2014
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Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 12.29.14
* The Hardcore Pawn guys talk about what they look for in lawyers. If we’re good enough they’ll give us $20 for our services, but honestly that’s the best they can do. [Forbes]
* 10 Things People Don’t Understand About ‘Serial’ Unless You’re a Criminal Attorney. What I don’t understand is why we’re still talking about this show a week later. [Huffington Post]
* Have you been waiting for a Dynamite Hack’s Boyz N the Hood to be reimagined as a song about law professors? Then I present Profs in the School. [Lawprofblawg]
* Are law students worse students than they used to be? At least worse than they were when professors used to walk uphill both ways in the snow. [PrawfsBlawg]
* 2013 job results. For all the schools. [Associate’s Mind]
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China, Intellectual Property
Own A Company Or IP In China? What Makes You So Sure?
If you have any reason to doubt your China registrations, you probably should have them checked out. - Sponsored
Trust The Process: How To Build And Manage Workflows In Law Firms
If you’re feeling inefficient but don’t know why, this episode of the Non-Eventcast is for you. -
Benjamin Brafman, Celebrities, Quote of the Day
Some Crisis Management Advice For Bill Cosby
What advice would you give to the embattled Bill Cosby?
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Bar Exams, California
California Bar Exam Results By Law School: Open Thread (July 2014)
The school-by-school breakdown of the California bar exam results is out. Let's take a look! -
Biglaw, In-House Counsel
Living In A World Of Purchased Endorsements
The rise of social media means that purchased (or gently coerced) endorsements will become increasingly common over time, according to in-house columnist Mark Herrmann. Who will win the endorsements game? -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 12.29.14
* As the year winds down to a close, we take a look back at the amazing time Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg had. From her Hobby Lobby dissent to her subtle New Republic shade, the Notorious RBG’s 2014 was better than yours. [Bustle]
* When you’ve allegedly been driving drunk after a holiday party and have gotten into an accident, one of the things you say to the police upon your arrest should not be, “Come on, I’m a judge” — especially if you are one. [New York Post]
* After advising on 221 deals worth about $511 billion, Skadden Arps was the top dog in the M&A game in 2014. While taking a break from rolling around in money, the firm’s managing partner was heard thanking inversions. [MoneyBeat / Wall Street Journal]
* Although we haven’t heard what’s going on with associate bonuses at this firm, Wiley Rein bought itself a bonus subsidiary. Last week, the firm finalized its purchase of lobbying and communications group McBee Strategic. [Blog of Legal Times]
* While many law schools found their student enrollments getting smaller due to forces of nature in 2014, the University of Mississippi School of Law claims it decreased its class sizes intentionally. Oh, the places you’ll go! [Clarion Ledger]
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Biglaw, Bonuses, Money, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan
Associate Bonus Watch: More Market Matches
More firms match the market -- yay! -
Asians, Biglaw, Minority Issues
What Could Disrupt Diversity in Law? The Economy, Stupid.
How will changes in the law school population affect diversity in the legal industry? - Sponsored
Back To Basics: 6 Tech Tips Every Small Firm Needs To Hear
You, too, can stop ignoring your finances. Here’s how. -
Contests
Above The Law’s 2014 Lawyer Of The Year Contest: Nominations Needed
Who should be Above the Law's Lawyer of the Year for 2014? Give us some suggestions! -
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Non-Sequiturs
Non-Sequiturs: 12.24.14
* The joke’s on North Korea: you can’t hack the D.C. Circuit because they still use Commodore 64s. [The Volokh Conspiracy / Washington Post]
* As we remember the Slaughter and May holiday party of 1981, here’s a mashup with contemporary music. [Legal Cheek]
* With restrictions lifting, what will America’s new relationship with Cuba mean for business? I’m most looking forward to imported communist liquor. They can call it Red Rum. [LXBN]
* Court says Muslim can’t take the oath on a Koran. I mean, isn’t this that special time of year where people of all religions come together to worship Jesus Christ? [Religion Clause]
* The least efficient armed robbery ever nets pennies. If one of these guys drops a dime on the others guys he’d actually be coming out ahead. [Legal Juice]
* Christmas wishes revolving mostly around Agent Carter and Star Wars. My only Star Wars wish is for a stand-alone Admiral Ackbar movie, but we’re not going to get it. [The Legal Geeks]
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Advertising
Happy Holidays To All Of ATL's Advertisers
Above the Law extends thanks to its advertisers. -
Pregnancy / Paternity
A Pregnant Woman Is Not A Talking Incubator
The New Jersey Supreme Court issued a very important ruling for women's health this week.
Sponsored
How Savvy Lawyers Build Their Law Firm Rate Sheet
Back To Basics: 6 Tech Tips Every Small Firm Needs To Hear
Trust The Process: How To Build And Manage Workflows In Law Firms
Sponsored
How To Build And Manage Your Law Firm Rate Sheet
Raising The Bar in Bar Prep
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Real Estate
Foreclosure Attorney To Grant Christmas Wish And Give Away Free House
Happy holidays from your favorite foreclosure attorney! -
Litigators, Plaintiffs Firms
The Billable Hour: Perpetuating The 'Home Alone' Phenomenon Of The Civil Justice System
Sometimes plaintiffs’ lawyers feel like unwilling actors in a series of bad movie sequels. When will the madness end? -
Blogging
Be Discoverable -- Google Loves Law Blogs And So Should You
You cannot afford to sit on the digital sidelines. You either adapt to this new digital universe or fade away into that distant, analog sunset. -
Canada
The View From Up North: Biggest Story of 2014
May 2015 bring you all the business wisdom you already think you have. -
Small Law Firms
Back In The Race: Small Law Bonuses And New Year Planning
Since solo and small law practices have unique business models, bonus structures and year-end plans can be quite different from the typical Biglaw routine. -
Morning Docket
Morning Docket: 12.24.14
* The Thomas M. Cooley Law School is planning to sell one of its academic buildings for an asking price of $8.15 million. Dear Lord, the school will lose some of its library square footage. NOOOOOOOOO! [Lansing State Journal]
* Contrary to his client’s hit anthem, Pharrell’s lawyer isn’t happy. He says YouTube has been “blithely” ignoring his requests to take down music for which it lacks performance rights, and it may result in a $1B lawsuit. [Hollywood Reporter]
* Clifford Sloan, the State Department’s special envoy on Guantánamo Bay, appointed in 2013 to help shut down the detention center, is returning to the loving arms of Skadden’s partnership on January 1, 2015. Gitmo is still open. Oops. [Am Law Daily]
* After 30 years, the Food and Drug Administration decided to lift its lifetime ban on blood donation for gay men. Now gay men just have to abstain from doing gay things for a year — like having sex with other men — to donate blood. Yay? [WSJ Law Blog]
* If you’ve been wondering what the most ridiculous lawsuits of 2014 are, we’ve got you covered. These are the top 10 most absurd cases filed over the course of the past year. You may remember some of these from our coverage. [Faces of Lawsuit Abuse]
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Contests, Holidays and Seasons
ATL Holiday Card Contest: The Finalists!
Which of these law firm holiday cards is the best of 2014?