Here's some follow-up on yesterday's write-up of a recent Fifth Circuit opinion (PDF). In its per curiam opinion, the court benchslapped one Roger Phipps, counsel for the appellant, for being utterly unprepared at oral argument. The argument included this exchange:

Judge: I must say, Morgan is a case that is directly relevant to this case. And for you representing the Plaintiff to get up here—it’s a Supreme Court case—and say you haven’t read it. Where did they teach you that?
Phipps: They didn’t teach me much, Your Honor.
Judge: At Tulane, is it?
Phipps: Loyola.
Judge: Okay. Well, I must say, that may be an all time first.
Phipps: That’s why I wore a suit today, Your Honor.

But which Loyola Law School is lucky enough to call Mr. Phipps an alumnus? Loyola of Chicago, Los Angeles, or New Orleans? Professor Alan Childress wrote the following at the Legal Profession Blog:

A commenter below states that the 'Loyola' in question (Mr. Phipps's alma mater) is Loyola-Chicago, not New Orleans, citing the Martindale-Hubbell Directory which indeed says so. But all other internet evidence (and an email to me from a colleague who went to school with him) strongly suggests that Roger Dale Phipps is a graduate, J.D. 1990, of Loyola-New Orleans.

But down in the Big Easy, they beg to differ. Earlier today, the career services office at Loyola - New Orleans sent out this email:

To: [Loyola New Orleans students]
Subject: RE: Trivia
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:48:44 -0500

There is a US 5th Circuit case that is being circulated nationally about an attorney. In the footnotes -- the transcript excerpts between the judicial panel and the attorney -- the attorney mentions a certain law school by name.

Students and local attorneys have been emailing me concerned that this nationally circulated document will precede their applications for job search purposes and/or is an embarrassment to our school.

The bad news is that, "yes, this is embarrassing representation on behalf of the attorney."

The GOOD NEWS is that the attorney mentioned is NOT a Loyola New Orleans graduate.

Good Luck on Your Exams!

Career Services

Professor Childress remains unconvinced. Read his response, after the jump.

When judges preside over law school moot court arguments, like the one at Columbia Law School last week, they often dish out this compliment to the student advocates: "You're better than most of the practicing lawyers who appear before us."

And maybe they're not just being nice. If we had gotten to this item a bit earlier -- it's from last week -- Roger Phipps would have been a Lawyer of the Day. We're happy to declare him our Lawyer of Last Week.

Over at the Legal Profession Blog, Professor Alan Childress draws attention to this per curiam opinion (PDF) by the Fifth Circuit. Here's an excerpt:

[W]e would be remiss if we did not comment on the conduct of Roger Phipps, counsel for Hartz, during oral argument in this case on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. Phipps’ conduct towards the Court during argument was unprofessional. Even more serious was his admission that during his work on the case (including his preparation for argument), he had not read a key Supreme Court case. His cavalier disregard for his client’s interest and for his obligation to the Court was both troubling and disgraceful. [FN4]

Accordingly, we are ordering Phipps to provide his client, Hartz, a copy of our opinion immediately after it is released. In order to ensure compliance, we are further directing him to supply our Court with proof of service.

Ouch. So what did Phipps do to incur the court's wrath?

Read the text of footnote four, after the jump.

Update: For a postscript to this story, see here.

The time has come, and the crowning of ATL's Lawyer of the Year and Second Favorite Blog After ATL, both of which are sponsored by ATL and Lateral Link, is at last upon us.

In all, a whopping 4,186 votes were cast, with 2,683 of you voting for Lawyer of the Year and 1,503 weighing in on which blog you like second-most after this one. Find out how it all turned out after the jump.

Time is running out on this month's ATL Lawyer of the Year and Second Favorite Blog After ATL polls, both sponsored by ATL and Lateral Link.

So far, we're up to just over 2,600 votes for Lawyer of the Year, and Wall Street Journal pick Loyola 2L is still going strong. Meanwhile, Barack Obama has a roughly 2.5 to 1 lead over Hillary Clinton, and Alberto Gonzales is stamping out civil rights stomping on music rights attorney Ray Beckerman . . . but pretty much nobody else.

On the blogging front, the Wall Street Journal remains the blog to beat, while Above The Law is still in second place and Volokh Conspiracy is on track for third, having opened up a hefty lead over Patently-O and SCOTUSblog. Write-in candidate Ms. JD has overpowered Overlawyered, and Likelihood of Confusion has turned the tables on Professor Bainbridge and is now closing in on Skadden Insider.

We'll post the final results on Thursday.

But while you're voting for the champions above, are you also voting with your feet at work? In last month's ATL / Lateral Link job survey about 20% of you responded that you were considering leaving your current firms once you received your bonus. But that was before many of you knew what your bonuses were going to be.

So last week, we asked you whether your job searches were indeed underway. Find out if the answers changed after the jump.

So far, about 1,400 of you have cast your vote for ATL Lawyer Of The Year.

Loyola 2L is in the lead so far, but Obama is close behind. Whoever helps Chipmunk Lady is a not-so-distant third, showing that this year's ATL reader wants change (and bonuses) and supports the little guy (and not-so-little bonuses).

Hillary Clinton, currently in fourth place, urges us to vote for experience. Meanwhile, Aaron Charney, Alberto Gonzales, and Ray Beckerman are in the Thompson / Kucinich / Gravel zone, respectively. On the write-in front, Bob Link and "DC Pants Judge" are beginning to get some traction.

Meanwhile, this month's ATL / Lateral Link survey on hours and bonuses continues to get responses of its own, and we're now up to almost 1,750 participants.

We revealed the bonus breakdowns for the Classes of 2004, 2005 and 2006 in the results to Monday's survey on whether you're looking for a new job. Today, we reveal the numbers for 2003 after the jump.

In last week's ATL / Lateral Link survey, we asked you to submit your nominations for Lawyer of the Year. Today, you get to vote!

The nominees, and select comments explaining why, are below:

Aaron Charney

For both the attention focused, success of action, and for the visibility [he] brought to the secondary issue of partner/associate relations (but not those kinds of relations).

Alberto Gonzales

Exemplifies why lawyers are so mistrusted in this country.

Barack Obama

The man had the credentials to do Biglaw. He chose public service instead. Although he is obviously politically ambitious, he at least appears to be in it for the people. He's almost as hot as Judicial Hottie Jeffrey Sutton. I mean, did you see the Obama Girl videos? We've all got a crush on Obama. And he just might be president next year.

Hillary Clinton

She's fabulous.

Loyola 2L

He's generated the most thoughtful discussion of law school. That, and perhaps the publicity will help him get a job.

Ray Beckerman

For his tireless defense and continuous commentary in countless RIAA cases.

Whoever helps Chipmunk lady.

Because.

We know that last one should really be a 2008 Lawyer of the Year, not a 2007 Lawyer of the Year, but we just don't care. You demanded the nomination right now.

So who should win? Cast your vote below.

In a front-page Wall Street Journal article last year, Dean David Burcham of Loyola Law School expressed a desire to help Loyola 2L with his job search. And it seems that Dean Burcham, himself a Loyola alum, has no shortage of job opportunities. From a just-issued press release:

After eight years at Loyola Law School Los Angeles as the Fritz B. Burns dean and senior vice president, David W. Burcham was named today to the newly created position of executive vice president and provost of Loyola Marymount University. Victor J. Gold, a veteran law professor and a former associate dean, was named interim dean and senior vice president. A national search for a permanent dean will begin immediately.

Eager to entertain complaints from non-top-tier law school graduates about their grim job prospects? This job's for you. Remember, Loyola 2L hasn't graduated yet.

Meanwhile, in other non-elite law school dean news, the Orlando Sentinel has this report:

Florida A&M University's new law school dean was scheduled to start work at the school's Orlando campus next Monday.

But after a series of phone calls, LeRoy Pernell altered his plans and showed up Thursday to meet twice with students who are upset about grading policies, course offerings and accreditation. He plans a third meeting with night students next week.

"It's my intention as dean to really be available," said Pernell, speaking to the more than 100 students who gathered for Thursday's afternoon session.

How long will this last? In a few weeks, will Dean Pernell barricade himself in his office, with his secretary dumping a cauldron of hot water on the students below?

Update: It seems that our round-up of Tier 2 Law School Dean news is incomplete:

No one wants to hear about Florida A&M (didn't even knew it existed). How about some love for the Jesuits? Creighton just named a new dean. Press release here.

The press release refers to him as "Eric A. Chiappinelli, J.D." It helps for your law school dean to have a law degree.

Dean David W. Burcham Named Provost of Loyola Marymount University (press release) [EarthTimes.org]
FAMU dean reassures law students [Orlando Sentinel]
Creighton School of Law Names New Dean [Creighton University School of Law]