January 2011
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Law School Deans, Law Schools, Rankings, U.S. News
Third Tier Rankings?
The new U.S. News law school rankings are due out in March. And according to rankings guru Bob Morse, the publication is considering giving numerical rankings to the third-tier law schools. This would be a big change. For those unfamiliar with the law school rankings (and if you are unfamiliar with the rankings, you must […] -
Bail, Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 01.11.11
* Judy Clarke, counsel to Jared Lee Loughner, is known as the “One-Woman Dream Team.” Here’s to hoping the prosecution doesn’t get played like Frédéric Weis. [USA Today] * There is a time when the operation of the merger becomes so odious… plaintiff’s attorneys have got to put their bodies upon the gears and upon […]
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Asians, Book Deals, Books, Education / Schools, Jed Rubenfeld, Kids, Law Professors, Law Schools, Lunacy
Yale Law Professor Amy Chua Writes in Praise of Crazy Asian Moms
Right now the legal world is abuzz about an essay published over the weekend in the Wall Street Journal by Amy Chua, a prominent (and pulchritudinous) professor at Yale Law School. The essay’s title, Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior, pretty much says it all. The piece is based on Chua’s new book, Battle Hymn of […]
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Celebrities, Fabulosity, Federal Government, Hotties, U.S. Attorneys Offices, War on Terror
Musical Chairs: A Brooklyn-Bound Beauty
Being a federal prosecutor is a great legal job, but it has its downsides. One of them, at least for me, was the anonymity. In your work as an assistant U.S. attorney, it’s not about you; it’s about the merits of the cases, and seeing that justice is done. That’s public-spirited and all, but it’s […] -
Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 01.10.11
* Tom DeLay gets sentenced to three years. [WSJ Law Blog] * If we want to ban threatening speech against Congresspeople, what will we really be banning? [Volokh Conspiracy] * Apparently my final solution on guns could lead to the well-regulated militia rising up. [First One @ One First] * Maybe it isn’t impossible to […] -
Biglaw, Money, Partner Issues, Partner Profits
Partners, I Feel Your Pain
If you thought that obsessing about money and feeling underpaid and underappreciated when it comes to your compensation stops once you become a Biglaw partner, think again. Am Law Daily reports on a new study done by Major Lindsey & Africa. The study shows that 61% of partners think they should be paid more. Oh, […] -
Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, Contests, Holidays and Seasons, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, Reader Polls, Small Law Firms
ATL Holiday Card Contest: The Winner!
Above the Law’s second annual holiday card contest was a great success. Thanks to everyone who responded to our call for nominations, thanks to the finalists who created such great holiday cards, and thanks to all the voters. The campaigning was vigorous. And the final winner actually wasn’t one of the two firms that was […] -
Guns / Firearms, Politics, Sarah Palin, Violence
Sarah Palin Doesn't Kill People. Guns, On the Other Hand...
I’m on record as thinking that it’s inappropriate to blame Sarah Palin or any other source of fiery political rhetoric for the horrific shooting that took place in Tucson on Saturday. I said it in real time as facts were coming to light; I said it on Twitter. There are any number of reasons why […] - Sponsored
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Biglaw, In-House Counsel, Money, Partner Issues
Inside Straight: A Tangent on Merit-Based Compensation
Ed. note: This is the latest installment of Inside Straight, Above the Law’s new column for in-house counsel, written by Mark Herrmann. I like what Steven Harper’s doing these days. After 30 years at Kirkland & Ellis, he retired from the fray, and he now comments on big law firms from an outsider’s perspective, at […] -
Biglaw, Education / Schools, Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day: We can't count them either (because we also can't do math).
I can’t count all the lawyers who say their firms have organized remedial classes for all the associates who can’t write. — William Fitzhugh, publisher of The Concord Review, a quarterly journal of exemplary high school research papers. -
Job Searches, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, New York Times, Student Loans
Now That the New York Times Acknowledges the Perils of Law School Debt, the Next Question Is How to Recover From the Ruin
Like many of you, I read the epic New York Times article on law school debt over the weekend. To answer the most consistent question I’ve received in the past 36 hours: no, I don’t feel like I’ve “won.” And I don’t feel like the NYT has somehow validated some of my commentary over the […] -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 01.10.11
* An obituary for Judge Roll. [Wall Street Journal] * The Supreme Court will alter its schedule to allow for a moment of silence this morning. [The BLT: Blog of Legal Times] * Judy Clarke, whose roster of clients has included the Unabomber, Zacarias Moussaoui, and Susan Smith, will be representing Jared Lee Loughner. [CNN […]
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Crime, Federal Judges, Guns / Firearms, Politics, UVA Law, Violence
Federal Judge John Roll Among Victims in Arizona Congresswoman Shooting
We’re not going to weigh in on all the rampant speculation about what gave rise to the shooting today in Arizona involving Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Arizona). But we did want to inform you that news outlets are now reporting that federal judge John Roll was one of the victims in the shooting in Tucson. UPDATE: […]
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Biglaw, Boutique Law Firms, Contests, Fenwick & West, Holidays and Seasons, Small Law Firms
ATL Holiday Card Contest: Honorable and Dishonorable Mentions
Our law firm holiday card contest is still underway, but we’re in the home stretch. Voting closes tomorrow, January 9, at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time). If you haven’t done so already, review the finalists and vote over here. In the our earlier post, we promised a post in which we’d (1) give shout-outs to some […] -
Biglaw, Holland & Knight, Law Firm Mergers, Non-Sequiturs, Thompson & Knight
Non-Sequiturs: 01.07.11
* Elie here: Remember yesterday when I said that it was a prick move by the cop to issue that ticket on the mother of that comatose 13-year-old girl, and then all those commenters said the cops had no choice because issuing the ticket was an important matter in terms of the civil liability of […] -
Attorney Misconduct, Crime, Legal Ethics, Minority Issues, Racism, Rudeness
Indy Lawyers Need a Crash Course on Basic Ethics, ASAP
The problem of Hoosier lawyers misbehaving is reaching epic proportions. We’ve already told you about Olubunmi Okanlami, the Indiana law grad who allegedly suspected her boyfriend of cheating, attacked him as well as correctional officers, and wore two bras to prison so she could hide a weapon in between. We’ve already told you about Kirmille […] -
Canada, Judge of the Day, Legal Ethics, Pornography, Sex, Sex Scandals
Canadian Judge Cum Porn Star Will Be Probed
The last time we checked in on Madam Justice Lori Douglas, the Canadian judge who once appeared in internet porn, the news for Her Honor was good. Alex Chapman, the computer programmer who sued Justice Douglas for sexual harassment, dropped his $7 million lawsuit against the judge. But Douglas isn’t out of the woods just […] -
Fame Brief, Trusts and Estates
Fame Brief: Elizabeth Edwards' Parting Gift to John
Let’s face it: the best thing about dying is that you are reunited with your loved ones on a puffy cloud get to control people from beyond the grave. I don’t look forward to dying, but the one thing that brings me comfort is knowing that my funeral playlist will be epic, as I’ve taken […] -
Crime, Kids, Military / Military Law, Pornography, Prostitution
JAG Lawyer Accused of KID Porn (and Maybe More)
If we hadn’t already bestowed Lawyer of the Day honors on Angela West, the Harvard Law grad who maybe shouldn’t have had that extra espresso shot at Peet’s, we’d give them to Lieutenant Commander Mark Tilford. He’s an attorney for the Judge Advocate General’s Corps down in Corpus Christi, Texas. One would expect a lawyer […] -
Craigslist, Football, Sports, Weddings
Oregon Fan / Lawyer Seeks Auburn Fan / Hottie for Short-Term Vegas Wedding
Folks, it doesn’t get any better that this. As we approach the BCS National Title game, we expect to hear some strange requests from lawyers who are also fans of either Auburn or Oregon. For instance, last year we saw a cleverly written motion to continue from an Alabama lawyer who wanted to see his […]