Vinson & Elkins

* “When anyone criticizes the honesty, integrity, the motives of a federal judge, I find that disheartening. I find that demoralizing, because I know the truth.” During the tail end of the second day of his marathon confirmation hearing, Judge Neil Gorsuch let it be known for the first time publicly that he wasn’t pleased with President Trump’s attacks on his judicial colleagues. [CNN]

* While the legal world was preoccupied with Judge Gorsuch’s confirmation hearing yesterday, SCOTUS was still on the job, with the justices busy putting the kibosh on some presidential appointment powers. In the future, a person will be unable to serve as the acting head of a federal agency once the president nominates him to permanently serve in the role if it is a position that requires Senate confirmation. [Reuters]

* After four years, Dean Jay Conison of the beleaguered Charlotte School of Law has stepped down. The for-profit school had seen some of its worst days under his leadership, including its graduates’ plummeting bar exam passage rates and its students’ loss of access to the federal loan program this past December. While loans seem to have been restored for students this semester, the school may yet close. [Charlotte Observer]

* This could explain the firm’s humungous national bonuses: Vinson & Elkins had its best year ever in 2016, posting record gross revenue, net income, revenue per lawyer and profits per partner. Now that the firm is playing with the big boys, it’s paying like the big boys. As noted previously, V&E has officially committed to paying the new, Cravath-inspired $180K starting salary in every market where it has an office. [Texas Lawyer]

* “It truly is an embarrassment.” Philadelphia DA Seth Williams has been indicted on corruption and bribery-related charges. He stands accused of accepting a trip to Punta Cana, a Jaguar convertible, a custom sofa, and other gifts in exchange for fixing cases for friends. The City Law Department was paying an attorney from Morgan Lewis to represent Williams, but now refuses to continue to do so. [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Associates at this firm are "ecstatic" about their bonuses.

Say goodbye to Austin...

Has this game of musical chairs left one partner without a seat at the table?

Market or above-market bonuses + Texas cost of living = Happy associates.

* “[W]e refuse to be distracted by disgruntled employees or frivolous lawsuits.” Baltimore State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby is being accused of firing a handful of prosecutors due to their political associations in a newly filed lawsuit. [Baltimore Sun]

* Texas Wesleyan wants to dismiss a suit filed by its “disavowed” law school grads because it says its obligation “ended with their graduation,” so it doesn’t need to grant them alumni status with Texas A&M Law. Harsh. [Courthouse News Service]

* Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy will soon sign an executive order banning those on the federal no-fly list from purchasing guns in the state. Professor Eugene Volokh thinks that this policy is constitutionally controversial. Do you agree? [WSJ Law Blog]

* Vinson & Elkins is moving its Dallas headquarters to a fancy $200 million building, where it’ll fill up 80,000 sq ft of office space in 2018. How nice for you! Now be nice to your associates and announce your Cravath bonus matches. [Dallas Morning News]

* What’s the best way to get out of paying millions of dollars to lawyers who you hired to perform complex legal work? If you’re hurting for cash, then take a cue from this New Jersey firm and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to ditch your drama. [Bergen Record]

Which firms are most highly rated by their summers? Our survey asks current and former summers to rate their employers based on the categories of Compensation, Hours, Firm Morale, Training, and Culture and Colleagues.

One firm is paying $500; another firm is paying $1,000 (or more). What's your firm doing?

Opportunities abound in Texas.

Some high-performing associates at this firm received bonuses well above the Davis Polk scale.

Get ready for the awkwardness of lawyers dancing.

And what's worse, it sounds like the partner threw the associate under the bus on this one.

Why are associates at Vinson & Elkins so happy about their bonuses?

We know the who, what, where, and when of the Weil partner departures; now let's dig into the WHY....

How many partners just left Weil's Dallas office, for which rival firm, and why?