August 2011
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Bernie Madoff, Blogging, Federal Judges, New Jersey, Non-Sequiturs, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Non-Sequiturs: 08.25.11
* Should we allow circuit judges to sit by designation on the U.S. Supreme Court? Here’s an interesting idea from Professor Gerard Magliocca. [Concurring Opinions] * Hey Yalies: Did your alma mater accidentally make your name and Social Security number available to the public? (I got a letter about this; I guess it was legit.) […] -
Advertising, Biglaw, Career Center, Interview Stories, Job Searches, Shameless Plugs, Summer Associates, This Is an Ad
Career Center: Questions You May Be Asked In Your Interview
As part of your interview preparation, you should familiarize yourself with the kinds of questions you may be asked and prepare responses to those questions. Nothing turns off an interviewer more than “ummms” and “uhhhs.” You don’t have to memorize your responses verbatim (and you shouldn’t), but being prepared will help you avoid any Miss […] - Sponsored
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get… -
Deaths, Dissolution, New Jersey, Small Law Firms
Size Matters: Eulogies
If we can learn from the loss of a loved one or the end of an era, we can likewise learn from the “death” of a small firm. To those small firms still alive, take this opportunity to reflect on your firm’s past, present, and future. Do not wait until your own funeral to take stock and learn your lessons....
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Baseball, Bernie Madoff, Federal Judges, Jed Rakoff, Quote of the Day, S.D.N.Y., Sports
Quote of the Day: Let's Go Mets?
Fortunately, you gave me so much paper. Otherwise, I would have had to watch a Mets game, which would have been a very painful process. — the eminently quotable Judge Jed Rakoff (S.D.N.Y.), praising the thorough briefing by lawyers involved in the legal battle between the Bernard Madoff trustee, Irving Picard, and the owners of […] -
Crime, Deaths, Kids, Law Schools, Murder, Police, Pornography, Prisons, Violence
Chilling Internet Postings Linked to Stephen McDaniel
It seems that Stephen Mark McDaniel just can't catch a break. He has been in Bibb County jail for almost two months, and the incarceration has been taking its toll on him. And now, McDaniel is being fingered as the author of some exceedingly creepy postings to internet message boards. If the claims of his authorship are true, they will definitely not help his case.... -
Bad Ideas, Facebook, Free Speech, Social Networking Websites, Technology
Even in the Internet Age, You Can't Call Your Boss a 'Super Mega Puta'
It’s strange how quickly the world changes. Things used to be so simple, but now Steve Jobs has resigned from Apple and we’re having earthquakes in Washington, D.C. Moreover, some fundamental rules of online conduct are beginning to look like artifacts from a bygone era when people were crazy for RAZRs and nu metal. Gone […] -
Biglaw, Document Review, In-House Counsel, Technology
Inside Straight: Why Vendors Win The Document Review Work
Document review, which was historically an important profit center for large law firms, has moved permanently into the hands of third-party vendors. That sea change was not prompted by the recession, and things are not going to return to the old "normal" after the economy recovers. But why? -
Biglaw, Email Scandals, Partner Issues, Screw-Ups
MoFo Partner Offers Cautionary Tale in Use of 'Reply All'
A partner at Morrison & Foerster accidentally "replied all" to an email on which "List/Attorney/All" was cc'd. Emails sent to "List/Attorney/All" go out to all 1,000-plus MoFo lawyers around the world. What the partner wrote in the email was probably not something that should have been shared with the rest of the firm.... - Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms. -
Crime, Money, Morning Docket, Pornography, Rape, Real Estate
Morning Docket: 08.25.11
* From one “evil” and “pathetic” woman to another: Dominique Strauss-Kahn is leaving the U.S., but he’ll say bonjour to another rape complaint when he returns to France. [Bloomberg] * Casey Anthony is probably going to owe Florida law enforcement agencies more than a quarter of a million dollars, but even porn companies won’t touch […]
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Biglaw, Interview Stories, Job Searches, Law Schools
On-Campus Interviewing: Open Thread
At law schools and law firms around the country, on-campus interviewing and callback interviews are in full swing. We've been covering the fall (or summer?) recruiting process quite closely, offering you a mix of interview advice, humorous anecdotes, and soul-crushing reality checks. Now it's your turn to talk back to us.... -
Biglaw, Constitutional Law, Election 2012, Ho-Love, Hogan & Hartson, Musical Chairs, Neal Katyal, Non-Sequiturs, Politics, Tax Law, Trademarks
Non-Sequiturs: 08.24.11
* “Dominique Strauss-Kahn Gets Off, As Did Everyone Else Who Stayed In His Room At The Sofitel.” Or: what you don’t want to know about your high-end hotel room. [Dealbreaker] * F**k yeah — trademark law! Or: some reflections on the “immoral or scandalous” bar to trademark registration, by fashion lawyer Chuck Colman. [Law of […] -
Abortion, Benchslaps, Constitutional Law, Federal Judges, Sam Sparks, Texas
Benchslap of the Day: Sparks Fly When Judge Calls Lawyer 'Incompetent'
We briefly mentioned a lawsuit over the new ultrasound-before-abortion law in Texas back in June, and now it has turned into a full-blown media circus. The case is being presided over by Judge Sam Sparks of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. And thanks to Judge Sparks, sparks themselves are flying in his courtroom.... -
Adoption, Bad Ideas, Food, Kids, Ridiculousness, Women's Issues
Hot Sauce Is for Eating, Not for Disciplining Your Kids
Sometimes kids can be really annoying and behave really badly. Luckily for my parents, I was a little bit of both when I was younger. After throwing a spare rib at someone’s head in a Chinese restaurant, my parents didn’t take me out to dinner with them for months. After throwing a puzzle at the […]
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Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
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Advertising, Shameless Plugs, This Is an Ad
Thanks to Our Outstanding Advertisers
We would like to extend our to this week’s advertisers here on Above the Law. We are honored to have these respected brand leaders as our advertisers. Please show them your support: American Express Autonomy Datacert Ernst & Young JD Match Kinney Recruiting (sponsor of the Asia Chronicles) Lateral Link (sponsor of the Career Center) […] -
American Bar Association / ABA, New York Times, Pro Bono, Public Interest, Quote of the Day
Quote of the Day: A Modest Proposal
State bar associations could help address [low-income Americans’ need for legal services] by requiring lawyers to report their pro bono service — such disclosure would likely increase many lawyers’ service to the recommended 3 percent to 5 percent of their paid work. Another step is to allow nonlawyers into the mix. The American Bar Association […] -
Biglaw, Kasowitz Benson, Litigators, Music, Pro Se Litigants, Ridiculousness, Summer Associates
In Defense of Gregory Berry (Plus a few more funny stories.)
One of the most compelling characters to populate our pages lately is Gregory S. Berry. As you surely recall, Berry is the ex-associate at Kasowitz Benson who is now suing his former firm for a whopping $77 million. Thus far, reader sentiment doesn't seem favorable towards Berry, but now a source has contacted us to defend Berry -- and to criticize Berry's former employer, Kasowitz Benson.... -
Admin, Advertising, Announcements, Conferences / Symposia, Dorsey & Whitney, Shameless Plugs, Technology, This Is an Ad
Legal Technology Leadership Summit: Accepting Nominations for the Corporate Legal Technology Leadership Award
Get excited, because the Legal Technology Leadership Summit is less than two weeks away. It is set to take place from September 6 – 8, on Amelia Island, Florida. You can access the full agenda here if you’d like to see the interesting programs that are in store for all Summit attendees. It is only […] -
American Bar Association / ABA, Biglaw, Cardozo Law School, Disasters / Emergencies, Fat People, Holy Crap, Law Schools, UVA Law
The Aftermath of the East Coast Earthquake of 2011
In the wake of the east coast earthquake of 2011, the legal world seems to be back to its regularly scheduled programming. Courts are back in session, law firms have reopened, and government agencies are fully functioning. We received a lot of tips from our readers about their earthquake experiences, but more importantly, we have the final results from our reader poll. We now know who we can blame for moving the earth and disrupting our day. And no, it wasn't Obama's Fault.... -
Crime, Deaths, Kids, Law Schools, Police, Pornography, Prisons, Violence
Hacksaw McDaniel Accused of Child Pornography Possession
Things just got a lot more complicated for Stephen McDaniel, the 25-year-old Mercer Law School graduate accused of killing his former neighbor and classmate, Lauren Giddings. McDaniel has now been hit with seven charges of sexual exploitation of children. So even if McDaniel is cleared of the Giddings murder, he's still looking at a whole host of other allegations.... -
Football, Legal Ethics, Morning Docket, Texas, Trademarks, United Kingdom / Great Britain
Morning Docket: 08.24.11
* A law firm in England, Edwards Duthie, believes that everyone is entitled to legal representation, even those who don’t believe in the rule of law. Have fun with Gaddafi; he should be a model client. [Guardian] * An appeals court has ruled that Casey Anthony must serve her probation in Florida. It’s time for […]