Weil Gotshal Paralegal Ad Is Bummer for Recent Law Grads

B. McLeod
Jul 21, 2009 4:42 PM CST

This is actually a very, very positive development for job seekers.  Back in the lean times of 1992-1993, many law firms hired law school graduates as paralegals.  In the current downturn, most firms have been turning law graduates away from these positions.  In this sense, Weil Gotshal is showing more mercy than most.  Grads who don’t have any other prospects should suck it up and mail the resume.

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tom
Jul 22, 2009 3:40 AM CST

most grads of schools in the lower three tiers would be very glad to get any paralegal job.

There have been very few jobs for lawyers in the last 2 or 3 years for grads from low ranked schools unless they are in the top 10 percent

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wsj
Jul 22, 2009 6:21 AM CST

#3- Bcleod stated the other day that he went to a law school that is now T1.  Does this mean that all law schools are now in T1?  No more TTTT?  Everyone is equal in the eyes of employers?

You shouldn’t give Bcleod a hard time, though.  If the guy went to a TTTT, of course he’s insecure and needs to tell everyone that he knows everything.  Of course he has time to post on every article since he is likely out of work.  Do you think people care what the guy says if they see him in person?  Would you care?

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B. McLeod
Jul 22, 2009 7:25 AM CST

There may be other posters who know better, but my impression is that approximately the top 100 ranked schools (a few more due to rankings “ties”) are “Tier 1” now.  When “Tier 1” was first established, it encompassed the top 25 ranked schools, then was expanded to the top 50, then the top 100.  Maybe it should be expanded to include all schools, so that wsj and other law firm couriers can refocus their attention to something more meaningful.

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B. McLeod
Jul 22, 2009 7:49 AM CST

Careful yourself, Barrister.  Mind that the statute has not run, and that defamation (such as your recurrent, false accusations of unauthorized practice) are not protected by the First Amendment.  Your firm should fire you, before your use of their IT system generates a firm-wide liability.

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DR
Jul 22, 2009 8:02 AM CST

When I first came to this pretigious site last year, I was also taken aback with the frequency by which B. McLeod posts.  Over time, however, I have come to realize that he/she is better-informed than most of the posters I see here, and I would venture to say that he/she is a happy and well-adjusted individual who could care less what we think.  I assume that B. McLeod is a man but he has never really sad anything that would prove that.  I can say with confidence, though, that when I come to this site, I know there will at least be one other lawyer here.  Thank you, and have a wonderful day.

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B. McLeod
Jul 22, 2009 8:19 AM CST

Barrister, check recent articles on the topic if you believe that your identity is protected here, or if you really believe that the First Amendment permits you to publish your baseless and false accusations of unauthorized practice, against a named individual, on a national discussion forum.  Particularly after you have been repeatedly told by your target that the allegations are false.  What element, exactly, do you think you have missed?  If you actually have a legal job, this would be a good moment for you to carry a sample of your posts to the Managing Partner for review.

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Barrister
Jul 22, 2009 8:45 AM CST

#15
Why didn’t your keen eye and attention to detail locate “pretigious” and “had never really sad anything” as really telling basic grammar mistakes? Those of us who are ACTUALLY lawyers see this kind of layperson charade more times than we can count. Post #12 is chock full of poor grammar, passive voice and glaring clues that DR and B. McLeod are one in the same. Has anyone else (and you’ve been on virtually EVERY board) come rushing to defend you on these boards or do these magical supporters appear immediately after your credibility is questioned only to vanish arbitrarily after their “work” is done? You’ve got to be kidding us BM. A 7th grader could have pulled this off better than what you’re attempting!

Now, I am going to take my “keen eye” and “attention to detail” back to work. Thanks for the laugh. And BM, keep hurling your threats. “I’m gonna sue ya” plastered all over a message board is a real good exercise of the MRPC, faker.

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Jake
Jul 22, 2009 9:15 AM CST

#4
Tom. Are you paying attention and commenting on the world as it actually is, or are you just getting the most out of your first tier acceptance? Look, nobody really cares where you went to law school. Really! There are actually only a few thousand people on the planet who even know what a T3 or T4 law school is, or why they call it that. There are even fewer who care. There are a lot of people who are located nowhere near a T1 school, and wouldn’t spend the scratch if they were. I’m sure it is a good education, but so is a T3 or T4 education.
As for there being no jobs for the lower three tiers, I would say you probably aren’t a lower tier grad looking for a job, or you would know what you are talking about. There are many law firms who never get an application from a T1 or top 10% grad, and they hire at about the same rate as everyone else. Slow right now, like everyone else. I surely didn’t get into this profession thinking I would avoid this kind of snobbery, but I still find it tasteless.

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Moruitelda
Jul 22, 2009 9:32 AM CST

For the record, Western New England College of Law is a T4 school; it’s unranked by any of the publications I’m aware of, and has pretty abysmal statistics (76% bar passage rate).

As for McLeod, I’m inclined to think he’s probably William McLeod of McLeod Law Offices in Boston, MA. http://mcleodlawoffices.com/bio/

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London Calling
Jul 22, 2009 12:03 PM CST

I must admit that I was not a fan of McLoud’s posts and still take issue with them often.  He has a poor sense of comedic timing and that’s where his posts usually go awry.  However, when he plays it straight, his posts generally make informed and positive contributions to the discussion. 

McLoud, if you want the funny back then use your energies to get Ellen reinstated!  If anyone could it would be you.

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B. McLeod
Jul 22, 2009 2:31 PM CST

My guess is the firm will ask them to ink a deal for a 2-year commitment.  Even so, if a grad has to start in a large firm, I think they will in fact learn more nuts-and-bolts in paralegal training than the first two years of the “associate” program.  Some of my classmates who started in large firms spent their first few years on discovery requests and responses.  I think this is also an opportunity for graduates to demonstrate intelligence, integrity and work ethic (and of course, make some money during these grim times).

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B. McLeod
Jul 22, 2009 4:02 PM CST

While WSJ undoubtedly chats up all the young ladies, as he delivers their newspapers.

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Barrister
Jul 22, 2009 5:08 PM CST

They’re calling him “McLoud”...that is HILARIOUS! And yes WSJ, the thought of McLeod and Ellen across the aisle from be makes me tremble (with laughter). I actually had to get back to work but instinctively knew B. McLeod would be here, engaging conversations (talking to himself) with DR.
(real subtle huh?)

All I can say about B. McLeod is that I had no idea that the “three stooges” could ever be a one man play…until BM came along.

For the life of me I can’t take that hack seriously.  I’ve seen sharper pro-se litigants than our “colleague” BM on arraignment day coming out of the tank in their jumpsuits.

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Bean Counter
Jul 22, 2009 5:36 PM CST

Okay, children stop fighting.  I think many of you are off topic.  Your postings should be under the title of “to McLeod or not to McLeod.” 

So far, only Tom and Jake are on discussion of T3 or T4 school and job situation.  The economy is bad (or the world is bad according to a summer here), but chill out people and bill more hours.

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Barrister
Jul 22, 2009 5:59 PM CST

Your underwhelming reasoning skills must have been good for a 96 on your LSAT and a nice postcard from the law school thanking you for your interest.

I have observed pro se litigants at arr. hearings because those of us who actually ARE lawyers occasionally get assigned pro bono work…that’s when we help laypersons like you get a grip (i.e. sitting down and sparing the court your ‘expertise’) and handle whatever problem you’re facing which given your posts are too numerous to list.  Bean counter, I gladly left B. McLeod here to conduct his standard imitation of Paper Chase meets Judge Judy.

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DR
Jul 22, 2009 7:53 PM CST

With all due respect, Bean Counter, the topic concerns the advertisement of a paralegal position and the subsequent dismay of future attorneys who find that the ad devalues their learned positions in life, not T3 or T4 schools and imagined woes connected with the job situations of same.

And men complain about cat fights between women?  Humph!  I find it interesting that someone by the name of B. McLeod would devise the alter-ego of a Jewish, middle-aged mom from Brooklyn.  I thought only Charlie Kaufman could come up with such stuff! No offense to B. McLeod, but I find it humorous that someone would confuse me with someone of with a Scotch/Irish designation.  That’s priceless.  :) 

Okay, off to have an interesting (albeit, not necessarily non-confrontational) conversation with my three-year old.  At least she knows her mom.

(did I spell anything wrong?)

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Barrister
Jul 23, 2009 7:31 PM CST

Me? Boastful? Pardon for a moment as I quote OTHER participants, equally fed up with your inane bluster that makes its way to EVERY message board.

<< Posted by Tired of McLeod - 2 days, 1 hour, 37 minutes ago

1993 - that’s right around the time you graduated from the elite Western New England School of Law, isn’t it, McLeod?  Please keep posting your infinite wisdom here and on your ridiculous website.>>

<>

Turning back to basic deductive reasoning, wouldn’t choosing not to speak of or publish cases one has successfully litigated be a sign to the objective person that one is NOT being boastful? Where on an ABA message board is there time to waste billable hours thumping my chest over doing what I am PAID to? We’re lawyers B. McLeod and unlike the mythical TV stereotypes you present us to be, we don’t spend every idle second discussing the mundane, the required and the ordinary with each other.

You malign lawyers as enjoying an “elevated social status” yet you pine for me to elevate you to the very status you disparage as less than special.  Contradictions much? Or in keeping with your requirement of legalese in every conversation, “prior inconsistent statements” often?

B. McLeod, your schtick is tiresome, meddlesome and reeks of layperson wannabe. I have work to do during the day, I’m on the clock, I can’t hold your hand on every message board thread reassuring you that all of us find you more than the unmitigated bore and message board troll that you are.

What makes me wonder whether to laugh or pause for a moment of silence on your behalf is why this means so much to you. If you WERE a practitioner it wouldn’t.

Forgive me for lending my voice to the growing chorus of lawyers who tire of your antics, misguided and inaccurate “expertise” and daily meanderings. I stand corrected.

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B. McLeod
Jul 24, 2009 11:52 PM CST

Wait, wait (forgetting my own point re. civility).  I meant, “go cook me up some fries, please.”

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