October 2009

Career Alternatives

Another Law Student in Playboy’s Pages

Last year, discussing the surprising success of clothing consultants in the recession, we wrote: “When the going gets tough, the tough get new wardrobes.” Maybe we should amend that statement: “When the going gets tough, the tough ditch their wardrobes.” Faced with the dismal legal job market, yet another law student has decided to earn […]

Layoffs

Nationwide Layoff Watch: Foley & Lardner Lays Off 39

We’re getting multiple reports that Foley & Lardner is laying off 39 people today. Our sources report that associates are being told right now. If you work at Foley, I hope your phone is not ringing. One tipster tells us that the IP group could be the hardest hit: Foley announced associate/senior counsel/etc. layoffs today. […]

Mystery Meeting at Winston & Strawn

On Monday there will be an “all associates” meeting at Winston & Strawn. Any guesses as to what it might be about? Bonuses for this year? A move away from lockstep? Candid acknowledgement of recent stealth layoffs? Feel free to offer us your guesses, by email or in the comments. UPDATE (10/12/09): We are gathering […]

Biglaw

Lawyer = 18th ‘Best Job in America’

According to CNN Money, being a lawyer is one of the Best Jobs in America. Attorneys rank eighteenth on CNN’s list, just behind IT business analysts, and just ahead of doctors. Congratulations? If you look at the list, you can make a very cogent argument that lawyers should have ranked much higher. Some of the […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 10.09.09

* President Barack Obama has won the Nobel Peace Prize. I think anything that associates America with “peace” has to be a good thing. [Associated Press] * The Astor trial highlights elder abuse in our society. [ABC] * It turns out that Kwame Kilpatrick was outed by a plaintiff’s lawyer. [ABA Journal] * The allegations […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 10.08.09

* The Astor trial is over. Anthony Marshall has been convicted of theft. [WSJ Law Blog] * “Nancy Grace is bad for America,” says Blackbook Legal. Perhaps, but she was great for Amy Poehler. [Blackbook Legal] * So you are being questioned by a terrible interviewer. Now what? [Let’s Talk Turkey] * Reality television can […]

Divorce Train Wrecks

Coming to the Defense of Judge Kevin P. Moriarty

Last month, we linked to a story in Courthouse News Service about Kansas Judge Kevin Moriarty. Kansas attorney Kimberly Ireland filed a lawsuit against Judge Moriarty, alleging that he had used inappropriate language and masturbated during her divorce mediation. In her suit, she said that her ex-husband supported her and had testified about the judge’s […]

Bar Exams

Bar Results Available Early in Pennsylvania

It’s a big day for bar results. We have reports that results are out in Colorado and Minnesota. In the Keystone State, results are out a whole day early. Maybe by fooling people about when the results are posted, PA can avoid the same technical difficulties that plague Illinois. As we noted before, first-time test […]

Biglaw

Pls Hndle Thx: I Can’t Quit You

Ed. note: Have a question for next week? Send it in to [email protected]. ATL – I was wondering if you could do a post on (legal) coping mechanisms for surviving in BigLaw, besides the usual smoking, drinking, and sleeping with married partners. BigLaw vs. Corporate America — what makes it so much worse? Is every […]