June 2009

Facebook

Above the Law on Facebook

We’ve previously alluded to the great Facebook land grab, which took place this past weekend. Almost 6 million people signed up for personalized web addresses for their Facebook pages in the first 48 hours. Above the Law snagged one of our top choices in terms of a username. Check out our page, and become a […]

Email Scandals

Stepford Secretary Lawyers Up

We’ve been following the trials and tribulations of the former Bingham McCutchen “Stepford Secretary” who sent out a mission statement to the firm about CHARACTER. After the email, the secretary was fired by Bingham. Now, she’s lawyered-up. No complaint has been filed, but we understand that the secretary has hired an attorney and is considering […]

Sports

The Ballers at Venable

We’ve written before about a unique perk for the attorneys in Venable’s D.C. office. Like many firms, the office has a rooftop with amazing views of the nation’s capital. Unlike most firms, it also has a rooftop bocce court. The bocce balling and Venable’s representation of Michael Jackson led us to ask at the time […]

Bonuses

SCOTUS Clerkship Bonus Watch: Still at $250K?

The National Law Journal suggests that the down economy could be hitting the pockets of the Elect. Some firms are suggesting that the $250,000 bonus to hire a former Supreme Court clerk is just too expensive in today’s economy: At firms that have been shaken by the downturn, however, a $250,000 bonus will be hard […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket 06.15.09

* Like Drinker Biddle, Frost Brown Todd is instituting an apprenticeship program for its first year associates. They make less money and are billed out to clients at lower rates during their 1,000 hour apprenticeship. [Business Courier of Cincinnati] * Stereotypes and jury selection. [Baltimore Sun] * Jones Day’s Corinne Ball showed she’s the master […]

Law Shucks

This Week in Layoffs: 06.13.09

[Ed. note: Above the Law has teamed up with Law Shucks. Law Shucks has done excellent work translating all of the layoff news into user-friendly charts and graphs: the Layoff Tracker.] That’s it? We’re looking for that one perfect week of no layoffs and we lose it to a Tennessee firm and two UK firms? […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 06.12.09

* The Cravath deferrals could be exposing fundamental fissures in the Biglaw business model. So class of 2011, don’t think you’ve escaped. [Ideoblog] * Kash and I tweet about work. Luckily, there’s no rule governing ex parte communications between legal bloggers. Judges and lawyers on the other hand … [True/Slant] * Firm sponsored Law Clerks. […]

Law Firm of the Day: Bradley Arant Boult Cummings

Dear sirs. We are a legal blog based in the New York City. One of our Nigerian investors has mysteriously passed away and left us a lot of money. We are trying to increase the number of advertisers on our site, and have a unique proposal for you. We will send you the money and […]

New York Times

Legal Eagle Wedding Watch 6.7: Matched

Another week, another NYT Vows column comparing the bride to a giant coniferous tree (“The bride stood stately and erect, echoing the Redwoods that surrounded them . . . “). Seriously, could they maybe assign Vows once a month to a real writer, just to make it a little less chirpy and insipid? What about […]

Law School Deans

Will Robert Post Be the Next Yale Law Dean?

Harvard Law School just announced its new dean, Martha Minow. Minow replaces Elena Kagan, who left HLS to become Solicitor General. Meanwhile, HLS’s rival to the south, Yale Law School, has a vacant deanship of its own, also courtesy of the Obama Administration. After being nominated to serve as the Legal Adviser of the State […]

Biglaw

Chicago Is Hiring? Lawyers?

The National Law Journal reports that some firms are hiring lawyers — including associates — in Chicago. The ABA Journal summarizes the good news: Three law firms are moving into new offices in Chicago and seeking to fill the space with new lawyers. The firms getting new digs are Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; […]