August 2009
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Biglaw, Old People, Real Estate, Schiff Hardin
Nationwide Layoff Watch: Partners Emeriti at Schiff Hardin?
We’ve noticed in comment threads that many of you would like frequent commenter Partner Emeritus to retire. But he’s a persistent one. Perhaps frustrated readers should take a page from the book of Schiff Hardin. The 400-attorney firm found an interesting way to get rid of its partners emeriti in the firm’s Chicago office. It […] -
Craigslist
Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled law school graduates, yearning to... earn $27K? For half-lawyer, half-paralegal work?
A tipster drew our attention to this Craigslist ad in Chicago, observing: Check out the awful job being made available to new law grads in Chicago. Fifty percent lawyer work / fifty percent secretary work — for the amazing amazing salary of $27K a year. Plus you get to commit for a whole year! It’s […] - Sponsored
Law Firms Now Have A Choice In Their Document Comparison Software
Six months on since its launch, over 200 firms worldwide are now using Draftable Legal for accurate and reliable document comparison, including UK Top 50… -
Biglaw, Law Firm Names
When It Comes to Law Firm Names, Does Size Matter?
The Legal Intelligencer had a piece yesterday on the continuing debate over law firm names: to shorten or not to shorten? Gina Rubel says the debate has been raging for years, citing an article she wrote about it as early as 2003. She says most legal marketing experts agree that firms should keep their names […]
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket 08.06.09
* Former Louisiana Democratic Congressman (and HLS grad), William Jefferson, found guilty of bribery, racketeering, money laundering, and misuse of his freezer. [New York Times] * The Sotomayor scorecard: At least eight Republican senators plan to vote to confirm her Supreme Court nomination. [Washington Post] * We wrote yesterday about George Sodini, the LA Fitness […]
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Education / Schools, Harvard, Money
Can Harvard Turn Things Around?
Oh, how times have changed. Back in May 2008, Massachusetts was contemplating an excise tax on university endowments. This proposed tax law change would have imposed a 2.5% annual assessment on Massachusetts colleges with endowments over $1 billion. (Cough cough, Harvard.) Alas, Harvard doesn’t need any help from the government when it comes to dissipating […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 08.05.09
* Naked shorting: it sounds hot, but it might just get you into trouble with the SEC. [Dealbreaker] * So you worked for Bernie Madoff — or Marc Dreier, aka Mini-Madoff. Is it okay to lie on your résumé? [Let’s Talk Turkey] * Are Canadian law students and lawyers cuter than their American counterparts? Based […] -
Salary Cuts
Nationwide Salary Cut Watch: Perkins Coie Makes a Tiny Incision
Might this be the kindest cut of all? Perkins Coie just announced a salary cut for associates, but it’s rather small — and it was accompanied by good news. Today a firm-wide voice mail from managing partner Robert Giles went out, announcing the following: — an average 3.8 percent pay cut for Perkins Coie associates, […] -
Crime, Sex, Violence
Glue(d) Stick Victim Arrested
Remember the fellow we mentioned yesterday, whose wife (and her friends) gave him the reverse Bobbitt treatment, by gluing his penis to his stomach? Poor guy — things have gone from bad to worse for him. From the Madison Capital Times: The eastern Wisconsin man who was the victim in a bizarre plot to punish […] - Sponsored
Why Do AI And Legal Professionals Make The Perfect Partnership?
For many legal departments, generative AI is the technology they’ve been waiting for. -
Going Concern
Bad News for Lawyers....
And accountants, and investment bankers. Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) has introduced legislation that, if passed, would make it easier for investors to sue law firms, accountants and investment banks involved in perpetrating fraud. The law would effectively overrule Supreme Court precedent placing limits upon suits against parties with indirect involvement in fraud. Read more — […] -
Layoffs, Notes from the Breadline, Romance and Dating
Notes from the Breadline: Alone, Alone, Alone
Ed. note: Welcome to the latest installment of “Notes from the Breadline,” a column by a laid-off lawyer in New York. Prior columns are collected here. You can reach Roxana St. Thomas by email (at roxanastthomas@gmail.com), follow her on Twitter, or find her on Facebook. On a drizzly Thursday morning, my friend Giovanna calls to […] -
Advertising, This Is an Ad
Thanks to This Week's Advertisers
A quick word of thanks to this week’s advertisers on Above the Law: Stone & Magnanini (a job listing!!! see HERE) University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Isenberg School of Management (read about JD/MBA programs HERE) OCI Advantage The New York Times The Economist Kinney Recruiting Mestel Law.com If you’re interested in advertising on Above the Law […] -
Salary Cuts
Nationwide Salary Cut Watch: Mintz's Levy on Salaries
Two weeks ago, Mintz Levin laid off 15 associates. But apparently those cuts were not deep enough. Above the Law has been able to confirm that Mintz Levin has cut associate salaries. A tipster explains it this way: Salaries will be adjusted as follows (firm-wide, all departments) based on this 12-month period: * Hours greater […] -
Fabulosity, Lawyerly Lairs, Real Estate
Lawyerly Lairs: Latham Partner Gives His Wife a Fabulous Paris Pad for Her Birthday
Earlier this year, Latham & Watkins laid off some 400 employees (190 associates and 250 staff). This caused many to wonder about how tough times were getting at Latham. Well, don’t shed tears for LW partners just yet. From the New York Times: If a tourist passing along the Rue du Cloître Notre-Dame just looks […]
Sponsored
Generative AI In Legal Work — What’s Fact And What’s Fiction?
AI’s Impact On Law Firms Of Every Size
How Transactional Lawyers Can Better Serve (And Maintain) Their Clients
Sponsored
Why Do AI And Legal Professionals Make The Perfect Partnership?
Law Firms Now Have A Choice In Their Document Comparison Software
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Day Pitney, Summer Associates
Day Pitney's New Definition of Summer
You really have to take a step back and think about what summer associate programs used to be in order to appreciate what they are becoming. It is hard to imagine that a recruitment model that firms used for years is suddenly so “outmoded” that some firms are doing away with it entirely. Day Pitney […] -
Job Searches, Law Schools
Washington University (St. Louis) Law School Is Focused
The career services office at Washington University (St. Louis) Law School is earning its keep. The Dean, Kent D. Syverud, sent out a message to his students. The first point, predictably, was that his students are totally screwed: I write to address a foremost priority of this law school– your future legal careers and the […] -
Crime, Exercise, Guns / Firearms, Murder, Violence
LA Fitness Shooter Worked at K&L Gates(And discussed K&L layoffs in his diary.)
Last night, George Sodini, 48, walked into an LA Fitness Center near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and opened fire on those exercising inside. Early reports say he killed three women and injured up to 15, including his ex-girlfriend. He then turned the gun on himself. Sodini’s LinkedIn profile says he was a systems analyst at K&L Gates. […] -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket 08.05.09
* Last night, a gunman opened fire at a Pennsylvania gym, killing four. It appears he is an employee at K&L Gates. [CNN and LinkedIn] * Jack Borden is not the oldest lawyer, but the 101-year-old is the most outstanding. [Dallas Morning News] * Robert Luskin of Patton Boggs has to get Texas fraudster Allen […]
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Associate Advice, Biglaw, Texas
Lawyer With Stockholm Syndrome Has Advice for Associates
Well, at least one lawyer thinks he has this whole Biglaw thing figured out. And he’s happy to share his wisdom with new associates. Writing at the Texas Lawyer, Jason Braun has some harsh advice for young lawyers: When I became a lawyer, a partner gave me what I now realize was great advice: “Don’t […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 08.04.09
* What other minority groups have yet to be represented on the Supreme Court? Maybe it is time to give the first Americans a “first!” [U.S. News] * Summertime, and the livin’s easy. Sonia Sotomayor is keeping it cool since her confirmation hearings, and David Lat says that is totally normal. [Reliable Source] * I […] -
Crime, Lawsuit of the Day, Sex, Violence
Wife (With Friends) Glues Husband's Wang
This case is going to bring new meaning to the “Glue Stic” product. For a Wisconsin man, one evening started out like a happy dream. The AP reports: A married eastern Wisconsin man thought he was going to a motel for a little romance with one of his handful of lovers. She allegedly played along […]