ABA Journal

Associate Advice: Start Early on Client Development, Stay Late at the Office

It’s never too early for new associates to start working on client development, according to an article written by a law firm partner. Thomas Coyne of Thompson Hine in Cleveland suggests in an article for the National Law Journal that associates join bar associations, publish articles and polish their public…

Jun 10, 2008 1:59 PM CDT

Lawyer Bans Opponent from Hotel in Hard-Fought IP Case

Concerned that sensitive documents might be delivered to the wrong legal counsel, a corporate client in a hard-fought federal case reportedly contracted with the hotel at which its own attorney was staying not to allow lawyers or staff from the opposing side to stay there, too. Then, when heavy-hitting Los…

Jun 9, 2008 8:46 PM CDT

Lawyers Defend Long-Distance Supervision of Overwhelmed Associate

Two lemon-law lawyers accused of failing to adequately supervise an overwhelmed associate faced skeptical judges on Maryland’s highest court on Friday. Lawyers Craig Kimmel and Robert Silverman of Pennsylvania, founders of the 1-800-Lemon-Law firm, said they supervised the Maryland associate through phone calls and e-mail, the Daily Record reports. Thirty-four…

Jun 9, 2008 5:15 PM CDT

South Florida Law Firm’s Website Worries Ethics Experts

A full-time adviser to the Miami-Dade County mayor in South Florida also happens to be a lawyer. And, on the website for Gazitua Letelier, the law firm of which Luis Andre Gazitua, 32, is a founding partner—at least until recently—was a photograph of Gazitua looking into downtown Miami from an…

Jun 9, 2008 4:35 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

Layoff Watch: Ballard Spahr, Blank Rome, Reed Smith Shed Lawyers, Staff

Three more law firms have fired or laid off employees, but only one attributed the reason to the economic downturn. According to the Legal Intelligencer, the law firms are: • Blank Rome, which cut nine associates after their annual reviews. Six were from Philadelphia, two were from New York and…

Jun 5, 2008 11:15 AM CDT

The Dress Code Debate: Pantyhose and Flip-Flops

Worried about discussing dress codes with the employees who work for you? The Association of Corporate Counsel has an option in the form of a free phone message entitled: Flip-Flops at Work? Not for Everyone. The message will help educate employees about dress code guidelines, according to the Fulton County…

Jun 5, 2008 10:46 AM CDT

Judge Blasts Proposed Code Change as Promoting ‘Homosexual Agenda’

An Oklahoma judge has taken aim at what he calls the “liberal, pro-homosexual American Bar Association” in a letter opposing a change in the state’s judicial conduct code. Judge Bill Graves of Oklahoma County used that phrase to describe the ABA in a letter opposing a proposed anti-bias amendment to…

Jun 4, 2008 2:51 PM CDT

Law Grad Who Dissed Courts Loses Appeal Over Denied Law License

Updated: A federal appeals court has tossed a civil rights and First Amendment claim filed by a law graduate who claims he was denied a law license because of his disdain for the Michigan justice system and his complaints about members of a bar and fitness committee who mentioned his…

Jun 4, 2008 2:03 PM CDT

E-Discovery Disclosure Goof Waived Attorney-Client Privilege, Judge Rules

A federal magistrate in Baltimore has ruled a company sued for infringement has no attorney-client privilege in 165 documents mistakenly turned over to its opponent in e-discovery. The documents included several communications between the company Creative Pipe Inc. and its lawyers. U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Paul Grimm ruled Creative Pipe…

Jun 4, 2008 11:12 AM CDT

Up to 10 New Law Schools Planned; How Many Are Too Many?

As many as 10 new law schools are at least on the drawing board, if not in more advanced stages, most of them in the eastern United States. “While their proponents insist that the schools will serve the needs of their communities and beyond, the plans are drawing sharp criticism…

Jun 3, 2008 7:02 PM CDT

Hottie Lawyers Calendar Would Benefit Boston Legal Services

Attention hottie Massachusetts lawyers: A Boston lawyer is looking for you. Lawyer Howie Altholtz, who is marketing director for Ruberto, Israel & Weiner, wants to produce a “Beautiful Lawyers Calendar” to help benefit Greater Boston Legal Services, the Boston Business Journal reports. Part of the proceeds would also go to…

Jun 3, 2008 1:45 PM CDT

Spence’s No-Loss Record Stands with Fieger Acquittal

Geoffrey Fieger, whose confrontational style and sharp tongue are matched only by his outsized dollar awards from juries, got what amounts to the biggest verdict of his career today when a federal jury in Detroit acquitted him and a law partner of charges they made $127,000 in illegal political campaign…

Jun 2, 2008 10:38 PM CDT

Big Indy Firm Coming to Chicago, Plans 50-Lawyer Office

A more than 370-lawyer international law firm headquartered in Indianapolis is reportedly coming to Chicago in a big way. Baker & Daniels is establishing a presence in the Windy City with a seven-lawyer contingent from Schuyler Roche, and expects to have a 50-lawyer Chicago office in the near future, according…

Jun 2, 2008 10:34 PM CDT

Firm’s ‘Ever Argue With a Woman?’ Ad Provokes Debate on Stereotypes

Updated: Do men and women argue differently? And does that make a difference in the way they work as lawyers? That’s the suggestion of an ad by a women-owned Buffalo, N.Y., law firm that is attracting notice. Its headline: “Ever Argue With a Woman?” The ad touts the strengths of…

Jun 2, 2008 11:28 AM CDT