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Slain Divorce Lawyer Represented Ex-Wife of Dead Gunman, Had Expected to Retire from Practice Today

A 62-year-old divorce lawyer reportedly shot to death in his Yuma, Ariz., law office this morning represented the ex-wife of the man authorities say was responsible for five fatal shootings in and around the city today. Jerrold Shelley was in the process of packing up his law office, expecting to…

Jun 3, 2011 12:17 AM CDT

Divorce Attorney Shot at Law Office Among 5 People Reportedly Killed in Yuma, Ariz.

An Arizona attorney whose general practice included criminal and family law matters was among five people shot and killed today in Yuma, Ariz. A sixth individual was wounded. Jerrold Shelley, 62, was slain at his downtown law office, reports the On Deadline blog of USA Today. The New York Times…

Jun 2, 2011 9:03 PM CDT

Ex-Prosecutor Beats Rap on 4th DWI, Will Keep Law License, After Police Ticket-Fix Scandal Exposed

A New York attorney who formerly served as a prosecutor in the Bronx was found not guilty in a felony drunken driving case today by a Bronx Supreme Court jury. If convicted of driving while intoxicated, Stephen Lopresti could have lost his law license. He has three prior DWI convictions…

Jun 2, 2011 6:15 PM CDT

Are You Building a Firm to Survive the Ages?

I read Jay Shepherd’s blog post announcing that he was shutting down Shepherd Law Group after 13 years of operation in order to pursue a consulting business he had created to help lawyers and others price their work. Jay, as almost everyone knows, is a committed value pricer. He has…

Jun 2, 2011 4:03 PM CDT

White House Counsel Bob Bauer Resigns; Top Deputy Will Replace Him

White House counsel Bob Bauer is resigning, but he will still be advising President Obama. Bauer will return to private practice in June at Perkins Coie, where he will serve as general counsel for Obama’s re-election campaign and as the president’s personal lawyer, report the Associated Press and CNN. Bauer…

Jun 2, 2011 3:48 PM CDT

Why the Attorney General of Massachusetts Has Giraffes on Her Desk

Desks say a lot about the people who work there, feng shui experts say. So why does Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley have giraffe figurines on her desk? Coakley explains in a Boston Globe story about desks and the things people put there. Coakley has always liked giraffes, and they…

Jun 2, 2011 3:35 PM CDT

Overpaid? 4,300 Government Lawyers Make More Money than Governors, Report Says

A senator who wants to cut the pay of federal employees to reduce the deficit has gathered some ammunition with a new report on the pay of lawyers and others who work for the government. According to statistics requested by Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., about 77,000 federal employees made more…

Jun 2, 2011 11:50 AM CDT

More Trouble for ‘Tax Lady’ as IRS Hits Her With $183K Lien, But 70 Independent Franchises Stay Open

A California attorney known as the “tax lady” faces a new issue: The Internal Revenue Service has filed a lien contending that she owes $183,000. Although Roni Deutch’s troubles have put her into receivership, 70 independent franchises in 23 states have been allowed to continue in business under her name,…

Jun 1, 2011 6:43 PM CDT

California’s Best Best & Krieger Acquires DC Telecom Boutique

Best Best & Krieger is opening a Washington, D.C., office through the acquisition of Miller & Van Eaton, a boutique telecommunications law firm based in the District. Six lawyers from Miller & Van Eaton will join Best Best & Krieger effective July 1, according to a press release. The D.C.…

Jun 1, 2011 2:14 PM CDT

A Record Low for 2010 Law Grads: Only 68% Have Jobs Requiring Bar Passage

Law graduates in the class of 2010 have set a new record, and it’s not a good one. Only 68.4 percent of 2010 grads were able to land a job requiring bar passage, the lowest percentage since the legal career professionals group NALP began collecting statistics. Another 10.7 percent have…

Jun 1, 2011 12:57 PM CDT

Ex-Chicago Mayor Daley Joins Katten Muchin

Former Chicago Mayor Richard Daley will be joining Katten Muchin Rosenman. Daley will be of counsel to the firm, the Chicago Tribune reports, citing a press release. He will not participate in work involving the city or its affiliated agencies. Daley said he had offers from several prominent law firms,…

Jun 1, 2011 11:08 AM CDT

Dirty Dozen: 12 Ways to Write a Really Bad Brief

It was one of those great brainstorming sessions that you can never plan but that sometimes just happen. I was talking with Chris Lutz, a partner in the litigation department at Steptoe and Johnson in Washington, D.C., about legal writing, and the discussion settled on bad briefs. How many ways…

Jun 1, 2011 6:50 AM CDT

The Big Apple’s Cowgirl: Ag Lawyer Finds Success in NYC

Cari Rinckler has expertise as a livestock judge and big plans for her solo firm. Photo by Len Irish Cari Rincker may be the only lawyer in New York City who gets the Angus Journal mailed to her apartment and posts updates on Twitter about livestock (she’s @CariRincker). “She’s the…

Jun 1, 2011 6:09 AM CDT

Lawyers Giving Back

Know someone in the legal field who gets a charge out of helping others? Snap a photo at their next event and please submit them to Julie Brown c/o Lawyers Giving Back. We welcome your “action” photographs of lawyers – whether ABA members or not – giving back to their…

Jun 1, 2011 5:30 AM CDT

Law Students Facing Final Exams Share Common Anxiety Dream with Others, Including Long-Ago Grads

For law students and others who may think that graduation will release them from a common form of anxiety, the Oregonian has bad news: Dream on. Nightmares about failing an exam because you forgot about the test, didn’t study for it or forgot to attend the class are a common…

May 31, 2011 11:52 PM CDT