January 2010
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket 01.25.10
* President Obama is just like us. He skips out on jury duty… [Associated Press] * … and he Googles. [Washington Post] * Manhattan has become the unofficial capital of Joe-to-Jane legal proceedings, thanks in part to Biglaw pro bono lawyers. [New York Times] * The Sundance movie no lawyer should see. [Reuters] * Governor […]
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Career Alternatives, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Weirdness
Who says government jobs are impossible to get?
We’re doing a little catch-up blogging this weekend, covering some stories we meant to cover during the week but didn’t get around to hitting. E.g., the update on Loren Friedman, a former Lawyer of the Day who doctored his law school transcript. This post is a happier one. It’s about a lawyer at a big […] - Sponsored
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Law Shucks, Layoffs
This Week in Layoffs: 01.23.10
Ed. note: Above the Law has teamed up with Law Shucks, which has done excellent work translating all of the layoff news into user-friendly charts and graphs: the Layoff Tracker. Unemployment rose again last month, climbing higher in 43 states, which is particularly surprising when compared to the 36 states that reported improved numbers in […]
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Attorney Misconduct, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle, Legal Ethics
An Update on Loren Friedman, the U. Chicago Transcript Tinkerer
Loren Friedman earned Lawyer of the Day honors here back in 2008, when the then-Curtis Mallet associate was busted for doctoring his law school grades from the University of Chicago, by changing Cs into Bs and As. Almost two years after the ethics complaint against Friedman was filed, the Illinois Review Board has rendered its […] -
Asians, Crime, Guns / Firearms, Law Schools, Reader Polls, Violence
The Temple Law Student Shooter: Questions AboundWas it self-defense? Was the victim a 'hero'?
On Monday, we wrote about a shooting in Philadelphia involving a law student, as the accused shooter, and the son of a law firm partner, as the apparent victim. We now have some updates on the situation. Alas, we still have more questions than answers. Gerald Ung (pictured), 28, is in his final year at […] -
Kiwi Camara, Non-Sequiturs, Sonnenschein
Non-Sequiturs 01.22.10
* “I think the record should reflect that the witness is vomiting.” [Young Lawyers Blog] * Morbid adventures in lawyer advertising. [New York Personal Injury Law Blog] * PPP numbers from 2009 are not sunny at Sonnenschein. [AmLaw Daily] * A scorned mistress wreaked revenge on her married ex-lover, putting ads up on billboards in […] -
Associate Bonus Watch 2009
Associate Bonus Watch: Latham & Watkins(Great bonuses -- as long as you hit your hours.)
As we’ve discussed before, Latham & Watkins can be a bit bipolar. Sometimes the firm is in manic mode, expanding and hiring and paying very generous bonuses. Then it sinks into depression, replete with freezing salaries and large-scale layoffs. Right now L&W seems to be in happy mode. In recent weeks, it has announced true-up […] -
Deaths, Suicide
Baker & Hostetler Partner Commits Suicide
John Mason Mings, an IP partner in the Houston office of Baker & Hostetler, committed suicide on Monday. AmLaw Daily reports on the 45-year-old lawyer’s death: Witnesses observed Mings sitting by himself on the waters edge early Monday afternoon. Police called to the scene found Mings laying partially in the water, dead from a single […] - Sponsored
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Denny Chin, New York Times, Weddings, Williams & Connolly
Legal Eagle Wedding Watch 1.10: Headbangers
At the end of a wild week that included Blue Monday, terrible (or terrific) Tuesday, and corporate-overlord Thursday (sponsored by Justice Anthony Kennedy), we bring you an unusually strong January edition of LEWW. It features six lawyers in a wide range of practices: public sector, teaching, Biglaw, nonprofit — even personal injury (or “accident law,” […] -
In-House Counsel, Musical Chairs, Tobacco / Smoking
Musical Chairs: Kirkland Litigation Partner David Bernick to Philip Morris
Kirkland & Ellis is known for its powerful litigators and leading litigation department. Though Gibson Dunn was happy to knock Kirkland from its Amlaw “Litigation Department of the Year” throne this year. Kirkland is suffering another big knock this week. Litigation co-chair David Bernick has developed a tobacco addiction. Here’s a quote from Bernick included […] -
Contests, Fantasy SCOTUS, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
FantasySCOTUS Predictions of the 10th Justice: Grading the Predictions for Citizens United (Hillary Movie Case)
Ed. note: ATL has teamed up with the 10th Justice to predict how the Supreme Court may decide upcoming cases. CNN has called FantasySCOTUS the “hottest new fantasy-league game.” Yesterday the Supreme Court handed down Citizens United v. FEC, one of the most anticipated cases of the year. The Hillary Movie case was a showdown […] -
Crime, Lawyer of the Day, Tax Law, White-Collar Crime
Lawyers of the Week: A Trio of Tax Suspects
‘Tis the season for… W-2s. When you get that handy-dandy form from your employer, we suggest that you file it with your federal income tax return — in timely fashion. [FN1] And don’t forget to file any applicable state and local tax returns, too. Otherwise you could find yourself in deep doo-doo. From the Long […] -
Biglaw, Ridiculousness, Television
Nationwide Dissolution Watch: The Deep End
Last night, Marin liveblogged ABC’s new legal series, The Deep End. Over 2,000 ATL readers joined her for the series premiere. From the sound of it, doing doc review would have been a more enjoyable way to spend a Thursday evening. Marin declared: this is why I only watch reality tv…. too painful to see […]
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket 01.22.10
* Justice John Paul Stevens read an impassioned dissent on Citizens United. But was it a last hurrah for the 89-year-old justice? [USA Today] * John Michael Farren, the former Bush lawyer charged with the attempted murder of his Skadden counsel wife, pleads not guilty. [Washington Post] * Mike Leach’s lawsuit against Texas Tech is […]
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Biglaw, Ridiculousness, Television
Liveblogging ABC's The Deep End
UPDATE: Marin’s liveblog of The Deep End has concluded. But if you’d like to see what she (and assorted ATL readers) thought of the show, click on the box below. -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs 01.21.10
Editor’s note: Go off the Deep End with Marin tonight at 7:30 p.m. EST. * Freedom of the press or sexual assault? An Italian journalist plays ball with David Beckham. [TMZ] * Today marks the first appearance of the word “blog” in a SCOTUS opinion. [Volokh Conspiracy] * The Declaration of Independents. [Instapundit] * Lawrence […] -
Associate Salaries, Salary Cuts, Salary Freeze
Cooley Godward Unfreezes(But New Salaries Are Still Chilly)
There’s good news at Cooley Godward Kronish. The firm was among the many that froze salaries last year. This month, Cooley announced it’s more of a hottie. The good news is that the firm is taking salaries out of the freezer. The bad news is that the salaries have suffered some freezer burn. The firm’s […] -
Rankings
Fortune Recognizes Six Firms as Least Worst Best Companies to Work For
Once again, Fortune magazine is out with its annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. And once again, a number of law firms have made the cut. (We’ve covered which law firms made the Fortune list in prior years: 2009, 2008, and 2007.) This year the list has six big law firms, […] -
Biglaw, Job Searches, Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day
What do you say to a recent law-school graduate? “A skinny double-shot latte to go, please.” — The Economist -
Federal Government, Screw-Ups
F.B.I. Lawyer FAIL
Last year, government lawyers were crucified for their prosecution of former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. The DOJ prosecutors’ questionable handling of the case led to its dismissal and some problems for the DOJ’s public integrity unit. This week marks another big f***-up by government lawyers. But in a different building. The Washington Post reports that […]