Jay Shepherd
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B for Beauty, Conferences / Symposia, Constitutional Law, Eric Holder, Jury Duty, Law Professors, Law Schools, Media and Journalism, Murder, Non-Sequiturs, Weddings
Non-Sequiturs: 06.20.13
* If you thought Stephen Kaplitt’s epic cease-and-desist response was awesome, then you’ll love this work of parody in response to the response, courtesy of New York Law School. [Legal As She Is Spoke] * Eric Holder comes clean on his involvement with the James Rosen search warrant, and to the chagrin of many, he isn’t plotting the death of journalism. That, or he’s a big liar. You pick. [Volokh Conspiracy] * George Zimmerman is going to be staring down an all-female jury for the next few weeks in his murder trial. And let me tell you, that’s going to be so much fun when everyone’s cycles start to sync up. [CNN] * It’s amazing that the Framers’ intentions can be applied to true love. Best wishes to Ilya Shapiro on his new marriage. Professor Josh Blackman is one hell of a wedding speaker. [CATO @ Liberty] * Is there an appropriate way to deal with cosmetic surgery — like a breast enlargement, breast reduction, or a nose job — in the office? Just be ready for people to talk about you. [Corporette] * Former Above the Law columnist Jay Shepherd offers up the secret to lawyer happiness in just six minutes, while taking shots at the world’s largest law firm and the world’s shortest movie star. [jayshep] -
2nd Circuit, Bar Exams, Barack Obama, Billable Hours, California, Constitutional Law, Free Speech, Law Professors, Law School Deans, Law Schools, Money, Non-Sequiturs, Police, Politics
Non-Sequiturs: 01.04.13
* According to the Second Circuit, the long arm of the law doesn’t extend to the middle finger. You can’t just go around arresting dudes for flipping you the bird. [U.S. Second Circuit / FindLaw] * President Obama jetted off to Hawaii before he could sign the fiscal cliff bill, so he ordered it be signed by autopen. Of course, people are losing their minds over it. [Volokh Conspiracy] * Should we scrap the Constitution? Georgetown Law professor Louis Seidman continues to advocate for constitutional disobedience in this epic ConLaw throwdown. [HuffPost Live] * Don’t celebrate your increase in California bar passage points yet. The state bar changed its tune, and a 40% pass rate is the new standard. That shouldn’t be hard, eh TJSL? [California Bar Journal] * One of our former columnists, Jay Shepherd, has a great way to calculate what your actual hourly rate should be, if you don’t mind working for just pennies a day. Most lawyers would mind. [jayshep] * For the love of God, even Gawker knows that going to law school these days is a fool’s errand, or in their own words: “IT’S A SUCKER’S BET. A CLEAR SUCKER’S BET.” Come on, stop being suckers. :( [Gawker] * If you’d like to hear Dean Lawrence Mitchell of NYT op-ed fame sound off on why there isn’t a lawyer oversupply problem, and why it isn’t his job to get law students jobs, we’ve got a video for you to watch…. - Sponsored
How AI Is The Catalyst For Reshaping Every Aspect Of Legal Work
Findings from the "Future of Professionals Report," based on a survey of 1,200 professionals from North and South America and the UK. -
American Bar Association / ABA, California, Law Schools, Money, Morning Docket, Paul Clement, Tax Law
Morning Docket: 10.21.11
* According to Jacoby & Myers, “winning is everything.” And by “winning,” they, of course, mean “settling.” Ten points to Gryffindor Jay Shepherd. [New York Times] * Ah, DOMA. Like it or not, we’re footing the bill for a law the DOJ won’t touch. This guy wants us to stop putting money in Paul Clement’s […]
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Continuing Legal Education / CLE, English Grammar and Usage, Lawyer Advertising, Pro Bono, Romance and Dating, Small Law Firms
Size Matters: Announcements and RFPs
With the departure of Jay Shepherd, small firm columnist Valerie Katz is now (at least temporarily) filling the role of small firm chica (Val) and small firm expert (Jay). Let me tell you, it is exhausting. So, she am going to do what any smart, small-firm partner would do in this situation, and she am going to delegate. And, by delegate, she means push the work off on you. She have a few new features that she would like to unveil (and she swears, it will be better than the new Facebook)... -
Admin, Announcements, Practice Pointers, Rudeness, Shameless Plugs, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: A Civil Practice
In his final Small Firms, Big Lawyers post, columnist Jay Shepherd reminders readers that clients don't like to see their lawyers palling around with the other side's lawyers. They hate the other side; they want you to hate the other side's lawyers. Here are a couple of reasons why you should be civil with opposing counsel.... -
Associate Advice, Litigators, Partner Issues, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Supervising Partners and Teaching Partners
Recently, small firm columnist Jay Shepherd talked to a fourth-year-associate friend who'd been working at a new small firm for several months. When Shepherd asked him how it was going, his friend said "great" in a way that suggested anything but. A partner was making his friend's life a living hell. What made this partner so horrible? It wasn't so much that the partner was horrible. It was that he was merely a "supervising partner".... -
Biglaw, Labor / Employment, Litigators, Small Law Firms, Trials
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Real Lawyers Settle Cases
Many litigators have a bias against settlement. It's understandable. There's no glamor in settling cases. There is a machismo (irrespective of gender) that goes along with trying cases. And it's ridiculous. Are you a "real" lawyer if you settle cases? -
Biglaw, Blackberry-Crackberry, Small Law Firms, Social Networking Websites, Technology
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: The Power of Small Firms
Losing power after Hurricane Irene got small firm columnist Jay Shepherd thinking about just how much he relies on electricity and computers and iPads and iPhones, and also how much that reliance has increased since he started law school. And over the years, he came to appreciate just how much technology has allowed small firms to compete with their Biglaw colleagues. What are the five biggest ways that technology has empowered small firms? - Sponsored
Document Automation For Law Firms: The Definitive Guide
Legal document automation is no longer only for the exclusive few. -
English Grammar and Usage, Reader Polls, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: A Period Piece
My overlords here at ATL thought it would be fun to run a poll about whether there should be one space or two after a period. As if these things are decided by popularity, rather than by rules. This is strange, really, because just about all of you reading this are lawyers or studying to […] -
Associate Advice, Job Searches, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: The Best Advice for Networking Events
How can you go about "marketing" and "networking" as an associate? There were no courses on these arcane arts in law school. Should you make a beeline to the nearest networking event? Small firm columnist Jay Shepherd makes the case for why you shouldn't.... -
Associate Advice, Job Searches, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Thinking of Quitting? Read This First
When a small employer loses a member of the team, it's a big deal. People will remember how you leave a place almost as much as they'll remember how you worked there. Jay Shepherd has some advice on how to quit your small firm job carefully.... -
Small Law Firms, Technology
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Are You Master of Your Domain?
In this day and age, it's not enough just to come up with a good law firm name. You also need to come up with a good law firm domain name. Small firm columnist Jay Shepherd has some tips on how to choose the right one.... -
Facebook, Small Law Firms, Social Networking Websites, Technology
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Don't Trust Your Young Associates!
Are your Millennial associates busy IM'ing, Facebooking, and streaming music while at work? Small firm columnist Jay Shepherd has some advice on what you should do....
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Early Adopters Of Legal AI Gaining Competitive Edge In Marketplace
How to best leverage generative AI as an early adopter with ethical use.
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How AI Is The Catalyst For Reshaping Every Aspect Of Legal Work
Findings from the "Future of Professionals Report," based on a survey of 1,200 professionals from North and South America and the UK.
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Are Small Firms Going Big On Legal Tech?
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Profit Powerhouse: Elevating Law Firm Financial Performance
In this CLE-eligible webinar on April 10th, we’ll explore the most common accounting pitfalls and how to avoid them for your firm.
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Document Automation For Law Firms: The Definitive Guide
Legal document automation is no longer only for the exclusive few.
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Baseball, Biglaw, Lawyer Advertising, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Marketing Like a Law Firm Would
If you're working on ways to better market your law firm, small firm columnist Jay Shepherd thinks that you should strive to be more like Apple than Toshiba. Read on to find out why.... -
Facebook, Small Law Firms, Social Networking Websites, Twittering
Size Matters: I Need A Hero
I always assumed that my youth (or quasi-youth) would guarantee me superstar status in connection with social media. I am not sure why I thought this, because my first foray into Facebook was a bit of a disaster. I was quite late to the party, joining years after I realized that everyone was doing it. […] -
Biglaw, Howrey LLP, Law Firm Names, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Small Firms with Big Names
Lawyers at small law firms need to think carefully about what to name their firms. Here are some considerations to keep in mind, from small-firm columnist Jay Shepherd. -
Harvard, Law Schools, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: Getting Your Name Out There
Twenty years ago this September, I started law school not knowing anyone there. More importantly, no one there knew me. Now, mind you, this was at Boston College Law School, where such things aren’t really emphasized. I mean, it’s not like at that school across the Charles, where people like the Winklevii both wear and […] -
Small Law Firms, Travel / Vacation
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: A Week Without You, Thought I’d Forget
July is turning into a cushy month for me in ATL Land (not a real place; more of a state of mind). The first Monday of the month was the Fourth, meaning a much-appreciated day off for my colleagues and me. Then there’s this post today, which is nearly half done and I haven’t even […] -
Associate Advice, English Grammar and Usage, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: 20 Ways to Write Like a Tool
Being a lawyer is like being a member of an elite club, but sounding like a lawyer is sometimes the same as sounding like a "tool." Small firm columnist Jay Shepherd has come up with 20 lawyerisms that do nothing to advance the message lawyers are trying to send, and do, in fact, make lawyers sound like complete tools in their writing. -
Fashion, Small Law Firms
Small Firms, Big Lawyers: The Small-Firm Dress Code
The other day, Staci wrote about dress codes at some of the large firms. Specifically, Quinn Emanuel made some noise by putting out a minimalist dress code, requiring only shoes “because our insurance company requires them!” (Yes, it’s their exclamation point.) This was in stark contrast to other Biglaw dress codes, like the paternalistic one […]