According to the New York Times, John McCain has tapped Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Appeal to disaffected Clinton voters? Trying to lock up the Mike Gravel fan base?

Update: Although Governor Palin is not a lawyer, there have already been several legal issues mentioned with regard to her candidacy. Just last month, her own state legislature opened an investigation into allegations that she tried to get her ex-brother-in-law fired from his state trooper job

Law professor Ann Althouse has already gone on record with a furry opinion about Palin's credentials.

Without a professional legal background to pontificate on (compare Joe Biden), we here at ATL will continue to scour our sources to bring you the latest on Palin's positions about the things that matter to lawyers, big and small. Anyone know her views on SCOTUS nominations?

McCain Chooses Palin as Running Mate [New York Times]
Alaska's Palin Faces Probe [Wall Street Journal]

Not a great way to kick off a holiday weekend. And not good news for the 110-lawyer firm that Christensen founded -- Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro.

(That firm name may ring a bell. Name partner Robert Shapiro famously served on O.J. Simpson's victorious defense team.)

Private eye Anthony Pellicano, attorney Christensen convicted of wiretap plot [Los Angeles Times via WSJ Law Blog]
Terry N. Christensen bio [Christensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro, LLP]

Out in Oregon, they conscript jurors from off the street:

A juror shortage forced a judge to look through a phone book before sending sheriff's deputies out into the street to round up enough people for a trial.

Lane County Presiding Judge Mary Ann Bearden said an unusually large number of criminal trials combined with an equally unusual number of no-shows for jury duty forced her to invoke a little-used state law.

"I dealt with some angry people," the judge said. "They didn't think it was fair."

Their anger is understandable. These folks were out for a nice morning stroll, on a sunny day in August. The next thing they knew, they were jurors on a sex abuse trial -- for a man accused of screwing the pooch aggravated animal abuse. And the defendant wasn't even a federal judge.

Democracy: what a bitch.

Oregon judge tries dialing, rounding up jurors [AP via Seattle Times]

* If you happen to be stuck at work over the long weekend, Paul Caron has you covered. It's much better than trying to figure out which non-contiguous state you like best. [Tax Prof Blog]

* Chief Justice Roberts will be judging a moot court competition. If that sounds odd, consider that the competition is in Florida, home to 27 sweet electoral votes. [BLT: The Blog of Legal Times]

* The Veoh ruling might not help YouTube as much as they hoped. Maybe they should try garlic to battle with Viacom and Sumner Redstone [Law.com]

* Wait, pole-dancing isn't exercise but beach volleyball is an Olympic sport? I'm so confused. [WSJ Law Blog]

* Gustav. Seriously. Running away is always a good option when dealing with nature. [Washington Post]

It's for a corporate attorney looking to move to more of a consulting role. As always, the Job of the Week is brought to you by Lateral Link. For more information about Lateral Link's team of personal search consultants, or to see about joining their team, click here.

Position: Attorney Consultant

Location: Orange County, CA

Description: A Fortune 500 insurance company is seeking an attorney with at least two years of experience to consult on a variety of corporate matters. The attorney will be expected to develop mutual fund board meeting materials, draft fund and investment adviser procedures, prepare/negotiate related agreements, and work on all fund and adviser-related matters. In addition, the attorney will provide legal advice and other legal support to internal clients and monitor legislation and new laws affecting mutual funds and investment advisers. The role will involve drafting prospectus disclosure, investment adviser disclosure, and documents and materials, along with implementing appropriate procedures to comply with new laws.

For more information about this position, or to apply, please see Position 9656 on Lateral Link. Current members can also contact their personal search consultant directly to discuss this position. Membership in Lateral Link is free, and you can apply at www.laterallink.com.

The ABA Journal reports that Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle has launched a Facebook page to aid in its recruiting efforts:

Looking for a way to better promote itself to the next generation of lawyers, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle has launched a Facebook page as part of its broader law school recruiting efforts.

"We are pleased to be capitalizing on the popularity of the most widely used social networking site," Nancy Delaney, a Curtis partner who is a member of the firm's personnel committee, says in a release (PDF) about the page. "As a Firm, we recognized the power of this format of communication and the wide use being made of it by future lawyers."

Their page has 55 fans at the moment. We would pooh-pooh that, but the Above the Law fan page currently has just 96 fans.

(The ATL group page on Facebook, however, has more robust ranks, with over 800 members.)

Facebook Page is New Twist in Biglaw Recruiting [Robert Ambrogi's LawSites]
BigLaw Firm Recruits on Facebook [ABA Journal]
Curtis, Mallet, Prevost, Colt & Mosle Facebook Page [Facebook]
CURTIS DEPLOYS FACEBOOK PAGE TO HELP ATTRACT TOP LAW STUDENTS [Curtis, Mallet, Prevost, Colt & Mosle Press Release - PDF]

Yesterday things got even worse for Judge Kent. From the Houston Chronicle:

U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent was indicted Thursday on charges of abusive sexual contact and attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a female employee, making him the first federal judge to be charged with federal sex crimes and the first in Texas indicted in recent history.

Congratulations, Your Honor? It's a privilege to be FIRST.

The alleged victim -- Judge Kent's former case manager, Cathy McBroom -- issued a statement after the indictment came down:

"After a very difficult 17 months, I feel like I have finally been validated. I have listened and read with horror as Judge Kent's lawyer suggested that what happened to me was 'enthusiastically consensual,' " wrote McBroom, who remains a federal court employee. "I am relieved to find that even federal judges are not above the law, and that sexual abuse in the workplace is never acceptable, no matter the status of the offender."

Thanks for the shout-out, Cathy!

A little bit more, below the fold.

Unlike Wiley Rein, Winston & Strawn, and other reports we've heard that suggest firms are coalescing around a 90% offer rate, Stroock made offers to only 80% of their '08 summer class.

Stroock did not directly confirm this number, but they did not deny it either.

Instead, Stroock communications director Jim Ponichtera focused on a different percentage:

In 2007, Stroock made a strategic decision to increase the size of its incoming class. Our summer classes were typically in the 28-30 range, and in 2008 we had 54 summer associates. Part of this was due to our decision to increase the class size, and part of this was due to an unexpectedly high acceptance rate of offers to join our summer program.

At the end of the summer, we extended a record number of entry-level offers - over 50% more than in 2007, which is consistent with our current business plan.

You hear that? 50% more offers.

More on the 20% who didn't make the cut after the jump,

91. Lovells (4.494)
92. Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP (4.489)
93. Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP (4.478)
94. Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP (4.459)
95. Kilpatrick Stockton LLP (4.452)
96. Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP (4.439)
97. Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP (4.421)
98. Seyfarth Shaw (4.399)
99. Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo PC (4.394)
100. Fenwick & West LLP (4.373)

Discuss. Dissect. Compare. Contrast. Most of all, enjoy.

Earlier: Vault 100 Open Threads - 2009

* A reporter for ABC News wasn't feeling the love at the Democratic convention this week. Denver police arrested him Wednesday for trespassing while he tried to get interviews on a public sidewalk. His attorneys and the ACLU want all charges dropped. [The Blotter/ABC News]

* Under new Justice Department rules, "federal prosecutors will no longer be able to strong-arm corporate targets to reveal protected conversations with their attorneys." [CNN]

* Florida lawyers acting badly may make it hard for workers to file overtime violation suits. [National Law Journal]

* Embattled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is suing to stop the hearing that would remove him from office. [Washington Post]

* ... We hope his lawyers are making him prepay for that. An attorney has filed suit against Mayor Kilpatrick for allegedly stiffing him on a $79,000 legal bill. [Detroit Free Press]

* Tom Cruise is being sued for $11 million by a bunch of German actors who say they were injured in the filming of his last movie. Show me the money! [Onlinewire]

* Taxpayers in Texas had to pay money for a judge to deal with Hilary Duff's birthday party. [Houston Chronicle]

* Target will pay $6 million in damages and make their website accessible to the blind, having already succeeded in making their website perfectly accessible to those who are poor and have low standards. [Law.com]

* The Justice Department is apparently going to try the Joanne Galloway "I strenuously object" argument with SCOTUS. [SCOTUSblog]

According to Am Law Daily, citing sources close to both Heller and Mayer Brown, Heller is "aggressively" pursuing other merger options, with Mayer Brown looking like the most promising match. They add:

The current talks between Mayer Brown and Heller, which began days after Heller's talks with Baker & McKenzie ended, actually represent a second effort to combine the firms.

Before anybody starts requesting new business cards, it must be noted that Heller merger rumors tend to be as bankable as that Nigerian guy who needs your account number. In the past few months, Heller has been linked to Winston & Strawn, Proskauer Rose, and Baker & McKenzie. Given that a Heller/Mayer Brown merger has fallen through before, this latest rumor could be more about smoke screen than actual fire.

Just last week, Heller announced that it was postponing start dates until after Martin Luther King Day. We'll keep you updated on Heller's continuing efforts to be saved.

Heller Ehrman, Mayer Brown In Merger Talks [Am Law Daily]

Perhaps it's because Fashion Week is about to get under way in New York. You can follow goings-on over at our sister site, Fashionista, which will be covering the collections live from Bryant Park.]

With the economic downturn, lawyer layoffs, and pushed-back start dates, I've been wondering about the influence that such turmoil has had on -- what else? -- office fashion. I tend to agree with Mark Twain, who said, "Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society." (Well, unless you're in the middle of Times Square, with a guitar and a cowboy hat.)

Leaner times tend to bring out the Brooks Brothers aesthetic, and business casual once again goes where it belongs -- away. Ties and coats return, flip-flops and "commuter shoes" stay home, and "white shoe" again can once mean white shoe (but only on Fridays). Although many will resist the siren song of a more formal workplace, the trend is inevitable. I know you won't believe me, but apparently those who want to take your job already do. At least according to Turnbull & Asser.

Read my interview with James Cook (pictured), Bespoke Manager of Turnbull & Asser, and share your thoughts on the current state of men's fashion, after the jump.

And stealing food from the law firm refrigerator is also unwise. See here (and note the "FYI" postscript).

Does anyone care to guess -- or actually know -- the law firm where this sign was posted?

Reasons Not To Steal Food From the Company Fridge [Midtown Lunch]

Clark was a community organizer for three different townships in Bucks County, a county Hillary Clinton carried with over 60 percent of the vote. He felt that his Cleary litigation experience helped him in his campaign stint organizing local volunteers:

Volunteers are kind of like junior associates in that you have to clearly articulate what needs to be done so that everyone is on the same page.

Also don't make any sudden movements. Be firm, yet gentle.

Clark credits Cleary for allowing him the opportunity to work in rural Pennsylvania:

The firm has always made it clear to me that they are committed to the community and they've allowed me to sort of be a pro bono rainmaker and go out and find things that are worthwhile.

Can Clark make partner with his book of pro bono business now?

We jest, but only out of jealousy. Taking two months off to do something you feel is important is commendable, regardless of your politics. Keeping your Biglaw job while you do it (Clark is getting married soon) makes you the winner, even though you lost.

ELECTION 2008: Cleary Associate Gives Up Paycheck for Obama [Am Law Daily]