Illinois

Lawyers Are Out of Jobs Thanks to an Epic City Government Fail

By

Meet the Cavers: the cutest ginger attorney family ever.

In this rough economy, a job offer can be really exciting, even for the most seasoned attorney. A job offer is even more exciting when you find out that your future employer has also decided to make your husband an offer. And last week, that is exactly what happened to a husband-and-wife legal team from Rockford, Illinois.

Eileen and Brendan Caver, both graduates of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, quickly began to pack up to move half-way across the country for their new jobs in New York at the City of Syracuse corporation counsel’s office. With August start dates and two adorable children in tow, the Cavers quit their jobs in Illinois, put their house on the market, and canceled their daycare contract.

So, you’d think that even a city government would realize that offering attorneys jobs 780 miles away from home and then revoking those offers a week and a half later would be life-ruining. But apparently, that’s not how things work in upstate New York….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Lawyers Are Out of Jobs Thanks to an Epic City Government Fail”

78 Comments

Pregnant Woman Takes Bar Exam While in Labor, Delivers Baby Right After!

By

'These MBE questions are way easier than the practice ones!'

We thought we had a winner for most gutsy bar exam performance of July 2011. On Thursday, a woman taking the New Jersey bar exam passed out during the test — then picked herself up off the floor, and went right back to typing.

That’s impressive — but we may have spoken too soon. Here’s a labor-intensive story that tops it.

“A friend of mine went into labor while taking the Illinois bar exam,” a tipster told us. “She calmly finished, went to the hospital, and had her baby an hour or two later. Girl’s a real trooper.”

“A certain Northwestern Law alumna went into labor during the second day of the Illinois bar,” said a second source. “She finished the exam and had her baby, her first, at 5:58 p.m. I think that is worth noting.”

You better believe it’s worth noting. If ever there was a baby immaculately conceived by a lawgiver, this might be the one.

We have all the details — including a picture of the Bar Exam Baby, whom we’ll nickname “Baby Bar”….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Pregnant Woman Takes Bar Exam While in Labor, Delivers Baby Right After!”

183 Comments

Musical Chairs: Northwestern Law Announces Its New Dean

By

Almost a year ago, David Van Zandt, one of the most admired figures within legal education, announced his departure as dean of Northwestern Law School. Van Zandt moved to New York, leaving behind his multimillion-dollar mansion in Chicago, to assume the presidency of the New School (a move that made headlines here in NYC).

A search committee went to work, to try and find someone to fill Dean Van Zandt’s large shoes. Today the law school announced its new leader.

The new Northwestern Law dean, like his predecessor, is a distinguished scholar. He also comes with a strong track record as a law school administrator.

Who is he? Let’s find out….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Musical Chairs: Northwestern Law Announces Its New Dean”

14 Comments

If It Was Supposed To Be Fun, They Wouldn’t Call It Work

By

If you’ve been searching the Illinois State Bar website looking for employment opportunities, you might have come across a “super duper” job option. Unlike most attorney job offers that grace our pages, this is not facially offensive. It’s an in-house position. The responsibilities seem legit.

The salary is not listed, but that is better than a listed wage of $10 per hour or something ridiculous. They appear to offer nice benefits to all their employees.

So why are we bringing this opportunity to your attention? Because when Red Bull and beer are listed as job perks, we know that our “bro” readers will want to hear about it…

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “If It Was Supposed To Be Fun, They Wouldn’t Call It Work”

27 Comments

Breaking: Rod Blagojevich Guilty

By

The television guys are reporting that former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been found guilty on 17 of 20 counts.

He’s been found guilty of various counts of wire fraud and attempted extortion. He was found not guilty on one bribery count and there were two other counts the jury couldn’t reach a verdict on.

If the Genie from Aladdin was here, I think he’d say: “300 years of incarceration ought to chill him out.”

In fairness though, Jeff Toobin on CNN is saying that Blago is more likely to face 8 – 10 years in prison. That’s enough time to find out if hair gel is an effective lubricant.

Meanwhile, MSNBC has moved onto a report about Casey Anthony — because a random white lady allegedly murdering her child is way more important than the major corruption trial of a former Governor of one of the most populous states in the Union.

And now CNN is on the TSA story. CHECK YOU PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE! God, I hate television news.

This is why print media can’t be allowed to die. Here is an actual report, from the Chicago Tribune. They note that Blago did not show any emotion, but his hair started screaming, “you’re nothing but a lot of talk and a badge.”

49 Comments

All Rise! Reema Bajaj’s Bajayjay Is Now In Session

By

Reema Bajaj: pretty and professional.

I have previously expressed my belief in the innocence of Reema N. Bajaj, the 25-year-old lawyer who has been charged with prostitution. This Illinois solo practitioner didn’t strike me as a prostitute — and some who know her personally concur. A classmate of Bajaj from Northern Illinois University College of Law expressed his shock at the charges, and college students whom Bajaj taught described a caring and considerate teacher — an unlikely lawbreaker.

But, in fairness to the prosecution, evidence does exist that could be construed as supporting the charges. And some of this evidence is rather salacious — to wit, photographs of Reema Bajaj’s bajayjay.

If you have delicate sensibilities, please stop reading here. If you have a stomach for somewhat scandalous (but still safe for work) material, however, you may continue….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “All Rise! Reema Bajaj’s Bajayjay Is Now In Session”

142 Comments

In Defense of Reema Bajaj, Solo Practitioner Accused of Practicing Prostitution

By

Today brings more news coverage of Reema Bajaj, the rather attractive 25-year-old lawyer accused of moonlighting as a prostitute. Her story was written up in the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, among other outlets.

Both papers covered the newest development in the case, a court hearing yesterday. Bajaj pleaded not guilty to three counts of prostitution (two misdemeanors and one felony), according to her lawyer, David Camic of Aurora, Illinois.

I have previously expressed my gut instinct that Reema Bajaj is innocent. Maybe I’m guilty of judging a book by its cover, but she just looks innocent — youthful and sweet and wide-eyed. She is a young Midwestern woman, of South Asian ancestry, who grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. It doesn’t get much more wholesome than that.

And now I don’t have to rely solely upon racial stereotyping vague intuitions. Now I have additional evidence, from several sources — including a law school classmate of Reema Bajaj….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “In Defense of Reema Bajaj, Solo Practitioner Accused of Practicing Prostitution”

78 Comments

More About Reema Bajaj, the Lawyer Accused of Prostitution

By

In my earlier story about Reema Bajaj, the 25-year-old Illinois solo practitioner who now faces prostitution charges, I noted that she seems “very sweet and wholesome,” as well as “a fundamentally decent person.” And I adhere to this position. When I reached out to her through her law firm website, to see if she had any comment on the charges, I received this auto-reply:

My confidence in you, dear lovely Reema, remains unshaken. I am impressed by your politeness. I suspect that there’s more to your story than meets the eye. I remind all of our readers that you have only been accused — and remain innocent until proven otherwise.

In response to our request for tips about Reema, we heard from one of her law school classmates, who provided additional info about Reema N. Bajaj….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “More About Reema Bajaj, the Lawyer Accused of Prostitution”

66 Comments

It’s Hard Out Here For… A Lawyer Accused of Prostitution

By

This may be a sad commentary on the challenges facing young lawyers today. A 25-year-old solo practitioner in Sycamore, Illinois, has been accused of trying to supplement her income through prostitution.

Last week, attorney Reema N. Bajaj was charged with three counts of prostitution. The charges arise out of two incidents that allegedly took place on August 13, 2010, and May 10, 2011. But police allege that Bajaj has been engaging in prostitution activity for several years, even before she was admitted to the Illinois bar.

As it turns out, Reema Bajaj is a rather pretty woman. In light of her attractiveness — see pics after the jump — it’s surprising how little she was allegedly charging for her services….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “It’s Hard Out Here For… A Lawyer Accused of Prostitution”

87 Comments

Continuing Misadventures in Law School Decor: Is This Poster Racist?

By

Another day, another controversy over something hanging in a law school. Why is law school decor such a charged issue these days?

As some of may already know, I served as vice president of the Yale Federalist Society when I was in law school. My campaign was non-controversial. At the time, the VP was responsible for handling travel arrangements for visiting speakers, as well as for making restaurant reservations for post-talk dinners. In my speech, I talked about how much I enjoyed making travel arrangements, confessing that in high school my career goal was to become head concierge at a leading hotel. I won handily; it was a successful strategy.

I did not put up inflammatory posters that upset many members of the law school community and triggered a response from the dean — like the aspiring Fed Soc president at one midwestern law school.

Yes, we have pictures of the posters. Judge for yourself whether the posters, which have been removed, were racist and/or offensive….

double red triangle arrows Continue reading “Continuing Misadventures in Law School Decor: Is This Poster Racist?”

260 Comments
Page 8 of 111...4567891011