Careers

These BigLaw firms gained and lost the highest percentage of lawyers this year

Among the nation’s top 200 law firms, Irell & Manella lost the highest percentage of lawyers so far this year while Greenspoon Marder gained the most. Irell & Manella lost 27 percent of its lawyers, spurred by the departure of a 30-lawyer team that formed a boutique law firm, the…

Oct 15, 2015 7:03 AM CDT

Law grad seeks to take the bar exam despite conviction for sex-related offenses in 1998

A former Army officer is urging the Ohio Supreme Court to allow him to take the bar exam despite the fact that he was convicted by a military court after trying to set up meetings for sex with underage girls. The court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in the case…

Oct 15, 2015 6:15 AM CDT

Fired prosecutor sues in effort to get Dallas DA removed from office

A fired Texas prosecutor has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state against her former boss, seeking to remove Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk from office. Filed Tuesday, the Dallas County District Court petition by former administrative chief Cindy Stormer cites claimed incompetence by Hawk to perform the…

Oct 14, 2015 2:20 PM CDT

Jobless lawyer is accused of robbing bank; his mother thought he was applying for work

A Pennsylvania lawyer accused of robbing a bank told a judge on Tuesday that he hasn’t worked in months and is responsible for the care of his disabled mother. Lawyer Steven Cormier, 57, of Nesquehoning, said he has been a lawyer for more than 30 years, WNEP reports. His mother,…

Oct 14, 2015 6:55 AM CDT

Lawyer opens up about his criminal past as a heroin dealer

Manhattan criminal defense lawyer Allan Haber wants to deliver a message of hope to criminals who think their record makes it impossible for them to succeed. Haber, 75, was once a heroin dealer who has 10 convictions on his record, including three drug-related felonies, the New York Times reports. Haber…

Oct 14, 2015 5:45 AM CDT

County’s judges and public defenders are sued over alleged inadequate representation

Seven individuals have sued an Indiana county, contending that its public defender services are inadequate. Among other issues, the suit alleges, each Johnson County public defender is supervised by an individual judge, which compromises the public defenders’ independence, Courthouse News reports. Also at issue are what the suit describes as…

Oct 13, 2015 2:35 PM CDT

Milberg says it is ‘streamlining its infrastructure’; how many are being laid off?

Milberg is laying off staffers amid a slowdown in litigation tied to the 2008 financial downturn. The securities class action law firm notified the New York Department of Labor on Sept. 29 that it was planning to lay off 32 employees, the Am Law Daily reports. Tipsters told Above the…

Oct 9, 2015 8:26 AM CDT

Dallas County DA talks about her two-month absence and untreated depression

Dallas County District Attorney Susan Hawk says she refuses to be ashamed about her battle with major depressive disorder. Hawk is back on the job after a two-month stay at a psychiatric hospital in Houston where she received treatment for depression, anxiety and attention deficit disorder. She spoke with the…

Oct 8, 2015 8:07 AM CDT

Bar applicant’s litigation conduct, ‘personal attacks and invective’ are cited in law license denial

A law grad who passed the Massachusetts bar exam in 2008 was initially deemed qualified for a law license, until three lawyers contacted the Board of Bar Examiners to report their concerns about his conduct in divorce litigation. The lawyers represented the wife of the bar applicant, Chandrakant Shridhar Pansé.…

Oct 8, 2015 5:45 AM CDT

Judge dismisses class action suit against Florida Coastal School of Law

A judge has dismissed a class action suit against a Florida law school whose alumni claimed they were misled about their job prospects after graduation. U.S. District Judge Brian J. Davis of Jacksonville held that the plaintiffs did not have a case against Florida Coastal School of Law under the…

Oct 7, 2015 5:20 PM CDT

Lawyer killed goat, drank its blood, and is running for US Senate

A 32-year old Orlando, Florida, lawyer who changed his name to Augustus Sol Invictus and won’t divulge his given name is running as a Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate, which prompted the recent resignation of the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Florida, who says Invictus wants to start…

Oct 6, 2015 2:30 PM CDT

High-profile lawyer who acted as ‘paymaster’ for client gives up his law license

An Atlanta lawyer who has represented several high-profile clients has agreed to give up his law license in connection with his actions as “paymaster” for a client. The lawyer, Tony Axam, has represented civil rights leader Julian Bond and former NFL linebacker Ray Lewis, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. The Legal…

Oct 6, 2015 8:26 AM CDT

Legal services sector adds 4,700 jobs

The legal services sector added 4,700 jobs in September. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 1.125 million legal services jobs in September, the Am Law Daily (sub. req.) reports. The seasonally adjusted number represents about 7,300 more legal services jobs than in September 2014. Newly adjusted numbers…

Oct 5, 2015 10:06 AM CDT

Which practice areas are going to be the most lucrative in the future? (podcast with transcript)

The market for legal jobs may be getting better, but it’s still not great. That being said, are there specific practice areas that need more attorneys to serve current and future needs? In this month's episode of Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal's Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with a legal search consultant to find out what the best prospects are for a long-term, successful legal career.

Oct 5, 2015 10:00 AM CDT

Real-estate law firm plans 150 layoffs, will close its title company

A Florida real-estate law firm known for its foreclosure practice says it plans to lay off approximately 150 workers and close its title company operation. However, the Law Offices of Daniel C. Consuegra will continue in business, reports the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The planned layoffs were announced to the…

Oct 1, 2015 1:10 PM CDT