Law in Popular Culture

Street Legal

In the rap world it’s all about street cred. And Emeka Onyejekwe has credibility—just not the kind typically associated with rap. What he does have is a law degree from New York University and experience as a litigation associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges in Manhattan. But the 26-year-old left…

Jul 1, 2008 1:20 PM CDT

Law Profs Apply ‘American Idol’ Concept to Criminal Law Review Topics

Move over, American Idol: For serious legal scholars, watching to see how a select group of criminal law professors decides whose ideas are best-expressed is becoming something of a spectator sport. A new Criminal Law Conversations website invites scholars to nominate law review articles they admire. Then the authors are…

Jun 17, 2008 7:28 PM CDT

‘Legal Secretary’ Stars in New TV Series

A new Showtime miniseries that debuts tonight will offer an entertaining look at perceptions of law firm life as a subtheme. Already a hit in the United Kingdom, the “surprisingly unsteamy” program, which is based on real-life books and a blog, features a high-class prostitute who tells her family she…

Jun 16, 2008 5:16 PM CDT

Lawyer’s ‘Cribtastic’ Office Lands Him Movie Role

Steve Stodghill practices in Dallas as a litigation partner at Fish & Richardson. But a recent movie offer gave him a chance to demonstrate his corporate deal-making skills, too. The offer was to use his “cribtastic” office at the downtown Comerica Bank Tower in Karma Police, a movie that premiered…

Jun 4, 2008 8:19 PM CDT

Making Crime Pay

Americans have always had a peculiar relationship with crime and criminals. Each generation seems to fret about unprecedented lawlessness, while bestowing on its most outrageous criminals the kind of celebrity reserved for folk heroes and movie stars.

Jun 1, 2008 1:15 PM CDT

Making TV Legal

Behind those megahit lawyer shows are some pretty unusual lawyers

Jun 1, 2008 1:05 PM CDT

‘Unlikely Blogger’: Nancy Gertner, a Federal Judge

Among the contributors to Slate’s new blog on legal issues is Nancy Gertner, a former criminal defense lawyer who is now a federal district court judge. According to federal and state officials, she appears to be the only judge in Massachusetts who is sharing her unfiltered views with the public…

May 27, 2008 10:21 PM CDT

Blogger David Lat Says Privacy an ‘Antiquated Notion,’ Goes Public With Diet

The blogger who writes the legal gossip blog Above the Law suggests that privacy is the refuge of scoundrels—and a convenient way to hide bad eating habits. Above the Law’s David Lat writes on a separate blog that he gets lots of e-mails from lawyers who complain that his blog…

May 27, 2008 12:16 PM CDT

From the Bing to Fordham U: Legal Experts Confab on ‘Sopranos’

Academics from around the world are converging on Fordham University for a symposium on The Sopranos that begins tomorrow. Among those who will be speaking about the popular television show are James Keneally, a partner in Kelley Drye & Warren’s white-collar criminal practice group, who is included, along with a…

May 21, 2008 11:35 PM CDT

Jerry Springer’s Words of Wisdom Win Over Skeptical NU Grads

Students at Northwestern University School of Law protested when they heard that television reality show host and NU law grad Jerry Springer was to be their commencement speaker. But when they heard what he had to say last week, he got a standing ovation from about half of the audience,…

May 21, 2008 5:47 PM CDT

Shoot a Gun, Drive a Cruiser, Appear in a Lineup at New D.C. Museum

A new National Museum of Crime & Punishment is set to open this week in Washington, D.C., and according to the Washington Post, it aspires to be “a blend of theme park and TV show.” A release (PDF) promoting the opening notes that “the museum invites you to emerge from…

May 20, 2008 8:09 PM CDT

Many Details Right in Fictional Lawyer’s Supreme Court Skewering

The U.S. Supreme Court is often the target of criticism. In one of the more recent high-profile critiques the missives were delivered by a fictional lawyer, Alan Shore of Boston Legal. The character played by actor James Spader is arguing a case before the high court with look-alike justices when…

May 6, 2008 12:50 PM CDT

Ropes & Gray Partner Was Blackjack Winner Portrayed in ‘21’

A litigation partner at Ropes & Gray is admitting she was a member of the winning card-counting blackjack team that is portrayed in the movie 21. Jane Willis sees some connections between winning at blackjack and being a successful litigator, the Am Law Daily reports. Both endeavors “require perseverance, attention…

May 1, 2008 1:39 PM CDT

The J.D.-Hendrix Experience

Russell Pearce has two photos on his office wall. One is Louis Brandeis. The other, Jimi Hendrix.

May 1, 2008 1:04 PM CDT

Printing a New Chapter

ABA Publishing finds that legal best-sellers no longer need ‘how to’ in their titles

May 1, 2008 1:03 PM CDT