Weirdness
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Bar Exams, Weirdness
The Bar Exam: And You Thought Your State Was Tough
What’s the hardest bar exam in the United States? No, it’s not California. Sure, California is hard. The whole three-day thing is a bitch, and the passage rate is low. But Cali ain’t got nothing on Guam. Check it: a ZERO PERCENT pass rate. Don’t believe us? Just ask the three people who took it […] -
Aaron Charney, Job Searches, Social Networking Websites, Weirdness
Attention Legal Employers: Please Give Aaron Charney A Job for Next Summer
Because he’s not THAT Aaron Charney. No relation. He swears! Here’s a Facebook exchange that we reprint with permission of our correspondent: Poor guy. When you see a résumé from Aaron Charney next spring, before you toss it in the circular file, please double check: Are you sure it’s from the right — or wrong, […] - Sponsored
Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
In this CLE-eligible webinar, we’ll explore the most common accounting pitfalls and how to avoid them for your firm. -
2nd Circuit, Food, Jury Duty, Non-Sequiturs, Politics, Weddings, Weirdness
Non-Sequiturs: 07.16.07
* Washingtonienne, the sequel? But this time around, blame the “backdoor action” on the Spicy Mussel Soup. [Medill Reports] * A compelling defense of Judge Dennis Jacobs’s “look ma, no eyes” approach to dissenting. [ProfessorBainbridge.com] * “My friends said to me, ‘It would take a murder trial for you to meet the right person.'” [Associated […]
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Bad Ideas, Education / Schools, Nude Dancing, Perverts, Peter Barta, Politics, Pornography, Weirdness
Reading the Bartameter (Part 3): What Is Up With Those Policy Debaters?
We continue to follow the story of Peter Barta, the Legal Aid lawyer who allegedly made secret videotapes of his female colleagues getting dressed. Tales like this — along with associate pay raises, of course — are the raison d’etre of ATL. After we quoted a tipster stressing that Peter Barta did policy or cross-examination […] -
Pictures, Politics, Weirdness
An ATL Fan at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
Welcome back! Hope you had a nice Fourth of July holiday. This gentleman certainly did, protesting yesterday outside the White House. We appreciate the shout-out to this very fine website: -
Biglaw, Howrey LLP, Money, Skaddenfreude, Weirdness
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: More About the Howrey Weirdness
Back on Wednesday, we reported that Howrey LLP plans to chuck lockstep compensation for its associates. Starting in 2008, the firm will employ a “competency model,” in which it would “determine salary based on individual evaluations and various forms of progress indicators.” Today our scoop was picked up by The Recorder (and then by the […] -
Biglaw, Howrey LLP, Money, Skaddenfreude, Weirdness
Nationwide Pay Raise Watch: Howrey Is Planning Something Weird
As associate salaries climb (further) into the stratosphere, will firms start experimenting with different compensation schemes? Is lockstep compensation for associates headed for the dustbin of history? As we mentioned yesterday, Thelen Reid just moved to a two-tier system. And now we’re hearing that Howrey LLP may have something odd up its sleeve. Today the […] -
Lawsuit of the Day, Nauseating Things, Weirdness
Lawsuit of the Day: Blood Contracts Not Just Messy, But Unenforceable Too
Maybe blood oaths work in the Mafia. But outside organized crime circles, they may be harder to enforce. From the AP: A Nietzsche-quoting judge said a promise penned in blood by a businessman was not an enforceable contract. Superior Court Judge Corey S. Cramin ruled Monday that Stephen Son could not be forced to repay […] - Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms. -
Advertising, Music, Plaintiffs Firms, Tort Reform, Violence, Weirdness
A Promising New Practice Area: Mosh Pit Litigation?
Following up on yesterday’s post about law firm advertising campaigns, here’s another interesting ad: Commentary after the jump. -
Advertising, Animal Law, Bad Ideas, Biglaw, Weirdness
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My -- Is It a Law Firm Ad Campaign?
An interesting and odd observation about law firm ad campaigns, from Copyranter: What The F**k is up with all the law firms using goofy animal symbolism? Dykema thinks it’s a giraffe amongst zebras. Zuckerman Spaeder says I’m a canary threatened by a lion. And Bingham McCutchen (above) was, first, a lion-chasing zebra (where does the […] -
5th Circuit, Fabulosity, Job Searches, Weirdness
A Special Job Opportunity for Texas Lawyers
Are you a Texas law firm associate who is sick of tired of working long hours for low pay? Are you looking for a more creative position, one that would offer you more “hands-on” experience? Then you might be interested in working for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit — still for […] -
Borat, Movies, Tort Reform, Weirdness
Lawsuit of the Day: Yet Another Borat Lawsuit
Several months ago, the world was awash in Borat litigation. But then things died down on that front. Now they’re heating up again. From a tipster: Check out this lawsuit. Although the damages claim might be a little silly, it seems like this guy might have a valid claim — he didn’t sign a waiver […] -
Drugs, Lawyer of the Day, Oy, Sex, Weirdness
Lawsuit of the Day: Be Careful What You Wish For; You Might Just Get It
Forget about all that Vioxx litigation — this is far more troubling. From the AP: A man has sued the maker of the health drink Boost Plus, claiming the vitamin-enriched beverage gave him an erection that would not subside and caused him to be hospitalized. The lawsuit filed by Christopher Woods of New York said […]
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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.
Sponsored
Navigating Financial Success by Avoiding Common Pitfalls and Maximizing Firm Performance
In this CLE-eligible webinar, we’ll explore the most common accounting pitfalls and how to avoid them for your firm.
Sponsored
The Business Case For AI At Your Law Firm
ChatGPT ushers in the age of generative AI – even for law firms.
Sponsored
Sponsored
Legal AI: 3 Steps Law Firms Should Take Now
If 2023 introduced legal professionals to generative AI, then 2024 will be when law firms start adapting to utilize it. Things are moving fast, so…
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Is The Future Of Law Distributed? Lessons From The Tech Adoption Curve
The rise of remote work has dramatically reshaped the relationship between Lawyers and Law Firms, see how Scale LLP has taken the steps to get…
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Andrew Speaker, Music, Weirdness
Don't Fly With Me, Andrew Speaker
Click here to listen to a cute musical parody, to the tune of Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina. Don’t Fly With Me, Andrew Speaker [Dave Ross (mp3)] -
Aaron Charney, Ann Althouse, Lolcats, Music, Pets, Reality TV, Ridiculousness, Weirdness
Brokeback Lawfirm: A Commemorative Lolcat!
Okay, this isn’t as amusing as the Alexandra Korry haikus that have been unleashed in the comments. But then again, few things are. Courtesy of ATL reader “Josef Stalin,” here’s a Lolcat graphic, in honor of Charney v. Sullivan & Cromwell: Lolcat [Wikipedia] P.S. Please vote for Jordin Sparks in American Idol!!! Call 1-866-IDOLS-02, or […] -
Celebrities, Divorce Train Wrecks, Gender, Kids, Non-Sequiturs, Rape, Religion, Trials, Weirdness
Non-Sequiturs: 05.18.07
* A rabbi, a nun and Christopher Hitchens walk into a bar… [PrawfsBlawg] * Unlike other 15-year-olds who appreciate toilet humor, this girl felt victimized by the inside joke. [Pensacola News Journal] * Anne Heche continues to entertain/disturb, plus we haven’t had a cautionary divorce tale in some time. Stay tuned… [Nasty, Brutish & Short] […] -
Aaron Charney, Arthur Leonard, Biglaw, Gay, Gera Grinberg, Lavi Soloway, Weirdness
Brokeback Lawfirm: Sorry, We Got Nothin'
Many of you have expressed interest in the latest developments in the continuing litigation between gay lawyer Aaron Charney and his former employer, Sullivan & Cromwell. It has been quite some time since our last post about this case. Unfortunately, as far as we know, nothing is going on right now. We have a Google […] -
Attorney Misconduct, Bad Ideas, Biglaw, Email Scandals, Legal Ethics, Lunacy, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, Weirdness
What the Stroock Is Going On?
Apparently something weird is going on over in the New York office of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan. Something really weird. A source at another firm advised us: Something has happened at Stroock. Rumors floating around that an associate flipped his s**t and emailed all personnel with something odd. I can’t find out more than […] -
Asians, Lawsuit of the Day, Weirdness
Lawsuit of the Day: Oh Those Wacky Japanese Magicians
Frivolous litigation: it’s an international epidemic. Yesterday, the Canadians; today the Japanese. From the AP: A group of Japanese magicians sued TV broadcasters on Tuesday for revealing closely guarded secrets behind a series of coin tricks, a news report said. Forty-nine magicians are seeking $16,000 in damages from Nippon Television Network Corp. and TV Asahi […] -
Breasts, Crime, Lawyer of the Day, Weirdness
Lawyer of the Day: Stephen Kunian
Here’s a bizarre fact pattern to get your day started right. From the Massachusetts Lawyer Weekly: A criminal assault-and-battery complaint has been issued against attorney Stephen T. Kunian, a partner at the Boston law firm of Eckert, Seamans, Cherin, Mellott, for an incident in which he allegedly forced open the jacket of a woman during […]