Eliminating The Mommy Track
How law firms can support working moms without sidelining them.
Morning Docket: 04.10.19
* Tired of remaining silent, Jones Day is now defending itself against a $200 million gender bias class-action lawsuit, saying that the firm is "proud of its success in promoting a diverse group of outstanding lawyers." [Law.com] * Meanwhile, MoFo is seeking sanctions against the attorneys at Sanford Heisler Sharp who filed the "mommy track" lawsuit against the firm, as well as against one of the anonymous plaintiffs, alleging that the claims made were "knowingly baseless." [American Lawyer] * As it turns out, during his testimony yesterday before the House Financial Services Committee, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin acknowledged that his legal department had already been in touch with the White House Counsel’s Office over the release of President Trump’s tax returns — an exchange that’s “deeply troubling and certainly violates the spirit of the law” meant to prevent such communications. [Washington Post] * In case you missed it, Michael Cohen is no longer as useful to the House Intelligence Committee as he once thought. Chairman Adam Schiff seems to have no interest in helping Cohen to delay his upcoming prison sentence. [CNN] * Senator Lindsey Graham has once again again introduced the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks. He’s proposed this bill since 2013 and it gets slapped down each time, but this time... things could change. [CBS News] * Two Wisconsin lawyers claim that being required to pay bar dues to practice in the state is unconstitutional because it requires them to participate in the state bar’s advocacy. You can look forward to more lawsuits like this thanks to the Janus ruling. [Big Law Business]
Do Law School Rankings Affect Your Choice?
Share your insights in this brief survey.
Morning Docket: 02.13.19
* Former Attorney General Eric Holder headed to Iowa earlier this week, but claims that he's still deciding whether or not he's going to throw his hat into the already crowded ring for the 2020 Democractic presidential nomination. [NPR] * Michael Cohen was supposed to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee yesterday, but his testimony was postponed for the third time this month, this time "due to post surgery medical needs." What's he getting done before jail? [CNN] * In the “mommy track” class-action lawsuit that was filed against Morrison & Foerster, the firm isn’t now claiming that its positive track record for supporting women and working parents contradicts claims that MoFo is actually discriminating against mothers and pregnant women behind closed doors. [The Recorder] * It is possible to survive -- and even thrive -- in Biglaw while living with depression and other mental health disabilities. Mark Goldstein, counsel at Reed Smith, tells the tale of how his firm supported him through it all with open arms. [American Lawyer] * Jones Day has once again been named by Acritas as the best law firm brand in the country. The firm was "proud" to take the top spot, but other firms like Skadden, which came in second place this year, are busy "catching up." [Big Law Business] * Carmel Prashker Ebb, the first woman to clerk for a federal appellate judge, RIP. [ABA Journal]
Morning Docket: 05.07.18
* According to Rudy Giuliani, if special counsel Robert Mueller issues a subpoena, Donald Trump "[doesn't] have to" comply with it. After all, "[h]e’s the president of the United States. [He] can assert the same privileges other presidents have." And he has no plans to allow Trump to sit for an interview with Mueller -- Giuliani won't allow him to "walk him into a prosecution for perjury." Admitting during a TV interview that your client is a liar? Check. [Washington Post] * And that's not all, folks! According to Rudy Giuliani, although he has "no knowledge" of it having happened, Michael Cohen may have paid hush money to other women -- similar to money that was paid to Stormy Daniels -- to get them to stay silent about their alleged affairs with Donald Trump "if it was necessary." [CNN] * So, about Morrison & Foerster's $100 million "mommy track" lawsuit: The firm's managing partner, Larren Nashelsky, has commented on the allegations, stating that MoFo is "somewhere between disappointed and angry" because "[i]t’s just not who we are, it’s not what we value and it’s, in fact, not how we operate." [American Lawyer] * Of course a Biglaw partner owns the horse that won the Kentucky Derby. Congrats to both Justify and C. Edward Glasscock, chairman emeritus of Frost Brown Todd, on their big win during the first leg of this year's Triple Crown. [American Lawyer] * Sylvia Bloom, a legal secretary who retired from Cleary Gottlieb after working at the firm for 67 years, amassed a $9+ million fortune by purchasing the same stocks as her boss. In her will, she directed that the majority be donated for college scholarships. Be sure to thank your maybe-millionaire secretary today, everyone. [New York Times]
Law School Program Puts Mommies Back To Work
Putting mothers back to work probably means their adult children will have even more trouble finding a job.
Size Matters: A Conversation with Mae O’Malley
If you ask a small-firm attorney what is the advantage of a small firm over Biglaw, most will tell you that smaller size makes firms more nimble and better able to adapt to client needs and market changes. It stands to reason, then, that small firms could revolutionize the law firm model. But what changes should small firms make? To answer these questions, Valerie Katz spoke to Mae O'Malley, founder of Paragon Legal, and a visionary when it comes to offering legal services....
Skills That Set Firms Apart
Legal expertise alone isn’t enough. Today’s most successful firms invest in developing the skills that drive collaboration, leadership, and business growth. Our on-demand, customizable training modules deliver practical, high-impact learning for attorneys and staff—when and where they need it.