September 2009

Could the nomination of Judge Denny Chin (S.D.N.Y.) to the Second Circuit be derailed by his ruling in Chiscolm v. Bank of America? Click on the link below to read about this lawsuit filed by an irate customer (or purported customer) of the banking giant. Area Man Has One Month To Prove Why Bank Of […]

Who says the wheels of government turn slowly? Earlier this month, we reminded you that Justice Department Honors Program applications were almost due. Now, three short weeks later, candidates are hearing back about interviews. Sources report: “DOJ Honors interview notifications have gone out. I was fortunate enough to snare one in the Civil Division. You […]

This Sunday marks Michael Vick’s official return to the National Football League–an event that has been widely criticized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (“PETA”), as well as some sports writers and doggie bloggers. What those who criticize NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for reinstating Vick fail to understand, however, is that the NFL […]

* Paul G. Kirk is America’s interim, new filibuster busting Senator. [New York Times] * Apparently, Kirsten Dunst isn’t the most powerful witness. Why didn’t her lawyers just give her a script? [New York Post] * McKool Smith expands its New York office space. [Am Law Daily] * A New York lawyer received a glowing […]

In February of this year, Senator Jim Bunning predicted that Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg would be dead in nine months from pancreatic cancer. It was a horrible and tasteless prediction, for which Senator Bunning apologized. But might he be right? Here’s the latest news about Justice Ginsburg’s health. From the Associated Press: Supreme Court Justice […]

Here at Above the Law, we’ve reviewed a lot of employment discrimination complaints over the years. But this one is special. The firm (like it matters): Maron Marvel Bradley & Anderson. The plaintiff: Jennifer Braude. Why you care: Do I have your attention? Click after the jump for more details, plus Maron Marvel’s response.

* David Lat, Tony Mauro, and Matt Welch discuss how the new media covers the law. [Legal Blog Watch] * The 25 “most dangerous” colleges in America. Yes, of course Yale is on this list! [Tax Prof Blog] * Muammar Gaddafi has some thoughts on international law. [Miss Trials] * Ladies, “flaunting your curves” does […]

Dorsey & Whitney’s managing partner, Marianne D. Short, was making the rounds in the Minneapolis office yesterday, talking to associates there about the future of the firm. That future might be one without lockstep compensation. A source reports: [T]he firm [suggested] it was restructuring our compensation. They did not give us any specific details. But, […]

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) is fighting back thanks to Maryland’s “Linda Tripp Law.” For those of you that have been living under a rock, James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles posed as a pimp and prostitute to dupe ACORN employees. The two shot hidden camera footage that showed two (former) ACORN […]

We have done a lot of reporting on firms that have deferred their incoming class, and then extended the deferral period. At some firms, it has been an indefinite deferral extension. So give Arent Fox a little bit of credit. Instead of continuing to string the class of 2009 along, the firm has cried “no […]

If you’re looking for options beyond Biglaw, we’re here to help. We continue our series of open threads covering small law firms focused on different practice areas. To see the fields we’ve covered so far, click here and scroll down. We’ve received encouraging feedback from readers — and suggestions. Like this one: I really like […]

We received over 1300 responses to last week’s Career Center survey on how lawyers feel about their careers in light of the recession.  Despite economists’ encouraging words about the light at the end of the tunnel, respondents across the country remain deeply concerned for themselves and the legal industry as a whole.  Although the economy […]

Did you apply to DePaul College of Law? Ever? If you ever thought you wanted to attend DePaul — regardless of whether you decided to go somewhere else or are now a practicing attorney — the school has received your application! Yesterday, hundreds of former DePaul applicants, many of whom are now out of school, […]

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. One time, early in my stint in the breadline, I […]

* Judge Richard Posner of the Seventh Circuit has turned Keynesian. [New Republic via Blackbook Legal] * ‘Law & Order’ will tie ‘Gunsmoke’ this year for longest-running prime-time drama on television, but Dick Wolf is annoyed to have to move aside for Jay Leno. [Los Angeles Times] * What’s the point of law firm deferrals? […]

Last week, we gave you this photo of a bunch of legal types and asked you to submit possible captions: You did not disappoint. We have chosen our ten favorite captions. Check them out and vote for the best one, after the jump.

* Will the web make “brick and mortar” law schools irrelevant? [Law and More] * Can lawyers use Twitter for business development? Prove it. [Legal Blog Watch] * Australia is using Interpol tactics to screen hotel guests.I hope this comes to America so I will have an air tight excuse for never leaving NYC again. […]

Yesterday, we mentioned that attorneys in the great city of Pittsburgh are worried about being confused with corporate elites during the G-20 summit. I was skeptical whether the dress code advice given to K&L Gates attorneys would actually help people avoid the scorn of protesters. So we kicked the question to our friends at Fashionista. […]

Tuesday and Wednesday, offers went out to people who want to participate in Skadden’s summer program. We haven’t heard any solid numbers yet, but so far it appears that prospective summers are satisfied with the results. No news is good news regarding Skadden. In August, Skadden announced that it would be cutting its summer hiring […]

So, it’s possible that the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, has a low grade eating disorder. A New York Times expose chronicles the Mayor’s body image issues: As a billionaire in one of the dining capitals of the world, he can eat anything he wants. But he is obsessed with his weight — […]