Ballard Spahr’s Pro Bono Counsel Sees the Bright Side of Deferrals

Associates given stipends in 2009 to defer their start dates at Ballard Spahr developed advocacy skills and an interest in poverty law, according to the law firm’s pro bono counsel, Mary Gay Scanlon. Deferred associates are “in-house experts and in-house advocates for a variety of different pro bono opportunities,” Scanlon…

Nov 30, 2011 1:24 PM CST

Around the Blawgosphere: New Bitter Lawyer Web Series About Document Reviewers

The Gunners, the Dreamers and Me Those who mourned the end of Living the Dream—a 12-episode Web series created by lawyer-turned-TV writer Rick Eid that focused on newbie associate Nick Conley that appeared in Bitter Lawyer’s first incarnation—have something to look forward to: Bitter Lawyer’s premiere of The Bottom Rung,…

Nov 11, 2011 2:30 PM CST

Sealing the Deal: How to Negotiate Fee Agreements

You’ve identified a target client, made a good connection, and they say they want to hire you. But no fee agreement has been signed yet. ABA Journal Podcast moderator Stephanie Francis Ward discusses ways to ethically seal the deal, with lawyers from a variety of practice areas.

Nov 7, 2011 9:44 PM CST

A Debt of Gratitude: ABA Pledges to Help Veterans in Overcoming Legal Obstacles

Nov 1, 2011 9:40 AM CDT

Lawyers Giving Back

Nov 1, 2011 6:00 AM CDT

In Pro Bono Address, ABA President Says Independent Legal Profession, Judiciary Are Key to Democracy

ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III kicked off the National Pro Bono Summit on Monday with an address expressing support for an independent judiciary and legal profession. Robinson applauded those at the meeting for their commitment to pro bono work and offered some thoughts about the importance of independence,…

Oct 25, 2011 1:36 PM CDT

Retired BigLaw Attorneys Embrace New Clients in People-Oriented Public Service Jobs

When he left Dickstein Shapiro in 2004, James Springer was a top antitrust lawyer. Now, working part-time for the D.C. Legal Aid Society, the 77-year-old attorney handles benefits claims. Working on Social Security claims is every bit as complex as his former practice area, he tells the National Law Journal.…

Oct 24, 2011 8:00 PM CDT

Latham’s Work Defending 9th Circuit Judge on ‘Torture Memo’ Allegations Valued at $3.2M

Latham & Watkins has performed $3.2 million in free legal work for a federal appeals judge, according to his financial disclosure forms. Appellate litigator Maureen Mahoney of Latham took on the defense of Jay Bybee as the U.S. Justice Department considered ethics allegations stemming from his work on so-called “torture…

Oct 24, 2011 1:30 PM CDT

Lawyers Do Well by Doing Good

Oct 1, 2011 9:40 AM CDT

Lawyers Giving Back

Oct 1, 2011 6:10 AM CDT

Free CLE Course on Elvis Presley Law Is ‘Bait and Switch’ to Get Lawyers to Listen to Pro Bono Pitch

A legal aid group in Tennessee is trying a clever and unusual tactic to drum up an audience of attorneys to listen to a pro bono pitch: Elvis Presley. Legal Aid of East Tennessee will be offering a free continuing legal education course on Tuesday on Elvis Law. The state…

Sep 29, 2011 3:35 PM CDT

Volunteer Lawyers Teach High School Kids About Money Management

A group of more than a half-dozen lawyers are visiting Northern Kentucky high schools to talk about money management and the importance of good credit scores. The program is called CARE, for Credit Abuse Resistance Education, Cincinnati.com reports. A bankruptcy judge in Rochester, N.Y., created the program nine years ago,…

Sep 14, 2011 11:00 AM CDT

Step Up, Pitch In, Make a Difference

Sep 1, 2011 8:50 AM CDT

Lawyers Giving Back

Sep 1, 2011 5:30 AM CDT

ABA President: Allowing Nonlawyers to Practice Law Isn’t Solution to Justice Gap

ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III agrees the poor need more legal help, but says deregulating law practice is not the answer. Robinson outlines the ABA’s views on legal aid for the poor in a letter to the editor of the New York Times. His letter responds to a…

Aug 31, 2011 12:43 PM CDT