Books
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Books, English Grammar and Usage, New York Times, Oral Sex / Blow Jobs, Quote of the Day, Rudeness, Sex
Fun Fact of the Day: Talk Dirty to Me
Prosecutable hate speech in 17th-century Massachusetts included calling people “dogs,” “rogues” and even “queens” (though the last referred to prostitution); magistrates took serious umbrage at being labeled “poopes” (“dolts”). — John McWhorter, the noted linguist, in his New York Times review this past weekend of Speaking American: A History of English in the United States. […] -
Biglaw, Blogging, Books, In-House Counsel, Law Reviews, Media and Journalism
Inside Straight: 'Recreational' Writing, In-House and Out
Complete honesty is such a dangerous thing. I’m going to give it a shot. I’m posing three questions to myself today. First, why might a lawyer at a law firm choose to write articles? Second, what topics should lawyers write about, and where should they publish the articles? Finally, why might an in-house lawyer choose […] - Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so… -
Airplanes / Aviation, Books, Boutique Law Firms, Guns / Firearms, LLMs, Musical Chairs, Non-Sequiturs, Partner Issues, Small Law Firms, Trials
Non-Sequiturs: 01.19.12
* Dressing shrinks as wizards when they testify would be an AWESOME idea. I’m serious. Why can’t we have this? And titles, too. “Your Honor, I call Dr. Freud — Ph.D in weakness management and keeper of the sacred staffs of Ivory guard — to the stand.” [Overlawyered] * iTextbooks! Could be awesome, could widen […]
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Ann Althouse, Books, Crowell & Moring, Department of Justice, Education / Schools, Emily Goodman, Musical Chairs, Non-Sequiturs, Office of Legal Counsel, Student Loans
Non-Sequiturs: 01.12.12
* Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s lawyer has a challenge for you: “I defy you to tell the difference between a naked prostitute and any other naked woman.” [Dealbreaker] * It’s not often that Cravath partners leave for other firms, but it happens. Jeffrey Smith, former head of the environmental practice at Cravath, recently decamped for Crowell & […] -
Books, Constitutional Law, In-House Counsel, Law Professors, Litigators
Inside Straight: Torpedoing Class Actions
In 2009, Professor Martin H. Redish of Northwestern Law School published a book arguing that class actions are in large part unconstitutional: Wholesale Justice: Constitutional Democracy and the Problem of the Class Action Lawsuit (Stanford Univ. Press 2009). Where is the practicing bar? I understand that nobody reads law review articles or books published by […] -
Books, Feminism, Google / Search Engines, Law Professors, Law Schools, Non-Sequiturs, SCOTUS, Social Media, Social Networking Websites, Supreme Court, Women's Issues
Non-Sequiturs: 01.11.12
* Being 15 minutes early to crucial meetings is not all that it’s cracked up to be. [The Ying-a-Ling] * Law school fiction: possible comic gold, possible Shakespearean tragedy. Check out excerpts from Cameron Stracher’s work in progress. [The Socratic Method] * The key for women getting ahead in 2012: working for companies that don’t […] -
5th Circuit, Ann Althouse, Barack Obama, Books, Clerkships, Depositions, Drinking, Drugs, Fat People, Gay, Lesbians, Nauseating Things, Non-Sequiturs, Politics
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 […] -
Books, Small Law Firms, Solo Practitioners
Size Matters: Carolyn Elefant Teaches Us How to Go Solo
Valerie Katz would bet that at least half of you resolved to find a new job in 2012. And, for many, that new job means going out on your own. As with most New Year's resolutions, however, such a measure may seem overwhelming. Lucky for you, Carolyn Elefant has updated her book, Solo by Choice, and it provides a thorough road map for lawyers looking to make the leap to solo practice.... - 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… -
Biglaw, Books, Career Alternatives, Email Scandals, Kids, Litigators, Loyola Law School, Partner Issues, Partner Profits, Weirdness
A Farewell to Remember: One Partner's Dramatic Departure Memo
Every now and then, you'll come across a colorful farewell message penned by a partner. One such email, sent out last Friday by a longtime partner leaving a major law firm, is now making the rounds. Here's a teaser: "I have realized that I cannot simultaneously meet the demands of career and family. Without criticizing those who have chosen lucre over progeny, let me just say that I am leaving the practice of law." Wow. So who's the partner in question, which firm did he just leave with such flair, and what's he planning to do next? -
Accounting / Accountants, Baseball, Books, Media and Journalism, Non-Sequiturs, Prostitution, Sports
Non-Sequiturs: 12.21.11
* A Pennsylvania appeals court ruled that selling sex for Phillies tickets doesn’t make you a prostitute. She was already a Phillies fan, so calling her a whore was redundant. [Legal Blog Watch] * Occupy Wall Street is looking for a few good accountants. Man, they are about six months from telling us that some […] -
Biglaw, Billable Hours, Books, Celebrities, Crime, Fabulosity, Fashion, Fashion Is Fun, Food, Lawyerly Lairs, Real Estate, Small Law Firms
An Afternoon With Ed Hayes, Celebrated Litigator and Memoirist
What draws people to the practice of law? Some do it for the paycheck, some do it for the prestige, and some do it for the excitement and fun of it all. Veteran New York litigator Edward Hayes belongs firmly in the final camp. Although he has amassed fame and fortune over almost four decades of practicing law, his legal career reflects a quest for adventure. And what adventures Hayes has had.... -
Books, California, FDA, Food, Morning Docket, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, UVA Law, Wall Street
Morning Docket: 12.08.11
* In an unprecedented move, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has overruled the FDA. Looks like the Obama administration thinks that Plan B will turn little girls into promiscuous prosti-tots. [Wall Street Journal] * Due to this ruling, Occupy Boston protesters will probably have to STFU and GTFO. Bring out the brooms, because this will be […]
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Books, In-House Counsel, Shameless Plugs, Trials
Inside Straight: Oxford University Press Publishes Great New Treatise!
Yeah, I’m shameless, but I repeat: Oxford University Press has just published a great new treatise! I recently popped open a box and held in my hands an advance copy of a new treatise published by Oxford University Press: Drug and Device Product Liability Litigation Strategy (affiliate link), by yours truly and my former partner […]
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Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
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Books, Letter from London, Politics, United Kingdom / Great Britain
Letter from London: Pompous, Jargon-Addicted... Sound Familiar?
Down on your luck? Feel like cheering yourself up by, say, arresting a judge? Or perhaps you just fancy seizing a courtroom for the day? Well, the “Freeman-on-the-land” movement could be for you. “Freemen” argue that the law can be circumvented by, for example, evoking an ancient text and then sending an affidavit to the […] -
Books, Litigators, Quote of the Day, Trials
Quote of the Day: You're Not the Only One
I genuinely dislike Jose Baez. — Jeff Ashton, former Florida prosecutor in the Casey Anthony case, commenting in his new book, Imperfect Justice: Prosecuting Casey Anthony (affiliate link), on how he really feels about her lead attorney, Jose Baez. (More of Ashton’s less-than-complimentary commentary on Baez, after the jump.) -
American Bar Association / ABA, Books, Caption Contests, Contests, Law Schools, Libraries / Librarians, Pictures
Caption Contest Winner: Ugh, Our Library Is Such a Dump
Last week, we asked our readers to submit possible captions for this photo: On Friday, you voted on the finalists, and now it’s time to announce the winner of our most recent caption contest…. -
Books, Caption Contests, Contests, Law Schools, Libraries / Librarians
Caption Contest Finalists: Ugh, Our Library Is Such a Dump
Earlier this week, we asked readers to submit possible captions for this trashy photo: Let’s have a look at what our readers were able to come up with, and then vote on the finalists…. -
Books, Law Professors, Law Schools, Shameless Plugs
A Helpful New Resource for Law Students
We’re already into the middle of October. In the law firm world, associates are starting to think about bonuses. Meanwhile, at law schools, exams will be here before you know it. If you’re a law student looking for guidance about preparing for and taking exams, you might want to check out Open Book: Succeeding on […] -
Books, Caption Contests, Contests, Law Schools, Libraries / Librarians
Caption Contest: Ugh, Our Library Is Such a Dump
Every year at the end of finals, law students contemplate doing crazy things with their books. While some people want to set them on fire, others want to roll up a page or two and just blaze. These are creative options for creative people. Others will settle for the simplest solution possible, tossing those babies straight into the nearest trash can. But what happens when a law school does it for you? Here's the photo for our latest caption contest.... -
Books, Crime, Election 2012, John Paul Stevens, Morning Docket, New Jersey, Paul Bergrin, Politics, Trials, War on Terror
Morning Docket: 10.10.11
Ed. note: In honor of Columbus Day (and Canadian Thanksgiving), we’ll be on a reduced publication schedule today. We’ll be back in full force tomorrow. * If you are curious about that legal memo justifying the killing of Anwar al-Awlaki, Charlie Savage describes its contents in this very interesting NYT piece. [New York Times] * […]