You’re at Work. What Are You Wearing?

A post this week about a onetime BigLaw associate who was taken into fashion police custody for a makeover and shopping trip reminded us of the strong feelings our readers have always had about what is appropriate work wear. For some, the idea of women at the office sans pantyhose—and…

Jan 28, 2009 7:07 PM CST

Are You a Victim of an Education Hoax?

Back in the news on on ABAJournal.com this week is a discussion about whether higher ed recruiters are less than straightforward about how advanced degrees will pay off in the long run. Forbes went so far as to say that lawyers are among the “victims of an unfolding education hoax…

Jan 21, 2009 6:07 PM CST

Are You a Media Myth Buster?

Pushing aside our better judgment, we’ve been hooked in by the latest counter-terrorism activities of Jack Bauer on the acclaimed and controversial show 24. The show is praised for its action-packed, real-time pace. But it’s a human-rights lightning rod for criticism because of its depiction of rogue American agents who…

Jan 14, 2009 6:20 PM CST

Some People Love the Blawg 100 a Little Too Much

In early December, we launched the 2nd Annual ABA Journal Blawg 100 reader poll, inviting readers to select their favorite legal blogs in 10 categories from among the 100 best named by our editors. Each computer could vote for a given blog only once. Voting ended at midnight on Jan.…

Jan 7, 2009 8:53 PM CST

What’s Your Retirement Game Plan?

We’ve had a couple of posts this week touching on lawyers and their expectations for retirement. In the first, a 28-year-old Chicago lawyer looking at $200,000 in debt and not enough earnings available to contribute to a 401(K) went on American Public Media’s Marketplace last week saying he is “fairly…

Jan 7, 2009 7:43 PM CST

Two Covers, Four Takes

Bravo on your November cover story, “The Lawyers Who May Run America,” and thank you for Henry F. White Jr.’s report, “Left, Right or Center?”

Jan 1, 2009 8:10 AM CST

What’s the Most Outlandish Claim You’ve Seen Filed in Court?

In the blogosphere, there’s no shortage of nutty lawsuit stories. Entire blogs are devoted to the subject. Overlawyered is one of the most prolific. And Above the Law had this gem about a woman who sued a hospital because she claimed doctors there stole her idea for the cure for…

Dec 29, 2008 9:45 PM CST

‘You’re Outplaced.’ What’s the Best Euphemism You’ve Ever Heard?

It’s one thing to be told directly, “You’re fired.” But does it really soften the blow to hear “you’re outplaced” or “you’re being retired?” These are just a couple of the terminal euphemisms we’ve seen recently on ABAJournal.com. The Financial Times points out an array of semantic sidesteps that companies…

Dec 22, 2008 5:36 PM CST

You’ve Been Served ... On Facebook

Leave it to tech-savvy Australia to meld legal procedure with social networking. Indeed, we learned recently that an Australian court is allowing service of a default judgment via Facebook. This raised a whole host of questions for us. But mainly, we wondered about unusual ways of serving an opponent. So…

Dec 17, 2008 8:00 PM CST

Do you market yourself proudly, reluctantly or not at all?

We’re admittedly a few weeks late to this particular discussion, but couldn’t resist pulling our readers in, especially as we call special attention to legal bloggers this month with our Blawg 100 feature. “In the past week or so, the great debate in the legal profession—legal marketing—has reared its head,…

Dec 10, 2008 8:46 PM CST

What’s On Your Reading List?

Recently we heard about a group of law profs at the University of Chicago who are sharing their reading recommendations, just in time for the holidays. And in the December issue of the ABA Journal, ABA President Tommy Wells shared a couple of books he likes to read and gift…

Dec 3, 2008 4:34 PM CST

The Blawg 100

Best of the Blogosphere

Dec 2, 2008 5:50 AM CST

On the Money, In the Hole

Dec 2, 2008 4:30 AM CST

Will You Be Working the Day After Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with millions of Americans loading up and visiting family and friends to break bread and, well, give thanks. But we know that lawyers have very little time to spare. This made us wonder about your plans this week. So…

Nov 24, 2008 4:32 PM CST

Will You Cut Back or Cut Loose This Holiday Season?

Thanksgiving is around the corner, and winter holidays aren’t far behind. Lawyers and law firms often commemorate these festive occasions with a generous helping of bonuses, extravagant parties and expensive gifts for clients and staff. But the economy may dampen holiday spirits as we close 2008 and open to a…

Nov 19, 2008 5:48 PM CST