Federal Government
-
Clerkships, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Feeder Judges, Job Searches, Law Schools
A Top Law School 'Fesses Up: Yeah, We're Violating the Law Clerk Hiring Plan -- What You Gonna Do About It?
A leading law school announces that it's not following the Law Clerk Hiring Plan -- and explains why. -
American Bar Association / ABA, Biglaw, Federal Government, Job Searches, Kids, Law Schools, Morning Docket, Prostitution, Real Estate
Morning Docket: 07.17.12
* “Many organizations have people who do dumb things.” Members of the Secret Service aren’t the only suits getting secretly serviced. Apparently Treasury Department officials like hookers, too. [New York Daily News]
* The cool cats at WilmerHale arrived for their first day of work yesterday at their hip new downtown location. Their library has a Wii, but who are they kidding, it’s probably just for show. [Am Law Daily (sub. req.)]
* On the other side of the fence, we’ve got some signs of the impending lawpocalypse. Soon Biglaw veterans will be forced to say goodbye to the corner office and hello to the glass-walled cubicle. [WSJ Law Blog]
* George Zimmerman: alleged murderer, and now an alleged child toucher (though he was still a child himself). Witness 9 claims Zimmerman abused her for a decade while they were both underage. [CNN]
* “We want to have a bar pass standard that really works. And it’s clear it doesn’t work now.” Oh boy, would you look at that. The ABA is trying to make it look like it’s doing something to improve law schools! [ABA Journal]
* Emory Law received a record donation, and more than half will fund minority student scholarships. Little do these kids know that they’ll soon be condescendingly told to move to Nebraska. [National Law Journal]
* But then again, maybe Nebraska isn’t so bad, considering three law schools are shipping students to neighboring Iowa. The towns are tiny, and the surroundings are rural, but come on, the state’s got jobs. [NPR]
- Sponsored
How To Maximize Productivity With Westlaw Precision With CoCounsel
Westlaw Precision with CoCounsel helps legal professionals get a faster start to their research. Over time, that added productivity can lead to higher-quality research and… -
Blogging, Clerkships, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Feeder Judges, Job Searches, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, Weirdness
Whither Clerkship Scramble? Popular Blog Mysteriously Disappears
A popular blog about clerkships, the Clerkship Scramble, recently vanished from the internets. What happened?
-
Airplanes / Aviation, California, Constitutional Law, Copyright, Department of Justice, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Food, Gay Marriage, Intellectual Property, John Roberts, Law Schools, Morning Docket, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, UNC Law
Morning Docket: 07.04.12
Ed. note: Your Above the Law editors are busy celebrating their freedom today (and we hope that you are, too). We will return to our regular publication schedule on Thursday, July 5.
* At this point, the Supreme Court’s dramatic deliberations on the Affordable Care Act are like a leaking sieve. Now we’ve got dueling narratives on Chief Justice Roberts’s behind-the-scenes flip-flopping. [WSJ Law Blog]
* Life, liberty, and the pursuit of fabulosity! The Department of Justice has asked the Supreme Court to grant cert on two DOMA cases, contending that Section 3 of the statute is unconstitutional. [Poliglot / Metro Weekly]
* A famous fabulist: according to California’s State Bar, disgraced journalist Stephen Glass is a “pervasive and documented liar,” but that’s not stopping him from trying to get his license to practice law. [Los Angeles Times]
* Clayton Osbon, the JetBlue pilot who had an epic mid-flight nutty and started ranting about religion and terrorists, was found not guilty by reason of insanity by a federal judge during a bench trial. [New York Post]
* After a month of bizarre legal filings, Charles Carreon has dropped his lawsuit against Matthew Inman of The Oatmeal. We’re hoping that there will be an awesome victory cartoon drawn up soon. [Digital Life / Today]
* Northwestern Law is the only American law school to have joined a 17-member global justice league geared toward legal teaching and research collaborations. But do they get cool costumes? [National Law Journal]
* UNC Law received two charitable gifts totaling $2.7M that will be used to fund tuition scholarships for current and future students. Maybe their students won’t have to create tuition donation sites anymore. [Herald-Sun]
* This law is for the birds (literally and figuratively). California’s ban on the sale of foie gras had only been in effect for one day before the first lawsuit was filed to overturn it as unconstitutional. [San Francisco Chronicle]
* The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department of Commerce recently announced that mermaids do not exist. Not to worry — it’s still legal to believe that Ariel is a babe. [New York Daily News]
-
Cyberlaw, Department of Justice, Entertainment Law, Federal Government, Intellectual Property, Technology
DOJ Case Against Megaupload Continues Crumbling, and I Have To Admit It's Fun to Watch
A New Zealand judge rules the search warrant conducted against Kim Dotcom illegal, and schadenfreude starts to kick in… -
Abortion, Antonin Scalia, Birthdays, Books, Federal Government, Jeffrey Toobin, Non-Sequiturs, U.S. News
Non-Sequiturs: 06.19.12
* Another year, another survey that shows prospective law students care more about the U.S. News Law School Rankings than anything else when applying to law school. In fact, it’s the exact same number from 2010. Kids are dumb. [Kaplan] * Everybody is worried about what will happen when computers replace attorneys. I’m much more interested in what will happen when computers replace hookers. [The Atlantic] * If watching our Congress ask idiot questions of Jamie Dimon doesn’t make you feel like we need vastly more intelligent Congresspeople, maybe watching them fawn over Jamie Dimon will do the trick. [Dealbreaker] * I really hadn’t thought of this — in addition to your huge educational debts, your parents are most likely out there spending your inheritance. I swear, if I ever spend money on more education, it’s going to be on a post-apocalyptic survivalist class. [Law and More] * Former TSA lady gropes current TSA lady after inappropriate groping from TSA. [Threat Level / Wired] * In real life, unlike Monopoly, a bank error is never really in your favor. [Legal Blog Watch] * Do the Republicans have an abortion problem? [New Yorker] * Happy Birthday, Lat! Check out the very cool gift (affiliate link) that he received in the mail today — signed by one of the authors. [Twitpic via Twitter] -
Clerkships, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Feeder Judges, Job Searches, Law Schools, Martha Minow
The Law Clerk Hiring Plan, R.I.P.
The Law Clerk Hiring Plan appears to be dead. At least one top law school has openly abandoned it.... -
Fabulosity, Federal Government, Hedge Funds / Private Equity, Hotties, JPMorgan Chase, Lawyerly Lairs, Money, Pictures, Real Estate, Supreme Court Clerks, U.S. Attorneys Offices, Wall Street
Lawyerly Lairs: A Federal Prosecutor's $25 Million Apartment
Government work doesn't pay particularly well. So how can a federal prosecutor afford to live in a $25 million apartment? - Sponsored
New Report - Are Small Firms Achieving Their Legal Tech Goals?
In this new report of more than 100 professionals at small and smaller midsize law firms, iManage and Above the Law shed new light on… -
Biglaw, Copyright, Cyberlaw, Department of Justice, Entertainment Law, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Intellectual Property, Technology
The Justice Department Appears to Be Losing the Battle Against Megaupload
With several new court filings, the Department of Justice's case against Megaupload continues to unravel… -
Department of Justice, Federal Government, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Job Searches, Musical Chairs, Patrick Fitzgerald, Rod Blagojevich, U.S. Attorneys Offices
Musical Chairs: Patrick Fitzgerald Steps Down As U.S. Attorney
Patrick Fitzgerald is stepping down as U.S. Attorney in Chicago. What's he up to next? -
Bankruptcy, Biglaw, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Dewey Ballantine, Dissolution, ERISA, Federal Government, LeBoeuf Lamb, Old People, Partner Issues
Dewey Have Underfunded Pension Plans? Feds Say Yes, Stepping In To Pay the Shortfall
Dewey have enough money to pay its pension liabilities? Apparently not.... -
Biglaw, Copyright, Cyberlaw, Entertainment Law, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Intellectual Property, Technology
Megaupload Trial May Never Happen Because of Possible FBI Error
The government makes another blunder in the Megaupload case... -
3rd Circuit, American Bar Association / ABA, Barack Obama, Biglaw, Constitutional Law, Federal Government, Free Speech, Guns / Firearms, Legal Ethics, Money, Morning Docket, Old People, Politics, Pornography
Morning Docket: 04.18.12
* Since you’re so funny, crack some jokes about this one, Obama. Senate Republicans will be filing an amicus brief in support of a challenge to the constitutionality of the President’s recess appointments. [New York Times]
* Thanks to this Third Circuit ruling, you can rest easy knowing that you can rely on the First Amendment to protect your homemade sex tapes from all of those strict porn record-keeping and labeling requirements… for now. [Reuters]
* Due to Kelley Drye’s EEOC settlement, the New York State Bar Association is asking firms to end mandatory retirement policies. Because old folks need to make bank till they croak. [Thomson Reuters News & Insight]
* The ABA’s Commission on Ethics 20/20 has decided to ditch its proposal to allow limited nonlawyer ownership of law firms. Cue tears and temper tantrums from the likes of Jacoby & Meyers. [Am Law Daily]
* “If I believe that Chris Armstrong is a radical homosexual activist, I have a constitutional right to express that opinion.” Yeah, yeah, yeah. Tell that to the judge who dismissed your suit, Shirvell. [Detroit Free Press]
* Presenting “her royal hotness”: apparently Pippa Middleton has been seen cavorting around France with gun-toting lawyer Romain Rabillard, of Shearman & Sterling. [Daily Mail]
Sponsored
New Report - Are Small Firms Achieving Their Legal Tech Goals?
Attention Buyer: Not All Legal AI Models Are Created Equal
The Ethical use of Generative AI
Sponsored
Mitigating M&A Cyber Risk: Pre- & Post-Acquisition Due Diligence
How To Maximize Productivity With Westlaw Precision With CoCounsel
-
Disability Law, Drugs, Federal Government, John Edwards, Law Schools, Money, Morning Docket, Politics, Trials
Morning Docket: 04.17.12
* Say sayonara to the Buffett Rule. Senate Republicans were successful in blocking the 30% tax on millionaires proposed by Democrats. And thank God, because that trickle down thing is totally working for us right now. [Wall Street Journal]
* Rich lawyers keep getting richer because they keep increasing their fees. That being said, where the hell are the bonuses? Come on now, SullCrom, are you seriously going to make us all wait until June? That’s really not very nice. [Thomson Reuters News & Insight]
* Well, that was quick: one minute men abound in the George Zimmerman circus. Mark O’Mara filed a motion to get Judge Recksiedler off the case, and the media filed a motion to get access to sealed records. [CNN]
* A federal judge presiding over the John Edwards campaign finance trial dismissed 47 potential jurors. Dude gets around, because apparently he had slept with all of them. Nah, he wishes, though. [Bloomberg]
* As a law school, it sure is easy to claim that just under 100% of the class of 2010 was employed nine months after graduation, especially when you were the one employing them. [National Law Journal]
* Seems like the New York Times has finally caught on to the ADA troll trend. Lawyers are recruiting clients to file suits against noncompliant businesses, but at least the disabled reap the rewards. [New York Times]
* Prospective welfare recipients in Georgia have a few more months to blaze before they’ll have to pass a drug test to receive benefits. Smoke two joints before you prepare for all the incoming lawsuits. [Washington Post]
-
Biglaw, Copyright, Cyberlaw, Entertainment Law, Federal Government, Google / Search Engines, Intellectual Property, Legal Ethics, Litigators, Technology, William Burck, YouTube
Quinn Emanuel Calls B.S. on Government Conflict-of-Interest Objection in Megaupload Case
Quinn Emanuel lashes back at the government's conflict of interest objection in the Megaupload case. What does QE have to say? -
5th Circuit, Clerkships, Department of Justice, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Job Searches
Want to Clerk for the Judge Who Took on Obama?
Interested in clerking on the Fifth Circuit for the controversial Judge Jerry Smith? There's something you should know.... -
5th Circuit, Barack Obama, Benchslaps, Constitutional Law, Department of Justice, Election 2012, Eric Holder, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Health Care / Medicine, Judicial Divas, Politics
Attorney General Eric Holder Responds to Judge Jerry Smith's Homework Assignment
Attorney General Eric Holder has filed his reply to the Fifth Circuit's "homework assignment" -- a single-spaced, three-page letter discussing judicial review. What did he have to say? -
5th Circuit, Barack Obama, Benchslaps, Constitutional Law, Department of Justice, Election 2012, Federal Government, Federal Judges, Health Care / Medicine, Judicial Divas, Politics
Benchslap of the Day: Fifth Circuit Orders DOJ To Write 'We Respect Judicial Review' in Three-Page Letter
The nation recently received a lesson in constitutional law from President Barack Obama. The problem with this lesson: it wasn't exactly accurate. One prominent conservative jurist, Judge Jerry E. Smith of the Fifth Circuit, took it upon himself to set the record straight.... -
Airplanes / Aviation, Bankruptcy, Baseball, Biglaw, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Fashion, Federal Government, Health Care / Medicine, Morning Docket, Trademarks
Morning Docket: 03.29.12
* If Obamacare gets struck down, do you think insurance companies will allow children to remain on their parents’ plans until age 26? My Magic 8-Ball says: “Outlook not so good.” [Wall Street Journal] * There’s no crying in baseball bankruptcy sales! Which Biglaw firms hit a home run for playing a part in the […]
-
Anthony Kennedy, Election 2012, Federal Government, Health Care / Medicine, Paul Clement, Politics, SCOTUS, Supreme Court
Obamacare Goes to Court, Day Three: Republicans Come for Medicaid
Day three of the Obamacare oral arguments....