It’s pretty clear that traditional large-firm jobs in big cities are still hard to come by. Even those cushy government jobs sometimes offered as a Biglaw equivalent are, as of last week, slightly less appealing. Well, fear not; the small law firm renaissance is here!
A recent article in Lawyers Weekly suggests that small towns are losing their lawyers faster than they’re being replaced. The article discusses small-town Canada, but based on this report from the WSJ Law Blog (which I previously mentioned here), as well as what I’ve heard from my sources, this observation is also true in the States.
The author seems hopeful that we are on the verge of a “renaissance in small-town lawyering,” and in support he offers a revised look at six of the traditional reasons why graduates and young lawyers often avoid smaller communities. Let’s see if he’s right…
Last week, we reported that Boston University School of Law was warning job seekers not to read (or link to) WikiLeaks if they want to get a government job. The government still regards the documents as classified, and so somehow if you link to them (say on Facebook), you might fail a to get the security clearance needed for some government jobs.
No really, the “classified” documents are now publicly available, and the government won’t even acknowledge that the documents exist, but linking to them can get you dinged from a job (during a terrible job market to boot)? Is George Orwell running the State Department?
(Ed. note: For the safety of our readers, there are no links to WikiLeaks in this post.)
Apparently, common sense is not something the federal government is working with these days, and so the warning against Wikileaks has gone out to various government agencies, and even Columbia University…
UPDATE (10:55 AM): We’ve also added, after the jump, an email about WikiLeaks that went out to employees of the Department of Commerce last week.
[Ed. note: This post is authored by Evan Jowers and Robert Kinney of Kinney Recruiting, sponsor of the Asia Chronicles. Kinney has made more placements of U.S. associates and partners in Asia than any other firm in the past four years. You can reach them by email: asia at kinneyrecruiting dot com.]
Evan here. Robert Kinney and I just returned from another China trip and we will post market notes from that trip shortly at our blog, theasiachronicles.com.
As you know, we are often quoted and / or featured in various industry publications regarding our US biglaw attorney recruiting and market expertise in Asia. This month, find us in the cover story of the latest California Lawyer magazine. Also, if you don’t mind plucking down the 295 sterling for the brand new book, Building A Profitable Practice In Asia, by Robert Sawhney, just published by Ark Group, you will notice that Robert, Alexis and I were asked to write Chapter 22 (“Staffing an Asia Practice – Recent History and Trends”).
On our recent China trip (we are in Hong Kong / China about every other month and several times a year in other Asia markets), as usual, we were often asked by senior partners at US and UK firms how exactly do we manage to place the majority of their US associate lateral hires and in general represent so many of the top US trained candidates on the market.
Although Robert is based in Austin and my primary home is in Miami, we do manage to have a large market share in Hong Kong / China and Asia in general. Further, we do have a full time recruiter based in our HK offices – Alexis Lamb, who has been with us for two years (previously I placed her at Linklaters HK some years ago). It is not really rocket science what we do and what we offer law firm and lawyer clients. Here is the very basic gist of things re what we offer US associate candidates moving to or within Asia:
We can provide 50+ very positive references fairly quickly of US associates we have recently placed in Asia, which is something no other recruiting firm can do (they can’t do it because they have not made more than just a fraction of that amount of US associate placements in Asia).
* An ex-associate from Akin Gump is suing the firm for racial discrimination. Honestly, the only color they care about is green. [New York Law Journal]
* Dyslexic animal rights activists in NJ got a case of the sads and held a Right to Arm Bears Rally after they lost their appeal to stop a statewide bear hunt. [New Jersey Star-Ledger]
* Speaking of Da Bears, the owner of their anthem is going to court. She’s not here to start no trouble, she’s just suing over the Super Bowl Shuffle. [Chicago Sun-Times]
* A lawsuit was filed because while you’re watching YouPorn, YouPorn is watching you. Do they really need to know that you like sexy grannies? [Wall Street Journal]
* Principals in my high school used to paste children’s faces on adult photos and get their kiddie porn convictions thrown out all the time. It was no big deal. [Lakeland Ledger]
[M]ale lawyers do not want to travel with, have lunch with, or mentor women lawyers because they fear someone will mistake their intentions and accuse them of sexual harassment.
* One of my many problems wit the Repeal Amendment is that it wouldn’t put power in the hand of the people, it would put power in the hands of state legislatures. Have you seen how those things are run? [The Volokh Conspiracy]
* I wonder if this is the kind of “heterosexual” Judge Posner hopes joins the Catholic priesthood? [ABA Journal]
* Virginia Thomas says calling Anita Hill was “probably a mistake.” Ya think? [WSJ Law Blog]
* Amazon says that they didn’t cut off Wikileaks because of government pressure while Joe Lieberman says he pressured Amazon. Who to believe? I’m just saying, if Joe Lieberman told me the sky was blue I’d seek a second opinion. [Concurring Opinions]
* I’m not good with money. Could somebody please tell me exactly what I have to do to make money off of the student debt bubble bursting since I am certain it is going to happen? [Yahoo Finance via Instapundit]
* Again, happy Chanukah wishes to all this weekend. Marin sends along this purely wonderful bit of celebration:
Bonus season is in full swing, and it appears that most Biglaw firms are falling in line behind Cravath. The chances of a firm besting the Cravath scale in any meaningful way grow slimmer everyday.
But according to one tipster, there is still hope for associates, and it’s coming from an unlikely place. A tipster believes that Cahill Gordon intends to double the Cravath bonus. But not all at once. Cahill doesn’t want to look like it’s breaking the market.
Now it might sound weird for Cahill to be willing to pay more but not wanting to get credit for it — but let’s check out what this tipster has to say…
Last month, we profiled Steven Pesner, a partner at Akin Gump who sounded like an egomaniac while threatening associates who did not promptly enter in their time.
Entering time is important, but sometimes you can get more flies with honey than with douches. At least at Brown Rudnick, the firm is trying to reward dutiful time keepers instead of threatening those who fall behind…
Earlier this week, we selected as a Quote of the Day a controversial quip from a post by Judge Richard Posner on The Becker-Posner Blog. The quote read:
The problem of priests’ sexually molesting boys would be solved if priests were allowed to marry and if women could be priests, because then the priesthood would attract fewer homosexuals.
It was, like pretty much every Quote of the Day, removed from its context. To see that context, read Judge Posner’s complete post, entitled “Contraception and Catholicism.”
Judge Posner’s comment wasn’t well-received by some in the LGBT community, who viewed it as implying that homosexuals might be more prone to molest children than heterosexuals. Yesterday, University of Chicago OutLaw, an LGBT affinity group at Judge Posner’s longtime academic home, posted an open letter to Judge Posner on its website.
The letter criticized Judge Posner’s post for “suggesting a causal link between male homosexuality and sexual abuse of minors (or even conflating the two)” and for “promulgat[ing] inaccurate and harmful stereotypes regarding gay and lesbian individuals.” OutLaw asked Judge Posner to consider retracting his statement.
I reached out to Judge Posner to see if he had any response to Outlaw’s open letter. Indeed he did. What did he have to say?
With bonus season well underway, many attorneys are considering making a move after the new year. If you’re thinking of moving, consider working with Lateral Link’s team of professional recruiters, who have recently placed dozens of attorneys in great new positions — like this latest Job of the Week.
Position: Litigation Associate
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Description: Candidates should have three to five years of commercial litigation experience. Ideal candidates will have a solid background in complex litigation matters, class action litigation and e-discovery. Experience in taking and defending depositions, handling discovery, drafting pleadings, writing briefs and preparing and arguing motions is preferred. In addition to excellent academic credentials and large law firm experience, the candidate should possess strong analytical, writing and verbal skills.
If you are currently a Lateral Link member, please see position #7334. If you are not a Lateral Link member, you can sign up for free at www.laterallink.com. If you are interested in this position or other positions in California, you can also contact Michael Allen directly, at mallen@laterallink.com.
Yesterday we received this horrified email from a law student at Seton Hall: “Have recently been informed that NYLS has bedbugs. EWWW!”
When you’re the object of scorn emanating from Newark, you know you’ve got problems. [FN1]
But the news appears to be true. Yesterday the New York Law School community was notified of a possible bedbug issue, by email (reprinted after the jump).
The good news: it doesn’t seem like a major infestation (at least not yet). According to the NYLS memo, “A single bed bug was recently spotted in the entry area of the C building.”
What brought this lonely little bedbug to NYLS? Here are some theories….
Earlier this week, I had the chance to sit down with David Tanenholz, one of the co-founders and partners at Hardinger & Tanenholz LLP (H&T), which is one of the few firms — if not the first — to promote itself solely as “discovery counsel.” And with their experience as Biglaw alumni, the two founders may represent a glimpse into the future of how lawyers can carve out a niche by fusing technology and project management.
So what is it that puts them ahead of the curve? Let’s find out….
If we all try really hard, maybe we can get 2L interviewing season to start immediately after 1L finals.
For the second time in three years, Harvard Law School has decided to start it’s early interviewing program (EIP) earlier in the year. But this time they’ve also decided to push back the start of fall classes. The net effect will be that HLS 2Ls will be able to show up on campus in the middle of the summer, interview and have their callback before their classes start.
So this is really an admission from HLS that the old rule that firms would “hold open” a number of summer spots for HLS students is no longer true…
Late last night, Morrison & Foerster announced its bonus structure, kind of. The firm will be matching the Cravath bonus in New York, it hopes. And it will be matching the market in other markets, whatever that market turns out to be.
You can tell that a lawyer (as opposed to a PR professional) wrote the MoFo bonus memo. There are so many caveats and opt-outs in this baby you’d think the firm was acquiring something instead of just paying a bonus.
Let’s check this baby out. There’s one memo for the New York associates and a different one that was disseminated firm wide…
* For some, the DREAM is a college education and citizenship. For others, the DREAM is that Home Depot doesn’t start enforcing an anti-loitering policy. [CNN International]
* The U.S. government has continually broken legal limits while spying on citizens. Take it from a pro: once you start peeping, you just can’t stop. It’s like crack cocaine that way. Take it from a pro… [Washington Post]
* Elliot Vogt: A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Fraudulence. [ABA Journal]
* The mysterious “Midwestern law firm” that Dan Gilbert hired to investigate tampering charges surrounding Lebron’s escape to South Beach? Yep, Jones Day. [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
I’m surprised we’re not seeing more of this. As TSA continues to scan and/or feel-up everybody who gets on a plane, raising questions under the Fourth Amendment, an Oklahoman woman stripped down to her underwear to prove a point.
According to a report by News 9 – Oklahoma, Dr. Tammy Banovac, 52, arrived at the Oklahoma City airport wearing an overcoat and in a wheelchair. When she got to security, she removed the coat, revealing her curvaceous figure — clad in nothing but a black bra and panties. She refused to go through the metal detector, so she had to be subjected to a pat-down.
Is there video? Would I be posting this if there wasn’t?
* Charlie Rangel is brilliant. He’s bitched about this censure so much that some people might actually believe this punishment is an acceptable substitute for the expulsion he so richly deserves. [Los Angeles Times]
* Professor Stephen Bainbridge schools Judge Posner on Catholicism. [Professor Bainbridge]
* Judge Reinhardt will not be recusing himself from the Prop 8 panel. Nice try conservatives. I’m sure liberals will keep it in mind when health care makes it to Clarence Thomas’s desk. [WSJ Law Blog]
* LSAT takers were down this October from last October. Sure, that still makes this October the second largest month for LSAT takers ever, but, you know, baby steps. [Most Strongly Supported]
* Phew, for a while there I was really worried that taking debutantes out horseback riding could lead to legal trouble. Fortunately, the only problem is the whole “GIANT PONCE” label that comes with having a horseback riding date. [Lowering the Bar]
We don’t have the full memo, but multiple tipsters tell us that Proskauer isn’t going to be breaking any market trends this bonus season. It’s getting to the point where we only have three real questions left this bonus season…
My dream would be to have 10,000-20,000 people file all three documents to the lawyers and severely cripple the entire process and show them that you shouldn’t be allowed to join so many defendants.
— Graham Syfert, a lawyer who created standardized documents to help people defend themselves from illegal download lawsuits without having to pay for a legal defense (and who now is the subject of a motion for sanctions by lawyers for Voltage Pictures, makers of The Hurt Locker, who are upset over the extra legal work created for them).
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. No, not because we enjoy wasting time and money trying to buy off family members with presents. It’s a great time of year because we are about to have an opportunity to interact with our readers, face-to-face. That’s right, it’s time for a holiday party.
Our friends at Practical Law Company and ELR Search have done the heavy lifting. All we have to do is show up and hang out. Here are the details:
When: Wednesday December 15th from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Where: Bar 29; located at 405 3rd Ave b/w 28th and 29th. Why: Open Bar from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m; pleasant conversation with fellow readers, inside scoops about stories we can’t print. How: Space is limited, so please RSVP here.
Come on, compare that with your average firm holiday party. Would you rather hang out with us, or go to a firm event where you can:
Have awkward conversations with a partner who can’t differentiate between you and the guy who mows his lawn.
Engage in forced smiling and laughing when somebody tells you how “great” the bonuses are.
Desperately try to avoid sexually harassing your co-workers, fail, leave unsure if you will still have a job in the morning.
No need to worry about such traumas and dramas at the ATL holiday party. The partners who show up are cool, the associates and law students who show up are relaxed, and the ATL contributors you’d like to sexually harass have already seen the worst you have to offer.
Seriously, we really want to meet as many of you as we can and hear your feedback and enjoy your company. But please RSVP because we don’t have unlimited space (and we’ve learned that it’s… safer if Elie doesn’t encounter too much traffic on his way to the bar).
In 2009, a small group of Harvard Law School students noticed an absurd monopoly in the bar prep space, held by an unchallenged leader with a non-evolving product. In response, these students teamed up with Harvard Law alumni to launch BarMax on January 14, 2010.
The mission: democratize bar prep by embracing new technologies to provide the very best bar exam review courses at a fraction of the cost normally associated with these courses.
Since then, with the encouragement of thousands of students and an unwavering commitment to their success, BarMax has established itself as a comprehensive alternative to the stagnant, over-priced status quo.
As we continue to expand, we do not want to lose sight of the basic premises that led us to create BarMax in the first place. If you are a law student who believes that there is something fundamentally wrong with being forced to take out yet another loan to pay for a $4,000 bar exam prep course, you are not alone.
Ed. note: This post is authored by Evan Jowers and Robert Kinney of Kinney Recruiting, sponsor of the Asia Chronicles. Kinney has made more placements of U.S. associates and partners in Asia than any other firm in the past five years. You can reach them by email: asia@kinneyrecruiting.com
Happy Chinese New Year! We were extremely busy the past few months, including most of our US based team working from our Hong Kong offices during November and December.
As a follow up from our recent post, which listed our 62 US associate and counsel placements in Asia last year (vast majority in HK / China), please note that thus far in January ’12, we have already made seven US associate and counsel placements in Asia. This is an especially impressive number, considering the biglaw lateral hiring market in Asia is down right now (see state of the market brief overview below). These new placements are of new hires in Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai, who were interviewing with their new firm for a month or more and they are spread out among different practice areas, including project finance, litigation, fund formation, M&A and cap markets. We are close on four additional new associate placements, in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Shanghai, that we expect to close soon. We do not discuss partner placements in these articles, but the pace of partner recruitment in Asia (a large part of our business) has continued.
Hedge Fund In-House Openings in Hong Kong
We are seeing a small run of new in-house openings in Hong Kong at hedge funds. We are currently filling three different in-house positions at three different hedge funds in Hong Kong, two of these searches we are handling on an exclusive basis. All three will most likely be filled by a US associate, with about 4 to 6 years of experience. Mandarin not required. Candidates from NYC and London will be considered, but at one of these funds the new hire will likely come from Hong Kong / China or Singapore (with HK being the strong preference).
Please feel free to reach out to us at asia@kinneyrecruiting.com if you are interested in these hedge fund openings. As you probably would expect, the competition for these spots will be fierce and the funds will be very selective when choosing which candidates to interview.
It’s pretty clear that traditional large-firm jobs in big cities are still hard to come by. Even those cushy government jobs sometimes offered as a Biglaw equivalent are, as of last week, slightly less appealing. Well, fear not; the small law firm renaissance is here!
Continue reading “A Small Firm Renaissance?”
