This afternoon, we told you about a summer associate from Harvard Law School who has already been fired from his firm. After the story went up, the HLS 2L called Above the Law to "set the record straight." He has a different version of what went on during his brief stay at McDermott, Will & Emery.

According to the former summer associate, who asked that we maintain his anonymity (so please don't name him in the comments), he was let go because his work visa hadn't yet come through. As many of you know, non-citizens need to have a work visa in order to work -- and get paid -- in America.

But according to the HLS 2L, his work authorization papers were delayed because MWE didn't tell him he'd be able to start working as a summer associate until late February. In case you're wondering, you cannot apply for a work visa until you know when you will actually be working (in terms of specific dates). The HLS 2L did apply for the work visa in late February, but he's still waiting for the papers to come through.

As the HLS 2L put it:

I was never officially a summer at McDermott, so I really wasn't fired.

More details about the HLS 2L's "heated conversation" with a MWE partner, after the jump.

Man down! We're not even into July, and it seems that one summer associate has already gotten himself fired. (We're fairly sure it was a him, but please correct us if we're wrong.)

Generally SAs are terrified this summer, and therefore on their best behavior. But one fellow apparently didn't get the memo. Interestingly enough, according to multiple sources, the fired summer is a student at the hallowed Harvard Law School.

Details are a little sketchy, so please treat this as an early draft. The story will surely evolve, as summer associate stories often do. E.g., Skadden Cristal Boy (original version here, alternate version here); Kirkland & Ellis's Bruised Booze Cruiser (original version here, alternate version here); the Sapphic Smoochers (compare the different versions of the story by scrolling down through the Lindquist & Vennum archives).

Here's the abridged version:

There are rumors floating around among HLS students that a summer got himself fired. As far as details, I had heard that he talked back to a partner.

A more detailed account, suggesting that alcohol was involved, after the jump.

Gentleman, how emasculated would you feel if your future father-in-law shuttled your bride down the aisle, and then, instead of pecking her on the cheek and handing her over, actually turned around and performed the wedding ceremony? Talk about control issues. That's exactly what this groom endured last Sunday, as he was married by his father-in-law, United States Federal District Judge Jed S. Rakoff.

The Rakoff wedding didn't make our final three. Neither did a couple of lesbian unions, a WGWAG, and several other worthy contenders. Here are the three who made the finals:

1. Devon Quasha and Jeffrey Thorn

2. Saralisa Brau and William Van Horne

3. Linda Cho and James Brennan

More about these impressive legal-eagle newlyweds, after the jump.

* New Jersey Internet radio talk show host arrested for blogging that federal judges Frank Easterbrook, Richard Posner, and William Bauer "deserved to be killed" after a recent decision on Chicago handgun ban case. [CNN]

* More Morgan Lewis Musical Chairs: Yesterday, the firm announced that it had tapped gas from Baker Botts. Good thing, because Morgan Lewis lost some energy to Pillsbury this week. [National Law Journal]

* We don't know how Aaronson, Rappaport, Feinstein and Deutsch does in the courtroom, but it's a big winner in the New York real estate market. [Observer]

* Nationwide (Law School) Layoff Watch: As predicted in May, layoffs have started at Harvard, despite HLS grads' protest. [Boston Globe]

* The Fourth Circuit supports the ban on 'partial birth' abortions in Virginia. [Washington Post]

We'll bottom-line this week's contest, folks: The SCOTUS clerk wins. Yep, after a long absence, LEWW's favorite credential makes a welcome appearance in the NYT weddings section, and we've got the details for you.

But first, congratulations to Sabrina Charles and Jamie Dycus, who readers overwhelmingly voted Legal Eagle Couple of the Month for May, demonstrating that -- in the words of one commenter (and apparently, in the minds of ATL readers) -- "Wachtell > Sotomayor > Olympic medal."

Here are our finalists:

1. Kathryn Whitfield and Adam Fotiades

2. Christina Krause and Peter Henderson

3. Pamela Bookman and Jeffrey Perlman

More about these couples, after the jump.

* Justice may be blind, but she needs to see your face in Michigan. [True/Slant]

* Lawyers for Allen Stanford, the Texas financier accused of a massive swindle, want Baker Botts off the case. [Reuters]

* Convicted terrorist Jose Padilla can sue John Yoo for the legal memos he wrote at the Justice Department defending torture. [San Francisco Chronicle]

* Renowned legal scholar Lawrence Lessig stars in a new film. Stanford Law is getting the publicity shout-out in the articles about the documentary, but Harvard recently snatched Lessig for its faculty. [DCist]

* Chapter 11 bankruptcy. So hot right now. [Wall Street Journal]

* Is this year's cutthroat BigLaw environment worse for summer associates or for the hiring partners they are stalking? [Fulton County Daily Report]

* Does Obama have big plans for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan? [Chicago Sun-Times]

If you have ever been on financial aid, you know that many law schools require you to work over the summer and make financial contributions towards your debts based on your summer employment. Harvard Law School has such a requirement. Financial aid awards have been traditionally determined based on a ten-week, minimum summer work requirement.

That's a fine policy during normal economic times, but these are anything but normal economic times. Many students -- even Ivy-encrusted Harvard Law students -- have seen firms reduce the length of their summer programs to less than ten weeks.

Earlier this month, it looked like HLS students in this situation would not only be losing income because their firms scaled back their summer programs, but they would also owe Harvard more money. A few students received this email from the HLS financial aid office earlier this month:

In processing your application for aid, we note that you have indicated you will be working less than 10 weeks this summer. The official policy of the law school is to impute a contribution in all circumstances (except medical) when students work less than 10 weeks in the summer. Work in a paid law-related position is not required; the only requirement is that you work in some capacity. You can volunteer or work in a non law-related job if circumstances require you do to so. The best way to ensure that you will not be assessed an imputed contribution for part of the summer is to secure a volunteer position or a second paid job in order to meet the 10 week work requirement.

We understand that for students whose employers have reduced their summer programs for economic reasons, it might be difficult to find additional employment or volunteer opportunities. However, at this point we are not able to promise that our policy will be more flexible. If you are not able to meet the 10-week requirement after making an effort to explore other options, you can submit an appeal at the end of the summer to have the imputed portion of your student contribution reduced or eliminated. We will ask you to explain the circumstances and the steps you took to try to meet the 10-week work requirement. In making appeals decisions, the Financial Aid Committee will consider how widespread summer employment reductions were, the timing of your first notification that your summer employment was reduced, and your demonstration of a sustained effort to meet the 10 week work requirement.

Is this policy fair? HLS officials change course, after the jump.

Don't get too close to any Ivory Tower in your town today. The news that Cravath is leaving the class of 2010 out of work for a year has sent monocles flying as students at top law schools learn a powerful lesson about free market capitalism.

Harvard Law School sent out a letter to all of its rising 3Ls in the wake of the Cravath announcement. It essentially warned them that you can't trade in an HLS degree for food and shelter:

Dear Rising 3Ls:

We hope you are getting off to a great start in your summer jobs. We write to alert you about a situation that may require action on your part. As you know, many law firms deferred the start dates of class of 2009 associates from 2009 to 2010. Without clear indication that the economy will turn around by 2010, some firms are planning ahead and already notifying summer associates from the class of 2010 that their start dates are likely to be deferred until 2011 or later. See, e.g., Cravath and Skadden. Generally firms have been generous in providing fellowships or stipends to the class of 2009 given the surprise to that class, but firms may not provide such options to you in the class of 2010 because you have more advance notice about economic conditions. If you are at a law firm this summer and hope to return after graduation, you should ask yourself now what you might do to fill the 2010-2011 year if necessary. [Emphasis in the original.]

What should the class of 2010 do for post-graduate employment, "if necessary"? Stipends look like they are going to be less generous, so people might actually need to earn some money for a year.

So, what can you do with a law degree once Biglaw decides that they don't want you? I hear law firms in Baghdad are booming right now.

Harvard has its own ideas, after the jump.

Another week, another NYT Vows column comparing the bride to a giant coniferous tree ("The bride stood stately and erect, echoing the Redwoods that surrounded them . . . "). Seriously, could they maybe assign Vows once a month to a real writer, just to make it a little less chirpy and insipid? What about Maureen Dowd? What about Paul Krugman?

Here are this week's finalists, including the tree-like bride:

1. Alizah Diamond and Itai Maytal

2. Stefanie Schneider and David Alpert

3. Anya Emerson and Jonah Staw

After the jump, our non-chirpy analysis of these couples.

A replacement for Elena Kagan as dean of Harvard Law School has been named. It's the well-liked law school professor Martha Minow.

Harvard University President Drew Faust announced the news to HLS students, today:

I am delighted to let you know that Martha Minow has agreed to serve as the next Dean of Harvard Law School. She will take up her duties on July 1.

Martha has been a member of the HLS faculty since 1981, and she has served the school with extraordinary dedication and energy. She is an eminent scholar of uncommon range and imagination, a greatly admired teacher who guided the school's recent curricular review, and an outstanding citizen not only of the Law School but of the University, with impressive experience in academic leadership roles. She has a clear-eyed view of the challenges and opportunities facing the Law School, and a talent for bringing people together to work through important academic and institutional issues. Most of all, she has a passion for the law and for all that legal scholarship, education, and practice can do to advance the public good. I look forward to welcoming Martha to the University's Council of Deans and to working closely with her in the years to come.

Faust also thanked interim Dean Howell Jackson for his service over the past few months.

More on Minow after the jump.

The scene at the Harvard University graduation ceremonies -- the law students are the ones holding the signs:

The American economy: set to ruin hopes and dreams one person at a time.

In fairness, I believe this picture has more to do with law students protesting Harvard's layoffs of various staffers around the university, not the dismal economy all lawyers are facing.

Earlier: Nationwide Layoff Watch: Harvard Law School (Or: Welcome to the End Times)

We were dying to write about this wedding announcement, featuring a slutty Strawberry Shortcake costume (WTF?) and a wacky/tacky proposal story. But alas, commenters would have crucified us for elevating comedic potential over excellence.

So behold, this week's finalists. They include five Harvard degrees, five Yale degrees, and OMGOMGOMG the best Article III officiant ever. Enjoy.

1. Jessica Richman and Matthew Smith

2. Jessica Hertz and Christopher Angell

3. Ashley Lynn and Kenneth Leonczyk Jr.

The scoop on these legal-eagle weddings, after the jump.

It's time for readers to choose the Legal Eagle Wedding Watch's Mr. and Mrs. April 2009. Will it be the couple with four Penn degrees, the spunky HLS grads, or the silver-haired former ambassador and his Bushie bride?

Keep in mind that when you vote, you'll be helping to determine which couple will be eligible to compete in December for the honor of being ATL's 2009 Couple of the Year -- the crème de la crème of legal/marital enviability.

Here are your finalists:

1. Elissa Bassini and Jeremy Pick

2. Tracy Zuckerman and Ryan Van Grack

3. Leslie Fahrenkopf and Thomas Foley

If you're ready to vote, here's the poll. If you need a refresher, you can find our write-ups on the couples after the jump. Voting concludes at noon on Friday.

Six impressive lawyers headline our survey of this week's NYT wedding pages. Even more impressive is that four of them are still clinging to Biglaw jobs -- assuming, of course, that bad news does not await any of our returning honeymooners.

Here are the finalists:

1. Neda Karamouz and Stephen Vander Stoep

2. Danielle Cohen and Bradley Friedman

3. Leslie Tobin and Nathan Ostrander

Click on the link below to get the story on these newlyweds' degrees, jobs, and china patterns.

At what point does a disaster movie become a horror movie? I keep waiting for Will Smith or Dennis Quaid to show up, do something cool, and save the economy. Instead, I'm starting to feel like the black guy that has no shot whatsoever of making it out of the mall.

Anyway, The Harvard Crimson reports:

Harvard Law School will lay off staff members in response to budgetary constraints imposed by University administrators, acting Dean Howell E. Jackson said Monday.

The likely layoffs come amidst continued estimates of a 30 percent decline in endowment value by year's end and a corresponding reduction in the endowment payout--a major source of funding for the University's different schools that accounts for 40 percent of the Law School's annual revenue.

If law schools are the "cash cows" of the university system, then HLS is like a cow that squirts Johnny Walker Blue.

A recent University request for a 10 percent reduction in the Law School budget has made staff layoffs inevitable as the school works to maintain its commitments to financial aid and its educational priorities, Jackson said in an interview with The Crimson Monday.

"These are material changes that will affect our budgets in future years," Jackson said. "We will need to reduce our staff levels in order to live within our new means."

I'm not sure I'm prepared to live in a world where Harvard is anything less than an extravagant temple to education and impractical elitism.

After the jump, tipsters are apoplectic.

Way back in September, Harvard Law School announced that the school would be dropping the letter grading system in favor of a hybrid pass/fail system. Then the market crisis bled into the legal industry, Dean Elena Kagan fled to Washington, and grade reform became less of an immediate concern.

But acting Dean, Howell Jackson, and HLS faculty have been diligently working on the new system. Today, Dean Jackson unveiled the future of HLS grading:

Dear HLS Students:

At the student town hall in February, I committed to send additional information on the new grading system once we had worked out various details of implementation. We have now completed that process and I have attached to this message a draft description of the new grading system as it will appear in the HLS Handbook of Academic Policies for 2009-10. We will be polishing this language over the next few months until publication of the Handbook, but the substantive details of the system should not change.

Howell Jackson

Let's get into the details after the jump.

It's NCAA Tournament time, which means that if you get married this weekend or the next two, your guests will be cursing you as they surreptitiously refresh their BlackBerries. We therefore applaud this week's brides, who planned their weddings for this past weekend, before the madness struck. They are -- if we may say so -- our Cinderellas.

Here are this week's finalists:

1. Sara Schacter and Aram Erenburg

2. Melissa Weiss and Kenneth Mazer

3. Rebecca Kirszner and James Katz

Read more about this week's legal lovebirds, after the jump.

Remember that kid from first grade who just couldn't get his act together and start reading like the rest of us? Apparently that kid grew up to be The National Law Journal. In an article entitled Hiring from top schools steady in '08, the Journal provides some watershed facts:

Despite the economic nosedive that began gaining momentum in 2008, the nation's biggest law firms hired just about the same percentage of graduates from top schools last year as they did the year before.

At the same time, firms among The National Law Journal's 2008 survey of the nation's 250 largest law firms brought aboard more graduates from the 20 schools that they relied on the most, which themselves had larger classes.

Bigger classes? MORE hiring? Sounds good to me! But the Journal delivers its shocking conclusion:

The development suggests that law firms were not well positioned for the recession they now face.

Find out where the Journal has been living, after the jump.

* The Senate Judiciary Committee will discuss Obama's nomination of Harvard law school dean Elena Kagan as solicitor general. [The Washington Post]

* Three federal judges in California ruled that the state must reduce its prison population by a third. [Los Angeles Times]

* Lawyers for the Obama administration surprised San Francisco by making the same state-secrets argument as Bush in the extraordinary rendition case. [The New York Times]

* The SEC makes a deal with Madoff. [The Washington Post]

* Meanwhile, the SEC chairman steps down after falling to the 50 billion dollar thief. [Bloomberg]

* 50 cent won a lawsuit against his ex-girlfriend. "...this is a complete and total victory for 50," one of his lawyers said. [Punk.BZ]

OCI? EIP? Why have one if you can get two for twice the price?

Back in December, we reported that Harvard Law School was contemplating moving up their on-campus recruiting schedule. Many top schools have decided to start the process in August because firms "filled up" on summer associates before they rolled around to late fall OCI programs.

But at Harvard, Veritas could just as easily be replaced with: "I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now." Like a few other schools Queen Harvard has decided to have both an early interview program and regular fall OCI:

After careful consideration, I am writing to let you know that we will be moving to an Early Interview Program (EIP), which will take place from August 24 to 28. As you know, we extensively reviewed our options and student feedback was overwhelmingly in favor of an EIP. Given the current economic climate, we are confident that you will benefit from an earlier recruiting calendar and we are working hard to ensure that we address all issues and concerns that may arise in the transition.

While all employers may participate in the EIP, we recognize that some employers may want to recruit later in the fall; so there will also be a Fall Interview Program (FIP) on campus from September 29 to October 16. We will provide additional details later in the spring when we
know which employers will be participating in the EIP or FIP.

Adventure seeker, check out the full Harvard memo after the jump.