Ed. note: Welcome to “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, follow her on Twitter, or find her on Facebook. You can also read more about her at www.notesfromthebreadline.net.
Dear Readers,
I hope this message finds you rested, relaxed, gainfully employed, or nursing your recession hangover with a fabulously expensive steak affixed to your forehead (or some combination thereof).
As you know, I have enjoyed your company here in the breadline for many (many) months. We have shared laughter, tears, the thrill of victory (assuming, arguendo, that ‘victory’ is defined as ‘avoiding non-flip-flop footwear’), and the agony of defeat, in its many and varied forms. Now, however, the time has come for an Interregnum from the Breadline. After today, Notes from the Breadline will be on hiatus, at least for a little while.
As a preliminary matter, I will address your (unposed) questions seriatim. No: I did not find a job. No: I did not get “laid off” from Above the Law. No: I am not taking a break so that “I can spend more time with my family” (or my cats), and no: there is no damning sex tape involving Partner Emeritus, Douche Patrol, Frat Stud, Fraternity Lothario, Glass Cock, Jack Bauer, Guest, or Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sometimes, dear readers, a hiatus is just a hiatus.
Continue reading “Notes from the Breadline: What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been”
A quick word of thanks to this week’s advertisers on Above the Law:
If you’re interested in advertising on Above the Law or any other site in the Breaking Media network, download our media kits, or email advertising@breakingmedia.com. Thanks!
You know how much we love rankings around these parts. But apparently there is a list of law firm rankings out there that actually matters. The National Law Journal reports:
An Association of Corporate Counsel law firm rating system unveiled last month has triggered a lot of interest from the association’s in-house lawyer members, who have submitted 1,500 firm reviews. Lawyers at firms are less enthused. …
Since the ACC initiated its “value index” last month, its members have shared their opinions about the performances of 500 law firms. The ACC has used the mainly anonymous input to rank firms on a five-point scale.
Unfortunately, there is one humongous catch:
The evaluations and ratings are viewable only by ACC members.
Why, Association of Corporate Counsel? Why? Why produce a juicy new list of clients actually rating the quality of legal services they receive, and then keep it private? We all want to know what you think.
Sorry. “All” is probably a little bit strong. Law firm managers don’t seem to like this list very much.
Continue reading “Law Firm Rankings By Clients, But We Can’t See Them”
* Judge Diane Cannon — no relation to actress Dyan Cannon (who played a judge on Ally McBeal) — benchslaps Sidley Austin for its brief in the high-profile case involving Northwestern University journalism students fighting a subpoena for their records and grades. [National Law Journal]
* Speaking of journalistic freedom, was prior restraint applied to a high school newspaper — by Justice Kennedy? [New York Times]
* Meet John Galligan, the lawyer who will be representing the accused Fort Hood shooter. [WSJ Law Blog]
* Another prominent notorious gunman — John Allen Muhammad, aka the “DC sniper” — has been executed. [Washington Post]
* Professor John Yoo appeals a ruling allowing a suit against him to proceed to the Ninth Circuit (which might not be the friendliest court for Yoo, but we’ll see). [How Appealing]
* “L is for Lawyers… And That’s Good Enough for Them”: Zach Lowe interviews two of the lawyers behind the success of Sesame Street. [Am Law Daily]
* Judge Charles Sifton (E.D.N.Y.), RIP. [New York Times]
I have criticized U.S. News for caring about the number of books available in a law school library. I’ve criticized the Thomas Cooley law school rankings for caring about the size of a law school library.
Clearly, I don’t know what a law school library should be used for. But students at UC Davis do.
Continue reading “UC Davis Law Students Need to Get a Room”
* Looking for Christmas gift items already? How about Supreme Court justice baseball cards? [National Law Journal]
* Or hedge-fund billionaire playing cards? [Dealbreaker]
* Professor Michael Risch on yesterday’s Bilski argument in the Supreme Court. [PrawfsBlawg]
* Professor Ann Althouse on L’Affaire Prejean. [Althouse]
* Deloitte helps keep lawyers in business. [Going Concern]
Congratulations to Williams & Connolly and Hughes Hubbard & Reed, the firms that represented Ralph Cioffi, and Brune & Richard, the litigation boutique that represented Matthew Tannin.
Ed. note: This post has been corrected; an earlier version switched the defendants around. Thanks for pointing out the mistake, commenters.
Not Guilty! [Dealbreaker]
Breaking News: Bear Defendants Found Not Guilty on All Charges [WSJ Law Blog]
BREAKING: Bear Stearns Hedge Fund Managers Not Guilty [Am Law Daily]
Bear Stearns Hedge Fund Managers NOT Guilty On All Counts [Business Insider]
With most associates just trying to avoid joining the growing ranks of unemployed attorneys, partnership prospects might seem like part of a distant and unfathomable future. But in what might be a surprise to associates who have been laid off or suffered salary cuts, many law firms are making a healthy number of new partners. The National Law Journal reports that the overall number of partners nationwide in 2009 is actually higher than in 2008.
Visit the Career Center, powered by Lateral Link, for more on which firm has a five-year non-equity partner track, which firm does not require capital contributions from new partners, and which firm went from promoting 34 attorneys to partner in 2008 to promoting 0 in 2009.
If you are a mid-level associate in Los Angeles and you really want the inside scoop on how to grab that brass ring, come to the Career Center Professional Development panel on November 17, hosted by Lateral Link and Proskauer Rose, for a discussion on long-term career planning, partnership prospects and in-house careers. Panelists include Morgan Chu of Irell & Manella, Mike Woronoff of Proskauer, and Vivian Yang, GC at Citysearch. Attendees will receive 1.25 CLE credit hours. Click here to learn more or to register.
Oh no. Is it really time to crank up the salary freeze watch again? I thought that the big question this winter would be whether firms that froze salaries last year would be unfreezing pay for 2010. And whether or not the raises were a “true up” raise that put people up to where they would have been absent last year’s freeze.
Instead, could we be looking at a winter where firms that did not freeze last year decide to freeze this year? A tipster reports on some disturbing news coming out of Covington & Burling:
Covington just announced salary freeze for all offices but NY; NY TBD. All-associates meeting.
Above the Law reached out to spokespeople at Covington. Read the firm’s statement after the jump.
Continue reading “Nationwide Salary Freeze Watch: Covington & Burling”
We have another episode in the saga of Deidre Dare, one of our favorite laid-off lawyers. She was an attorney in Allen & Overy’s Russia office until she penned typed a salacious online novel about her expat adventures, which featured lots of drinking, sex, drugs, donkeys, and dwarves. After the firm let her go, she sued.
Dare’s still in Moscow, where she writes an often controversial column for the Moscow News called sExpat. The latest reveals that Deidre likes it rough:
Anyone who has spent even five minutes in bed with me knows that I have a strong proclivity for S&M. My experience in the area ranges from the mild (spanking) to the extreme (ball gags, golden showers and the like), according to how much experience my partner has and what he or she likes.
The column goes on to praise Russia’s abusive men. Dare writes: “If you’re hanging out with real men and you’re a little slutty, you’re going to get hit. Period.” Roll On Friday photoshops A&O’s chairman into being a “real man” here.
Ed. note: We at Above The Law do not condone physical violence against women. We do, however, condone violence against the commenter ShaFeef.
In a previous column, Dare said money was tight and suggested that prostitution might be a way out of her money woes. That might have led to more hitting than even Deidre likes. Luckily, she’s come up with a different way to make money. She’s written another book. Its title, fittingly, is SLUT.
Continue reading “Deidre Dare Likes Abusive Men and Getting Paid For Her Writing”
Katten Muchin is using every tool in the box when it comes to figuring out what to do with its incoming associates. If there is a plan for dealing with soon-to-be first years that has been discussed on Above the Law, Katten is using it.
A tipster reports that Katten has broken up its first year class into three groups:
Katten Muchin Rosenman rescinded several offers to 2008 summer associates today. From what I’ve heard about 1/3 were rescinded, 1/3 were re-deferred to October, and 1/3 will start in February as scheduled.
Essentially, Katten just turned itself into Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross: “As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize? Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired.”
Let’s talk some more about the third prize after the jump.
Continue reading “Katten Revokes Some, Defers Others, and Allows Few To Start On Time”
Baker Botts will be throwing itself into the killing lockstep camp sometime in 2010. A tipster reports:
So, Baker Botts – Houston (should be firmwide, though I don’t have have all the details) is adopting a form of the Reed Smith pay structure. …
My understanding may be imperfect, but the notion is that it’s something like a three part system of junior associates, mid level associates, and senior associates, with pay discrepancies laid out among the three. No more lockstep. Unclear what the bonus structure is beyond the nebulous “merit” nonsense.
The Reed Smith structure has received a lot of attention. Last month, we mentioned that Reed Smith will categorize associates as junior, mid-level, or senior associates. But those classifications won’t necessarily be tied to how long an associate has been out of law school. So you could see a fourth-year classified as a senior associate making significantly more than a sixth-year classified as a midlevel associate.
Today, the Legal Intelligencer reports that the Reed Smith plan will also include a cut in associate salaries and billing rates:
Reed Smith has cut starting salaries by about 20 percent for the 51 first-year associates set to start in January and, in turn, is cutting their billing rates by the same margin.
You can read the full Reed Smith memo about its salary and billing rate reductions after the jump.
Will the Reed Smith system become the template for associate compensation at other firms? Let’s take a look at what Baker Botts is planning.
Continue reading “Baker Botts to ‘Hybrid-Lockstep’ in 2010
(Plus more news from Reed Smith.)“
Poor Carl Levine. His wife has allegedly been having an affair with her psychiatrist since about 2000. And the psychiatrist allegedly had herpes. And allegedly gave Levine’s wife herpes. And now Levine has herpes.
We’ve heard of some off-the-wall psychiatric treatments but this one sounds quite unhealthy.
Now Levine is suing Dr. Robert Werboff for hiding his disease, for knowingly infecting Levine’s wife, for thus knowingly exposing Levine to herpes, and for just being a really bad doctor. According to Levine’s complaint [PDF], he has suffered “severe and permanent physical, emotional and mental distress” and “anguish, humiliation, embarrassment, fright, shock, pain, discomfort, and anxiety and has suffered permanent injuries and damages.”
We’re suffering similar emotions after having done a Google image search for “herpes.” Ick….
Continue reading “Lawsuit of the Day: Another Cuckold With Herpes”
Back in September, we mentioned that interviewees for the DOJ Honors Program were learning of their good fortune. Now the process has proceeded one step further — for some lucky individuals, to completion.
We heard from one offer recipient from the Civil Division, but we suspect this person is not alone. According to the Key Dates section of the Honors Program website, job offers are being extended from November 6 through mid-December 2009. In mid-December, candidates not selected as finalists will be notified.
More info about the process, plus the chance to comment, after the jump.
Continue reading “DOJ Honors Program Offers Are Coming Out: Open Thread”
Ed. note: Have a question for next week? Send it in to advice@abovethelaw.com.
ATL -
Cravath Class of 2008 here. Just got my cool $7,500. What should I do with it? WOOT.
Daddy Warbucks
Dear Daddy Warbucks,
First off, congratulations on your $7,500* bonus. A bonus, however insultingly small, is still a bonus. You will be tempted to blow your megamillions on something frivolous like December rent or student loan payments; resist this urge. Do what I do with my monthly ATL paycheck: invest the principal and live off the interest. It’s the secret to a models and bottles lifestyle.
If you want to pamper yourself, get veneers on three teeth of your choosing or upgrade wives. If you’re feeling altruistic, throw some cheese at Art Cutillo because he’s probably not getting a bonus this year, or contribute to the World Wildlife Federation so the ice caps can stop melting and they can stop playing that commercial with the polar bears swimming to Sarah McLachlan music that make everyone very upset for the rest of the day. Or you can be prudent: save half and pay yourself a bonus next year just in case there is none.
Your friend,
Marin
*$3,850 after taxes
Continue reading “Pls Hndle Thx: All About the Benjamins”
* SCOTUS will decide whether juveniles can get life sentences for non-homicide crimes. [New York Times]
* Another law professor is heading to court. Columbia’s Philip Bobbitt sued the law firm formerly known as Milberg Weiss this week for allegedly messing up a class action suit. [WSJ Law Blog]
* Blind gamer sues Sony because its video games discriminate against the visually impaired. Perhaps just stick to Rock Band? [True/Slant]
* Ex-SEC lawyer pleads guilty to helping Marc Dreier scam hedge funds. [Bloomberg]
* Kamee B. Verdrager is taking her wrongful termination suit against Mintz Levin to Suffolk County Court. Verdrager alleges she was fired for becoming preggers. Longtime readers may remember this as the “I suppose we have your honeymoon to blame for this” case. [Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly (subscription)]
* J-Lo would like to keep her sex tape on the downlow. [True/Slant]
* Scott Rothstein’s assets seized. If you know a lawyer who has eight houses worth $18 million, several luxury cars, a yacht, and two other boats, you might know a lawyer running a Ponzi scheme. [Associated Press]
Last year, moving away from letter grades was all the rage. Harvard Law School and Stanford Law School both dumped letter grading.
But now grade reform has spread to schools that are tinkering with their curves. USC Law decided to give students an extra .1 — you know, ’cause it looks better. NYU Law also made things a little easier for their students, academic rigor be damned.
Last week, we received word that Loyola – Los Angeles is also contemplating changing its curve to make things a little easier for students trying to get jobs. A Loyola tipster reports:
LLS is trying to push a grade change referendum to change the median grade from a 2.7 (B-) to a 3.3 (B+). … [P]erhaps if you post something, … [it will result] in a lively discussion on the issue, and our school will see how it’s such a bad idea to do this since it punishes the small number of us that actually did well at this mediocre school by making grades meaningless and giving distinction to those who don’t deserve it.
Loyola Law Dean Victor Gold told Above that Law that any change in the curve is at the preliminary stage:
Our students have asked for changes to the median grade because other local schools have already increased their medians. Some students have suggested a change as great as moving from B- to B+. I have asked the faculty grading committee to look at the issue, but it has not yet made any proposal. If the committee makes a proposal, it will come to the entire faculty for a vote. Any change will have to carefully balance several factors. We want to give our students the strongest possible position in a difficult job market while at the same time maintaining a grading system that is both fair and honest.
Do better grades lead to better jobs, even if those grades are inflated? Perhaps. But students at Florida International University College of Law hope that is not the case.
Details and a reader poll after the jump.
Continue reading “Harsh Curve: Competing Thoughts From Florida International and Loyola – Los Angeles”
* Wait, so bounty hunters can use bear mace? (No, not really — but Cartman can “do what he wants.”) [Legal Lad]
* Can lawyers change the legal ethics rules so they can make Goldman-style money? [Ideoblog]
* Carrie Prejean’s mom was in the room with Carrie when Miss California lawyers showed the tape of Carrie rubbing one out. [TMZ]
* Time served for Girls Gone Wild Founder. [Tax Prof Blog]
* You should probably buy these books. [Courtoons]
* Blawg Review is all about freedom. [The Property Law Blog via Blawg Review]
We are not fans of Crocs here at Above the Law. We stand by this position, even though First Lady Michelle Obama — aka She Who Can Do No Wrong — has been spotted in them.
Apparently we are not alone in our opposition to Crocs. It seems that the people at Porsche — yes, the luxury sports car maker — have sued the footwear folks. In Germany.
Seriously? Yup. The lawsuit was mentioned in the Crocs (CROX) third quarter 10-Q, which is how it came to the attention of our sister site, Going Concern (via Footnoted).
So what is Porsche suing Crocs over? Find out at the links below.
Deadline Watch: Porsche Suing Crocs For ‘Cayman’ Use [Going Concern]
Porsche vs. Crocs… [Footnoted.org]
Earlier: Crocs: Ugly and Dangerous
We have done a number of open threads on the bar exam as results in various states have been released. Congratulations to all those who passed.
But what about the few, the unhappy few, who did not pass? We know that the pressure was greater than ever this year to pass the bar on the first try. The fear is that people who did not pass the July bar would be summarily shown the door by their law firms. That fear only increases for incoming first-year associates who have been deferred until January and haven’t actually started working yet.
Has the worst-case scenario happened? So far, we have not heard of a firm that decided to fire everybody who didn’t pass the July bar. Do people who failed the bar expect to get one more chance in February? Have the firms communicated at all with those that failed this past bar exam?
It was hard enough for incoming associates to get a job in the first place. Hopefully nobody ruined their employment chances by not passing the bar on their first attempt.
Earlier: Prior ATL coverage of state bar exams
Ed. note: Welcome to “Notes from the Breadline,” a column by a laid-off lawyer in New York. Prior columns are collected here.
