Thomas Jefferson School of Law

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 07.18.16

* Some Biglaw firms, like Orrick, are now going to help young associates by making monthly contributions to their student loan payments. At $100 a month for 18 months, it's not a very large contribution, but it's something. We'll have more on this debt repayment plan later. [DealBook / New York Times] * Uh-oh... If you thought law firms were going to be alright in Brexit's wake, you may want to think again. Berwin Leighton Palmer -- a firm that almost merged with Greenberg Traurig -- has frozen raises and bonuses until November, citing "political and financial uncertainty in the UK." [Reuters] * As part of Thomas Jefferson School of Law's study-abroad program, Justice Clarence Thomas (who was filling in for the late Justice Antonin Scalia) was in Nice, France, last week teaching students about constitutional law. He left the city before the deadly terror attack during the Bastille Day parade. No law students were hurt. [WSJ Law Blog] * Prior to accepting his position as Donald Trump's running mate on the Republican ticket, and even prior to becoming the governor of Indiana, Mike Pence had a very short-lived career as a lawyer at a small firm. He worked there for only two years before deciding to pursue a career in politics and radio programming. [Big Law Business] * "Our clients have been under siege the last eight years by the federal government in terms of policies toward corporate America." Cleveland firms like Jones Day and Squire Patton are pulling out all the stops to host ritzy, invitation-only, business-oriented panel discussions during the Republican National Convention. [Crain's Cleveland Business]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 03.18.16

* "In 2 to 4 years, a University administration will shut down a top law school and we may never see it coming." Uh-oh! Is a top law school really going to close? This law professor seems to think so, and she's pointing the finger at Minnesota Law, which has been experiencing a slew of financial troubles due to its enrollment issues. [Forbes] * "The employment numbers were very high in a huge economic downturn and it just felt suspicious. I decided to stand up for myself and others." Anna Alaburda, who sued Thomas Jefferson School of Law over its allegedly deceptive job statistics, took the stand this week, where she spoke about her failed legal career. [Courthouse News Service] * “The record number of deals in 2015 is a reflection of the intense competition among law firms for new work, and we expect the market to remain hot in 2016.” Oh boy! If you think 2015 set a merger record, you ain't seen nothing yet. We should apparently be expecting even more law firm merger mania this year. [Chicago Daily Law Bulletin] * Why on earth would a partner leave a firm like Munger Tolles, with profits per partner of $1.9 million, to go to a firm like Dentons, with profits per partner of $680,000, a considerably lesser amount? What's in that Biglaw behemoth's special sauce that's so amazing? It's the "irresistible" opportunities. [Big Law Business / Bloomberg BNA] * As many of our readers have had the displeasure of experiencing firsthand, law school tuition can be absurdly expensive. If you're wondering which school took home the prize of being the most expensive for the 2015-2016 school year, it's Columbia Law, with a shocking sticker price of $62,700. Ouch, that's painful. [U.S. News & World Report]

By Staci Zaretsky