Practice Management

Bad Closing Doc Puts Va. Lawyer in Jail

A former president of the Northern Virginia Bankruptcy Bar Association reportedly has been sentenced by a federal judge to a year and a day in jail for conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The sentence yesterday concerned a closing document that Leslie W. Lickstein, 54, of Fairfax, prepared in 2002 for…

Aug 31, 2007 4:22 PM CDT

Disorderly Conduct is Hot Legal Topic

Legal experts are discussing the elements of a disorderly conduct conviction with the zeal one might expect of appellate attorneys conferring over a death penalty case, as the scandal over Sen. Larry Craig’s recent restroom sting arrest exacerbates. The Republican lawmaker from Idaho probably could have beaten the rap, according…

Aug 30, 2007 10:42 PM CDT

CA’s AG: ‘Police’ Badge Banned ... Uh-Oh

Oops. Providing police badges to people who aren’t police officers is illegal. But apparently nobody at the California Attorney General’s office realized that until folks in Riverside County asked for an opinion on the issue. The AG’s office dutifully provided one–and then began collecting from its own attorneys some 1,200…

Aug 30, 2007 9:39 PM CDT

Top Experts Trump Lawyers: $2,000/Hour

A very select group of lawyers reportedly now bills at hourly rates that can exceed $1,000. But they are topped by an even more select group of experts, whose fees can hit $2,000 per hour. Intellectual property knowledge can earn such stratospheric fees for experts—who typically, at four-figure rates, are…

Aug 30, 2007 8:05 PM CDT

Fed’l Judge: Execute Inmates Efficiently

California’s death row is not only the biggest in the nation but perhaps the most backlogged. The average prisoner waits nearly 20 years to be executed, and, since capital punishment was reinstated in 1978, only 13 have been executed while 50 have died in prison, many of old age. Currently,…

Aug 30, 2007 6:14 PM CDT

Who Will Close in Spector Murder Trial?

At the conclusion of five months of testimony in Phil Spector’s murder trial and with closing arguments scheduled to begin on Sept. 5, observers are asking an unusual question. Who is going to give his closing argument? Ordinarily, of course, that would be the lead defense lawyer at trial. But…

Aug 29, 2007 9:52 PM CDT

UK Magic Circle Firms Add US Lawyers

Some of London’s biggest and best-known law firms are signaling their intention to establish a higher-profile presence in the U.S. legal market. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has sent two partners and three associates into the firm’s New York office from international locations, reports New York Lawyer (reg. req.), reprinting a Legal…

Aug 29, 2007 7:59 PM CDT

Profs: Gonzales Misunderstood Job

There is one simple reason why soon-to-be former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales is losing his job, several law professors say: He never understood what he was supposed to be doing. Gonzales seemed to think he should be acting as the president’s personal legal counsel. But in fact, his job was…

Aug 29, 2007 6:17 PM CDT

Nixon Goodbye Inspired Lerach

Securities class action lawyer William Lerach is fessing up: The announcement of his retirement borrowed partly from Richard Nixon’s farewell speech to his staff. Lerach said in an e-mail that he is retiring from law practice to resolve an investigation into alleged kickbacks paid to lead plaintiffs while at securities…

Aug 29, 2007 5:55 PM CDT

Goat’s-Head Note Threatens Lawyer

Remember the fictional scene in The Godfather involving a severed horse’s head? A similarly aggressive threat apparently was intended by the person responsible for leaving a severed goat’s head for a real-life Wisconsin attorney, reports an ABC-affiliated local television station. The goat’s mouth held a threatening note, the contents of…

Aug 29, 2007 1:46 AM CDT

India to Open Door to Foreign Law Firms?

The government of India and attorneys throughout the country reportedly are considering a proposal to make it easier for foreign law firms to establish a presence there. Under possible legislation being discussed by bar groups throughout India, foreign law firms could establish a limited liability partnership in the country so…

Aug 29, 2007 12:09 AM CDT

Client Balks at Bare-Bones Bill

The school board for the Bethlehem, Pa., area wasn’t sure about paying a $60,670 charge by the board’s legal counsel until they actually saw the bill. But they were even less sure when they did see the bill from White & Williams for its 306 hours of work, reports the…

Aug 28, 2007 11:34 PM CDT

NBA Refs Lawyer Up in Betting Probe

The nation’s professional basketball referees have hired a criminal lawyer after an NBA announcement last week that it was retaining one of New York’s powerhouse corporate law firms to review the league’s gambling policies and its hiring, training and oversight of officials. Former federal prosecutor Gregory T. Magarity will represent…

Aug 28, 2007 9:40 PM CDT

Former KY Bar Ass’n Prez Disbarred

Four years ago, Stephen B. Catron was president of the Kentucky Bar Association. Today he’s no longer a lawyer, having been disbarred last week by the Kentucky Supreme Court. Catron, who is accused of having mishandled $500,000 in public funds, says the allegation is unfounded. However, he apparently didn’t fight…

Aug 28, 2007 7:47 PM CDT

Lawyer Quits Spector Murder Trial

Five months of testimony in Phil Spector’s murder trial ended with a bang-up finale yesterday, as his best-known lawyer withdrew from the case after the legendary music producer decided to have another defense attorney spearhead the upcoming closing argument. Spector, 67, said during a lunch recess that he had decided…

Aug 28, 2007 3:29 PM CDT