The New York Times has a fascinating story about Robert Bowman. Bowman took the bar exam four times and racked up $400,000 in student debt on his quest towards becoming an attorney, only to be denied admittance to the bar based on character and fitness. He sounds like a cross between Don Quixote and Jimmy Berluti.

He put himself through community college, worked and borrowed heavily to help pay for college, graduate school and even law school. He took the New York bar examination not once, not twice, not three times, but four, passing it last year. Finally, he seemed to be on his way.

In January, the committee of New York lawyers that reviews applications for admission to the bar interviewed Mr. Bowman, studied his history and the debt he had amassed, and called his persistence remarkable. It recommended his approval.

But a group of five state appellate judges decided this spring that his student loans were too big and his efforts to repay them too meager for him to be a lawyer.

The thing is, the appellate panel didn't really explain why Bowman's debt load made him unfit to be a lawyer:

"Applicant has not made any substantial payments on the loans," the judges wrote in a terse decision and an unusual rejection of the committee's recommendation. "Applicant has not presently established the character and general fitness requisite for an attorney and counselor-at-law."

Mr. Bowman, 47, appears to have crossed some unspoken line with his $400,000 in student debt and penalties, accumulated over many years.

Is $400,000 simply too much debt for a lawyer to carry? More details after the jump.

Jesus tells us that there is nothing worse than a false prophet. But that's probably because he never met someone who was offering a fake job in the middle of a global economic recession.

If you've been laid off for any length of time, I'm sure you've seen these scam artists who offer great job leads, for a small fee. Some people have been willing to pay, only to find out that they might as well have sent their money to Nigeria to aid a distressed prince.

I don't know what kind of depraved individual preys on people that have recently lost their job, but that's just evil. That's like telling somebody they can afford to own a home with no money down and giving them an interest rate that balloons in the out-years. Who does that?

Thankfully, the Federal Trade Commission is stepping in to try to stop this madness. Here's its plan:

Today's troubled economic waters are infested with a voracious school of sharks -- con artists who are promising people a lifeline through jobs, recession-proof income, and access to free government grant money. They are bleeding money from individuals, and from the economy as a whole.

That's why the Federal Trade Commission and its partners are moving aggressively through enforcement and education. On the education front, the nation's consumer protection agency has produced a new video to help people learn how to spot a scam. It's available at www.ftc.gov. The video features a former telemarketer of fraudulent business opportunities who explains exactly how he got people to part with their money, and two of his victims, as well.

I hope the FTC is able to help get these scam artists off the (virtual) street. Then I hope criminals receive 150 years in prison where they are attacked daily by Michael Vick's dogs. Don't tell young professionals like lawyers that they can get a job when everybody already knows that they can't. Bastards.

Check out the video, after the jump.

Rising 3Ls at the University of Texas School of Law received a rather matter-of-fact message from their career services office:

OCI Process Overview

Employer registration closes July 1, 2009. The number of scheduled interview rooms is down overall from last year, with a drop of about 45 percent for employers seeking 3Ls.

That's not so surprising, is it? Just your average, everyday email explaining that recruitment for 3Ls has FALLEN OFF OF A FREAKING CLIFF!

Arguably, more 3Ls than usual will be forced into 3L interviewing (unless you really believe, contrary to some observers, that offer rates will be around close to 100% for current summer associates).

More job seekers + Fewer employers = Recipe for disaster.

After the jump, UT tipsters weigh in.

If you're looking for opportunities outside the usual suspects -- New York, D.C., Chicago, L.A., San Francisco -- then this latest Job of the Week may interest you. As usual, it's brought to you by Lateral Link.

Position(s): Junior litigation associates (2006 - 2008 grads)

Location: North Carolina

Description: This boutique was formed in 2000 as a select cadre of lawyers providing sophisticated legal services to blue-chip clients. With a strong emphasis on customer service, the ten founding lawyers set out to offer premier legal services efficiently, but with the intense involvement of the firm's most senior partners. Today, the firm's 27 lawyers provide legal services to more than 30 members of the Fortune 500. The firm continues to attract the finest attorneys with significant trial, appellate, and transactional experience.

For more information on this position, please contact Jordan Abshire, Director, at either jordan.abshire@laterallink.com or 704.899.5549. Jordan is a Director for the Southeast Region, with a focus on Washington, D.C., Charlotte, and Atlanta. Jordan spent three years in private practice in the energy group at Troutman Sanders LLP, after graduating from Harvard Law School and receiving a B.S. in Psychology, summa cum laude, and a B.A. in Political Science, summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University.

Many summers can already see the writing on the wall. It's going to be a no-offer party this fall. Law school career service professionals are trying to prepare their students for the inevitable.

The career services offices at Georgetown University Law Center sent around a very thoughtful letter, on Friday. Summer associates should take heed. Let's get the obvious news out of the way first:

What are we hearing?

I have been speaking with many of our close contacts in law firms across the country to assess what firms are planning in terms of post-graduate offers to their summer associates. Most firms indicate that they are waiting until the latest possible date to finalize their strategy so as to take into account as much market information as possible, but a few themes are emerging:

1. Unlike past years, many firms will not be making offers to all or almost all their summers. I hear of offer rates that range from 80% at the high end to 50% at the low end. Note that there is significant variation from firm to firm and region to region, and all the firms I speak with are trying their best to make offers to as many of their summer associates as possible.

2. Many firms are considering making deferred offers to some or all of their current summer associates to begin work sometime in 2011, and some have already announced that they will do so. Firms are not clear as to what stipend, if any, they will pay deferred associates in the coming year, and what conditions (e.g. working in the public sector) must be met to receive a stipend.

The class of 2009 thought that they were the "lost generation." But would they want to switch places with the class of 2010?

After the jump, more bad news from GULC career services.

Perhaps Breaking Back Into Big Law is going to get a little easier, now that some of the AmLaw 100 are starting to hire lateral associates again. The Job of the Week is one of several new openings, primarily in litigation and intellectual property, that you can find out about over at Lateral Link. Also, just a reminder: if your firm is offering a paid deferral, please contact your Lateral Link search consultant, since Lateral Link has dozens of in-house positions for deferred attorneys. Lateral Link members click here for more details.

Position: Junior Litigation Associate

Location: New York, NY

Description: An AmLaw 100 law firm is seeking a junior commercial litigation associate. The attorney must have outstanding academic credentials and previous major law firm experience.

For more information on this position or to apply, please see Position #10580 on Lateral Link. Membership in Lateral Link is free and you can apply at www.laterallink.com.

The other night, a commenter with insomnia wrote:

Is there someone living in Flint, Michigan who will exchange their $18,000 house for my worthless JD? I will even take over the payments from your inflated mortgage. My piece of paper does not even provide shelter for my skinny ass. In exchange you could be a practicing attorney doing work that a trained chimpanzee could perform.

As Biglaw continues its painful unwinding, and as even contract attorney work becomes hard to obtain, holders of J.D. degrees have been asking: What else can I do with my legal education? Hence our occasional series on career alternatives for attorneys.

This was the subject of a panel discussion entitled Exploring the Range of Options With Your JD. It was the third panel at Tuesday's conference, co-sponsored by the New York City Bar and Vault, on Getting Back in the Game: How to Restart Your Career in a Down Economy.

Read about the panelists and their perspectives, after the jump.

Biglaw is suffering -- big time. Meanwhile, many smaller and midsize law firms are doing just fine, even thriving. (A number of them -- e.g., Silver Golub & Teitell, McKool Smith, and Stone & Magnanini -- are expanding, with the help of job postings on Above the Law.)

These days, Am Law 200 firms are generally doing better than their Am Law 100 counterparts. This generally hasn't been the case, at least in recent years. Industry observers are wondering: Is small beautiful?

That was one theme of Casting a Wider Net: The Rise of the Small to Mid-Sized Law Firm, another panel at yesterday's conference, co-sponsored by the New York City Bar and Vault, entitled Getting Back in the Game: How to Restart Your Career in a Down Economy. (We wrote about an earlier panel here.)

The panel on small to midsize law firms consisted of:

ALLA ROYTBERG (moderator), Solo Practitioner, and Director, City Bar Small Law Firm Center;

PAUL LIPPE, CEO, Legal On-Ramp;

CORIN LINDSLEY, Managing Director, Major Lindsey & Africa; and

RON GEFFNER, partner, Sadis & Goldberg.

The discussion covered such topics as how to learn about high-quality small firms, how to apply to them, and how to grow one, once you're there.

A short discussion, after the jump.

Yesterday we participated in an extremely interesting panel discussion, Breaking Back into a Large Law Firm: How to Make Your Way Back into a Top Law Firm. It was part of a day-long conference, co-sponsored by the New York City Bar and Vault, entitled Getting Back in the Game: How to Restart Your Career in a Down Economy.

The panel consisted of:

BRIAN DALTON (moderator), Managing Editor, Vault.com, and Editor, Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms;

JOHN J. CANNON III, Hiring Partner, Shearman & Sterling LLP;

T.J. DUANE, Principal, Lateral Link;

HELEN LONG, Director Legal Recruiting at Ropes & Gray LLP; and

DAVID LAT, Founding Editor, AboveTheLaw.com.

Write-ups of the discussion have appeared on the websites of the New York Times, Vault, and the ABA Journal. We recommend them to you.

We've also prepared our own summary of the discussion, which goes into greater detail than the other write-ups. It tackles such topics as general recommendations for the job search, when to use a recruiter (and when not to), how contract work is viewed by prospective employers, and what happens to your résumé after you send it into the cyber-ether and it arrives at a firm.

Read more, after the jump.

As you know, many international law firms are affiliated with local counsel based around the world. The magic circle firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has an affiliation with a Saudi firm named, The Law Firm of Salah Al Hejailan, or LFSH.

LFSH is hiring a new attorney. The firm sent out an email to the recruiting agencies it works with. But the firm was looking for someone with very specific qualifications. Some might argue that the qualifications were too specific. Here is the email that LFSH sent to recruiters:

We are interested in recruiting one senior Anglo-Saxon lawyer (with 7+ PQE), preferably with Saudi, but at the very least with GCC work experience to play a corporate/commercial role in our Jeddah office. By Anglo-Saxon we mean of Caucasian ethnicity as opposed to lawyers from the MENA or Asian Sub-Continent who happen to have UK or US nationality/qualifications. Please bear in mind that, as a general legal practice, we expect the successful candidate to have sufficient maturity/acumen to handle a broad range of legal work rather being specialised in one particular field.

We are also keen to recruit one junior Anglo-Saxon lawyer (with 3 - 5 years PQE) for the Riyadh office to support our general corporate/commercial practice. [Emphasis in the original]

I'm a big fan of affirmative action, but it seems like something got lost in translation.

After the jump, both Freshfields, The Law Firm of Salah Al Hejailan, and Salah Al-Hejailan himself, responds and apologizes for the poorly worded email.

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.

The National Law Journal reports that some firms are hiring lawyers -- including associates -- in Chicago. The ABA Journal summarizes the good news:

Three law firms are moving into new offices in Chicago and seeking to fill the space with new lawyers.

The firms getting new digs are Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Nixon Peabody; and Cozen O'Connor, the National Law Journal reports.

Happy Friday indeed.

According to the NLJ, despite all the hits the Chicago legal market has taken during this recession, the city is in an expansionary mood:

While law firm expansion has slowed in Chicago during the recession, particularly compared to the accelerated growth in the prior five years, many national firms that set up shop in the city since 2000 are still looking to add lawyers. Efforts to recruit partners with business has been a constant, but firms in the past month have started to look for associates in certain practice areas, including finance, banking, litigation and bankruptcy, said Amy McCormack, who leads the Chicago recruiting firm McCormack Schreiber.

Does that include Kirkland & Ellis? Let's take a look inside (its new offices), after the jump.

Last night we tuned into a very interesting (albeit somewhat depressing) conference call, Staying Competitive During an Economic Downturn, sponsored by the National LGBT Bar Association. Three experts provided their thoughts on the current legal job market and advice for navigating it:

Robert Depew. A Managing Director in Major, Lindsey & Africa's San Francisco office, Depew helps lawyers evaluate career alternatives and places attorneys at top tier law firms and select in-house positions in the Bay Area.

Christopher LaFon. As director of recruiting at Kelly Law Registry, one of the nation's largest job placement firms, LaFon builds careers and aids in career transitions for attorneys, paralegals and other legal professionals.

James Leipold. The Executive Director of the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), Leipold helms the legal profession's leading association dedicated to research, education and career development.

When will the legal economy return to normal? What can laid-off lawyers do while they wait for recovery? Is there any hope, for any of us?

Find out the views of the experts, after the jump.

We regularly receive tips about educational or charitable events that might interest our readers. Because we don't have the ability to give shout-outs to all, and to ensure equal treatment, we direct everyone with events of a non-commercial nature to mention them in our Community section (which, by the way, is overflowing with openings for deferred associates right now).

(The Community section is for non-profit events or opportunities. If what you're trying to promote is commercial in nature, please advertise. Commercial postings will be pulled from the Community.)

Our rule against event promotion admits of exceptions. We will mention events featuring significant participation by Above the Law editors -- like this one, taking place this coming Tuesday, July 16:

Breaking Back into a Large Law Firm: How to Make Your Way Back into a Top Law Firm

Moderator: BRIAN DALTON, Managing Editor, Vault.com and Editor Vault Guide to the Top 100 Law Firms

Speakers: DAVID LAT, Founding Editor, AboveTheLaw.com; T.J. DUANE, Principal, Lateral Link; HELEN LONG, Director Legal Recruiting at Ropes & Gray LLP; JOHN J. CANNON III, Hiring Partner, Shearman & Sterling LLP.

The panel is part of an a day-long conference, co-sponsored by the New York City Bar and Vault, with the following mission:

Affected by the current financial crisis, many lawyers are finding themselves looking for employment. This program is designed to assist job-seeking attorneys in learning how best to market themselves whether they are looking to go to a firm, start their own practice or are considering an alternative legal career.

For details and registration, click here. Hope to see you there!

Getting Back in the Game: How to Restart Your Career in a Down Economy [The Association of the Bar of the City of New York]

If you are miserable at work and feeling lost in your career, then our weekly column will come as a breath of fresh air. Go to www.thenewworldinstitute.com to find out how we can help you.

This week's installment is about signs. Signs that your career might be in need of a little realignment... or even a complete restart.

1. The 3pm Coma--Are you finding yourself bored to tears with the day-to-day tasks of your current job and falling into an afternoon energy slump? Ask yourself this question: If given the chance, would I delegate everything I am doing to someone else? If the answer is "yes," then you should look into finding work that is more engaging.
2. In it for the money--If cash is king, then happiness is King Kong. Staying in a career for financial reasons can take an emotional toll and wear you out over time. People who love their work are connected to their purpose--something that goes beyond money to other important values like making the world better and believing in the mission of your company.
3. Stunted growth--Are you still learning in your current job? If not, then this can also become very wearing. Being in an environment that fosters growth and learning is a key to long-term career satisfaction. If you are working for a boss who does not care about your growth, then it's probably time for a new boss!

Try out our brand new Career Change Assessment. This assessment is used by our coaches to assess our clients and now it's available to everyone.

The New World Institute specializes in helping executives who are at a career crossroads find their true calling and revitalize their careers. It's never too late to change, so call us for a free consultation: 347 445 5763.

Laurel Donnellan is the President and Co-Founder of The New World Institute. www.thenewworldinstitute.com

If you hire them, they will come.

The National Law Journal reports that applications for the Judge Advocate General's Corps are way, way up:

The U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force report a surge in applicants for Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps jobs in recent years, according to recruiters and military attorneys.

That trend accelerated in 2008, and several branches report that they are on track to hit record numbers of applicants in 2009.

You've got to love it when the government is the employer of last resort:

It's difficult to pinpoint the precise reason, but the recession certainly seems to be a factor. Major law firms have laid off thousands of attorneys in the past year, many recent law school graduates have been struggling to find employment and some solo practitioners are having a hard time keeping the lights on.

After the jump, how JAG's offer of job security has led to a more competitive environment.

Graduation usually marks a high point in our lives. Ceremonies celebrate graduates' achievements and their bright futures. But this year, grads are faced with a rocky economy, a terrible job market, and predictions that things will stay this way for quite some time. A sign of the dire times: Harvard grads used their ceremony as a staging ground for a protest against layoffs.

New York Magazine conducted an unscientific survey of 2009 graduates to see what they think about the future. New York City may be ground zero for the fiscal meltdown, but NY Mag managed to find people who are bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, and hopeful about the future:

We were startled by the fact that, circumstances be damned, we found very little bitterness at all -- caution, yes; worry too -- but judging from the responses to our questions, this is a reflexively optimistic cadre of graduates, feeling, if anything, existentially freed up by this era of radical change. They're nervous about the job market but figure it'll sort itself out.

The survey included 200 students from 10 schools. Among the allegedly hopeful lot are a bunch of Fordham Law students, photographed above.

If your depression over the End of Biglaw is still weighing on you, read on. Maybe the delusional optimism of the 2009 grads is contagious. (Or read on if you're curious to find out when the majority of those surveyed lost their virginity.)

It's a little bit early to be looking ahead to on-campus interviewing -- unless, of course, you are a rising 2L who is about to get reamed. Law firms are already making plans for how they will approach the class of 2011.

The early indications are not pretty. Mayer Brown sent out a message that is sure to disappoint future IP lawyers. The firm is pulling out of the the Loyola (Chicago) Patent Law Interview Program. The program's directors let students know the bad news, on Friday:

Dear students,

You are receiving this email because you had bid on Mayer Brown at this year's Patent Law Interview Program. Unfortunately, the firm has had a change in plans and will not be attending the interview program on the 30th and 31st. The resumes of all students who bid on Mayer Brown have been forwarded to the firm, and if the firm identifies any students who meet their hiring needs, they will get in touch with you directly.

Best,
The Loyola Patent Law Interview Program Staff

One tipster explains the significance of this decision:

[T]his is the country's main IP recruitment fair. Every major firm with an IP practice recruits here.

Do you think this problem is just going to affect lower-ranked law schools? Check out one student's Columbia Early Interview Program stats, after the jump.

We've received countless requests for shout-outs from worthy non-profit organizations that are seeking deferred associates and/or associates on leave from their law firms (pursuant to such programs as Skadden's Sidebar program, Dewey's DL Pursuits, etc.). Alas, due to the sheer number of these requests, we can't mention them all on the main ATL homepage (which would be transformed from a blog into a bulletin board if we were to do so).

To treat these requests in a fair and consistent manner, we direct every public interest organization with a need for such help to post in our Community section, where readers can create posts on topics of their choosing (subject to moderation). The Community section is also where you can post information about charitable benefits and other events.

Update / Note: At the current time, only registered users can create Community posts -- mere "guests" do not have this capability. So if you'd like to start a Community thread, please register as a site user.

Check out the Community section for yourself, and peruse the non-profit opportunities posted here, by clicking here. Additional opportunities also appear in the Resources section of the Career Center.

If you'd like the greater visibility of appearing on the ATL homepage, please consider advertising. In addition to full-scale banner campaigns and Sponsored Content, we now offer Quicklistings -- an eminently affordable option, at $250 each. Thanks!

P.S. If you are a for-profit organization or have commercial goods or services to offer, please do not post in the Community section. Instead, please contact us about advertising on Above the Law. Postings of a commercial nature in the Community section will be removed. Thanks again.

Although not completely immune to the downturn, intellectual property has weathered the recession better than many other practice areas. Today's Job of the Week, brought to you by Lateral Link, is for an IP position in California. Lateral Link recently placed an attorney at this company, and they are now looking to expand their legal department with another IP attorney.

Position: Senior Corporate Counsel / Director of IP

Location: San Jose, CA

Description: The attorney will be the third attorney in the legal department and will have significant and wide-ranging responsibilities and opportunities for career advancement. The individual will primarily be responsible for intellectual property litigation management, intellectual property portfolio management, complex technology licensing and related commercial contracts.

Primary responsibilities will include managing the company's ongoing intellectual property litigation matters, aggressively pursuing indemnification claims against suppliers and effectively defending against such claims from vendors, advising the company on IP issues, cost-effectively supervising outside counsel, developing and coordinating IP portfolio strategy for the company, negotiating complex technology licensing agreements and consulting on open-source matters. Opportunity exists to gain experience in other functional areas as well, such as corporate governance, SEC reporting, mergers and acquisitions, etc. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a well-established company and be part of an exciting group.

For more information on this position or to apply, please see Position #10569 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.

P.S. A reminder: if your firm is offering a paid deferral, please contact your Lateral Link search consultant, since Lateral Link has dozens of in-house positions for deferred attorneys.