December 2009

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.31.09

* Professor David Bernstein asks: Could a law school lose its ABA accreditation if its faculty members are insufficiently supportive of racial preferences diversity? [Volokh Conspiracy via Instapundit] * Professor Michael McCann asks: Was Coach Mike Leach wrongfully terminated by Texas Tech? [Sports Law Blog] * Justice Scalia has a bee in his bonnet (or […]

Contract Attorneys

Is Success as a Solo Practitioner a Pipe Dream?

We have linked in the past to Big Debt, Small Law. Like Third Tier Reality, which we linked to yesterday, Big Debt focuses on exposing what the writer sees as the fraud of American legal education and the legal profession more generally. The bloggers behind these and similar sites — deeply bitter and angry, but […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.31.09

* Robert Morgenthau, the 90-year-old legal legend, concludes 35 years of service as district attorney of Manhattan. [CNN] * A gestational mother is held to be the legal mother of twin girls, even though she contracted to carry them for her brother and his husband and is not genetically related to the twins. [New York […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.30.09

* Guru gets smacked down for filing a downward facing dog of a lawsuit. Potential defamation plaintiffs, take note. [Bad Lawyer] * We aren’t the only ones who make grammatical errors; even President Obama does. [Althouse] * Loyola 2L, 2.0? “Do not attend [law school] unless: (1) you get into a top 8 law school; […]

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Contests

ATL Lawyer of the Year: Nominations, Please

The year 2009 is almost over, but not just yet — which is a good thing. This means we still have time to solicit your nominations for Above the Law’s LAWYER OF THE YEAR. In 2008, you crowned then-President Elect Barack Obama your Lawyer of the Year. After being named ATL’s Lawyer of the Year, […]

Contests

ATL Contest: Holiday Card Coolness

Before Christmas, we highlighted one law firm holiday card that we particularly enjoyed (from Haynes and Boone). We also invited readers to email us with other holiday cards we might enjoy. We stated that, if we received sufficient submissions, we might even hold a contest. Lo and behold, we did receive enough entrants. So we […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 12.30.09

* Ninth Circuit to police: Don’t tase him, bros. [How Appealing (linkwrap)] * The AIG email trail could provide evidence for criminal and civil actions related to the company. [Washington Post] * The Christmas day bomber incident renews the debate over full-body scans and how to strike the proper balance between security and privacy. [New […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.29.09

* Indianapolis city councilman demands satisfaction from the Colts. Or, as the story is playing out in New York, J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets! [Indianapolis Star] * Fugitive taunts cops on Facebook. I like law, I like order, but I like “awesome” even more. [Gawker] * The Bristol Palin, Levi Johnston custody battle will be waged […]

Bonuses

Associate Bonus Watch: Kramer Levin

Last week, Kramer Levin announced its bonuses. The firm is paying bonuses on the Cravath scale, to associates “in good standing.” So it looks on the surface like a market match. But the memo contains the following language worth noting: As has been our practice, eligibility to receive the Year-End Bonus will be based on […]

Job Searches

Open Thread: Who is Hiring Laterals?

Every time a firm cuts pay or does something that associates perceive as crappy, people hop on Above the Law and claim that they will be leaving said firm at the earliest opportunity. Then other, meaner commenters hop on and say: “Leave? You can’t leave. Nobody is hiring. Mwahahahahahaha.” After reading those comments, presumably the […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket 12.29.09

* AIG’s general counsel cashes out. [Marketwatch] * Scathing report issued in the death of 37-year-old lawyer, Sergei L. Magnitsky, in a Moscow prison cell. [New York Times] * Judge Charles Bernstein wants to stay on the bench and is claiming that forced retirement is unconstitutional. [Daily Record and Baltimore Sun] * Job watch in […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 12.28.09

* Admit it, as soon as you heard about the thwarted Christmas Day terrorism you thought: “Christ, what stupid thing is TSA going to make me do next time?” I’m supposed to go to L.A. in ten days. I figure I’ll just show up at the airport naked carrying a vial of Propofol so that […]