Conferences / Symposia, Media and Journalism, NALP, National Association for Law Placement (NALP)

NALP 2010: Dealing with Above the Law Online Media

By Elie Mystal

We’re on to day 3 of the NALP conference. With all the racial tensions going on back home, day 3 has been a pleasant reminder that once properly tanned, everybody basically looks the same. Of course, there is a downside: I can no longer figure out which panelists may be genetically predisposed to say something […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 04.30.10

By David Lat

* Did the Sarah Palin email hacker get convicted? You betcha! [Gawker] * Solicitor General Elena Kagan spills the beans about Justice Kennedy — her future colleague? — and his “bad habit.” [The BLT: Blog of the Legal Times] * Professor Gaia Bernstein wonders: How useful is Facebook users’ information? [Concurring Opinions] * The iPhone […]

Email Scandals, Harvard Law Review, Minority Issues, Racism, Reader Polls, Richard Posner

Was the Harvard Email Racist? Was it Offensive?
Take Our Reader Polls

By David Lat

If you’re tired of reading about the Harvard Law School email controversy — judging from our traffic and comment levels, most of you aren’t, but maybe some of you are — we have some good news. Our coverage is winding down. (We do have a few loose ends to tie up, though, which may take […]

Contests, Law Revue, Law Revue Video Contest, Law Schools, Videos

Congratulations to Our 2010 Law Revue Video Contest Winner: Northwestern!

By Above the Law

Over 16,000 votes were cast in our second annual Law Revue video contest. We now bestow the 2010 Law Revue Video Contest crown upon…. Wait, hold on a sec. Unfortunately, there were allegations of voting irregularities. And according to our friends at Vizu, which hosted our poll, it appears that the allegations may have merit….

Fashion, Fashion Is Fun, SCOTUS, Shopping, Supreme Court

A SCOTUS Joke from The Gap?

By David Lat

Is the clothing mega-retailer following the Supreme Court nomination process? Check out this photo of a store window here in New York….

Email Scandals, Minority Issues, Racism

Harvard BLSA Responds to Email Controversy
Plus a statement from the HLS dean of students.

By Elie Mystal

Yesterday, I asked why the Harvard Black Law Students Association had been silent on the controversial email from a third-year Harvard Law School student raising the “possibility that African Americans are, on average, genetically predisposed to be less intelligent.” Today, the organization released a statement on its website: Harvard BLSA denounces racially inflammatory language – […]

Gender, Partner Issues, Partner Profits

A Grim Report From Female Lawyers, Including De-Equitized Partners

By Kashmir Hill

The American Bar Association is currently holding its Women in Law Leadership Academy in Philadelphia; prior to the conference, they surveyed female partners in regional and international firms. Harder for women than figuring out what they’re allowed to wear is becoming a partner. (Though there are signs that’s changing.) Apparently, female lawyers must go elsewhere […]

Diane Wood, Elena Kagan, Fantasy SCOTUS, Merrick Garland, SCOTUS, Supreme Court

FantasySCOTUS Predictions of the Next Justice: Team Kagan v. Team Wood v. Team Garland

By The 10th Justice

Who will replace Justice John Paul Stevens? While pundits, savants, and oracles across the SCOTUSphere pontificate and read Article III tea leaves, FantasySCOTUS.net conducted extensive and detailed polling to predict the next Justice. We have invited our nearly 5,000 members – who represent some of the closest and most ardent Court watchers – to weigh […]

Schiff Hardin, Small Law Firms, Solo Practitioners

The Solo Practitioner Strikes Back

By Kashmir Hill

Richard Zachary is a solo practitioner in Chicago who has mixed it up with Biglaw many times in his career… and has come away unimpressed. In a recent filing in Cook County Court, he vented about the shortcomings of the big firm lawyers he’s come up against. He’s currently representing an individual suing a corporation […]

Job Searches, NALP, National Association for Law Placement (NALP)

NALP 2010: Résumé Advice = Mind the Gaps

By Elie Mystal

Day 2 of the 2010 NALP Annual Education Conference had a remarkably different feel from day 1. Apparently, it took everybody a day to realize that they were in Puerto freaking Rico. After really sticking to business casual on the first day, day 2 saw the introduction of something I’d call “business beachware.” Men were […]

Law Professors

Quote of the Day: To err is human…

By Kashmir Hill

[We] had a heart to heart and she profusely apologized. – Harvard Law professor Charles Ogletree, a BLSA adviser and director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, after asking CRIMSON DNA to come to his office.

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.30.10

By David Lat

* The feds — this time federal prosecutors, on the criminal side, not just the SEC — might be going after Goldman. [New York Times] * A lot of talking heads like the idea of a SCOTUS nominee who’s not already a judge — but among the general public, judicial experience reigns supreme. [Washington Post] […]

Email Scandals, Harvard, Racism, Rank Stupidity

Harvard Law School BLSA and the Banality of Evil

By Elie Mystal

Elie here: just wanted to make sure you all know what’s coming. Few things embarrass me like the Harvard Black Law Students Association. It could be the most credible foil to systemic racism against black law students. It has instead become a convenient tool to be used by those who wish to ignore the racial […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs 04.29.10
Including an explanation of the RSS feed change.

By Kashmir Hill

* As many of you have noticed, our RSS feed no longer gives you all the good stuff. It’s a 30-day experiment. Our CEO explains why we are trying it out. It’s not just about traffic-whoring. [Breaking Media] * John Roberts, eat your heart out. [ABA Journal; Time] * Judges, get ready for your close-ups. […]

Fabulosity, Lawyerly Lairs, Real Estate

Lawyerly Lairs: Orrick’s New Digs in New York

By David Lat

Last summer, we reported that Orrick would be moving into fancy new offices in New York. Earlier this week, the office move took place. From the firm’s press release: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has moved its New York office to 51 West 52nd Street, the same building that houses CBS headquarters and which is […]

Media and Journalism, Racism, Uncategorized

CRIMSON DNA Apologizes, But Gawker Outs Her

By Kashmir Hill

I got an email this afternoon from Maureen O’Connor of Gawker, letting us know that she had outed CRIMSON DNA: Great post on the Harvard 3-L who started the racist email war. We just did a follow-up. We’ve made great efforts to keep the identity of the Harvard 3L under wraps, terming her CRIMSON DNA […]

Colbert Report, Free Speech, Law Professors, Quote of the Day, Rudeness

Quote of the Day: Giving the Finger

By David Lat

If somebody is mildly angry, they might just give the middle finger. If they’re very angry, they might give it with some sort of words or facial expression that shows anger. And if they’re off-the-charts angry, they may give a double. – Professor Ira P. Robbins — author of Digitus Impudicus: The Middle Finger and […]

Immigration, Law School Deans, Law Schools

Update on Ted Vogt and the Immigration Law Controversy at the University of Arizona

By Kashmir Hill

Arizona’s harsh new immigration laws are causing debate across the country. Apparently, having to show your papers for being brown might not conform with federal law. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is considering getting involved, threatening to file a federal lawsuit against the state, according to the Washington Post, based on the “doctrine of ‘preemption’ […]