Above the Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 04.01.08

By David Lat

* Supreme Court grants cert in fantasy baseball case. [New York Personal Injury Law Blog] * Treasury Department plan to reform financial regulation meets with skepticism, faces long odds for passage this year. [New York Times] * “Breaking News? Less M&A Work for Lawyers in Q1.” [WSJ Law Blog] * More about the departure of […]

Uncategorized

The U.S. News Rankings: More Wailing and Gnashing of Teeth

By David Lat

* Supreme Court grants cert in fantasy baseball case. [New York Personal Injury Law Blog] * Treasury Department plan to reform financial regulation meets with skepticism, faces long odds for passage this year. [New York Times] * “Breaking News? Less M&A Work for Lawyers in Q1.” [WSJ Law Blog] * More about the departure of […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 03.31.08

By David Lat

* A politically incorrect theory to explain the growing pay gap between male and female JDs. Opines Jane Genova: “No one likes The Professional Woman — not women, not men, not children, not animals, not even The Professional Woman.” [Law and More] * Thoughts on the ethical and tax considerations of winning an NCAA tournament […]

Wall Street

Wall Street Collapse: A Silver Lining for Lawyers?

By David Lat

Dominating today’s news cycle is the Treasury Department’s plan to reform the nation’s system of financial regulation. For some thoughts on the proposal, check out what John Carney has to say over at our sibling site, Dealbreaker (in posts here and here). This regulatory reform proposal comes at a grim time for Wall Street, characterized […]

Cardozo Law School

Project Law School: A Video Parody from Cardozo Law

By David Lat

In the 2009 U.S. News & World Report law school rankings, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law fell from #52 to #55. See here. It’s a little surprising, since the past year has been good for Cardozo. Their bar passage rate is now the third-highest among New York law schools. One of their graduates is […]

BAR/BRI

What’s Up With the Bar/Bri Litigation?

By David Lat

Several readers have written in to inquire about the status of the BAR/BRI class action litigation. Here’s the latest update on the lawsuit website: Over 85,000 Claim Forms representing claims for over 120,000 BAR/BRI courses have been received and processed by the Claims Administrator. However, several objectors appealed from the Court’s Order granting final approval […]

D.C. Circuit, New York Times, Weddings, White & Case

Legal Eagle Wedding Watch 2.24 and 3.2: Cancún Honeymoon

By Laurie Lin

Spring! Cherry blossoms, opening day, and pedigreed lawyers uniting in marriage. We’re pleased to be back with another installment of Legal Eagle Wedding Watch, featuring these three impressive couples: 1.) Susannah Foster and Kenyon Weaver 2.) Kathleen DeLaney and Courtney Thomas 3.) Heath Kern and Joseph Gibson More on our finalists, after the jump.

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.31.08

By David Lat

* Media mogul smackdown: Barry Diller (pictured) prevails over his former mentor, John Malone, in Delaware Chancery Court. [New York Times; Wall Street Journal (subscription) via WSJ Law Blog] * HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson, under DOJ investigation, calls it quits. [AP] * Questions raised about 9/11 lawyer Peter Napoli, of fen-phen fame (or infamy). [New […]

Lawsuit of the Day

Lawsuit of the Day All Recorded Human History: And You Thought Biglaw Was A Black Hole

By David Lat

Every now and then, it’s healthy to be reminded of the triviality of your daily preoccupations. From the New York Times: [T]wo men pursuing a lawsuit in federal court in Hawaii…. think a giant particle accelerator that will begin smashing protons together outside Geneva this summer might produce a black hole or something else that […]

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 03.28.08

By David Lat

* Supreme Court grants cert in fantasy baseball case. [New York Personal Injury Law Blog] * Treasury Department plan to reform financial regulation meets with skepticism, faces long odds for passage this year. [New York Times] * “Breaking News? Less M&A Work for Lawyers in Q1.” [WSJ Law Blog] * More about the departure of […]

Lawyer of the Day

Lawyer of the Day: Samuel A. Fishman

By David Lat

With respect to our earlier post, about a rumor that Latham & Watkins represents the Church of Scientology, we have our doubts. See this comment (at 2:53 PM). But here’s some bad news about Latham that appears to be more reliable. From the WSJ Law Blog: [Samuel A. Fishman (pictured)] has pleaded guilty to one […]

Lunacy, Pro Se Litigants, Rudeness

Pro Se Litigant of the Day: Julio Mora

By David Lat

What is it about Florida that causes its lawyers and litigants to misbehave so egregiously? Just last week, the Florida Supreme Court sanctioned colorful attorney Jack Thompson. And now they’ve expressed their displeasure (PDF) with pro se litigant Julio Mora. What did Mr. Mora do to upset the court? From its opinion: Mora has filed […]

Celebrities, Church of Scientology / Scientologists, Free Speech, Religion, Social Networking Websites, Weirdness, YouTube

The Church of Scientology: A Latham & Watkins Client?

By David Lat

The law firm of Latham & Watkins has lots of things going for it: eye-popping profits, ample prestige, and a promise of no layoffs. What more could you ask for? How about…. a powerful and glamorous client, with deep connections in Hollywood? Reported over at Radar Online: Recently, Radar reported on Scientology’s short-lived attempt to […]

Contests, Fred Fielding, Pictures, Politics, White House Counsel

ATL Caption Contest: Mr. Easter Bunny, White House Counsel Fred Fielding

By David Lat

Here’s a photo of President Bush and his White House Counsel — Fred Fielding, former senior partner at Wiley Rein (fka Wiley Rein & Fielding), dressed up as the Easter Bunny — at the White House Easter Egg Roll earlier this week: Quips our tipster: “One can only hope Fielding isn’t splitting hares. Or giving […]

Job of the Week

Job of the Week

By David Lat

Here is today’s Job of the Week, brought to you by our friends at Lateral Link. Even if the U.S. capital markets may be slowing down, the overseas markets are still busy, and many firms are looking for U.S.-trained attorneys. Lateral Link has positions throughout Western Europe and Asia. These positions qualify for Lateral Link’s […]

Law School Deans, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, Ridiculousness

The U.S. News Rankings: Law Schools Lose Their S**t React

By David Lat

As we reported earlier this week, the latest U.S. News & World Report law school rankings are out. And some schools are flipping out over their falling rankings. A tipster at the University of Iowa College of Law writes: [B]elow is an email the Iowa law students received yesterday from Dean Jones about the new […]

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.28.08

By B Clerker

* Defense contractor accused of supplying ancient arms to Afghan army and police…. [CNN] * While Defense Secretary Gates orders review of nuclear arsenal after accidental shipments to Taiwan…. [Washington Post] * And AG Mukasey vows to crack down on corruption in wake of PR governor accusations…. [MSNBC] * Meanwhile, 11th Circuit grants bail pending […]

Lawyer of the Day

Lawyer of the Day: Aníbal Acevedo Vilá

By David Lat

Today’s Lawyer of the Day has a political connection. He’s a superdelegate to the Democratic convention, as well as an Obama supporter. From the AP: Puerto Rico Gov. Anibal Acevedo Vila indignantly denied wrongdoing Thursday and gave no sign he would abandon his re-election effort after being charged with campaign finance violations that carry a […]