people who $hit on paralegals--many of them used to be paralegals themselves prior to law school. My how time flies and how fungible memories are....