Re: item #2, what about Bill Clinton?

2 - I think Clinton has been disbarred.

time to do a story on London management at Clifford chance shutting down its litigation practice in new york as of next week....GET ON IT!!!!

Derek Jeter to SCOTY

A note to BigLaw associates - You Already Know Your First Major Client

Dear fellow associates,

If you are anything like me and my fellow associates at Thompson Hine, then you are quite fed up with the incompetence, poor planning, and life balance provided by those leading our firms.

If you have clients you are billing significant hours to, then now is the perfect time to run your billing report, figure out how much that client spends on your services (if you're like me, you do 98% of the client's work and your partner just sits around failing to bring in new work), and (after reviewing your state's ethics rules to do so in a way that doesn't violate standards) have a conversation with this client about what you would charge for your services as an independent practitioner.

In essence, what I suggest is a new stratagem for associate success... either our partners bring in enough new clients to keep our hours up, or we start poaching clients.

Associates should not be scared of their law firms. Law firms should be scared of their associates.

(note to Thompson Hine partners - write nau U are peying mi to right this abowt you. N-Joy!)

I want to be a judge someday.

I'm glad I went to a top law school, got good grades, was on law review, and worked at a good firm.

I'm glad the standard is "empathetic."

Don't be a douche. Politicians don't
"slam" each other. Pro wrestlers do.

Don't be a douche, Eliza. Politicians don't
"slam" each other. Pro wrestlers do.

Obama the best lawyer?

I dunno, has he ever really practiced law?

I mean has he ever argued in court, written and submitted a brief to either district, appellate, or other like court?

Has he ever negotiated a complicated merger, acquisition...contract?

Has he ever deposed a witness? Questioned a witness on the stand?

Practicing law wise, what really has Obama done?

I want to be a judge someday.

I'm glad I went to a top law school, got good grades, was on law review, and am an exemplary jurist.

I can't wait until the standard once again focuses on my ability to cater to Club for Growth, being subservient to corporate interests, and minimizing individual rights and freedoms.

Change it back to the Bush way! This idea that "Justice" has anything to do with protecting the rights of the governed makes me sick to my stomach!

10,

Since you are so thoroughly uninformed about the substance of President Obama's legal career and have so many questions about it, it is very responsible of you to abstain from expressing an opinion on it.

Dr. Spock would be an awesome judge. Speaking of which, did you see the new movie? It was good. You should see it.

13,

Very true! The new movie was really good. Do yourselves a favor and see it in IMAX.

Latham laid off first years. They did not however layoff the first year who failed the bar who was also a partner's son.

Tis a meritocracy at Latham & Watkins.

Nepotism makes me sick.

Dear 6

What you suggest is a breach of your fiduciary duty to the firm. But, it is correct in a sense. If you did such a thing you most certainly would be a solo practitioner by the end of the year.

The First Lady's Phallus is a better lawyer than Barry.

16,

The ethics rules of all jurisdictions allow (to various extents and in various ways) an attorney that does work for a client to have such discussions with those clients under certain circumstances.

That is why my post specifically states that anyone interested in doing so should check their ethical requirements to make sure they do so in a way that is in compliance.

I merely suggest that we should look into it and proceed accordingly when it is advantageous to our interests and is in full compliance with ethical standards.

After all, if law firm partners (like the partners at Thompson Hine) are unable to attract new clients and provide associates with work, don't associates have a responsibility to look out for their own success?

If associates proceed in compliance with the ethical rules, and the clients decide to change their representation, well that's just further evidence that these overpaid partners don't provide sufficient value for what they do.

The best way to provide good legal service to a client at a reasonable rate is by cutting out the firm overhead and bloated partners. We're the ones in the best position to do that.

Firms have no reason to cry because their clients choose someone better able to serve their interests at a more competitive price point.

15, you're saying Latham laid off everyone who failed the bar except for the bar failer who was also a partner's son?

20, yes, latham laid off everyone who failed the bar except for the partner's son who failed the bar

21, but i thought latham sold itself as a meritocracy where what you know, not who you know is what matters?

22, that's just latham's recruiting/pr bullshit

You mean to tell me that the overly educated, top 10% top 10 law school associates at Lantham that are supposed to be the "best and brightest" (whatever the hell that is suppose to mean)...failed the bar?

I thought being a top 10 grad meant that you passed the bar automatically? (and this is the cue for all the "shut up TTT" posts)

23, you would think with all the publicity surrounding the layoffs, latham would carry them out with some integrity.

The New York bar is a joke. I don't understand how anyone can fail it.

~ Laid-Off Latham Associate

The Bene Gesserit have more integrity in inflicting the gom jabbar on prospective Kwisatz Haderaches than Latham has with first year associates.

Sigh. Obama worked as a litigator for years for a somewhat small shop in Chicago while teaching & working in the state legislature.

Also. Judge Wood FTW!

25, remember, this is the same firm that hired like crazy through 2007 even though a recession was obviously looming. do you expect them to handle the firings any better than the hirings?

there are also rumors flying around the firm about associates who were sleeping with partners who also managed to survive the layoffs. i don't have the used condom or anything so i can't confirm, but it sounds suspicious.

Elie, you have a comments section full of leads here. Get yourself down to the lipstick building and do some investigating for heaven's sake.

bring a rat.

Elie has the chance to be the next deepthroat here and he's blowing it.

Hey Eliza, your writing is bad.

OH BURN I JUST SLAMMED YOU

SLAM SLAM SLAM SLAM SLAM

16 - I'm dense, please explain to me why an employee has a fiduciary duty to the firm? Partners surely do, but associates?

Rogue Associate, I like you more every day.

-- Not his/her mom/dad

First, Dr. Spock is not the same as Spock the character.

Second, Nixon was the best lawyer prior to being VPOTUS