Question of the Week

Last Night a Blog Post Saved My Life

In light of news that the California Injury Blog’s post on an unsolved hit-and-run led to the apprehension of a prime suspect got us to wondering what other influences the legal blogosphere is having. So we ask… What’s the most useful/helpful thing you’ve ever read on a legal blog or…

Jul 17, 2008 2:36 PM CDT

Law Firm Perks You Have—Or Wish You Had?

Because of a back injury that made it uncomfortable for Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom litigator Rita Gordon to work at her desk or on the subway, she used the firm’s car service at times other than the appointed late-night hours when she would leave the office to work…

Jul 10, 2008 4:01 PM CDT

Do You Have a Grammar or Spelling Pet Peeve?

We can’t help but notice that many readers who comment on ABAJournal.com posts are obsessed with spelling and grammar—whether they’re calling out other commenters on their errors, or re-posting, chastened, to correct their own typos. This week, blogger Howard Bashman and 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner…

Jul 1, 2008 3:53 PM CDT

Share Your Favorite Examples of, Um, Poetic Justice

This week we learned about a federal judge in Philly who used a limerick of his own to rule against the Limerick Golf Club. U.S. District Judge Berle Schiller summarized his ruling with this gem: With arguments hard to resist, The movant correctly insists, His joinder was tardy, And so…

Jun 26, 2008 2:25 PM CDT

What’s The Biggest Threat to The U.S. Economy?

BigLaw firm DLA Piper recently surveyed more than 100 corporate clients (PDF) about their priorities for the second half of 2008 and to gauge their predictions for the business climate. More than half of the survey respondents (53 percent) had a negative outlook on the economy. And when asked what…

Jun 19, 2008 2:22 PM CDT

What’s the Most Outrageous Juror Conduct You’ve Seen?

In Australia this week, a judge stopped a drug conspiracy trial that had already gone on for 66 days after the jury foreman admitted that he and three or four other jurors had been playing Sudoku for up to half of their time in the box. So now we’re wondering…

Jun 12, 2008 4:03 PM CDT

Name Your Favorite Over-the-Top Summer Associate Activity

It’s summer associate season, time to hear about extravagant parties and wooing of top law school talent by star-hungry firms. Blogger Deb Weiss alerted us that some lucky associates will rake in $3,000 a week. And the firms are pulling out the stops to make the summer recruiting experience memorable.…

Jun 5, 2008 3:28 PM CDT

What’s the Best Legal TV Show of All Time?

In the June issue of the ABA Journal, Stephanie Ward gives us a little behind-the-scenes insight into the real characters behind our favorite legal TV dramas. This made us wonder a couple of things. First, what’s the best legal show on TV right now? Vote here to let us know.…

May 29, 2008 4:21 PM CDT

Who Would Be the Ultimate Law School Graduation Speaker?

In spite of a flurry of petitions and e-mails sent by students in protest, Jerry Springer took the podium at Northwestern University School of Law’s graduation last week and left students with a final thought: “I am not superior to the people on my show—and you are not superior to…

May 22, 2008 3:14 PM CDT

If Not a Lawyer, What Would You Be?

We learned this week that Boston med-mal lawyer Karen Ristuben is, in her spare time, a recording artist. Then there’s Jennifer Blum, who when she’s not scoring against her competition as a civil litigator is racking up points for the New York Sharks, which is part of the Independent Women’s…

May 15, 2008 2:41 PM CDT

Who Are the Nurturers You’ll Celebrate This Mother’s Day?

As we carve out time this Mother’s Day to honor the nurturers in our lives, we’d like to hear from you about the real moms and others you intend to celebrate. Tell us about one “mother” (male or female) who has made all the difference in your career. Answer in…

May 8, 2008 4:28 PM CDT

Which Lawyers, Law Profs Have the Best/Worst Web Photos?

Thanks to the Legal Profession Blog, we’ve learned that Southwestern University School of Law arguably has the best faculty photos on the Web. The photos, for the most part, stray from the staid “mugshot” format and depict profs in a more approachable light. This got us thinking… What’s the best…

May 1, 2008 2:54 PM CDT

What Have You Done in Your Work or Home Life to Go Green?

Nations around the world marked Earth Day this past Tuesday, and law firms called attention to their own efforts. ABAJournal.com noted both Sullivan Hill Lewin Rez & Engel’s efforts to go paperless and Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge’s extreme green $4 million makeover of its Hartford, Conn. office. That got…

Apr 24, 2008 4:06 PM CDT

Are You Suffering From Facebook Fatigue?

Facebook. MySpace. LinkedIn. Twitter. AVVO. It seems as if a new social networking site or pseudo professional networking site launches daily. So much energy is needed to maintain these personal pages and an online presence that it has Time magazine opining about “Facebook fatigue.” E-information overload and its twin problem,…

Apr 17, 2008 3:20 PM CDT

What Unusual Traditions Does Your Law School Celebrate?

As the academic year heads to a close, whimsical annual events are popping up on law school calendars. Just last week, University of Toledo’s student bar association sponsored its fourth-annual 5K Ambulance Chase. Race proceeds benefited a local substance abuse treatment center. That got us thinking … Does your law…

Apr 10, 2008 2:34 PM CDT