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3,100 legal-services jobs are added in February

The legal services sector gained 3,100 jobs in February after losing 1,800 jobs in January, according to seasonally adjusted numbers released on Friday. The legal services sector employed 1,121,300 people in February, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s the highest amount since last August, but it’s 500 fewer…

Mar 9, 2015 9:45 AM CDT

Which 5 law firms made Fortune’s list of best places to work?

Five law firms earned spots on Fortune magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For. The same law firms made the list last year, along with a sixth, Bingham McCutchen, which “recently went bust,” Above the Law points out. Among the others, Cooley gained the most in the…

Mar 9, 2015 5:45 AM CDT

National labor firm raids Littler and Ogletree, opens new offices in Denver and New York

Atlanta-based Constangy Brooks & Smith has raided two well-known labor and employment firms and some BigLaw competitors, gaining 12 attorneys, two new offices and an additional name partner in the process. Don Prophete, who practices in Kansas City, will be the new name on the marquee for the nearly 160-attorney…

Mar 5, 2015 1:50 PM CST

Former prosecutor claims she was paid less than new hires due to gender bias

A former assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, claims in a lawsuit that she was fired after complaining she was paid less than some new hires with less experience. Christina Corda says she began to complain to her supervisor in March 2014 about the low salary paid to her…

Mar 5, 2015 10:33 AM CST

A 24/7 job? It’s reality when you chair a global law firm; Ambien, exercise and Zen may help

The job of a global law firm leader has always been demanding, but never so much as today. That’s the conclusion of the American Lawyer (sub. req.), which talked to lawyers running global law firms for insights into the workload. “While a previous generation of firm leaders had to juggle…

Mar 5, 2015 5:45 AM CST

Top state court rebuffs judge’s constitutional challenge to moonlighting ban

For years, a number of Pennsylvania judges have held paid side positions as bank directors. But a revision last year of state judicial ethics rules banned the practice. As recommended by the ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct, the state now says a judge “”shall not serve as an officer,…

Mar 4, 2015 3:40 PM CST

Police award helped teen offender reinvent himself as a future law student

Once a high-school dropout and known marijuana dealer, Jonathan Reynolds, didn’t appear to be destined for career success. Despite his record as a convicted felon, the 21-year-old is now about to graduate from college and expects to start law school in August at the University of South Carolina, reports the…

Mar 4, 2015 3:10 PM CST

Some GrayRobinson lawyers give up traditional desks and keep it moving

Woody Pollack was thinking that a better desk chair might resolve his lower back issues. But then the GrayRobinson partner got a better idea: Why not simply eliminate the desk in his law office? He now uses a hydraulic table that can be raised and lowered and allows him to…

Mar 4, 2015 1:35 PM CST

How can attorneys get help without harming their careers? (podcast with transcript)

With such a stressful profession, many attorneys face addiction and other mental health issues. If you find yourself struggling–or know another lawyer who is–what resources are out there? In this month’s Asked and Answered, the ABA Journal’s Stephanie Francis Ward speaks with Patrick Krill of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s legal professionals program to find out more.

Mar 2, 2015 8:50 AM CST

Former partner with Asperger’s alleges bonus bias, solicitation of prostitutes by colleague

A former law firm partner with Asperger’s syndrome alleges in a lawsuit that his firm, Patterson & Sheridan, failed to curb discriminatory actions by one partner while overlooking the conduct of another who solicited prostitutes while at the office. The plaintiff, John Carey, worked at the Palo Alto, California, office…

Mar 2, 2015 6:15 AM CST

Why lead guitarist of Blind Melon left music for labor and employment law

As the guitarist for alternative rock band Blind Melon, Rogers Stevens spent years headlining venues and festivals around the world, recording albums and living his childhood dream.

Mar 1, 2015 6:19 AM CST

Ethics opinion: It’s OK to ‘practice’ after selling a law practice to assist in the transition

For many decades, ethics rules in the United States prohibited lawyers from selling any part of their law practices other than physical assets such as furniture, office equipment and books. That prohibition encompassed the intangible value of the lawyer’s “goodwill” —essentially, his or her clients. As a result, those clients were often left to fend for themselves when their lawyer retired, died, became a judge or otherwise left practice.

Mar 1, 2015 6:16 AM CST

Law partner creates SheStarts, a group to help female entrepreneurs

Women starting companies just don't get the breaks men do.

According to a 2014 Babson College study, startups with women on their executive team are three times more likely to get venture capital funding now than 15 years ago. However, 85 percent of businesses that received venture capital had no women on their executive team. Overall, startups with female chief execs got only 2.7 percent of investments.

Mar 1, 2015 6:15 AM CST

Glut of best-lawyer lists has marketers asking whether they’re worth the trouble

Everyone loves to win awards—which is why so many have been created to provide the recognition attorneys believe they deserve. Unfortunately, awards, rankings and "best of" lists have achieved such a critical mass that some of the pros responsible for touting their attorney recipients have begun to question whether they are the equivalent of all-inclusive soccer trophies for 12-year-olds.

Mar 1, 2015 6:14 AM CST

Why you should do your own legwork before putting your trust in a client

I was raised to be a naive and trusting person. This is not a good mindset for a lawyer. People sometimes lie, and being cautiously skeptical is a good thing. Being lied to is unpleasant, but it is much worse when the liar is your client, because those lies might get you sanctioned or disbarred. So the first rule of good lawyering is: Don't trust your client until you know he or she is telling the truth. I'll tell you about one of my first clients, and you'll see why I made up my mind to become a skeptic instead of a believer.

Mar 1, 2015 6:11 AM CST