ATL's 2011 Lawyer of the Year: The Finalists!
The year is quickly drawing to a close, but we have unfinished business to conduct here at Above the Law. We still have to crown our Lawyer of the Year for 2011. The polls will remain open until January 3 at 11:59 PM. And the nominees are....
The year is quickly drawing to a close, but we have unfinished business to conduct here at Above the Law. We still have to crown our Lawyer of the Year for 2011.
Thank you to everyone who responded to our call for nominations. We’ve narrowed down the nominees to a field of twelve (although you’ll see only eleven options in the poll because one is a joint nomination). As in past years, the contenders run the gamut from distinguished to despicable.
And the nominees are….
Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
Without further ado, here are the nominees for Above the Law’s 2011 Lawyer of the Year. We’ve listed them in alphabetical order, with a brief blurb about each:
- Joe Amendola: An unknowing aficionado of gay sex hotlines, Amendola is representing Jerry Sandusky — albeit poorly — in his child sex abuse case. What kind of lawyer lets his client go on TV and admit that he showered with little boys? Birds of an alleged feather flock together, because Amendola also likes ’em young.
- Jose Baez: In June, we named Jose Baez our Lawyer of the Day. In July, he placed second for our Lawyer of the Month competition. In the aftermath of the Casey Anthony trial, the Latino Johnnie Cochran became the go-to guy for defendants with shady pasts and even shadier alibis. He’s even got bro-like tendencies.
- Reema Bajaj: What’s not to like about a hot young lawyer charged with prostitution? She came in second place for our June Lawyer of the Month poll, and our readers heartily support her candidacy because of the low retainer fees she charges for servicing her clients. Read about all of Bajaj’s alleged exploits here.
- Gregory Berry: In this profession, you can’t go wrong when you’ve got a “superior legal mind.” Greg Berry’s $77 million lawsuit against his former Biglaw firm, Kasowitz Benson, not only earned him our Lawsuit of the Day title, but also a silver medal in August’s Lawyer of the Month contest.
- Paul Campos: This tenured, top-tier law professor took a bronze medal in August’s Lawyer of the Month match-up after he pseudonymously opened the kimono on the “law school scam.” Scamblogger or not, our readers support this LawProf for his dedication to truth and transparency in legal education.
- Tyler Coulson: Before walking away with the title of March’s Lawyer of the Month, Coulson, a former Biglaw attorney, penned the “coolest ‘f**k you I quit’ email” ever. Why so cool? Because this ex-Sidley associate decided to trek across the country for eight months, and battle the elements with his dog, Mabel.
- Elana Dawson: This Northwestern Law grad earned the title of July’s Lawyer of the Month after her labor-intensive performance on the Illinois bar exam. Not only did Dawson finish the MBE early, but she did so while in active labor. They don’t teach this stuff in BARBRI, but she still passed.
- Robert Ruyak: Much like his ranking in February’s Lawyer of the Month competition, Ruyak’s former firm came in dead last this year. Countless partner defections and a failed merger later, Howrey going to describe the man whose firm dissolved under his controversial leadership? Read about Ruyak’s rocky road here.
- Ira Schacter: This Cadwalader partner earned our Lawyer of the Day title in 2008 after beating a domestic violence charge. This year, Schacter’s spending on his ex-Playboy-bunny fiancée almost earned him October’s Lawyer of the Month title. After
rockingrigging that month’s vote, he won November’s title in a landslide victory. - Jesse Strauss and David Anziska: Unemployed law grads rejoice, because this dynamic duo hopes to turn 2012 into the year of “law school litigation.” With two suits filed over allegedly deceptive employment statistics, and 15 more in the works, Strauss and Anziska hope to bring the “law school industry cartel” to its knees.
- Tamara Tanzillo: This smoking hot attorney earned a place in our hearts after she allegedly exposed her breasts to her co-workers following a boob job. Tanzillo, who reportedly likes to go by “Boss Lady,” also allegedly kept nude photos of herself on a state computer. Read more about all of TT’s escapades here.
Who should be named Above the Law’s Lawyer of the Year for 2011? Argue the merits in the comments, then vote. We’ll leave polls open until TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012 at 11:59 PM.
Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
Profit Powerhouse: Elevating Law Firm Financial Performance
Profit Powerhouse: Elevating Law Firm Financial Performance
Who should be named Above the Law's Lawyer of the Year for 2011?
- Paul Campos (17%, 236 Votes)
- Ira Schacter (14%, 189 Votes)
- Jesse Strauss and David Anziska (12%, 164 Votes)
- Elana Dawson (11%, 151 Votes)
- Reema Bajaj (11%, 144 Votes)
- Jose Baez (8%, 104 Votes)
- Tamara Tanzillo (7%, 99 Votes)
- Gregory Berry (7%, 97 Votes)
- Tyler Coulson (7%, 90 Votes)
- Joe Amendola (6%, 77 Votes)
- Robert Ruyak (1%, 18 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,369
Earlier: ATL’s 2011 Lawyer of the Year: Nominations Needed