January 2012

Education / Schools

Sexy Teen Fights for First Amendment Freedoms Over Slutty Yearbook Photo

School administrators are trying to ban a teenager's picture from the yearbook. They say that her attire in her photo of choice violates the school's dress code, but why? Probably because the photo in question features the teenager posing a bit too provocatively for a girl who just turned 18. She's considering taking legal action against the school for trampling on her right to free expression. So who is this mystery girl? What does her scandalous yearbook photo look like? Keep reading for pictures and video of this too-sexy-for-high-school, First Amendment freedom fighter....

By Staci Zaretsky
Benchslaps

Outsiders Criticize Law Schools, But Will Change Ever Come?

While many of the law school deans and other administrators at the AALS conference acknowledged problems with the system, most of the actual critiquing came from people with no power to change it. Media members criticized law schools, judges criticized law schools, outgoing deans that shamelessly profiteered off of unwitting law students criticized law schools -- and the people who could actually change their systems dutifully listened. But despite all of the critiques, there weren't a lot of schools that seemed ready to institute sweeping change to the business of educating lawyers....

By Elie Mystal
Biglaw

Inside Straight: Should My Big Firm Blog?

It’s tough being the managing partner of Bigg & Mediocre. All of the hard issues land on my desk. We’ve hired a new Chief Marketing Officer, and this guy recommends that we launch some firm-branded blogs. Press reports say that 94 percent of the AmLaw 100 plan to use blogs as part of their marketing […]

By Mark Herrmann
Asians

Who’s the 40-Year-Old Asian Actress Suing the Internet Movie Database for Revealing Her Age?

The Internet Movie Database, aka IMDb, found itself under attack for revealing an actress's age and "real Asian name." Kash detailed the charges last October. A few weeks ago, we noted that the woman would have to put up (her name) or shut up (legally speaking). Well, we don't want to waste any more of your precious time. The grand reveal is finally here. After the jump, pictures of an attractive Asian woman....

By Juggalo Law
American Bar Association / ABA

Morning Docket: 01.09.12

* Is the Roberts court really as pro-First Amendment as we’ve been led to believe? Lawyers aren’t really that good at math, but they’ve done studies, you know. And 34.5% of the time, it works every time. [New York Times] * The people at the ABA aren’t concerned that William Robinson’s remarks made him seem […]

By Staci Zaretsky
Andrews Kurth

Non-Sequiturs: 01.06.12

* Andrews Kurth had such a good year that they’re not just giving their high performers bonuses, they’re giving raises to 25 associates! [Texas Lawyers] * Davis Polk is taking a jump across the pond. [The Lawyer] * When I’m struggling to think creatively, I have a drink. When that doesn’t work, I have another. […]

By Elie Mystal
Akin Gump

Legal Eagle Wedding Watch: The Voice

Last week, we pretended that it wasn't January by looking back at some of the biggest legal weddings of late 2011. There was a lot of muy prestigioso lawyer matrimony in the last part of the year. Before we delve into the January crop of weddings, which -- let's face it -- is often subpar, here are some from the fall that we haven't featured yet. These are good ones, folks. Think Rhodes Scholars. Think SCOTUS clerks....

By Laurie Lin
Billable Hours

From Biglaw to Boutique: Working for Free

When Tom Wallerstein started his firm, several mentors gave him the same advice: Don’t work for free. It’s easy to see the problem with working for free. Giving away what you’re trying to sell isn’t exactly in the business plan. Unfortunately, this sage advice can only really be learned the hard way, through experience. Even if your gut tells you that taking on that client is a bad idea, this can be surprisingly tempting to a new firm or solo practice....

By Tom Wallerstein
Crime

What’s Casey Anthony Up to These Days?

Casey Anthony was forced into hiding after her sentencing. But last week, a purported video of the alleged child killer appeared on YouTube. Shortly thereafter, NBC News confirmed that the woman featured was, in fact, the real Casey Anthony. She's sporting a completely new look that's reminiscent of a hot librarian. How does it compare to her old look, and what does she have to say for herself?

By Staci Zaretsky
3rd Circuit

Morning Docket: 01.06.12

* Is New Jersey’s Senator Robert Menendez blocking Patty Shwartz, Obama’s Third Circuit nominee, out of resentment? Time to build yourself a bridge and GTF over it. [New York Times] * Sullivan & Cromwell took the top spot among law firms in M&A transactions in 2011, with $325.7 billion in deals. You better believe they’re […]

By Staci Zaretsky
5th Circuit

Non-Sequiturs: 01.05.12

* Pepsi lawyers offer a creative (if disturbing) defense to a lawsuit by a man who claims he found a mouse in his Mountain Dew. [Madison County Record via The Atlantic Wire] * Will birther queen Orly Taitz get to depose — i.e., “rupture the jurisprudential hymen” — of President Barack Obama? That would be […]

By David Lat