Summer associates will be starting up at law firms any day now. So what's it like to be a summer associate during a recession challenging economic times? That's the subject of our column in this week's New York Observer.

Some time ago, we solicited your input:

When it comes to summer programs, is Biglaw cutting back? Will Skadden Prom be moved from Rockefeller Center to Dave & Buster's? Will farewell dinners at Per Se or Citronelle be replaced by brown-bag lunches in the firm cafeteria?

Probably not. Considering how awful the economy is, Biglaw isn't making as many changes as one might expect to summer programs. Firms don't seem to be revoking perks or scaling back on the lavishness of events. As law-firm consultant James Jones of Hildebrandt told Ashby Jones of the Wall Street Journal, large law firms are “tinkering around the edges rather than doing anything really radical.”

So firms aren't overhauling their summer programs -- but they are making some subtle adjustments. Read more in our column, which you can access by clicking here.

Crash Diet for Law Firms: Less Dessert for Summer Associates [New York Observer]

Greetings from the great -- but frigid -- city of Chicago. We're hanging out with friends and doing some sightseeing, but the main reason for our visit is this event, taking place on Thursday (and open to the public):

Judges As Public Figures
Thursday, February 21, 2008, 4:15 PM
University of Chicago Law School, Room II

Judge Richard Posner
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

David Lat
Above the Law
Underneath Their Robes

Professor Lior Strahilevitz
University of Chicago Law School

While in Chi-town, we will also be meeting readers at an ATL "Happy Hour," similar to the event we held in Miami last year. It will take place on Wednesday, February 20, sometime after work (time and place to be determined).

Update: The Chicago "Happy Hour" will take place on Wednesday, February 20, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at Miller's Pub (134 S. Wabash). Hope to see you there!

Schedule of Events [University of Chicago Law School Federalist Society]

Associate layoffs have been the big news in 2008 thus far. Appropriately enough, they're the subject of our latest column for the New York Observer. Here's an excerpt:

“It's tough. People are scared,” [one] jettisoned Cadwalader associate said. “It’s so rare that this happens. The first-years are freaked out. People are wondering: Is this continuing on a rolling basis, or did they take one big hit? People worry about [the impact on] recruiting efforts, both on a lateral basis and for incoming law students.”

The associate, like the others laid off that day, was given barely more than a week’s notice: His last day of work would be the following Friday, Jan. 18.

He’s getting three months of severance, paid out every two weeks, just as when he was employed. But he’s no longer able to tell prospective employers he’s still at the firm, which he predicts will make his job search harder.

“It’s like dating,” he said. “When you’re with someone, everyone wants you; when you’re on your own, it’s that much harder.”

You can read the complete column by clicking here.

P.S. We've been writing this column for a few months now. The archives are accessible here.

Will Work for Dinner at Nobu [New York Observer]
Lawyers Column archives [New York Observer]

We don't normally do this (and probably won't make this a regular feature). But since we have a few on hand right now, we'd like to pass along the following public service announcements:

* Attention Washingtonians. There's an interesting panel discussion taking place here in D.C. next week: "Practicing Law in the E-Court of Public Opinion: How the Internet Can Make or Break a Lawyer’s or Law Firm’s Reputation and What You Can Do About It."

We are on the panel, along with Mark Britton of Avvo, Andrew Mirsky of Mirsky Legal, and fellow bloggers Carolyn Elefant, of My Shingle, and Jonathan Frieden, of E-Commerce Law. [Avvo Blog; MyShingle.com]

* Attention Asian American lawyers and law students (but all are welcome; this isn't the K&E GLBT party). There's an interesting conference taking place next month in Philadelphia, PA: "Emerging Asia: Shedding New Light on the Legal Landscape." We're delivering the keynote address at dinner. [APALSA]

* Attention South Asian lawyers and law students (but again, all are welcome). There's an interesting conference taking place next month in Los Angeles, CA: "Reflecting Back, Reaching Forward: Building on a Decade of Progress." [NASALSA]

* Attention essayists. Check out this essay contest: "How Do We Close the Gap Between Baby Boomers and Millennials on Work/Life Balance?" It's sponsored by Ms. JD and The Project for Attorney Retention. Prize of $1,000; entry deadline of February 29. [Ms. JD]

* Attention prospective bone marrow donors. A tipster writes:

A former Simpson Thacher associate needs a bone marrow transplant, most likely to come from someone Jewish, and we’re trying to notify as many people as possible to get on the donor list.

More details, after the jump.

If you're not already a member of Lateral Link, you can sign up through their website. Membership, which is free and confidential, allows you to learn about new legal opportunities as they become available. Successfully placed candidates will receive a $10,000 placement bonus.

Position Type / Location: Law Firm - Tax Associate (Washington, DC)

Position Description: The Washington D.C. office is seeking a mid-level tax associate to work on project finance transactions. This magic circle law firm makes The American Lawyer's AmLaw 100 rankings. The firm's practice areas include corporate, bankruptcy and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, project finance, reinsurance and insurance, and tax. The successful candidate must have at least 3-6 years experience in partnerships, foreign tax planning, leveraged leasing, subchapter C and tax-exempt financing.

For more information, see job #7697 on Lateral Link.

Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings (scroll down)

If you're not already a member of Lateral Link, you can sign up through their website. Membership, which is free and confidential, allows you to learn about new legal opportunities as they become available. Successfully placed candidates receive a $10,000 placement bonus.

Positions: In-House Counsel - Real Estate, In-House Counsel - Corporate

Location: Newton, Massachusetts

Position Descriptions:

Corporate: Seeking a transactional attorney with four or more years of large law firm experience. Corporate, securities, finance/project finance or energy experience is a plus but not a requirement. Public company experience and SarbOx also a plus but not a requirement. The candidate must be comfortable working in a relatively unstructured environment and will be expected to handle day-to-day tasks while reporting to GC on larger issues. This person will work primarily with the GC and the finance team. The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and be able to handle multiple demands and transactions. The Company is growing quickly and it is a very dynamic workplace; the ideal candidate must be able to accommodate change relatively quickly.

Real Estate: Seeking candidate with four or more years of transactional real estate experience. The ideal candidate has experience with lenders and equity investors, can identify and resolve title issues, and can review real estate documents (including project leases, easements, crossing agreements, commercial leases). This candidate would be responsible for working with developers on land acquisitions for Company projects and would work with the GC, Assistant GC and the finance team on resolving issues and getting projects financed. The candidate must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and be able to handle multiple demands and transactions. The Company is growing quickly and it is a very dynamic workplace; therefore the ideal candidate must be able to accommodate change relatively quickly. The candidate needs to have good communication and interpersonal skills, as they will be dealing with rural landowners and employees inside the company.

Company Description: This privately held company is a leader in wind power production, with more than 40 wind farms in development across the country. Based in Newton, Massachusetts, the company is focused on wind farm development, ownership and operation. The company builds primarily in the Northeast, West and Hawaii, and is already producing nearly 100 MW of energy through three operational wind farms. The company is currently developing more than 3,500 MW of wind power projects in several markets through various subsidiary companies. The company is managed and supported by a team of more than 100 talented and dedicated individuals committed to the company’s environment.

For more information, see job # 7661 and job # 7662 on Lateral Link.

Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings (scroll down)

In our column for this week's New York Observer, we help you plan an imaginary dinner party. A dinner party, of course, is only as good as the guest list. So we review which colorful characters of the legal world, who made headlines in 2007, should be invited to your festivities.

Think of it as a "year in review" piece, aimed primarily at people who don't read ATL (since most of the names mentioned in the article will be familiar to regular visitors to this site). The potential guests under consideration: Charlene Morisseau, the sassy ex-associate who sued DLA Piper; Aaron Charney, who made S&C "bend over"; and internet celebrity Loyola 2L.

ATL bonus content: Due to space considerations, our write-up of Elana Glatt (née Elana Elbogen) wound up on the cutting room floor. But if you'd like to read it, we've reprinted it after the jump.

Culture of Complaint Spreads Through Law Firms [New York Observer]

Belated congratulations to the winners of the inaugural Blawg 100 readers' choice contest, sponsored by the ABA Journal, which were announced late last week. More than 25,000 votes were cast in 12 categories.

We previously wrote about the extremely close race between Overlawyered and Quizlaw, duking it out in the Generally Speaking category. Congrats to Quizlaw, which prevailed by 19 votes.

Also, thanks to everyone who voted for ATL for Best Gossip Blog category, which we won handily. We're tremendously grateful for your support.

And not just in these blog contests, but on a more general level -- through your readership, your comments (even the attacks on us -- they're all pageviews), and your tips and info. The legal blogosophere may be plateauing or reaching a saturation point, as suggested by Orin Kerr and Daniel Solove, among others. But ATL has been growing pretty consistently since its launch, with November 2007 as this site's biggest month ever in terms of traffic. We thank Cravath for the early Christmas gift of a big traffic boost, in the form of its October bonus announcement, which triggered a bonus season that lasted for two months (and is still going on, to a certain extent).

So once again, congratulations to our fellow winners, and thanks to you, our readers, for your support. We're looking forward to another great year in 2008.

Readers’ Choice Winners Named in ABA Journal Blawg 100 [ABA Journal]
One More Time with Feeling [QuizLaw]
Has the Legal Blogosphere Stabilized? [Concurring Opinions]
The Blawgosphere in 2007 [Volokh Conspiracy]

Earlier: 'Tis the Season... for Blog Contests

In a matter of hours, voting will end in the ABA Journal's Blawg 100 contest. ATL is competing in the Gossip category. If you'd like to vote for us, or one of the other fine gossip blogs in the category, just click here.

We have a decent-sized lead, so we're not going for the hard sell. In contrast, over in the Generally Speaking category, a fierce battle is raging between Overlawyered and Quizlaw -- separated by about 30 votes, out of over 3,000 cast. Check out their respective plugs here and here, replete with "last-second dirty tricks." Because no legal blog contest is complete without eleventh-hour chicanery -- the stakes are too darn high.

As one blog contest draws to a close, another gets underway. Nominations are now being accepted for the Eighth Annual Weblog Awards (aka the 2008 Bloggies). There's no "law" category (and, as of this year, no "Best African or Middle Eastern Weblog" or "Best Craft Weblog" category -- may they rest in peace). But if you're feeling nice, feel free to nominate ATL for either "Best Gossip Blog" or "Best Topical Blog."

And here is yet another blog contest (because you can never have too many blog contests). It takes the form of today's featured job survey, brought to you by ATL and Lateral Link:

The ABA Journal Blawg 100 [ABA Journal]
The ABA Journal Blawg 100: Gossip [ABA Journal]
Eighth Annual Weblog Awards: 2008 Bloggies [official website]

Here's the latest Job of the Week, courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. If you're not already a member of Lateral Link, you can sign up through their website. Membership, which is free and confidential, allows you to learn about new legal opportunities as they become available.

Position: Staff Counsel

Company: ActBlue

Location: Boston, MA

Position Description: Staff Counsel will report to Executive Director. Initial responsibilities will include:

• Research of campaign finance laws and regulations at the federal, state and local levels.
• Developing and implementing legal and lobbying strategies to expand ActBlue’s ability to operate at the state level.
• Ensuring compliance with all applicable campaign finance and privacy laws.
• Cultivating relationships with election offices and local campaign finance attorneys across the country.
• Responding to legal inquiries and complaints.

Additional information, after the jump.

Here's the latest Job of the Week, courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. Check out Lateral Link's completely revamped website and new features. Now you can find the Job of the Week listed below in the Featured Jobs section of your MyBio page (and qualified candidates can reveal the employer name immediately).

Position: Assistant Vice President, Investment Counsel

Company: Pacific Life Insurance Company

Location: Orange County, CA

Description: Fortune 500 company is seeking an AVP, Investment Counsel. Primary responsibilities include the following: (i) oversee the drafting, preparation and filing of SEC registration statements and other regulatory filings; (ii) monitor legislation and new laws affecting mutual funds and Investment Advisors. Candidate must have a law degree from an accredited law school, firm knowledge of federal securities laws, excellent writing and communication skills, and a minimum of 8 years experience in 1940 Act work (mutual funds and/or variable products). Admission to California bar required within 1 year. The position requires drafting prospectus disclosure, advisor disclosure, documents and materials, along with implementing appropriate procedures to comply with new laws. Also the candidate will work on board meeting materials, coordinate legal issues with fund advisers, draft fund procedures, prepare/negotiate fund agreements and work on all fund-related matters.

More details, after the jump.

Our latest column for the New York Observer addresses a seasonal subject: law firm holiday parties. Here's the opening:

Law firm holiday parties aren’t what they used to be. In bygone days, the booze-fueled blasts yielded up tales of M&A lawyers making out with each other in darkened corners, partners dancing drunkenly with paralegals young enough to be their daughters and similarly dubious behavior.

In recent years, however, stories of scandal have become less common. Perhaps guests are more afraid of public embarrassment, now that cellphone photos of carousing legal eagles can be uploaded to the Internet in minutes....

But even if they’re not as wild and crazy as they used to be, law firm holiday parties still reflect, in ways large and small, the cultures and personalities of the firms throwing them. Let’s have a look, shall we?

You can read the rest of the column -- which describes the December festivities of Wachtell, Cravath, Sullivan & Cromwell, Skadden, Cadwalader, and Fried Frank -- by clicking here.

Boogie, Counselor! Which Law Firm Gives the Best Party? [New York Observer]

Here's the latest Job of the Week, courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. Check out Lateral Link's completely revamped website and new features. Now you can find the Job of the Week listed below in the Featured Jobs section of your MyBio page.

Position: Counsel - Merchant Services Group

Location: New York, NY

Description: Major international credit card company is seeking a counsel to provide legal support to the company's Merchant Services Group, which manages strategic relationships with merchants in the travel and entertainment and B2B industries. Responsibilities include contract negotiation, marketing and strategic relationship support, updates on applicable legal developments, and general business unit legal support, as the primary legal counsel for such groups.

Requirements: Minimum of 5-7 years experience practicing commercial law in an in-house department or law firm. Experience in the credit card industry desirable, but not required. Member of the New York bar in good standing. Extensive experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, including strategic alliances and marketing agreements. Business-oriented, financially sophisticated, proactive lawyer. Strong work ethic.

Job Code: 7293

Earlier: Prior Job of the Week listings (scroll down)

The ABA Journal just announced its Blawg 100: "the 100 best Web sites by lawyers, for lawyers, as chosen by the editors of the ABA Journal." And we're happy to report that Above the Law is among them. Very cool!

The ABA Journal has divided the 100 legal blogs into different categories. Readers can vote for their favorite website in each category. ATL appears, appropriately enough, in the Gossip category.

In the voting, right now we're getting our clock cleaned by a site called That's What She Said. Can you help us catch up?

To cast your vote, click here. Thanks in advance for your support!

The ABA Journal Blawg 100 [ABA Journal]

Here's the latest Job of the Week, courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. Check out their new, redesigned website by clicking here.

(Since we didn't post a Job of the Week last week, due to the abbreviated holiday publication schedule, we'll give you two this week -- one today, and one near the end of the week.)

Position: Transactional tax associate at international consulting firm

Location: New York

Description: International management consulting firm seeks associate to join its Transaction Tax Services group.

More details, after the jump.

It's very quiet around here today. We're guessing everyone is getting ready for Turkey Day and leaving early (or trying to get actual work done before leaving early, and therefore not visiting ATL).

But if you are looking for a way to kill time before your office closes for Thanksgiving, here's some procrastination material for you: our latest column for the New York Observer. It's about -- surprise surprise -- associate bonuses, and associate layoffs. The content of the column shouldn't come as news to regular readers of ATL, but it does offer an overview of where we are now, as well as some thoughts about the future.

Also, while we're in self-promotional mode (when aren't we?), we were just interviewed by Rob La Gatta of LexBlog. You can check out the interview -- in which we discuss future plans for ATL, unruly commenters, and the legal profession's uneasy relationship with the blogosphere -- by clicking here.

May It Please the Court? Massive Law-Firm Bonuses, Not So Much [New York Observer]
LexBlog Q & A: David Lat, Editor-in-Chief of Above The Law [LexBlog]

Speaking of the Federalist Society, the Columbia Law School chapter has invited us to speak. We'll be doing an event there tomorrow. It will be a pretty casual Q-and-A, less formal than last year's appearance.

Here are the details:

Tuesday, November 20, 12:25 PM

A Q-and-A with David Lat, Editor of Above the Law

Columbia Law School
Jerome Greene Hall, Room 107
435 West 116th St. (at Amsterdam Avenue)

It's free and open to the public. So if you're a CLS student or otherwise in the area, please feel free to stop by. Thanks.

Okay, not in the centerfold -- we wish. But as we recently mentioned, this fine website is featured in the December 2007 issue of Playboy magazine (p. 61). It's far more thrilling than a shout-out in the New York Times or the Washington Post.

A reader kindly sent the mention our way; it appears to the right. In case you're curious about what surrounded the item, check out more of the page, after the jump.

Speaking of playboys, check out this article -- an oldie, but a goodie -- about Germany's answer to Hugh Hefner. From Spiegel Online:

Aging German playboy Rolf Eden has rarely taken no for an answer. And he's not about to start. He has filed charges against a 19-year-old for refusing to sleep with him. The complaint? Ageism....

the 77-year-old Eden has filed suit against a 19-year-old Berlin woman for the following reason: Despite a night on the town with Eden, which ended back at his place, she refused to have sex with him, saying the he was too old for her.

"That was shattering. No woman has ever said that to me before," Eden told the tabloid. "I was crushed." He has filed charges with the prosecutors' office, he said. "After all, there are laws against discrimination."

Partners whose advances have been rejected by summer associates surely agree.

German Playboy, 77, Sues for Sex [Spiegel Online]

Earlier: Not Everyone's A Winner at Nixon Peabody

Sigh. It's Monday, and it's also a quasi-holiday (Veterans Day). Government lawyers, a significant chunk of our readership, generally aren't in the office today.

So maybe that's one reason we're feeling lazy and unmotivated today. Another possible reason: we're resting on our laurels.

Late last week, Above the Law was named Best Law Blog, in the 2007 Weblog Awards. Very exciting! Thanks to everyone who voted, in response to our repeated pleas.

Was the contest "a pretty silly affair," as our erstwhile evidence professor, Brian Leiter, opined? Sure. Which makes ATL's victory eminently appropriate, since this is a pretty silly blog.

So congratulations to us! And thanks again to everyone who voted.

P.S. To Professors Kerr and Volokh and their fellow Volokh Conspirators: Sure, we'll buy a round of beer! Just find us at the Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention later this week.

Best Law Blog [The 2007 Weblog Awards]
Does David Lat Owe Us Beer? [Volokh Conspiracy]
Did you vote for the "Best Law Blog" yet? [Brian Leiter's Law School Reports]

Here is the latest Job of the Week -- actually, make that Jobs of the Week -- courtesy of ATL's career partner, Lateral Link. Because Lateral Link does no cold-calling and is more efficient than traditional recruiting firms, successful candidates receive $10,000 upon placement.

Positions: Junior Corporate Counsel and Senior Corporate Counsel

Employer: Software Company

Location: Irvine, California

Description:

(1) A corporate counsel (3-6 years experience) that will take responsibility for all aspects of product support for the MAS and Accpac product lines.

(2) A senior corporate counsel (8+ years) with strong academics, prior in-house experience and advanced interpersonal skills. This person will provide counsel on business issues, negotiating and documenting a variety of transactions and dispute resolution as well as supporting the Company's North American operation in mergers and acquisitions activity.

More details, after the jump.