Associate Life
From the editors of Texas Lawyer
Online Pretrial Publicity Draws Fire
The National Law Journal
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Lawyers engaging in pretrial publicity on the Internet is a growing concern within the legal profession, as many fear that online rantings, blogs and press releases by attorneys are potentially tainting the jury pool.
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The Profession: When lawyers are addicted
The National Law Journal
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
When we say "drug addict," most people imagine a marginalized, downwardly mobile criminal. But there are millions of addicts, including attorneys, who have never been arrested, have never been to rehab or a detox facility and move with ease and respect within their professional communities.
Scalia's New Book Offers Oral Argument Tips
Legal Times
Friday, May 2, 2008
When arguing a case before judges, pick your best three arguments, Scalia and co-author Bryan Garner advise.
Schoolhouse Rock
The American Lawyer
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Some law schools are shaking up their curricula, inspired by the radical notion that a legal education should teach students what lawyers really do.
Summer Associate Hiring for 2008 Wilts
The National Law Journal
Monday, April 28, 2008
Summer associate ranks look thinner for the upcoming season as many of the nation's law firms have pulled back from the record-breaking hiring of 2007.
The illness lawyers don't talk about
New York Law Journal
Friday, April 25, 2008
In a landmark 1991 study by Johns Hopkins University, in which lawyers ranked first in incidence rate for clinical depression among 105 professions surveyed.
Attorney's $15 Million Libel Lawsuit Against 'Law & Order' Creators, NBC Goes Forward
New York Law Journal
Monday, April 21, 2008
Attorney Ravi Batra can proceed with a $15 million libel suit against the creators of "Law & Order" for airing an episode depicting a "bald Indian-American" lawyer who bribes a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge, a Manhattan court has ruled.
Associate Survey -- The Woman Question
The Minority Law Journal
Friday, March 28, 2008
Female associates of color are less satisfied with life and work at large law firms than their male peers are. How can firms make minority women happier—and persuade them to stick around?
ABA Law Student Group Tackles Depression
The National Law Journal
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Daniel Suvor wants law schools to recognize the elephant in the living room — or rather the classroom — with an initiative he is pushing as the leader of nation's largest law student group. This month, the American Bar Association Law Student Division launched a mental health initiative with the goal of helping law students who are battling depression and anxiety.
Helping Associates Transition to Partnership
Accounting and Financial Planning for Law Firm
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Unfortunately, many firms fail to prepare their associates for the change in financial status that will occur upon their election to partnership. As a result, they can be distracted by financial concerns, and much of the goodwill generated by their elevation to partnership is lost. At the same time, those firms that prepare their associates for the change and lend a helping hand in the transition develop strong loyalties and better long-term partners.
Does a Recession Mean Layoffs — or a Time to Snag Laterals?
The American Lawyer
Monday, March 24, 2008
With financial institutions battered by bad bets on subprime mortgages and the stock market staggering like a drunken sailor, law firms are bracing for disaster. But a funny thing happened on the way to the recession: It seems that anxiety, like income, is not evenly apportioned within the legal profession.
Mayer Brown Associates Take a Grassroots Approach to Networking
New York Law Journal
Friday, March 21, 2008
As it turns out, there is an answer to the age-old question "What do women really want?" — at least at Mayer Brown.
Diversity Panel: Where Have All the Agitators Gone?
The Legal Intelligencer
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The demands of being a lawyer may have caused many minority attorneys to forget their "rabble-rouser days" and fear speaking out against injustices within law firms and corporations, Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor A. Michael Pratt said recently.
Law Firms Set Up 'Pipeline' for Minority Talent
The National Law Journal
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
In an effort to diversify their ranks, law firms are reaching beyond law schools to find and foster new talent. The idea is to groom college students and even high schoolers to become attorneys by piquing their interest in the law at an early age. Andrews Kurth is working with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues to fund a debating program in Houston high schools.
Advice for the Lawlorn
New York Law Journal
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Advice from the legal profession's Dear Abby.
Despite Economy, Author Says Now Is Time to Go Solo
New York Law Journal
Monday, March 17, 2008
Carolyn Elefant is a Washington, D.C., solo practitioner and author of a new book "dedicated to becoming the lawyer you always wanted to be," as she prefaces the pages. Never mind what she says are widespread negative perceptions about hanging out one's own shingle.
Finding Wisdom as an Activist Lawyer
Cal Law
Friday, March 14, 2008
The notion of wisdom is seldom an element of discourse among lawyers of the idealistic stripe. So laments Charles Halpern, founding dean of the City University of New York School of Law, in the preface to his new book, "Making Waves and Riding the Currents: Activism and the Practice of Wisdom."
Skadden blog's 'hot associate' contest is put on ice
The American Lawyer
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Who's the hottest young woman lawyer at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom? That question recently sent the firm into a bit of a tizzy.
Are Law Firm Leadership Programs Worth the Money?
The National Law Journal
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thousands of attorneys at law firms nationwide have participated in leadership training programs in the past few years. Whether they involve white-water rafting trips, stints at renowned business schools or sessions with consultants brought on site, law firms are paying millions of dollars to have their attorneys worry over case studies and submit to personality profile tests. Is it all worth it?
Big-Firm Associates: Why They Go and How to Keep Them
Corporate Counsel
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
At the 250 largest law firms, the arrows are pointing up for many associate indicators. But for all this effort, one critical indicator is down. The larger law firms are reported to be losing 30, 40, 50 percent of associates after three to four years — with half to two-thirds of the defections due to associate, not firm, choice.
Law Is Fun — There's A Web Site To Prove It
The Connecticut Law Tribune
Monday, March 10, 2008
Michael Fryar is launching a new web site based on two revolutionary premises: the practice of law should actually be enjoyable, and lawyers by and large have great senses of humor.
Advice for the Lawlorn
New York Law Journal
Friday, March 7, 2008
Advice from the legal profession's Dear Abby.
Summer Associate Job Offers Must Be Accepted Within 45 Days
The National Law Journal
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Starting next fall, law students will need to think fast when choosing which offer to accept for a summer associate job, due to a change in timing guidelines. The new guidelines are designed to free up the supply of summer associates and help the recruiting efforts of firms with smaller summer programs.
Advice for the Lawlorn
New York Law Journal
Friday, January 18, 2008
Advice from the legal profession's Dear Abby.



