* Let's begin with the practical. If you took the Bar/Bri bar review course between 1997 and 2006, please click here, so you can find out how to claim $125 for yourself (unless you want to go it on your own and try to get more).

* Gay lawyer Aaron Charney and his former employer, Sullivan & Cromwell, had their day in court. We were on hand to jot down the money quotes and shoot lots of photos.

* Speaking of Aaron Charney, is he just another money-hungry plaintiff, rather than a crusader for justice for gay lawyers everywhere?

* Anna Nicole Smith, a prevailing party in the U.S. Supreme Court and the widow of a (very rich) former Yale Law professor -- a prof who taught Trusts and Estates, of all things -- passed away.

* Still more big law firms announced pay raises for their associates.

* Your stories about Shanetta Cutlar, the colorful chief of the Justice Department's Special Litigation Section, are pleasingly novel to us. But to the DOJ's front office, it's all old news.

* Law students are good at squabbling amongst themselves.

* Judge Janice Rogers Brown is pretty cool.

* And Canadians are funny.

* Last Tuesday, a civil action captioned Aaron Brett Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP was filed in New York Supreme Court -- and the world of Biglaw has never been the same ever since. Click here to access the complete archives of our Aaron Charney coverage.

* Of course, Sullivan & Cromwell partners aren't the only bosses who are jerks challenging (allegedly).

* Don't forget the Divine Miss C, Shanetta Cutlar, whose delicious reign continues over at the Justice Department's Special Litigation Section.

Compared to Aaron Charney and Shanetta Cutlar, other topics pale by comparison. But here are other highlights from the past week in legal news:

* Charles "Cully" Stimson apologizes for ranking on Gitmo lawyers.

* In New Orleans, trials get rescheduled for football.

* Barry Ostrager of Simpson Thacher, the renowned business litigator, has poor bathroom manners (or aim).

* The justices of the Michigan Supreme Court just can't stop squabbling.

* Now we know the real reason -- or rather, the 25 million reasons -- that the Dewey Ballantine / Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe merger was scuttled.

* Third Circuit Judge Marjorie Rendell, who also serves as the First Lady of Pennsylvania, sings a duet with Jon Bon Jovi. We don't know whether to be delighted or frightened.

* Over at the Justice Department, the bad-ass Shanetta Cutlar, Chief of the Special Litigation Section of the Civil Rights Division, takes no prisoners.

* Not even summer interns can escape her wrath.

* But hey, at least they get to go back to school. Full-time attorneys can escape only by leaving the Section -- provided that Shanetta doesn't get to them first.

* Speaking of job changes, meet your new White House counsel: Fred Fielding, of Wiley Rein & Fielding (who served as White House counsel under President Reagan).

* Next time you go out for pizza, leave the corporate lawyers at home.

* Pentagon official Charles Stimson doesn't like how Guantanamo Bay detainees are getting pro bono representation from some of the country's top law firms. Don't they have better things to be doing with their pro bono time?

* Michael Nifong manages a Houdini-like escape from the debacle known as the Duke lacrosse team rape case.

* Celebrity law professors Noah Feldman and Jeannie Suk, whom you have just dubbed Feldsuk, have a really nice house.

* But not as nice as the $7 million mansion of patent lawyer Donald Stout (aerial view at right).

* Federal judicial nominees: Out with the old, in with the new.

* Chief Judge Michael Boudin (1st Cir.): You like him, you really like him.

* Maybe it's because he's such a big feeder judge. Interestingly enough, though, he has only placed one clerk so far at the Supreme Court for October Term 2007.*

(But Chief Judge Boudin feeds mostly to Justice Breyer and Justice Souter. The former isn't finished hiring yet, and the latter hasn't even started.)

Last week was short, thanks to the New Year's holiday; but it sure was busy. Here are some highlights from a very momentous week:

* No more jokes about Harriet Miers: the ill-fated ex-SCOTUS nominee has resigned as White House counsel. Speculation about her successor abounds.

* No more jokes about the Dewy Orifice: the ill-fated merger between Dewey Ballantine and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe has been called off.

* Turns out that Chief Justice Rehnquist was a painkiller junkie. Once, while suffering withdrawal symptoms, he tried to bust out of a hospital in his PJs.

* Chief Judge David Levi, of the Eastern District of California, will be the new Dean of Duke Law School.

* All About Jan? Just as the aging Margo Channing's reign over Broadway was threatened by the comely Eve Harrington, the aging Linda Greenhouse's reign over One First Street is being threatened by the comely Jan Crawford Greenburg.

* Who knew? Law professors and legal bloggers sure know how to party! Photos of drunken legal academics available here and here.

* Cravath partner John Beerbower has enjoyed some amazing apartments over the years. Cravath partnership + Wealthy wife = $20 million, Park Avenue pad.

* Who's your favorite First Circuit judge? Cast your vote here.

* If you're a right-winger hoping that Justice Stevens will step down soon, don't hold your breath.

* Today's D.C. Circuit: Despite the occasional catfight, it's not as bitchy as it used to be. Sigh.

* Oppressed law clerks, your Devil Wears Prada is on its way. Coming soon to a bookstore near you: Chambermaid, by former Third Circuit clerk Saira Rao.

The week before a major holiday is usually pretty slow. And the Friday before the holiday weekend is usually dead -- the perfect time for Mike Nifong to announce he's dropping the rape charges against the Duke lacrosse team defendants.

Other highlights from the past week in legal news and ATL:

* Get to know this year's Alito clerks!

* And help us get to know the current Breyer clerks.

* Dean Harold Koh's Christmas gift to Yale Law School conservatives: newfound warmth and friendliness.

* Speaking of Yale Law School, YLS grad Yul Kwon just won Survivor. Congrats, Yul!

* Stuff you knew already: Supreme Court clerks are cooler than you. Lawyers have mediocre sex lives. Pro se litigants are insane.

* Last week dragged in a few more law firm bonus announcements, but nothing exciting. To skim the coverage, click here, then scroll down through the headlines.

* On the subject of bonuses, Biglaw associates: Please take our 2006 bonus poll (first announced here):

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

We summarized the past week in non-bonus news back in this post. Now, we provide a recap of last week in Biglaw and associate bonus news:

* In merger news, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart and Preston Gates & Ellis are combining to form "K&L Gates."

* Meanwhile, the Dewey-Orrick merger will be delayed in its consummation.

* As for law firm associate bonuses, it was actually a pretty unexciting week, despite the flurry of announcements. With the obvious exception of Wachtell Lipton, every firm that announced essentially matched the market bonuses (as set during the prior week by Milbank).

* For the archives of our complete bonus coverage, click here, then scroll down. For bonus information about a specific firm, go to our firm-by-firm linkwrap, after the jump.

Here's our recap of the past week in ATL, completely free of Biglaw or bonus news (which will be summarized in a separate "Week in Review" post).

The theme for this week's news: "The more things change, the more they stay the same."

* Hardworking lawyers are still unhappy with their sex lives.

* Celebrities still get in legal trouble (and so do state court judges).

* Borat-related lawsuits still keep getting filed.

* The Duke lacrosse team rape case is still FUBAR.

* Law school libraries are still foul-smelling at the height of final exams.

* Pro se litigants are STILL AWESOME.

* Senator Orrin Hatch is still on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

* Justice Breyer is still concerned about sectarian violence in the 17th century.

* Eumi Choi is still our idol.

* Working for the government still offers many young lawyers more interesting work, and greater responsibility, than Biglaw life (but without a five-figure bonus).

* Also, public interest work still attracts some of the most promising law school graduates.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

* The holiday season is here, and you know what that means: year-end bonuses for law firm associates. On Friday, Milbank Tweed made the first big bonus announcement. And this time it wasn't fake.

* They talk a lot about "due process" over at Yale Law School. But questions have been raised concerning the process by which Linda Greenhouse, SCOTUS reporter for the New York Times, was selected over Justice Samuel Alito for the school's prestigious Award of Merit.

* If Greenhouse benefited from preferential treatment from YLS Dean Harold Koh, it wouldn't have been the first time.

* Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen Breyer: not just geniuses, but also an inspired comedic duo.

* Speaking of great legal minds, Professor Noah Feldman is leaving NYU for Harvard Law School.

* And speaking of NYU Law School, if you haven't already voted in the 3L hotties contest, there's still some time left. Polls close tomorrow at 3PM (Eastern time).

* Finally, we have a new little sibling. Please extend a warm welcome to Supermogul: The View From the Top.

* It's all about the benjamins, baby. Bonus season is upon us. And we're standing by to broadcast every move. So please email us with any news, rumors, and leaked memos about bonuses.

* Truthful tips are especially welcome. Look for the first wave of bonus announcements in the coming week.

* And check out the most anal retention letter ever.

* In non-Biglaw developments, it was a busy week for the Supreme Court. They heard all about EPA regulatory discretion, the Federal Circuit's recondite jurisprudence, and other fun topics.

* On tap for the SCOTUS: Ken Starr and a bizarrely fascinating case. It's like Bill 'n Monica, all over again. But is it sexy enough for same-day audio-cast? Probably not.

* Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the imminent Democratic takeover is already being felt at the Senate Judiciary Committee. The big white-collar shops are eagerly anticipating lots of new business.

* Speaking of elections, please cast your vote for November 2006 Couple of the Month. And if you're an NYU Law School student, please forward us the results of voting in the 3L hottie contest.

* In federal appellate judge news, Judge Morris Arnold is recovering nicely, Judge Richard Posner is getting testy, and Judge Frank Easterbrook is now Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook.

* And over in the district court, Judge Lee Rosenthal (S.D. Tex.) is probably out of the running for a promotion to the Fifth Circuit (despite being very highly regarded).

* Finally, in state court land, some judges are getting a little big for their britches robes. They're mouthing off, railing against immigrants, and making spectacles of themselves. Pipe down, Your Honors, and stay out of trouble.

* Another week, another Borat lawsuit.

* Wow -- it doesn't take much to get lawyers all hot and bothered. But ATL readers were evidently untroubled.

* Merry Christmas. There will be no O.J. Simpson book.

* But no Britney sex tape, either.

* Wesley Snipes has some harsh words for the IRS. And Judge Posner does, too.

* We hung out a lot with the Federalist Society. We watched the social conservatives and the libertarians slug it out over cultural issues. And we learned that Judge Edith Jones isn't the woman we thought she was.

* Emily Pataki, the attractive and accomplished daughter of New York governor George Pataki, failed the New York bar exam -- and sent around an office-wide email about it. The story was broken by the mainstream media.

* We heard from some of Emily's law school classmates about the incident. In a reader poll, you opined that emailing her White & Case colleagues was unwise.

* The Democratic takeover of the Senate could make things tough(er) for the White House's judicial nominees.

* Despite the sea change in Washington, President Bush resubmitted six controversial judicial picks to the lame duck Senate. Getting all of them confirmed is probably impossible, but getting two of them through might happen.

* The White House has not yet submitted nominees for the two vacant Fifth Circuit seats. (Texas's Solicitor General, conservative legal superstar R. Ted Cruz, is said to be uninterested.)

* Borat-related litigation shows no signs of abating.

* O.J. Simpson: He's back -- and he's still looking for his wife's killer. Except this time, he's looking in the mirror.

* Some bad ideas from the past week: getting frisky on an airplane; setting your ex-girlfriend's kittens on fire; having sex with a deer (even if it's dead); eating at Burger King or Taco Bell; and getting married without a prenup (if you're a filthy rich Hollywood celebrity).

* Over the past few days, we've been spending some quality time with the Federalist Society. More reports on the proceedings -- including lavish photography -- will appear in the coming week.

* The Democrats are in the House -- and Senate, too. Say hello to the new chairmen of the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Judiciary Committee. (And goodbye to Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.)

* It was a big week for politics -- and celebrity divorces. Parting ways: Britney Spears and Kevin Federline.

* Dewey Ballantine + Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe = Sexytime!!!

* Hit movie Borat + Two dumbass frat boys = Lexytime!!!

* "Shake-It-Like-Shakira" contest + Drunken Jersey girl = More Lexytime!!!

* Rumors of Justice Stevens's retirement: Greatly exaggerated? Or for real this time around?

* Speaking of the SCOTUS, here's a fun fact: "It is unlawful to... make a harangue or oration... in the Supreme Court Building."

* For the record, onetime Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork "doesn't go seducing women at a convent."

* News flash: Your friends who went into investment banking make WAY WAY WAY more money than you. (Unless you're a new Wachtell Lipton partner, in which case they make WAY more money than you.)

* Meet Aquagirl. She's the Cleary Gottlieb summer associate who had too much to drink, then wound up in the drink.

* But even Aquagirl can land a good job -- in fact, two (a Biglaw gig, and a clerkship) -- after her fifteen minutes of infamy.

* In fact, legal employment is even available to people who make pathetic fools of themselves at their interview lunches.

* Interview Horror Stories: Is the supply inexhaustible? (Click here, scroll down.)

* More law firms get the urge to merge. The latest legal Brangelinas: Dewey/Orrick, Thelen Reid/Brown Raysman, and Pitney Hardin/Day Berry.

* The Ninth Circuit: Why can't they all just get along?

* Speaking of the Ninth Circuit, Judge Kozinski is just as cool as ever. And he photographs well, too. The New Jersey Supreme Court, on the other hand, does not.

* When you aggregate the "Most Favorite Justice" and "Least Favorite Justice" scores, Justice Scalia comes out on top.

* So ATL readers think that Justice Scalia rules (except for those who blame him for judicial incivility). But does anyone want to take a nude cruise with him?

* Gay marriages legally-cognizable-relationships-that-will-probably-get-called-civil-unions are coming to New Jersey.

* Superstar lawyer Ted Olson, who is not gay, got married -- to a lovely lady named Lady. And ATL has the exclusive photos to prove it.

* Law firms are tying the knot too. The latest to head for the altar: Dewey Ballantine and Orrick.

* Things are going less smoothly for celebrities. Country music star Sara Evans is getting divorced. Jane Pauley is filing suit. Naomi Campbell is getting arrested. And Foxy Brown is getting sentenced.

* Paralegal pay ain't half bad, as long as you work for Biglaw -- and put in lots of overtime.

* Think grammar and punctuation are silly and useless? Listen to the cautionary tale of the costly comma.

* Justice Scalia: You like him, you really like him!

* As for your Least Favorite Supreme Court Justice, we'll keep the polls open over the weekend. To vote, click here.

* And if you'd like to cast a ballot in a more frivolous poll, help Judge Janice Rogers Brown pick a hairstyle. To vote, click here.

* This week we crowned America's hottest law school deans: Evan Caminker, of Michigan, and Asha Rangappa, of Yale. When contacted by ATL, both of them issued gracious statements.

* So there's no contest for you to vote in over the weekend. But please participate in our informal reader poll, seeking to ascertain your Favorite Supreme Court Justice.

* Speaking of the justices, don't they have more important things to fight over than grammar? And who knew that bright-line Nino could be so nuanced?

* A theme for this past week: Celebrities' legal woes. E.g., Michael Jackson, Lindsay Lohan, Wesley Snipes, Madonna, and Anna Nicole Smith.

* Another theme: Getting off. E.g., Junior Gotti, Nathan Hecht, and the Duke lacrosse team (but from "innocent sexual activity").

* Second Circuit Judge John M. Walker hits a New Haven police officer in a traffic accident. The matter is under investigation.

* Global warming practice groups -- are they heating up? Or are they the next "Y2K" practice groups?

* Eh, what do you care? You can't get a Biglaw job anyway -- they're all going to Canadians.

* Team ATL has a new recruit -- and he's proud to be an American. Meet B Clerker.

* If you hate kids, then stop reading here. But if you like 'em, then click here, scroll down, and read about the amusing antics of attorney spawn.

* Our Law School Dean hotties contest is now underway. Vote on the women here, the men here, and the alternate male candidates here.

* Do you know anyone who is currently clerking for Justice Alito? If so, we'd like to hear from you.

* If you're in law for the money, we recommend Korean transactional practice, at a big firm. You'll probably make more than you would as a solo practioner or small firm lawyer.

* If money is your top priority, then don't bother with the law; go work for Goldman Sachs . Partners there take home an average of $7 million a year. And still find time to beat up on small businessmen.

* ATL readers: Not as rich as Goldman Sachs partners. But pretty damn smart.

* Creative ways to get yourself criminally charged: (1) walk around your office buck naked; or (2) walk out of a restaurant without paying (after concluding that your seafood pasta dish was short on the seafood).

* But protesting while topless, that's okay.

* Lori Alvino and Matthew McGill: We are not worthy. The happy couple tied the knot earlier this month. Their wedding guests included two sitting Supreme Court justices, the chief judge of the D.C. Circuit, and two SCOTUS short-listers. (Yes, we've categorized this under Nauseating Things.)

* Some dispatches from the New Yorker Festival: Justice Breyer, with Jeffrey Toobin; legendary criminal defense lawyer Gerald Shargel, along with other experts on the Mafia; and some guy named Jon Stewart.

* There's a new kid on the ATL block: Meet Stella Q. Welcome, Stella!

* Howard K. Stern, attorney to Anna Nicole Smith, 'fesses up to servicing his client -- in more ways than one.

* The HP leak investigation disaster gets worse and worse, with each passing bad hair day for Patricia Dunn.

* This IS America, people -- where the rich get richer. And put their $30 million mansions up for sale.

* Move over, Charlie's Angels. The women of NSD are in the house!

* Some high-profile Yale Law professors are thinking about leaving New Haven. Yes, the pizza's tasty; but we can't say we blame them.

(Feel free to debate Sally's vs. Pepe's in the comments. We're slightly partial to Pepe's, due to the heavenly white clam pizza.)

* Trivia about New Haven pizza establishments is just the kind of thing you'd expect to find on Judge Danny Boggs's clerkship application trivia quiz.

* We took off on Friday for Portland, Oregon -- from where we're currently blogging, before hopping on the red-eye -- to attend a fabulous judicial celebration. Last month, Judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain celebrated twenty years of service on the Ninth Circuit. Congratulations, Judge O'Scannlain!

* But we left you in good hands during our absence. Our deepest gratitude to Ted Frank for keeping you so entertained while we were gone!

(For the record, and because we've received some "get well soon" emails, Ted's quip about our Thailand hospital visit was a joke. As you can see, we are in decent health (and hopefully will stay that way). But if you happen to be in the market for elective surgery -- although not of the gender-bending kind -- we recommend these fine doctors. Be sure to ask for the special ATL Reader Discount!)

* Who is the hottest dean? Your nominations are needed.

(At right: A portrait of Howard Dean as a young man. Seriously.)

* Who is the Paris Hilton of the federal judiciary?

* Are you a professor at a private law school? If so, how much money do you make?

* Why are those Florida judges always getting themselves into trouble?

* It's interview season -- for law firm jobs, judicial clerkships, etc. Do you know the do's and don'ts of interviewing?

* Legal Eagle Wedding Watch: It's a tie!

* Congratulations to Alice Fisher and Ken Wainstein, who were (finally) confirmed by the Senate as, respectively, heads of the DOJ's Criminal Division and National Security Division.

* Outstanding Discovery Requests: Handicapping the Race to Partnership, Skaddenfreude (Academic Salaries), Internal Memos.

* Our first annual ERISA Hotties Contest is over, and America's hottest pension and employee benefit lawyers have been crowned. Some other great candidates were passed over; but hey, not everyone can win.

* The new season of Survivor: an exotic Cook Islands setting, interracial conflict -- and hot Asian lawyers.

* Practice pointer: When preparing a witness for a deposition, advise him not to drop the F-bomb.

* Wachtell Lipton just doled out midyear bonuses to its lucky (and hard-working) associates.

* Summer associates: still as wild and crazy as ever. And occasionally moronic, too.

* Law firm nicknames: Is your firm on the list?

* Sorry, right-wing gunners: Justice Scalia is done hiring his clerks for October Term 2007.

* Viet Dinh, the Georgetown law prof and former OLP kingpin advising VC god Thomas Perkins in L'Affaire HP, really loves hugs -- and nice real estate.

* Outstanding discovery requests: Fashion Victims, Internal Memos, Legal Celebrity Sightings, Skaddenfreude.