Kashmir Hill

I'm an editor emeritus at Above the Law. I am still a contributor to ATL, but now spend my days at Forbes writing about privacy, technology and the law at The Not-So Private Parts. Follow me on Twitter or friend me on Facebook.

Posts by Kashmir Hill

A Guide to Internet Slang, Courtesy of the Sarah Palin Email Hacker Trial

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Earlier this year, David Kernell, 22, was found guilty of hacking into Sarah Palin’s Yahoo! account and posting some of her emails on the Internetz. The Palins were pleased by his conviction.

One of the places where Palin’s correspondence wound up was the (enter-at-your-own-risk) message forum 4chan.org. During the course of the April felony trial, 4chan founder Christopher “Moot” Poole was called to testify. The Smoking Gun dug up and posted the transcript from the testimony yesterday. Federal prosecutor Mark Krotoski asked Poole to explain how 4chan operates and how it keeps track of its users. He also asked him to explain some “Internet speak.”

The testimony is a handy guide for those of you who get confused by the slang used in online comments sections. How does one define a “lurker,” “troll,” or a “b-tard”?

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  • 10 Aug 2010 at 1:18 PM
  • Crime

Plea Deal of the Day: Poker Payback for Securities Fraud

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Samuel McMaster, Jr. didn’t play his cards right before, but hopefully he can now. The former stockbroker admitted to 26 felony charges of securities fraud, after having sold half a million dollars of worthless promissory notes to his victims. He faces up to 12 years in the clinker.

But, apparently, McMaster is a skilled poker player. And as one would expect from an expert swindler, he’s quite a smooth talker. According to ABC News (via Dealbreaker), New Mexico prosecutor Phyllis Bowman agreed to an unusual deal with him: he can try to play poker for his freedom.

White collar defense attorneys, listen up. If McMaster can win back the $440,000 he owes his more than 20 victims, he’s a free man…

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Duke Law School Dean David Levi Comes Out Swinging for Young Lawyers

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David Levi

Dean David Levi of Duke Law School

Law schools — as Elie likes to remind readers on a frequent basis — are businesses. Like any good CEO should, Duke Law School dean David Levi has written an editorial defending his product: young lawyers.

In the National Law Journal, he starts off by acknowledging that the legal market for young lawyers is in worse shape than Duke’s reputation after the lacrosse scandal, and that this is “understandable” given the laws of supply and demand. (A subtle acknowledgment of there being too many law schools?) He then writes:

What is not understandable is the surprising amount of criticism heaped upon younger lawyers, offered as if to justify placing a disproportionate share of the economic downturn on their shoulders.

The criticism comes from law firm managers, in-house counsel and former lawyers who now comment on the legal profession…

Ahem. *Uncomfortable pause.*

They most likely represent a minority view, but they are vocal. They say that clients are no longer willing to pay for the work of young associates because their work is “worthless.” We might expect clients to make any argument that could lead to a lower bill, particularly during an economic downturn. But it is wrong and surprising for experienced lawyers inside and outside of firms to acquiesce in, even reinforce, this line of argument.

So how does Dean Levi undermine the argument?

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Florida Lawyer Holds a $5,000 Contest to Find Him a Job in California

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Find a job for Joe Lopatka. Win $5,000.

Earlier this month, we asked, “How much would you pay somebody to give you a job?” The question was sparked by a lawyer in Manhattan who posted a Craigslist ad offering up $1,000 to anyone who could help him nail down a legal position. He said he would pay it in cash — $200 for an interview, and $800 on his first day of work.

Well, a Florida lawyer is raising the ante. He’s quintupling it actually. The UC-Hastings Law grad is running a “Find Joe a Job” contest. The winner will take home $5K…

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Non-Sequiturs: 08.09.10

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* HLS Dean Martha Minow points out that Justice Marshall’s legacy was confirmed along with Justice Kagan on Saturday. [Boston Globe]

* We’re still reviewing Morning Docket applications. One application started an argument between us about the usefulness of Victoria’s Secret experience, and then Elie went on vacation leaving it unresolved. Meanwhile, here’s another legal blog writing opportunity over at the Genomics Law Report. [Genomics Law Report]

* Is contract work so easy that a 14-year-old can do it? [Laws for Attorneys (Satire)]

* Workplace social media policies are a must. We suggest that these policies not forbid employees from sending things to legal blogs. [ABA]

* Google and Verizon plan to make the net a little less neutral. [Gizmodo]

* We thought it was 8-9-10 day, but apparently, it’s International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Is that another Hallmark-created holiday? [Securing Innovation via Blawg Review]

* Scalia stumbles, survives. [San Francisco Chronicle]

Career Alternatives: Starving Artist
Emory Law Grad Eugene Ahn Gives Up Labor Law for Rap

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Eugene Ahn, aka Adam WarRock. (Photo credit: Victoria Ruan)

Eugene Ahn developed an alter ego to explore his creative side while working for a small litigation and employment law firm in Washington, D.C. The Emory Law grad goes by Adam WarRock in his creative projects, which include musical pursuits and a side gig as a contributor to the FakeAPStylebook Twitter account.

This summer, he let the alter ego take over. After three years with his firm, he quit his job in June to pursue his music full-time.

He caught our ear with this Girl Talk-like mash-up, “Starving Artist”:

He caught the attention of Public Radio International, though, last year with a single entitled Ira Glass, about the host of This American Life. PRI’s CEO liked it so much that she blogged about it. On Friday, Ahn and his Ohio-based DJ released a commercial version of the Public-Radio-praising song.

Ahn’s now giving himself a year to make it in the artistic world. What’s his plan?

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Emory Law Grad Eugene Ahn Gives Up Labor Law for Rap“

Quote of the Day: No Impure Thoughts at Hughes Hubbard

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It’s not that we’re snobs. It’s because we couldn’t trust it. The reason clients pay us what they pay us is because they know we’re 100 percent quality control.

– Hughes, Hubbard & Reed partner Kenneth A. Lefkowitz in a New York Times/City Room story about outsourcing.

Summer Associate Etiquette 101: Share Your Bottle of Wine

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There was not much in the way of summer associate scandal this year. There were fewer summer associates at law firms, and they were on their best behavior — resulting in 100% offer rates at many firms. This meant, though, that the stream of summer associate stories was disappointingly dry. (Of course, if you have a story to share — now that summer programs are over, it’s safe to spill the beans — please email us.)

Alas, it was not a dry summer for one law student at Milbank Tweed. This particular summer associate, from a school near the top of the US News rankings, has won an Olympic medal. Apparently, she’s also a champion drinker.

This rising 2L fell under the spell of Mad Men and embraced the three-martini lunch. Her drink of choice, though, was wine — by the bottle…

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Morning Docket: 08.09.10

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Did HP CEO Mark Hurd star in this, too?

* Elena Kagan was sworn in on Saturday… and is still looking for law clerks. [BLT - Blog of the Legal Times]

* Entrepreneurial law firms could make out like bandits from the whistleblower incentives in the financial reform bill. [Financial Times]

* War crimes trial at the Hague devolves into Naomi Campbell prosecution. [Gawker]

* A Skinemax actress brings down the CEO of HP with the help of celebrity attorney Gloria Allred. [Associated Press; San Jose Mercury News; Wall Street Journal]

* Rankings that rankle? [Am Law Daily]

* Call 1-800-HYPO-CRITE. [Tampa Bay Online]

The Verdict in the Bluegrass State’s Sordid Sports Trial is In: Karen Sypher is Guilty

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Rick Pitino and Karen Sypher

Just because a man deposits on your leg doesn’t mean you can take him to the bank. The jury in the Karen Sypher eight-day trial began deliberating yesterday at 3 p.m., and finished up today after about five hours — an eternity in Rick Pitino time.

While it may have been embarrassing for Louisville basketball coach Pitino to testify about his terrible sexual performance, it led to Sypher being found guilty of extortion, lying to federal agents, and witness retaliation. The jury is still out on whether she’s guilty of giving creepy head.

Sypher guilty on all counts [WAVE 3]
Sypher found guilty on all counts [Kentucky Sports Radio]

Earlier: The Bluegrass State’s Sordid Sports Trial (Or: University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino must really hate Karen Sypher)

More Summer Associate Classes With 100% Offer Rates

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Some summer associates are ending their summers on a very positive note. Quite a few firms have already informed law school students that after this summer fling, they’re interested in a more serious relationship.

Since our last round-up of offices extending offers to 100% of their summer associates, we’ve heard from a few more contented summers…

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Morning Docket: 08.05.10

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* SCOTUS to 3 lady justices! The Senate will vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court today. [Associated Press]

* Can you hear me now not being evil? Google and Verizon’s talks are making net neutrality advocates very nervous. [New York Times]

* Rudy Giuliani is tough on crime, but how tough will he be on his daughter? [New York Post]

* Intel promises to play nice from now on. It settled its antitrust case with the FTC. [New York Times]

* It’s like the gas station lines of the 1970s, except all those waiting plan to sue. [Galveston County Daily News]

* Call in Russell Crowe. Idaho prison is known as “gladiator school” due its epic levels of violence. [Associated Press]

* What impact would offering online degrees have on UC – Berkeley’s ranking? [USA Today]