What it’s like to build a new law firm in the post-downturn market (video)

Bruce Barket, founding partner at Barket, Marion, Epstein & Kearon, talks with Bloomberg Law’s Lee Pacchia about the challenges in building a law firm after the legal profession’s slowdown in 2008. Barket and his three partners started their own criminal defense firm two years ago, and the firm has grown…

Nov 21, 2013 7:00 PM CST

Too much ado about BigLaw? City bar creates institute to train newbie lawyers for smaller practices

The New York City Bar Association is introducing new programs to help new lawyers transition to practice, including a City Bar New Lawyer Institute that would offer practical classes and mentoring opportunities over the course of a year. The bar’s Task Force on New Lawyers in a Changing Profession announced…

Nov 18, 2013 11:44 AM CST

Legal incubator helps lawyers launch firms serving clients of modest means

Although there’s an oversupply of lawyers, there’s also an undersupply of representation for those who need their services but can’t afford to pay hefty fees. The Chicago Bar Foundation is trying to address that imbalance, and help recent graduates get jobs, through a privately supported legal incubator. Its Justice Entrepreneurs…

Nov 15, 2013 9:40 PM CST

Trial attorney slain outside his law office was targeted, police chief says

A Nebraska trial lawyer was fatally shot Wednesday as he stood beside a red Chevrolet Avalanche parked outside his Grand Island law office at around 6:30 p.m. Todd Elsbernd, 52, was struck in the torso and died at a local hospital, the Grand Island Independent reports. Police chief Steve Lamken…

Nov 14, 2013 10:10 PM CST

Ex-Miss USA contestant told to pay Donald Trump $5M files malpractice suit against her former lawyer

Ordered to pay $5 million to Donald Trump earlier this year in a federal-court ruling upholding an award in a defamation and breach-of-contract arbitration she didn’t attend, an ex-participant in his Miss USA contest has now sued her former lawyer. Sheena Monnin is not alone in blaming attorney Richard Klineburger…

Nov 13, 2013 11:00 PM CST

Well-known trial lawyer faces assault case, accused of punching attorney at upscale NYC eatery

A New York trial lawyer known for winning three acquittals for now-deceased client and reputed organized-crime boss John Gotti apparently “has still got some fight left in him,” his law partner says. That was demonstrated on Thursday, according to New York City police, when Bruce Cutler, 65, punched a fellow…

Nov 11, 2013 5:50 PM CST

Pierce Atwood to acquire 10-attorney Rhode Island firm

A well-known New England law firm has announced plans to acquire a 10-attorney Providence, R.I.-based commercial and construction litigation boutique. Little Bulman Medeiros & Whitney will become part of Maine-based Pierce Atwood on Dec. 9, according to the Bangor Daily News and Mainebiz. Together, the merged firms will have an…

Nov 8, 2013 9:00 PM CST

Another federal judge blasts Prenda Law over firm’s handling of porn-downloading lawsuits

Blasted earlier this year by a federal judge in California over its handling of cases against alleged illegal downloaders of pornography, a Chicago-based law firm known for its mass copyright litigation has been blasted again by a federal judge in Minnesota. In a blistering Wednesday opinion (PDF), Magistrate Judge Franklin…

Nov 7, 2013 6:15 PM CST

Woman sues estate of prominent lawyer, says he committed suicide after lying about $1.2M settlement

A woman has filed suit against the estate of a prominent New Jersey lawyer, contending that he lied about obtaining a $1.2 million settlement on her behalf before committing suicide in July. In fact, alleges Vivien Thorsen, attorney John “Jay” Fahy never even filed an employment discrimination suit on her…

Nov 6, 2013 7:00 PM CST

The smart money was never on Goliath: Does BigLaw have the same disadvantages?

I attended a program that was part of Chicago Ideas Week last week called “Lessons: The Choice Is Yours.” Among the amazing speakers (for example, the founders of both change.org and Defy Ventures), the program concluded with an appearance from Malcolm Gladwell, the noted New Yorker writer and author of…

Oct 29, 2013 5:13 PM CDT

Blogger shares skills future solos need | Legal-eyed TV recaps | ‘Are word limits for suckers?’

Washington, D.C., solo Carolyn Elefant notes that she wasn’t asked for a quote by the New Republic on how to improve law school. But prepping students to work for BigLaw is not the way of the future, she writes at My Shingle. “Hate to break it to you, law schools,…

Oct 18, 2013 1:30 PM CDT

Lawyer who ‘flunked retirement’ returns to former firm, will try not to work as hard

At first, when he retired in 2011 after decades in practice, James E. “Jim” McMahon told friends he didn’t miss his work at all. But within a year the truth was apparent. “I flunked. I just flunked retirement,” the 62-year-old South Dakota lawyer told the Argus Leader. Fortunately, he was…

Oct 11, 2013 8:15 PM CDT

How to be a boss | More hot coffee lawsuits on horizon?

Corrected: The LexisNexis offer of six free months of LexisNexis Firm Manager described at Robert Ambrogi’s Lawsites and announced at the ABA GPSolo fall conference is not a member benefit and is not endorsed by, or offered in cooperation with the ABA or the ABA GPSolo fall conference. The ABA…

Oct 4, 2013 1:29 PM CDT

Some solos say advertising in the Yellow Pages is still worth it

Oct 1, 2013 7:20 AM CDT

Jury mulls Michael Jackson case, as lawyer for family complains of defense counsel ‘smugness’

Updated: After months at trial, a California jury is now in the initial stages of considering a potential blockbuster wrongful death case over the demise of pop superstar Michael Jackson. The six-man, six-woman panel spent two hours in deliberation Thursday and another five hours Friday, and will resume their consideration…

Sep 30, 2013 6:49 PM CDT