That's the subject of this fun little piece by Kim Isaac Eisler, in Washingtonian magazine. There aren't that many ways to write about law firms -- after a while, all the articles start to sound the same -- so new and quirky takes like Eisler's are especially welcome.

Here's an excerpt:

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. Feuding brothers grow up in a dysfunctional household, constantly boxing and picking on each other. One, William Bennett, becomes a prominent Republican, while the other, Skadden's Robert Bennett, defends a Democratic president who bears some striking similarities to Eddie Haskell.

Show: Leave It to Beaver.

You can read the rest -- which features, among other Biglaw shops, Dickstein Shapiro, McDermott Will & Emery, Williams & Connolly, and WilmerHale -- by clicking here.

On the boutique firm front, there's a nice shout-out to Joe diGenova, former U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, and his fabulous wife, Victoria Toensing, of diGenova & Toensing. As we can attest from firsthand experience, they're a lot of fun to sit with at a dinner party, with Joe diGenova offering irreverent, under-his-breath running commentary on the dinner speaker.

Cue the Theme Song . . . If Law Firms Were Sitcoms [Washingtonian]

Our Bachelorette-watching days are probably over. We missed last night's episode -- and one of the two lawyers was eliminated on it, dramatically reducing the show's legal relevance.

As ATL readers go, so goes Bachelorette DeAnna Pappas. In our reader poll, almost 80 percent of you favored Jeremy over Fred. Consistent with your verdict, DeAnna eliminated Fred this week, leaving Jeremy as the only lawyer-finalist. For an episode recap, see here (a Bachelor-loving lawyer's take) or here (the official ABC recap).

We did learn, from our readers, a little more about Fred. Apparently his full name is Fred Greif (not Fred Glick, as previously rumored). And here's some information about his employment (which could be construed as a cautionary tale for anyone considering law school):

Fred graduated John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 2002. He never practiced or got a "legal job" post graduation.

He's a gym teacher at a Catholic school in Chicago. He teaches my friend's kids. That's why you can't find anything on him.

In the recent "lawyer" vs. "attorney" discussion thread, some of you theorized that "lawyer" refers to any law school graduate, while "attorney" refers to a licensed, practicing lawyer. By this standard, even if Fred isn't an "attorney," he can honestly represent himself as a "lawyer" on the Bachelorette. It certainly sounds more glamorous than "gym teacher."

As for the remaining attorney-contestant, congratulations to Jeremy Anderson. Apparently he's now "the longest-lasting attorney on any Bachelor/Bachelorette show ever," according to Bachelor News Update. We wish him the best of luck.

Update: If you're a fan of lawyers on reality shows, a tipster passes this along:

There is also an attorney on this season of The Mole. I can't remember his name, but he's a fairly handsome black man.

Our source seems to be thinking of Clay, 32, who is indeed a rather handsome African-American gent. He's a graduate of Howard Law School who works as a litigator in Philadelphia, focused on criminal cases.

Double D Part 4: Smooth. Rich. Succulent. [Bachelor News Update]
Recap: 06/09/2008 - Episode 404 [The Bachelor / ABC]

We wouldn't have guessed this, in light of his social conservatism and the show's risqué nature. But here it is, from New York Magazine's Intelligencer:

Apparently Antonin Scalia is a Sex and the City fan. When Sarah Jessica Parker finished an interview with Charlie Rose on May 29, she left the Bloomberg Building, where the show is taped, and stopped for a cigarette in the courtyard. The conservative Supreme Court justice emerged from a nearby Town Car and rushed over to praise the star.

"He was absolutely gushing, telling her how much he loved her show and how excited he was to see the movie," says a witness. "Finally, he asked her if he could bum a cigarette." She obliged, the witness said, and then Scalia strolled away. A Supreme Court spokeswoman confirmed the meeting but denied the cadge. "He was there for a symposium," she said. "And he lent her a match."

What, no lighter? Supreme Court justices may be underpaid, but Justice Scalia, who recently reported assets between $1.5 million and $3 million, can surely afford a nice Dunhill.

On second thought, maybe chemistry between SJP and AS isn't so surprising after all. Justice Scalia does look a little like "Mr. Big." (Or, to put it another way, Chris Noth looks like a young Scalia.)

Over at the WSJ Law Blog, a commenter speculates: "That is a new low, a guy telling a woman how much he likes 'Sex and the City' in order to bum a cigarette from her. How many guys really like that HBO series? Not very many. Scalia must be a hard core nicotine addict."

Update / Correction: This post is subject to a correction. Please see here.

Love Supreme for Carrie Bradshaw [Intelligencer / NYM via WSJ Law Blog]

We just finished watching The Bachelorette, which has featured a few lawyer-contestants this season. We're happy to report that the attorneys are doing well. Out of nine bachelors still in the running for the hand of the lovely DeAnna Pappas, two are attorneys: Jeremy and Fred.

The frontrunner -- between the two of them, and on the whole show right now -- is 30-year-old Jeremy Anderson (SMU Law / Hunton & Williams). He's rubbing the other guys the wrong way, but much of it seems to be player-hating. DeAnna is definitely falling for him, as are ATL readers. In our poll, 85 percent of you picked him over Eric Papachristos of Ropes & Gray, who got the ax last week.

We can see why. Last month, a reader commended Jeremy's abs to us. We don't know how this (male) reader was aware of Jeremy's fine physique, but thanks to this week's poolside cavorting, we were able to see for ourselves -- and concur. Thumbnail at right; click to enlarge.

Fred, also a 30-year-old lawyer, is a more mysterious candidate. His last name is rumored to be Glick, although that hasn't been confirmed. A reader tells us that he graduated from Chicago's John Marshall Law School about five years ago. It's not clear where he currently works. (If you know, please email us.)

We're not big Fred fans. He's on the doughy side, at least compared to the other contestants, and he came across like a tool during his attempt to ambush DeAnna during her one-on-time with Jeremy.

But Fred redeemed himself during the contestants' pilgramage to the Oracle of Lesbos, Ellen DeGeneres. His explanation of DeAnna's best quality was rambling (and highlighted that heavy Chicago accent), but Ellen seemed taken by it -- combined with his performance in the "dance-off." She gave him a rose.

So both Jeremy and Fred are still in the running. Which lawyer-lover do you prefer?

Earlier: The Lawyer and the Bachelorette

Bless us, Father, for we have sinned. Last night we watched the Bachelorette.

It was for journalistic reasons -- really. We wanted to do an update to our prior post, about a lawyer competing for the hand of the Bachelorette, DeAnna Pappas.

Or make that "lawyers"? He's not identified as a lawyer in his bio, which refers to him merely as a "senior analyst," but Eric Papachristos, 31, apparently works in the Boston office of Ropes & Gray.

In addition, according to the Boston Herald (which confirms his Ropes & Gray connection), Eric co-owns Gypsy Bar, Victoria's Diner, and The Breakfast Club. We aren't familiar with these fine establishments, but if you are, feel free to chime in.

Sadly for him, Eric might want to keep his day job(s), since he was eliminated last night from the Bachelorette. He tried to bond with DeAnna over their shared Greek heritage, but she was having none of it. As he was sent home, Eric confessed that "it hurts to be rejected" and that he's "never had to compete for someone's affection before."

Correction: Whoops, sorry about that. Although Eric works for Ropes, he is not a lawyer; he handles "Financial Planning and Analysis" for the firm. See his LinkedIn profile (via a commenter).

But another legal eagle, Jeremy Anderson, fared much better. He's now viewed by his fellow contestants as the frontrunner, having racked up two roses. Here's how he succeeded, from EW.com:

In the Dodger dugout, he told DeAnna that both of his parents are dead and that he's had a hard time opening up because he's trying to protect himself and his family. DeAnna, whose mother died of cancer when she was 12, now has someone who knows what she's experienced. Jeremy's position on the show, and maybe even in DeAnna's heart, seems secure. Is he for real?

Real or not, he's quite a hottie (with ample upper-body strength -- he came in second fared well in the push-up contest). Furthermore, when Jeremy and DeAnna got their smooch on, he looked like a good kisser.

But Eric, who got the boot, isn't bad-looking either. He got sent home, even though some less attractive gents (in our opinion) were allowed to stay on.

Who's hotter, Eric or Jeremy? Compare their headshots at the top of this post, then take our poll below.

Update: As noted in the comments, there is a second lawyer on the show: Fred, a 30-year-old lawyer from Chicago. If you know more about his professional background -- for example, where he went to law school or where he works -- please enlighten us (in the comments or by email).

Earlier: SMU Law Grad to Vie for the Bachelorette's Heart

That's the title of our latest column for the New York Observer, which reflects upon recent television and film portrayals of women litigators.

It touches upon some of the same themes highlighted in Amy Kolz's excellent American Lawyer article from last year, but it's more focused on fictional female litigators, as opposed to real-life ones. Here's how it starts:

Whatever happened to Ally McBeal? If recent movies and television shows are any guide, the life of a female lawyer has gotten a lot less pleasant since the carefree, charmingly neurotic days of dancing babies and bathroom kisses. But today's portrayals may be more accurate, and certainly more critically acclaimed.

Last January, Glenn Close won a Golden Globe for her compelling performance as Patty Hewes, a fearsome and wildly successful plaintiff's lawyer, on the addictive TV show Damages. The following month, Tilda Swinton snagged an Oscar for stepping into the pumps of Karen Crowder, a hard-charging in-house litigator, in Michael Clayton.

In March, Julianna Margulies (of ER) returned to television as aggressive defense lawyer Elizabeth Canterbury, the title character of Canterbury's Law. Even Katey Sagal, who embodied the famously vulgar Peggy Bundy on Married With Children, reincarnated herself this year as Marci Klein, the sleek, powerful, and ruthless founding partner of the law firm on Eli Stone.

You can read the full column over here.

Farewell, Ally McBeal; Enter the Litigatrix [New York Observer]

Several loyal ATL readers (and Bachelorette watchers?) tipped us off to a lawyer being among the 25 bachelors competing on the ABC reality TV show this season.

The eligible bachelor is 30-year-old Texan Jeremy Anderson. ABC cites his profession as "real estate attorney." He's a December 2007 grad of SMU Dedman School of Law.

Speaking of layoffs at Hunton & Williams, our tipster says Anderson (who summered there in 2007) was let go from their Dallas office when he went on the show:

A first-year Dallas associate (who took the February 2008 bar) was placed on probation by Hunton Williams after asking for a leave of absence to do The Bachelorette. The firm is apparently waiting for the season to air before making a final decision, although they obviously plan to fire him. Who has the gall to ask for a leave of absence during their first year, especially to do a reality TV show? But assuming it's a legitimate reason to request time off, is Hunton's reaction reasonable and fair?

His name is Jeremy Anderson... There's a rumor that he makes it to the final three. His bio was taken off Hunton's website.

When we called Hunton about the layoff rumors in Charlotte, we also asked about Anderson. The only comment we got from their spokesperson was, "On a personal note, I love the show."

We appreciate your sending this along, ATL readers. As one of you predicts, we will "enjoy covering Jeremy . . . and his abs."

Cameras in the courtroom at the U.S. Supreme Court? Over Justice Souter's dead body.

So you'll have to settle for fictional depictions on television. From a very interesting report by Tony Mauro, for the Legal Times:

Nearly a decade ago, when his show "Ally McBeal" was at its peak, lawyer-turned-Hollywood-producer David E. Kelley was invited to dinner at the home of then-Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor.

There, Kelley recalls, he got to chat with four or five justices along with other D.C. luminaries.

But now, Kelley says in an exclusive interview with Legal Times, “I've probably disqualified myself” from any justice's invitation list for a return visit.

That's because of an April 22 episode of Kelley's current hit show “Boston Legal,” which included one of the most vociferous popular-culture critiques of the current conservative Supreme Court since John Roberts Jr. became chief justice in 2005.

Yum, dinner at SOC's house. Did you try the salmon?

The anti-Roberts Court screed, improbably enough, is delivered to the justices to their faces during the episode titled “The Court Supreme.” Co-star James Spader, who plays Boston lawyer Alan Shore, lights into the Court as he argues before look-alike justices on behalf of a Louisiana child rapist facing the death penalty. The episode aired just six days after the real Court heard arguments in Kennedy v. Louisiana, an actual child rape/death penalty case.

A sample of the rhetoric: Shore attacks the “overtly and shamelessly pro-business” Court, and takes a sharp detour from the rape case to slam Justice Antonin Scalia for his seemingly likely support for Exxon Mobil in the case -also argued recently-involving punitive damages awarded after the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Don't try this at home, kids -- or in real life. The nine current justices are, for the most part, a good-humored group. But they probably wouldn't appreciate being called "overtly and shamelessly pro-business" -- at least not in open court.

(Save it for the pages of the New York Times. Jeffrey Rosen, holla.)

Discussion continues, below the fold.

When it comes to law school graduation speakers, it's hard to please everyone. Earlier this year, controversy erupted at Boston College Law School when U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey was announced as the commencement speaker. Some students, faculty and alumni voiced opposition to AG Mukasey, based on his involvement in the waterboarding / torture controversy (extensive coverage collected here; resolution of the situation described here).

Now we report on commencement controversy news of a rather different (and somewhat less highbrow) sort. It arises out of the decision by Northwestern University School of Law to invite Jerry Springer to serve as this year's commencement speaker. Springer got his law degree there in '68, worked as a campaign aide to Robert F. Kennedy, and served as mayor of Cincinnati. But he's perhaps best known as the ringmaster of scandal and vulgarity on the Jerry Springer Show (and an unsuccessful contestant on Dancing With the Stars).

Some Northwestern students are not happy about Springer's selection. From a tipster:

There is a current uproar in the graduating class at Northwestern Law. The graduation committee thought Jerry Springer would be an appropriate speaker for this year's convocation. Most of the student body is opposed to this, but this administration is sticking by the committee's decision.

Maybe he'll bring Northwestern students with secrets and unresolved conflicts up on stage, then have them confess and brawl. That might be more fun than the usual staid graduation ceremony.

We contacted the school for comment, which issued the following statement, from Dean David E. Van Zandt:

In keeping with the spirit of our community, our commencement speaker annually is selected by a student committee, approved by the administration, and invited by both.

Mr. Springer is an alumnus who has held public office as a city council member and mayor of Cincinnati. He has had a very successful career in the news and entertainment industries.

We look forward to Mr. Springer's participation at commencement.

At least one LLM candidate is trying to prevent Springer's speaking. See the protest letter circulating at Northwestern, and vote in our reader poll, after the jump.

Update: Also after the jump, a defense of Jerry Springer's selection as commencement speaker, which went out over the NU law school listerv.

Entertainment Weekly has just generated 15 Legal Eagles We'd Hire: a list of the on-screen attorneys they would like to have as counsel. To save you the trouble of clicking through EW's annoying slideshow format, here's the breakdown:

1. Atticus Finch / Gregory Peck, To Kill a Mockingbird
2. Perry Mason / Raymond Burr, Perry Mason
3. Vincent Gambini / Joe Pesci, My Cousin Vinny
4. Lt. Daniel Kaffee / Tom Cruise, A Few Good Men
5. Ally McBeal / Calista Flockhart, Ally McBeal
6. Denny Crane / William Shatner, Boston Legal
7. Henry Drummond / Spencer Tracy, Inherit the Wind
8. Jack McCoy / Sam Waterson, Law & Order
9. Victor Sifuentes / Jimmy Smits, L.A. Law
10. Fred Gailey / John Payne, Miracle on 34th Street
11. Miles Massey / George Clooney, Intolerable Cruelty
12. Joe Miller / Denzel Washington, Philadelphia
13. Jake Tyler Brigance / Matthew McConaughey, A Time to Kill
14. Frank Galvin / Paul Newman, The Verdict
15. Lionel Hutz / Phil Hartman, The Simpsons

We can't believe that Ally McBeal ranked higher than Jack McCoy. That show was canceled, while Law & Order lives on like the Energizer Bunny.

Some Hollywood legal-types ATL would add to the list:

-- Reese Witherspoon, in Legally Blonde;
-- Richard Gere, for Chicago and Primal Fear;
-- Julia Roberts, as paralegal in Erin Brockovich, and a law student in the Pelican Brief;
-- Michelle Pfeiffer, in I Am Sam;
-- Jim Carrey, in Liar, Liar; and, most importantly,
-- Keanu Reeves and Al Pacino, as good lawyer vs. evil Satan lawyer, in The Devil's Advocate

That is not a scientific list, just the result of rigorous ATL brainstorming and some Google searching.

Who are your favorite on-screen attorneys? We encourage you to list your top five, in the comments.

Best TV/Movie Lawyers: 15 Legal Eagles We'd Hire [Entertainment Weekly]

When law students are choosing among law firms, they inquire into such predictable things. What's the firm's billable hour requirement? How is work distributed? What about pro bono? For lawyers involved in recruiting, it must get boring to have to answer the same questions over and over again.

So law students, next time you interview with a firm, ask about something that really matters: What is the firm's policy towards associates who want to participate in reality television shows?

Is the firm supportive of such endeavors? Can I take a leave of absence for the show's filming, and then return in good standing? If so, will my year-end bonus get prorated?

As it turns out, Biglaw shops take different approaches to reality TV. It was rumored that Sidley Austin was none too pleased when associate David Otunga decided to participate in I Love New York 2 (and he is no longer at the firm). As for his performance on the show, the Harvard Law School grad made it to the final three, before losing to "Buddha" and "Tailor Made."

Contrast Sidley's reaction to that of K&L Gates. The firm allowed an associate in its Washington office -- the highly attractive Denise Gitsham, 30, a recent Georgetown Law grad and former Bush aide -- to take leave to be on "The Bachelor." Now it welcomes her back with open arms. From an email recently sent around by D.C.-based partner Mark Ruge:

All:

This Monday, at 9:30 p.m. on ABC, is the season premier of the hit television show, The Bachelor. ("The Bachelor" is the nation's highest-rated reality TV show in the 18-45 female demographic group. It is now entering its 12th season on network television.)

Believe it or not, one of the contestants this season will be our own associate Denise Gitsham, who was away "on location" during much of February. Here is a link to the show's web site and Denise's bio:

http://abc.go.com/primetime/bachelor/index?pn=bios#t=bachelorettes&d=85609

Denise's name, photo, and bio were submitted to the show by her cousin, and Denise was selected to be one of the show's 25 bachelorettes out of more than 12,000 applicants. She was under extreme confidentiality requirements during her adventure (and still is to some degree). At least now, though, she is free to admit what she was doing during her mysterious leave in February.

Just thought you would like to know...

Mark

K&L Gates lawyers: if you need to send something to Denise via intra-office mail, the delivery should be accompanied by a rose. Thanks.

P.S. We can't find Denise Gitsham on the firm website (although we did find a "Denise Stiffarm" in Seattle). We're guessing that Denise has been too busy filming The Bachelor to fill out all that pesky bar admission paperwork.

Denise Gitsham bio [The Bachelor]

Taken as a group, Supreme Court clerks can claim pretty much every honor under the sun. At One First Street, Rhodes and Marshall scholars are commonplace, law review editors-in-chief are a dime a dozen, and law school valedictorians abound.

But how many SCOTUS clerks have their own IMDb entry? Meet Isaac Lidsky (Harvard 2004 / Ambro), an attorney at the Department of Justice (Civil Appellate), who was selected last week by Justice Sandra Day O'Connor as her law clerk for October Term 2008. He founded the non-profit Hope for Vision, and his bio there reads:

[Isaac] is an honors graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, and he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Judge Thomas Ambro of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Before law school, Isaac founded Poindexter Systems, a now thriving internet advertising technology company in Manhattan. Isaac has been involved in raising awareness and funding for vision research for many years. He has organized several fundraising events, has appeared in the national media to promote awareness of the cause, has testified about the need for scientific funding before Congressional bodies on numerous occasions, and has served as a mentor to younger individuals afflicted with eye diseases. He has retinitis pigmentosa.

From a tipster:

I wonder if he is the first blind law clerk on the Supreme Court. I also wonder whether he's the first clerk to have thrown out the first pitch at an MLB game.

[Before law school,] Isaac had a prior life as a child actor. His most notable role, I believe, was as Barton "Weasel" Wyzell (the new Screech) on Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

Awesome. Fay Diplomas and Sears Prizes pale in comparison next to the experience of having acted opposite Dennis Haskins (aka "Mr. Belding").

Also hired as a Supreme Court clerk, but for October Term 2009: Bessie Dewar (Yale 2006 / W. Fletcher / L. Pollak (E.D. Pa.)). She's been described to us as "brilliant," "wonderfully charismatic," and "one of nicest, most smiling people to grace the halls of the Yale Law School."

The current tally of OT 2008 and OT 2009 SCOTUS clerks, with Isaac Lidsky and Bessie Dewar added, appears after the jump.

* A shout-out to the Elect on TV tonight. The lawyer protagonist of the new ABC drama, "Eli Stone" -- portrayed by Jonny Lee Miller (pictured), an ex-husband of Angelina Jolie -- is supposedly a former law clerk to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. [New York Times]

* A novel approach to the legal job hunt: build your own website, then advertise it in the ABA Journal. If Loyola 2L doesn't have a job lined up already -- although rumor has it that he does, which may explain his "retirement" from blogging -- here's something for him to consider. [3L for Hire and ABA Journal, via WSJ Law Blog]

* More proof that New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo is a wannabe Eliot Spitzer. [DealBreaker]

* Lawyerly lairs: Tunisia. [flickr]

Former Senator Fred Thompson (R-TN) -- who has played a lawyer on television, as well as in real life -- is dropping out of the presidential race.

Look for an official announcement by the close of business today.

Update: Here is Fred Thompson's statement on his withdrawal from the 2008 presidential race. Additional thoughts on the Thompson candidacy appear here (Marc Ambinder) and here (Adam Nagourney and Michael Powell).

Thompson Decides To Drop Out [Marc Ambinder / The Atlantic]
Fred Thompson Drops Out of the Presidential Race [New York Times]

Is the complaining about the tough job market for graduates of non-elite law schools overblown? Take, for example, Western New England College School of Law. According to U.S. News, it's a tier 4 school. But when it comes to career success, its graduates are doing just fine, thank you very much.

Some WNEC alumni make partner at Sullivan & Cromwell. Others attain fortune and fame on television. From TortsProf Blog:

I admit to some hesitation in acknowledging watching American Gladiators, which is not by any rational measure a particularly good show. And yet there it sits on our TiVo, and yet we watch it. Such is the mystery of life, no? But today, I get to tie it in both to my law school and to Torts.

Last night one of the contestants, Jennifer Blum, was identified as a New Jersey lawyer and a professional football player (she plays for the New York Sharks and is an all-time leading receiver). A quick search of our alumni database reveals that she's a 2002 graduate of Western New England College School of Law! Sources vary; I thought they said on the show that she's a criminal defense lawyer, but other sites indicate that she's a civil litigator. Maybe she reads this blog!

Or maybe this one. Hi Jen! If you'd be willing to be interviewed on ATL, please email us.

From her American Gladiators bio:

Jennifer Blum is a women’s football player who grew up sleeping with a football in her bed. When she was 9-years-old, she and her parents sued for her right to be on a boy’s soccer team — an event that was covered in the media nationwide. Always a tom-boy, never afraid to take a hit or hit back, she is ready to jump into the ring with the Gladiators. Blum, a civil litigation lawyer, is 34 years old and currently lives in Franklin Park, New Jersey.

Jen Blum sounds tough and tenacious. How did she fare on the show? Find out by reading Professor Bill Childs's full post (which also includes excerpts from the incredibly long waiver form that contestants must fill out).

Update: A tipster informs us that she used to work for the New Jersey Attorney General's Office. See picture at right.

Lawyers Ready? Gladiators Ready? [TortsProf Blog]
Jennifer Blum [American Gladiators]
Lawyer Profile: Jennifer Blum [Martindale-Hubbell]

* Gov. Romney wins Michigan. [CNN]

* Sen. Clinton faces challenge from "uncommitted." [CNN]

* NV Supreme Court overturns decision allowing Rep. Kucinich to debate. [MSNBC]

* Criminal prosecutions of Blackwater security guards would not be easy. [New York Times]

* Did CIA lawyers and officials implicitly sign off on the destruction of interrogation tapes? [Washington Post]

* Austrian court rules animal rights group can't have custody of chimp; appeal will be to the European Court of Human Rights. [AP]

* DOJ to investigate Tejada? [New York Times]

* Collected news coverage about yesterday's Stoneridge decision. [How Appealing (linkwrap)]

The tipster who forwarded this invite to us pretty much said it all: "Weil: Are you joking?"

Weil is currently ranked #9 on the Vault 100. How many spots should they be docked for this?

(In case you're wondering, yes, we did contact the firm for comment. We did not hear back from them.)

WEIL GOTSHAL & MANGES -- INVITATION TO DIVERSITY RECEPTION FEATURING STAR JONES

Please join us at our diversity reception for first year law students next Tuesday, January 22nd! Please also note that the time for the reception has changed to 6:00pm to 9:00pm.

Our guest speaker, Star Jones, will be arriving at 6:00pm to mingle, so plan to be there early! Further details are below.

For those of you who cannot view the JPEG, here are the details for the event:

Location: STK
Date: Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Special Guest Speaker: Star Jones of truTV (formerly Court TV)

RSVP by Friday, January 18 to [xxxx] or (212) 833-[xxxx]

[xxxx]
Legal Recruiting Coordinator
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
767 Fifth Avenue

Star Jones Reynolds [Wikipedia]
Star Jones [official website]

* Bush administration seeks greater power over promotions of military lawyers. [Boston Globe via How Appealing]

* Saudi king pardons rape victim who had been sentenced to 200 lashes (for being alone with a man at the time of the attack). [AP via New York Times]

* Limited effects of recent SCOTUS sentencing decision? [Chicago Tribune]

* CNN's guide to Mitchell report players. [CNN]

* Law Blog's guide to Sen. George Mitchell (including a funny story of a minor faux pas). [WSJ Law Blog]

* Poll suggests support for individual rights reading of Second Amendment. [CNN]

* Comcast v. NFL Network dispute produces another lawsuit. [Sportsline]

* So, it's gonna be illegal now, which means the CIA can't do it, right? [Washington Post via How Appealing]

* New Jersey gets rid of the death penalty; now if they could just tackle that disgusting odor. [BBC]

* Prosecutors go 0-1-6 in Sears Tower trial. [CNN]

* Hey, look everybody! International law! They've got a court with judges and lawyers and stuff, and they even issue rulings! Just like it's real! That's cute. ICJ upholds treaty giving islands to Colombia. [Jurist]

* Hollywood writers take this strike thing up a notch. [AP via Reno Gazette-Journal]

As we mentioned earlier, we don't watch How I Met Your Mother. But maybe we should start, since lately it has been very topical for lawyers and law students.

From a devoted reader of ATL and watcher of HIMYM:

No snarky write-up of last night's episode? Marshall anxiously awaiting his bar results figures prominently. He loses his password, so he can't log into the NY bar site. Meanwhile, Doogie Howser (as he will forever be named in my mind) concocts an elaborate scheme to hack into the site to get his results -- and shows Marshall a dog pooping on a baby, instead.

As an aside, Marshall graduated from Columbia Law School, my alma mater, so I'm feeling particularly sentimental about the show.

Recap: Episode 308 [How I Met Your Mother / CBS]

Earlier: How I Met Your... Partner?