Veteran Supreme Court litigator Thomas Goldstein, who founded Goldstein & Howe (and SCOTUSblog) before taking the helm of Akin Gump's Supreme Court practice, has a lot to crow about. He's one of the country's most celebrated appellate advocates, with 18 SCOTUS arguments under his belt.

But he hasn't let success go to his head. Instead, he's prepared this funny, charming, and self-effacing video advertisement. Check it out (via SCOTUSblog):

Tom Goldstein: Hire me for your Supreme Court case [YouTube]
Tom Goldstein Wants To Be Your Lawyer [SCOTUSblog]

Professional athletes are keeping a close eye on Lindsay Lohan this week, and probably not for the reason you might think.

Last Friday, the American Beverage Institute (“ABI”), a trade group that supports interests of the alcohol industry, took out an advertisement in USA Today, opposing the mandatory use of ignition interlocks (i.e., breathalyzers) in cars of first-time DWI offenders. The advertisement states “Ignition interlocks, A good idea for,” followed by a mug shot of Lindsay Lohan, “But a bad idea for us.”

ABI Managing Director Sarah Longwell recently told MTV.com that she believes Lohan’s mug shot is fair game because it is already in the public domain. Although it is not clear that Longwell's view is correct, the ABI has already indicated plans "to extend its mugshots campaign to other celebrities." This also could open the door for other organizations to begin using athlete and entertainer mug shots in all kinds of weird ways.

Lohan recently consulted her lawyer, expressing an interest in suing ABI to stop these ads. Although she probably does not have a claim under the Lanham Act, she may have a better argument that the ABI violated her state-law publicity rights. If Lohan ultimately files suit, athletes and entertainers will have their fingers crossed for her victory.

How does the legal landscape look for LiLo? Read more, after the jump.

Two venerable institutions are working on re-branding.

In this new promo video, Venable wants to clarify that its name starts with a "V."

From their marketing firm's website comes this insight into the new image:

Working with Greenfield/Belser, we sought to create a visual identity for our firm that best represented our firm’s personality:

* proud but not boastful
* self-assured but not cocky
* confident and competent but not arrogant
* decisive and resolute but flexible and adaptable
* enduring, built for the long haul but evolving with changing needs

We also sought to reinforce to existing clients and convey to prospective clients, the attributes that we are known for (in the view of our clients):

* a firm that gets what’s really important to me
* the best of both worlds, quality and excellence at a fair price
* real human beings, not robots
* genuine interest in me, my business and my concerns
* they tackle our problems like they’re their own
* they’re confident, determined, authentic, resolute, innovative and respected

Our New Brand

V is the first letter in the word “Venerable,” and “Victory,”and “Vision,” and…Venable. We have made very minor modifications to our logo. But we will now also incorporate a strong visual element throughout our materials – The Venable “V.” “V” is a powerful letter and we want to own it. It is strong and unique.

Very vinteresting.

The second re-branding campaign has been discussed before in these pages. Berkeley has issued a press release clarifying their name. An excerpt:

Names

* Our official name is the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law. With external audiences, we will use our official name in full or in one of two abbreviated forms: UC Berkeley School of Law or Berkeley Law.
* We will continue to use the name Boalt Hall with alumni and with the internal law school community.

Approved
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law
UC Berkeley School of Law
Berkeley Law
Boalt Hall (within the “family”)

Discouraged
Berkeley School of Law
Berkeley Law School
Boalt Hall School of Law (or other permutations)

Please notice the Boalt logo at the top of the press release page. Mixed messages... we're confused...

Berkeley paid a public relations firm $25,000 to come up with the brilliant new moniker, UC Berkeley School of Law. We wonder why they didn't take ATL readers' (free) advice and call it the White Guys With Asian Girls School of Law.

Shame on you, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman. Earlier this week, we promised our readers that we'd be writing about your cute little firm video. But when we tried to access the video just now on YouTube, via Legal Pad, we got this:

For those of you who never got to watch the PWSP video, it was described pretty well over at Legal Pad, "smooth jazz" and all. But we regret not being able to add our two cents. We were looking forward to describing the archival photographs of sweaty, shirtless men, featured in the "history" section of the talk, as well as to deploying this line: "I'm not just the firm chairman, I'm also a client." Sadly, that last quip is useless without the video evidence, since you can no longer witness for yourself the uncanny similarities between Jim Rishwain's demeanor and Sy Sperling's.

But don't worry, Pillsbury peeps; we don't take it personally. We're used to having the videos we write about yanked from YouTube. See, e.g., here (University of Miami 1L modeling montage), here (Quinn Emanuel recruiting video featuring sexy associate "Ivy"), here (Harvard Law School parody), and here (Columbia Law Revue).

Jim Rishwain's Good Answer [Legal Pad / Cal Law]

Most law firm name changes are pretty silly. The general approach: lop off all names after the first two. If you like, squish the surviving names together into one word, to make yourselves seem contemporary and cool. E.g., "WilmerHale." (A law firm marketing firm would charge you five figures for that advice.)

Okay, so how do you get anyone to care about your name change? You make a YouTube video, that's how! Here's a press release from Hanson Bridgett LLP, a northern California firm with about 130 lawyers:

The firm formally known as Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos, & Rudy LLP has a new tag line—"Inspired"—to go with its new logo and a new abridged name, Hanson Bridgett LLP. Breaking through the monotony of the legal landscape, the firm is employing a light-hearted video to help disseminate the re-branding roll-out by "word of mouse."

Seriously. As the press release notes, "[t]he video stars Hanson Bridgett Managing Partner Andrew Giacomini, who is seen banging a bass drum while walking down Market Street in Lederhosen and knee-highs."

The video, cutely entitled "The Law Accordion to Hanson Bridget," is kinda weird, and a bit too long; you really need just the first and last 30 seconds. But it's an interesting experiment in law firm marketing. Check it out:

Oh, and the firm has its own blog: the Infrastructure Law Blog. Infrastructure law sounds even more boring than ERISA may not be the sexiest practice area ever. But the firm deserves props for participating in, rather than fighting, the online revolution.

P.S. Yes, we've seen the Pillsbury Winthrop video. We'll be writing about it in a separate post.

The Law Accordion To Hanson Bridgett [YouTube]
Hanson Bridgett Launches New Look, Video to Match [press release]
Infrastructure Law Blog
Hanson Bridgett LLP [official website]

The makers of supposed cold-buster Airborne settled a class action lawsuit over false advertising claims today. When the herbal supplement first debuted ten years ago, the packaging proclaimed that it could “ward off colds.” Since then, the company has softened its claim, but the only study to support Airborne’s efficacy was conducted by two people and paid for by the company. No wonder it has agreed to pay back $23.3 million.

If you've bought Airborne recently and you saved your receipt, they'll reimburse you the $6.99 (Walgreen's price). Hey, it may be worth it to some people.

UPDATE: Good news! Our diligent commenters pointed out that as long as you have proof of purchase of one box of Airborne, you can get a refund for up to six additional boxes. That raises the stakes to roughly $48.93, which may be worth it to this law student.

Airborne Settles Suit over False Claims [NPR]
Airborne Settlement Website

From a student at Duke Law School:

I had to laugh out loud at Kramer Levin's use of the daylight savings time maxim, "spring ahead/spring forward," to suggest that we could do the same for our careers by coming to their firm. See the flyer below, which they seem to have sent to the entire 1L class.

Actually, we think it's kinda cute! Check out those otherworldly tulips:

And it's a helpful reminder for overworked law firm associates. If you have a conference call scheduled for, say, this Sunday morning at 10, you don't want to miss it.

An excerpt from an ad in the "legal jobs" section of the Denver craigslist:

The ideal candidate would be admitted to practice Colorado State Bar, and have at least 4 to 7 years experience. Experienced professional demeanor in client contact both in person and on the telephone is a must. Ability to work and adapt in a fast-paced environment is crucial. The candidate should have a very high level of proficiency with MS Word, Outlook, and Excel. Experience with TABS billing software is a plus. Must be able to lift up to 25 lbs. Compensation is commensurate with experience.

Are we witnessing the start of a trend, as the market for legal talent shifts from a sellers' market to a buyers' market? This isn't the first law firm advertisement we've seen requiring the ability to engage in heavy lifting (quite literally). See also this ad (applicants must have the ability to "carry[] loads of up to 35 pounds").

Associate for Litigation Group [Denver craigslist]

Earlier: Definitely Not the Job of the Week

[Ed. note: As we recently mentioned, we're looking for someone to write Morning Docket, on an alternating-week schedule. To those of you who have already applied, thanks for your interest; we'll review the applications and pick a writer this weekend. If you'd like to apply, there's still time -- just follow the application instructions contained in this post (but please note that the gig now comes with pay -- a modest monthly stipend). Thanks.]

* It seems to get worse by the day. The CIA apparently destroyed interrogation tapes while a federal judge was still looking for information about the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah. [New York Times]

* So what exactly are the federal government's policies on border searches? Two groups sue to find out. [Washington Post]

* We like funny legal ads. But state regulators are not amused. [Wall Street Journal via How Appealing]

* Kibbles 'n bits 'n indictments. Two Chinese companies and an American importer are indicted in connection with tainted pet food. [New York Times]

* Professor Akhil Amar (our former con law prof; pictured) will be nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court in the administration of... Mike Gravel! Amar: "I’m not quitting my day job.” [Yale Daily News via How Appealing]

* The latest legal woes of Dickie Scruggs and friends. [WSJ Law Blog]

Last year we wrote about Peter "P'Ta Mon" John, whom we named an ATL Lawyer of the Day. In an innovative advertisement, Peter John dubbed himself "The Thugs Lawyer," with the following motto: "No Evidence -- No Conviction!"

Now, a quick update. The latest edition of the Baton Rouge phone book contains Mr. John's newest ad (see below). He no longer calls himself "The Thugs Lawyer," but he still uses the "no evidence -- no conviction" slogan. And he's offering an "Expungement Special," for just $500! (Plus filing fees.)

P.S. We don't know about how state systems deal with this issue. But in the federal system, in most circuits, expungement is a tough row to hoe. We worked on one such case in the Third Circuit: United States v. Rowlands (PDF; via Third Circuit Blog).

No jurisdiction to expunge criminal records in absence of challenge to underlying conviction [Third Circuit Blog]

Earlier: Lawyer of the Day: Peter 'P'Ta Mon' John

If you're not already a member of Lateral Link, you can sign up through their website. Membership, which is free and confidential, allows you to learn about new legal opportunities as they become available. Successfully placed candidates will receive a $10,000 placement bonus.

Position Type / Location: Law Firm - Tax Associate (Washington, DC)

Position Description: The Washington D.C. office is seeking a mid-level tax associate to work on project finance transactions. This magic circle law firm makes The American Lawyer's AmLaw 100 rankings. The firm's practice areas include corporate, bankruptcy and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, project finance, reinsurance and insurance, and tax. The successful candidate must have at least 3-6 years experience in partnerships, foreign tax planning, leveraged leasing, subchapter C and tax-exempt financing.

For more information, see job #7697 on Lateral Link.

Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings (scroll down)

As you know, here at ATL we have a weakness for lawyers who pose in the nude. So today's pick for Lawyer of the Day should surprise no one. From Legal Blog Watch:

Remember the racy billboard ads posted by Chicago law firm Fetman, Garland & Associates that raised so much controversy last spring? The ads featured two photographs, centered on the chest of a scantily clad man and woman with the slug line, "Life's Short. Get A Divorce."

Now, one of the firm's principals, Corri Fetman, has revealed something else about her firm's revealing ads. In this press release issued today, we learn that "the sexy female in the ads is none other than Corri herself." Fetman first shared "the naked truth" about the ads in the February 2008 issue of Playboy, which includes another law firm ad, a "provocative nude pictorial of Corri" and a new online column by Fetman, entitled Lawyer of Love.

Carolyn Elefant disapproves:

[I thought] that Fetman's billboard ad was an effective form of advertising, because it made a point clearly, provoked an emotional response and generated buzz. But the nude spread in Playboy goes too far. As a pure marketing ploy, I'm hard pressed to figure out what kind of clients Fetman is trying to target by posing nude in Playboy.

Horny male ones? Surely men in need of matrimonial counsel are disproportionately represented among the ranks of Playboy readers.

Elefant anticipates this argument:

Even if her spread did generate some decent clients, Fetman would spend hundreds of hours culling through all kinds of calls from various perverts and weirdos contacting her for reasons other than aggressive legal representation.

Hehe. Hey Beavis. She said "aggressive legal representation."

Lawyer With Racy Divorce Ads Exposed -- Literally! [Legal Blog Watch]
'Life's Short, Get a Divorce' Attorney Corri Fetman Bares All for Playboy.com [EarthTimes.org (press release)]
Corri D. Fetman bio [Fetman, Garland & Associates]

If you're not already a member of Lateral Link, you can sign up through their website. Membership, which is free and confidential, allows you to learn about new legal opportunities as they become available. Successfully placed candidates receive a $10,000 placement bonus.

Positions: In-House Counsel - Real Estate, In-House Counsel - Corporate

Location: Newton, Massachusetts

Position Descriptions:

Corporate: Seeking a transactional attorney with four or more years of large law firm experience. Corporate, securities, finance/project finance or energy experience is a plus but not a requirement. Public company experience and SarbOx also a plus but not a requirement. The candidate must be comfortable working in a relatively unstructured environment and will be expected to handle day-to-day tasks while reporting to GC on larger issues. This person will work primarily with the GC and the finance team. The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and be able to handle multiple demands and transactions. The Company is growing quickly and it is a very dynamic workplace; the ideal candidate must be able to accommodate change relatively quickly.

Real Estate: Seeking candidate with four or more years of transactional real estate experience. The ideal candidate has experience with lenders and equity investors, can identify and resolve title issues, and can review real estate documents (including project leases, easements, crossing agreements, commercial leases). This candidate would be responsible for working with developers on land acquisitions for Company projects and would work with the GC, Assistant GC and the finance team on resolving issues and getting projects financed. The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and be able to handle multiple demands and transactions. The Company is growing quickly and it is a very dynamic workplace; therefore the ideal candidate must be able to accommodate change relatively quickly. The candidate needs to have good communication and interpersonal skills, as they will be dealing with rural landowners and employees inside the company.

Company Description: This privately held company is a leader in wind power production, with more than 40 wind farms in development across the country. Based in Newton, Massachusetts, the company is focused on wind farm development, ownership and operation. The company builds primarily in the Northeast, West and Hawaii, and is already producing nearly 100 MW of energy through three operational wind farms. The company is currently developing more than 3,500 MW of wind power projects in several markets through various subsidiary companies. The company is managed and supported by a team of more than 100 talented and dedicated individuals committed to the company’s environment.

For more information, see job # 7661 and job # 7662 on Lateral Link.

Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings (scroll down)

We weren't surprised to see this case get a shout-out on I Am Lawsuit Abuse. From the AP:

A model who says she has worked hard to maintain a wholesome image has filed a $5 million lawsuit complaining that a jewelry company's video advertisement in which she writhes and moans looks pornographic.

The commercial, seen on the Internet in a clip entitled "Rock Her World," shows a woman wearing blue lacy lingerie and a diamond necklace while moaning and stroking her face and neck. It ends with the Web address for the jewelry company, Szul.com.

The 37-year-old woman claims in her lawsuit that she did not "consent to or authorize the use of her likeness, picture, image or name to simulate a female having an orgasm or otherwise experiencing sexual pleasure."

Actually, we prefer the description of the New York Daily News:

The 35-second "Rock Her World" spot features the model rubbing her teal teddy and purring with pleasure to the hard-grinding sounds of a guitar as the slogan, "Jewelry works every time" pops up onscreen.

But look, no need to rely on print descriptions of the ad. One of the beauties of the internet as a medium is that, when it comes to audio or video, you can judge for yourself. So check out the clip -- which, we warn you, is quasi-NSFW (at least with the sound turned on) -- over at Blogonaut.

Done watching? Okay. We concur with our fellow blogger:

[W]e find it hard to believe that Jane Doe’s behavior on the ad could be taken for anything resembling the “wholesome” persona she claims was maligned. What could she have been thinking when she made the ad?

Indeed. What exactly did she think she was advertising when she consented to be filmed, clad in pastel lingerie, writhing on a bed? Anti-epilepsy drugs?

Anyway, casting directors, consider yourselves warned. If the woman from the Szul Jewelry ad shows up for your casting call, don't even think of using her in that Herbal Essences ad.

Oh, and the "I'll have what she's having" scene from When Harry Met Sally? NOT FUNNY.

Update: Ted Frank has written about the case at Overlawyered. We like the title of his post, as well as this quip: "And, of course, she didn't have to roll around on the bed in the first place."

But he notes, in fairness, that the model-plaintiff is claiming no release (hehe). That might be a legitimate basis for a lawsuit.

Model's suit: You used the video you took of me [Overlawyered]
NY Model Sues Jewelry Co for $5M Over R-Rated Web Ad [Blogonaut]
Model sues Szul Jewelry over Web ad [New York Daily News]
NY Lawsuit: My Commercial Looks Lewd [Associated Press]
Rock Her World [YouTube (mildly NSFW)]

If you're not already a member of Lateral Link, you can sign up through their website. Membership, which is free and confidential, allows you to learn about new legal opportunities as they become available. Successfully placed candidates receive a $10,000 placement bonus.

Position: Executive Compensation Attorney

Location: New York

Position Description: Top firm seeks a senior executive compensation/employee benefits associate to join the firm's quickly growing executive compensation group. The firm would consider bringing on an outstanding lateral associate and immediately making them partner.

Skills requirements: At least 6 years of executive compensation experience, and the ability to step into a senior role and work independently.

Firm Description: This Chicago-based law firm ranks Top 10 on AmLaw 100 rankings of U.S. firms by revenues and is known for consistently paying at or above market salary and bonuses.

For more information, see job #7521 on Lateral Link.

Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings (scroll down)

We see that the WSJ Law Blog has beaten us to this subject. We've had this post ready for a while; unfortunately, technical difficulties have prevented us from posting for the past hour.

The WSJ folks have already presented some of the cards that we were going to cover. But here are a few firm holiday greetings not on their list (click on each firm name to see their card):

1. Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft: Trying too hard, sort of like their Wild West-themed holiday party? Then again, it must have been fun for those underemployed structured finance associates to try their hand at web design.

2. Dewey & LeBoeuf: Not trying hard enough? This may take subtlety and understatement too far, to the point of banality. But at least the card's not signed "Sieg heil."

3. Schottenstein Zox & Dunn: This firm, which has about 110 lawyers in three Ohio cities and Raleigh, NC, explains in its cover email that it "strive[s] to approach life and law from a different perspective." So they designed not one but TWO holiday videos. You can view them, and vote for your favorite, over here. We're partial to the video of the skateboarding attorneys, which must have been a challenge to film.

For each vote, the firm will donate $1 to Project Mentor Big Brother Big Sisters of Central Ohio. How nice! (But it's too bad you have to provide your name and email address to vote, which will probably depress voter turnout.)

Update: It appears that the WSJ's link to the holiday card of Grodsky & Olecki, an entertainment law boutique, is broken. We've posted the card, which we also received, after the jump.

Law Blog Law Firm Holiday Cards Of the Day [WSJ Law Blog]

The ethical rules governing advertising by lawyers are designed in large part to protect the public from misleading pitches. But maybe it's the lawyers who need protecting -- from themselves.

If these lawyers scratch themselves inappropriately during meetings, or hog the cold cuts at lunch, don't say they didn't warn you.

Magilla Gorilla, Esq. [copyranter]

Earlier: Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My -- Is It a Law Firm Ad Campaign?

Here's the latest Job of the Week, courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. If you're not already a member of Lateral Link, you can sign up through their website. Membership, which is free and confidential, allows you to learn about new legal opportunities as they become available.

Position: Staff Counsel

Company: ActBlue

Location: Boston, MA

Position Description: Staff Counsel will report to Executive Director. Initial responsibilities will include:

• Research of campaign finance laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels.
• Developing and implementing legal and lobbying strategies to expand ActBlue’s ability to operate at the state level.
• Ensuring compliance with all applicable campaign finance and privacy laws.
• Cultivating relationships with election offices and local campaign finance attorneys across the country.
• Responding to legal inquiries and complaints.

Additional information, after the jump.

Here's the latest Job of the Week, courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. Check out Lateral Link's completely revamped website and new features. Now you can find the Job of the Week listed below in the Featured Jobs section of your MyBio page (and qualified candidates can reveal the employer name immediately).

Position: Assistant Vice President, Investment Counsel

Company: Pacific Life Insurance Company

Location: Orange County, CA

Description: Fortune 500 company is seeking an AVP, Investment Counsel. Primary responsibilities include the following: (i) oversee the drafting, preparation and filing of SEC registration statements and other regulatory filings; (ii) monitor legislation and new laws affecting mutual funds and Investment Advisors. Candidate must have a law degree from an accredited law school, firm knowledge of federal securities laws, excellent writing and communication skills, and a minimum of 8 years experience in 1940 Act work (mutual funds and/or variable products). Admission to California bar required within 1 year. The position requires drafting prospectus disclosure, advisor disclosure, documents and materials, along with implementing appropriate procedures to comply with new laws. Also the candidate will work on board meeting materials, coordinate legal issues with fund advisers, draft fund procedures, prepare/negotiate fund agreements and work on all fund-related matters.

More details, after the jump.

Here's the latest Job of the Week, courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. Check out Lateral Link's completely revamped website and new features. Now you can find the Job of the Week listed below in the Featured Jobs section of your MyBio page.

Position: Counsel - Merchant Services Group

Location: New York, NY

Description: Major international credit card company is seeking a counsel to provide legal support to the company's Merchant Services Group, which manages strategic relationships with merchants in the travel and entertainment and B2B industries. Responsibilities include contract negotiation, marketing and strategic relationship support, updates on applicable legal developments, and general business unit legal support, as the primary legal counsel for such groups.

Requirements: Minimum of 5-7 years experience practicing commercial law in an in-house department or law firm. Experience in the credit card industry desirable, but not required. Member of the New York bar in good standing. Extensive experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including strategic alliances and marketing agreements. Business-oriented, financially sophisticated, proactive lawyer. Strong work ethic.

Job Code: 7293

Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings (scroll down)