Paralegals

* Check it out: the Los Angeles Daily Journal has a brand new blog. Welcome to the blogosphere, Mr. Hurley! [Washington Briefs] * Don’t you wish you had attended a non-top-tier non-T14 law school? At U. Conn. Law, Professor Robert Birmingham (at right) screens prostitution training films in class. [TaxProf Blog] * ESPN’s Stephen Smith […]

Okay, so you didn’t graduate (1) from a top-tier law school or (2) at the top of your class from a non-top-tier law school. Please don’t get discouraged, even in the face of depressing news articles. Before you leave the law to become an electrician, consider this inspirational tale, from an ATL reader: Finding a […]

In case you’re wondering what happened to the litigation support guy at Quinn Emanuel, who sent around an office-wide email reprimanding an associate for allegedly rude treatment, here’s an update: The lit support guy got his walking papers almost immediately. The litigation associate to whom he directed the email was baffled by the entire event. […]

First, it’s the right thing to do. Second, if you’re mean or rude to support staff members, they might start talking trash about you behind your back — not good for your reputation at the firm. They might also handle your projects with less care or speed in the future. If you REALLY piss them […]

On its official website, Akin Gump proudly bills itself as a “full-service” law firm. And it boasts: “Our growth has come by understanding client problems and solving them with a unique combination of… practical… skills.” Truer words were never spoken. From ABC News: A legal secretary at one of Washington’s most prominent and well-connected law […]

* The Guber Downward-Facing Dog Trial coming soon. [De Novo; MSN] * If you don’t know who’s the “real lawyer” at the table, it’s you. [PrawfsBlawg] * Kosher-ness may be inapplicable to porn, but I would not want to venture a guess as to Mr. Cohen’s idea behind his trademark. [Likelihood of Confusion] * Another […]

Today’s New York Times has an interesting article on Brian Valery, the bestest paralegal ever. The article may actually say less about Valery and more about the general uselessness of junior associates. Consider this: Steven Maass, who hired Mr. Valery’s former law firm, Anderson Kill & Olick, after Mr. Maass’s electronic trading business was destroyed […]

Back in November, we named Brian Valery an ATL Lawyer Paralegal of the Day. The enterprising and ingenious Mr. Valery, who had neither attended law school nor taken the bar exam, successfully posed as a lawyer for two years. He “practiced” at Anderson Kill in New York. Here’s the latest news about Brian Valery: A […]

Dewey Ballantine partners, have you no sense of decency? If your associates are going to act in completely undignified fashion, can’t you at least give them dignified surroundings in which to do so? No amount of tinsel and mistletoe can disguise this basic truth: making out with a paralegal in the cafeteria is beyond humiliating. […]

Our big brother brings to our attention an interesting article, from New York magazine, about urban professionals and burnout. And no article on the subject would be complete without a discussion of Biglaw attorneys: An epidemic of malaise among bankers and lawyers is far more likely to inspire jokes—Wouldn’t it be nicer if it were […]

Brian T. Valery is our hero. He figured out a way to save $100K on a legal education — namely, by not getting one. From Law.com: Brian Valery is under fire for his pro hac vice appearance in a 2005 complex litigation case heard in Stamford, Conn. His motion to appear, which went unopposed, was […]

* Gay marriages legally-cognizable-relationships-that-will-probably-get-called-civil-unions are coming to New Jersey. * Superstar lawyer Ted Olson, who is not gay, got married — to a lovely lady named Lady. And ATL has the exclusive photos to prove it. * Law firms are tying the knot too. The latest to head for the altar: Dewey Ballantine and Orrick. […]

Associates, curious about how much your paralegal handmaidens earn? Paralegals, curious about how much your colleagues around the country make? We’ve collected some data points for you. We asked you for information about paralegal salaries. We received these responses (all class years are undergraduate rather than law school years): (1) intellectual property manager (“essentially a […]

Time for another Skaddenfreude request. Last time around, we requested data about the salaries of solo practitioners and small-firm lawyers. We reported the results here — and we’ll happily share more such info with you, if we receive a few more submissions. We’ve noticed that, when we make Skaddenfreude requests, we tend not to receive […]