January 2010
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Bad Ideas, Conferences / Symposia, Dubious Conferences, Feminism, Gender
Hey, Lady Lawyers: Have We Got a Conference for You....
Ed. note: Above the Law is a bit estrogen-deprived this week, with both Kash and Marin on vacation. So your above-signed writer, who is more in touch with his feminine side than Elie, was called up for duty. He apologizes for not being able to do justice to this subject. UPDATE (6 PM): The New […] -
Layoffs, Staff Layoffs
Nationwide Layoff Watch: Seyfarth Shaw Cuts 40 People
Apparently, cutting salaries, changing its compensation structure, and canceling its summer program just isn’t getting Seyfarth Shaw the kinds of cost savings it needs. So the firm has returned to the old fail-safe option: layoffs. Am Law Daily reports that the firm laid off approximately 20 attorneys and 20 staffers. The firm-wide email from Seyfarth […] - Sponsored
Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
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Akin Gump, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Disasters / Emergencies, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge, Hogan & Hartson, Sonnenschein, Venable
Update: More Law Firms Help Out Haiti
On Wednesday, we commended the firm of Paul Hastings for moving so quickly to support Haiti earthquake relief efforts. Since then, a number of other top law firms have pledged their support to this worthy cause. (Okay, Rush Limbaugh questions the worthiness of the cause. But we suspect that Limbaugh’s position — like that of […]
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Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 01.15.10
* First, Dominic Carter lost his job as political anchor for New York 1. Now, he’s been sentenced to one month in jail. The lesson: don’t beat your wife. [Daily News] * Gilbert Arenas, the Washington Wizards guard, has been charged with felony gun possession. [Washington Post] * In other basketball-related legal news, Shaquille O’Neal […]
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Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, Partner Issues, Partner Profits
Will Law Firm Profits Be Up in 2009? At Locke Lord, Yes
We have previously predicted that, when the American Lawyer releases its data on profits per partner in 2009, we’ll see some declines over 2008. Last year was not a pretty one for the profession (although most of you think this year will be better). But could our prediction be wrong? Is it possible that, owing […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 01.14.10
* Cleary U.K. associate goes ape$hit at a Freshfields event. Totally nutters. Lots of pointing. [Am Law Daily] * Apple — with a little help from Orrick — tells Valleywag that paying people to steal trade secrets is illegal. [Gizmodo] * … Which means Orrick, indirectly, wins Valleywag’s prize for confirming that Apple is indeed […] -
Associate Advice, pls hndle thx, Rudeness, Sexual Harassment
Pls Bring Back Marin Thx
Marin is away this week. She’s on vacation. But don’t worry, she reports that she’s having a miserable time. She wilts when people aren’t constantly asking her to fix their miserable lives. Without Marin, a confused law student turned to Slate’s Dear Prudence to help her out with some troubles. Apparently this law student spent […] -
Partner Issues, Partner Profits
Departing DLA Piper Partners: High Rates (Not Associate Compensation) Responsible for Client's Concerns
We’ve spent a lot of time discussing DLA Piper’s new compensation structure for its associates. I’ve assumed that DLA Piper’s changes have the support of DLA partners. I mean, we’ve received leaked memos from DLA partners defending the plan. But it’s wrong for me to think of partnerships as monolithic groups, especially at a firm […] - Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
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Biglaw, Boalt Hall, Pro Bono, Public Interest
Congratulations to the Newest Class of Skadden Fellows
In addition to being one of the world’s most successful law firms, Skadden is also a public-spirited one. The firm just donated $100,000 to Haiti relief efforts, for example. (More on that later.) In addition, the firm supports public interest work through the Skadden Fellowship Program: The Skadden Fellowship Foundation, described as “a legal Peace […] -
7th Circuit, Attorney Misconduct, Benchslaps, Legal Ethics, Richard Posner
A Benchslap for Kirkland & Ellis, from Judge Posner and the Seventh Circuit
Is the customer always right? In the legal profession, not necessarily. As a lawyer, sometimes your job is to talk some sense into your client — and to refuse to move forward if your client, ignoring your advice, orders you to prosecute frivolous (or borderline frivolous) litigation. Perhaps this lesson needs to be learned by […] -
Associate Salaries, Biglaw, Killing Lockstep, Money, Salary Cuts
Dickstein Shapiro: New Salary Structure Leaves A Lot of Questions
Add Dickstein Shapiro to the list of firms that have decided to do away with lockstep associate compensation. As of January 22, Dickstein will adopt a new merit-based compensation system. Like many firms that have abandoned lockstep, Dickstein will be using a three-tiered system, similar to Orrick’s compensation structure. Starting salary for new Dickstein associates […] -
Attorney Misconduct, Biglaw, Billable Hours, Litigators, Malpractice, Partner Issues, Susman Godfrey, Trials
Ex-Client Sues Debevoise & Plimpton for $55 Million
Is suing a former client for unpaid bills a wise idea? Maybe not. As John Marquess, president of Legal Cost Control, told the New York Law Journal, “If I were advising any law firm, I would tell them suing a client over fees is a no-win situation. It’s going to get you adverse publicity you […] -
Gay, Law Schools, Politics, Reader Polls
CPAC -- Too Liberal for Liberty Law School
When I think of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), I think of, well, conservatives. When I think of Liberty University, which claims Jerry Falwell Jr. as its chancellor, I think of conservatives. So when Liberty Law School sponsors a CPAC event, I don’t expect there to be major conflicts between the two organizations. And, […]
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
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Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
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Disasters / Emergencies, Immigration
U.S. Temporarily Halts Haitian Deportations
Yesterday the United States officially halted the deportation of Haitian illegal immigrants, on a temporary basis. The New York Times reports: Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Haitian deportations would be halted “for the time being,” without specifying a time period. Immigration officials said it was clear they could be putting Haitians’ safety at risk […] -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 01.14.10
* Taxing banks for fun and profit — remember McCulloch v. Maryland? Obama will propose a tax on big banks, to recoup taxpayer losses from the Wall Street bailout. [New York Times] * Josh Levin and Dahlia Lithwick discuss yesterday’s Supreme Court argument in the American Needle case, regarding the application of antitrust laws to […]
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Bankruptcy Judge to the Rescue of Poor Old Lady / Law School Grad
We’ve previously written about Denise Megan Bronsdon, who graduated from the (unaccredited) Southern New England School of Law and then failed the bar three times. Not surprisingly, she had some difficulty finding gainful employment. Then she wound up in bankruptcy. Bronsdon tried to get her $82,000 in student loans discharged in bankruptcy. A bankruptcy judge […] -
Gay Marriage, SCOTUS, Stephen Breyer, Supreme Court, Technology, Trials
Breaking: SCOTUS Rules Against Broadcast of the Proposition 8 Trial
Shortly before 5 p.m., the Supreme Court ruled against broadcast of the Proposition 8 trial, currently taking place in San Francisco. The Court split 5-4, with the majority setting forth its reasoning in a 17-page per curiam opinion. Justice Breyer dissented, joined by Justices Stevens, Ginsburg, and Sotomayor. You can read the per curiam opinion […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 01.13.10
* It’s a new year, time to get back to ogling Article III judges. [Underneath Their Robes] * The unwritten rules of law firm life. [Legal Blog Watch] * The IRS commissioner needs a good tax attorney. [Going Concern] * Referrals are all about trust. [Trusted Advisor] * U.K. law firms that are good for […] -
Disasters / Emergencies, Pro Bono, Public Interest
Paul Hastings Helps Out Haitians
Large law firms have a track record of stepping up to the plate and providing aid when major disasters strike. For example, back in spring 2008, several leading law firms made sizable donations to support China earthquake relief efforts. Last night, a major earthquake — the worst in the region in more than 200 years, […] -
Advertising, Ask the Experts, Associate Advice, Career Center, Job Searches, Shameless Plugs, This Is an Ad
Career Center: Ask the Experts
Welcome to the next article in our series of monthly Ask the Experts Career Development posts, brought to you by the ATL Career Center. Just a reminder that previous Career Development articles, as well as career coaching information, are available in the Resources section of the Career Center. This week, we spoke with Jordan […]