Beware Of Big Hacking In Biglaw
Is your law firm prestigious enough to be targeted by Russian hackers? Check out this list of almost 50 Biglaw targets.
Morning Docket: 03.30.16
* An odd order? Perhaps in an attempt to avoid yet another 4-4 split in a controversial case, SCOTUS justices have ordered parties on both sides of the contraceptive coverage battle in Zubik to file briefs describing how such coverage could be provided without religious groups having to put forth much effort to formally object. [Associated Press] * "It's mind bogglingly obvious, but often gets lost in the mix. Apart from checking there aren't any conflicts, clients are rarely put at the heart of these mergers." Go figure, but according to a new report by professional services consultancy Gulland Padfield, law firm mergers usually don't benefit clients in any way, shape, or form. [Am Law Daily] * It seems that Russian cybercriminal "Oleras" has hired hackers to break into the computer systems of 48 Biglaw firms so he can collect confidential client data and then trade on the stolen insider information. Thus far, he's been unsuccessful. Has your law firm been targeted? If you'd like to know, check the list here. [Crain's Chicago Business] * The NFL is so pissed that the New York Times recently published a story linking the league to the tobacco industry that it not only wrote a two-part rebuttal that was more than 3000 words long, but it also sicced Paul Weiss attorneys on the paper of record in search of a retraction, claiming that the story was defamatory in nature. [Yahoo! Sports] * "I will not go down. I want Bill Cosby in court." A Los Angeles judge has ruled that model Janice Dickinson's defamation case against Bill Cosby can move forward so that a jury can decide whether her allegations of rape are truthful, and further, whether a "liar" comment made by the comedian's ex-lawyer, Marty Singer, was defamatory. [Telegram]
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Uh-Oh! Hackers Screw Up Biglaw Callbacks At T14 Law School
Which law school experienced a hack that could've put students' careers in jeopardy?
Morning Docket: 01.12.15
* George Zimmerman was arrested for aggravated assault and domestic violence with a weapon. His lawyer said his client "has not been lucky with the ladies." He hasn't been lucky with being a decent human being, either. [USA Today] * Lawrence McCreery, the Hawaii lawyer who licked a client's ear and inspired the judge on his case to call him a "dirty old man," has had his harassment conviction upheld on appeal. Get excited, he's still got a law license, ladies. [Associated Press] * We may soon see same-sex marriage bans in three states struck down, as the Fifth Circuit "appeared poised" to do so after oral arguments on Friday. Roberta Kaplan, our 2013 Lawyer of the Year, delivered a standout performance in arguing against Mississippi's ban. [BuzzFeed] * What do Sidley Austin, Baker & McKenzie, Reed Smith, Hogan Lovells, and Skadden Arps have in common? Their names were used in phishing emails to scam people out of their money. Some might say that's business as usual. [Crain's Chicago Business] * An arrest was made in the forcible rape of a woman -- presumably a law student -- that took place in the stacks of the Southern University Law Center's library last semester. The accused rapist is currently behind held without bond. [WBRZ]
Sony’s Choice: Is Obama Engaged In Victim Shaming?
While President Obama was right about the consequences of heeding terrorist whims, he may have been wrong about whose responsibility it was to bear the burden of not heeding those whims.
Morning Docket: 09.15.14
* “Operas can get pretty gory. I should have put that in my brief.” In the upcoming Supreme Court term, it looks like law clerks will have to educate their justices about the intricacies of rap music’s sometimes violent lyrics. [National Law Journal] * The pay gap between equity and non-equity Biglaw partners is growing wider and wider. According to recent survey, on average, equity partners are bringing home $633K more than non-equity partners each year. [Am Law Daily] * Hackers are targeting Biglaw firms to acquire their clients’ important secrets. Unfortunately, no one is brave enough to step up to the plate and say their firm’s been hit — admitting that “could be an extinction-level event.” [Tribune-Review] * Which Biglaw firms had the most satisfied summer associates this year? There was a big rankings shake-up at the top of the list this time around, and we’ll have more on this later today. [Am Law Daily] * In the wake of the Ray Rice scandal, Adrian Peterson screwed up many of your fantasy football teams after he was indicted for hurting his child “with criminal negligence.” He’s now out on $15,000 bail. [CNN]
Glenn Beck Claims Watch Dogs Is Teaching Children How To Hack The Public For Realz
Glenn Beck is overreacting to a video game. Shocking.
Morning Docket: 10.18.13
* Former top Pentagon lawyer Jeh Johnson previously told us he was done with public service, but when the president asks you to join the Cabinet, it’s kind of hard to say no. Plus this Paul Weiss partner is filthy rich, so he can secure our Homeland any day. [Washington Post] * Earlier this year, Gibson Dunn appointed a seventh-year associate as the firm’s first ever global pro bono director. We wish her the very best of luck as she tries to make lawyers do work for free. That can be a really tough sell in Biglaw. [Am Law Daily] * Law school rankings existed long before U.S. News was even conceived of, and they broke schools into two lists: those that matter, and those without the “slightest significance.” Sick burn. [National Law Journal] * Arizona Law alumni really don’t need to worry themselves about the fact that the school’s servers were hacked. Come on, your credit couldn’t be much worse than it already is with all that debt. [KVOA News 4] * Lady Gaga is nearing settlement with a disgruntled ex-employee, which is too bad, because we were dying to see her get on the stand. The dropping of F-bombs been fabulous. [New York Post]
The Greatest Trick The Government Ever Pulled Was Convincing The Public The ‘Hacker Threat’ Exists
Are computer hackers really the threat they're made out to be?
New York Times Has No Idea Reporter Broke A Law By Using Someone Else’s ‘HBO Go’ Password
But which law? Here's a hint: it's the same one public document hacker Aaron Swartz allegedly violated.
Do Law School Rankings Affect Your Choice?
Share your insights in this brief survey.
Internet Hacker Sentenced to Prison Garners Ill-Conceived Support
Andrew Auernheimer receives 41-month prison sentence. It may be too severe, but Auernheimer was asking for it.
Law Firm Website Weirdness: What’s Going On?
Why are so many major law firms' websites on the fritz this morning?
Famed Hacker Arrested for Pot Possession En Route To SXSW
Last week, the hacker who became famous as the first person to “jailbreak” an iPhone was booked and charged with felony marijuana possession, police in Sierra Blanca, Texas, told Above the Law. Let's learn more about George Hotz, his brush with Texas justice, and the legally questionable drug-busting strategy employed by local law enforcement in Sierra Blanca...