Deserving of Attention

Sep 1, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

Crime Registries Under Fire

Adam Walsh Act mandates sex offender lists, but some say it’s unconstitutional

Sep 1, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

Gulp

Litigation won’t end the battles over depleted water resources in several regions of the United States

Sep 1, 2008 1:00 PM CDT

Ever Had a Co-Worker with a Hero Complex?

This week, we blogged on a phenomenon one professor calls “Munchausen at work.” In this scenario, individuals seeking recognition create workplace problems in order to create opportunities to demonstrate their problem-solving skills. Other strains described in the underlying article include corporate turnaround specialists creating problems because they are bored and…

Aug 27, 2008 8:56 PM CDT

Leader of Dissolved IP Boutique Says No One Wanted His Job

A Philadelphia intellectual property boutique is being acquired by a larger firm, and the outgoing managing partner attributes his firm’s dissolution to an unusual problem: No one wanted his job. Synnestvedt & Lechner of Philadelphia was having a banner year in terms of revenue per lawyer, managing partner Joseph Posillico…

Aug 27, 2008 12:11 PM CDT

Big Law Firms’ Predicament: Committed to Hire More Lawyers than Needed

Because big law firms make associate hiring commitments two years in advance, they are finding themselves in a bind. As the economic downturn has cut into legal work, the firms are pledged to hire more lawyers than they need. Some firms are hiring several new associates even though they recently…

Aug 27, 2008 10:54 AM CDT

BigLaw Firm Recruits on Facebook

Looking for a way to better promote itself to the next generation of lawyers, Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle has launched a Facebook page as part of its broader law school recruiting efforts. “We are pleased to be capitalizing on the popularity of the most widely used social networking site,”…

Aug 26, 2008 7:43 PM CDT

WolfBlock to New 1st-Years: We’ll See You in November

Faced with a business slowdown, Philadelphia-based WolfBlock has told its incoming first-year class to take a vacation. “The firm said all but one of eight recent law school graduates were told not to report for work until Nov. 10 rather than the normal start date shortly after Labor Day,” reports…

Aug 26, 2008 7:27 PM CDT

Court Quotes ‘Seinfeld’ Episode in Ruling Involving Author Tom Clancy

Maryland’s highest court is relying on a Seinfeld episode to explain why author Tom Clancy cannot harm a partnership with his ex-wife simply because of spite. The Maryland Court of Appeals cites the Seinfeld episode in which Jerry tries to return a jacket he purchased after an unrelated personal quarrel…

Aug 26, 2008 3:04 PM CDT

U.S. News Considers Counting Part-Timers in Law School Rankings

U.S. News & World Report is considering counting the undergraduate records of part-timers in its law-school rankings system, a change that would reverse recent gains by many schools. Some schools game the system by funneling those with lower undergrad grades and LSAT scores in their part-time programs, the Wall Street…

Aug 26, 2008 1:21 PM CDT

E-Mail Scam Targeting Law Firms Ensnares a Lawyer in Atlanta

The latest victim of an e-mail scam targeting law firms is Atlanta lawyer Gregory Bartko. The lawyer sometimes handles international legal transactions involving Asian clients, and work is often conducted by e-mail because of the time difference, according to the Fulton County Daily Report. So Bartko wasn’t alarmed when he…

Aug 26, 2008 11:27 AM CDT

ABA Ethics Group OKs Outsourcing, But Nixes At Least Some Fee Markups

Although the lawyer in charge remains ultimately responsible and can be held accountable if anything goes awry, those working under his or her direction don’t have to be in the same building in order to comply with professional standards. In fact, they don’t even have to be in the same…

Aug 26, 2008 12:12 AM CDT

How Michelle Obama’s ‘Savvy Sacrifice’ Helped Her Husband

Working as an associate at a powerhouse international law firm based in Chicago, Michelle Obama had what many would have considered a dream job for a lawyer. But she gave up the Sidley Austin job to pursue a public interest career. This “savvy sacrifice” has provided her husband, presumptive Democratic…

Aug 25, 2008 6:28 PM CDT

Law Firm Life Satirized in Bitter Lawyer Webisodes

A lawyer-turned-TV writer has posted a satirical look at law firm life in four Webisodes posted on the Bitter Lawyer website. The Webisodes feature new associate Nick Conley, who works at Sullivan & Moore, “the most prestigious law firm in the entire country.” In one episode, Nick is directed to…

Aug 25, 2008 5:30 PM CDT

Cross-Examination Gone Bad: Angry Witness Accuses Lawyer of Dealing Drugs

A Michigan defense lawyer’s cross-examination of an informant went awry yesterday when the witness became angry and said the lawyer questioning him had sold drugs. Informant David Maki’s outburst came after defense lawyer Tim Barkovic called him a liar and a snitch, the Detroit Free Press reports. Maki “got angry…

Aug 21, 2008 12:44 PM CDT