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3 Law Firms Open New Offices in Southern States

Three law firms have announced that they are opening new offices in southern states: Cleveland-based McDonald Hopkins is bringing in a onetime general counsel to a former Florida governor to head its new Miami office, reports Crain’s Cleveland Business. Raquel “Rocky” Rodriguez, who served in the administration of ex-Gov. Jeb…

Apr 26, 2011 9:06 PM CDT

William Chandler, Chief Judge of Delaware Chancery Court, to Retire After 25 Years on Bench

The chief judge of what may be the nation’s most renowned business court has announced his retirement after 25 years on the Delaware Chancery Court bench. Chief Judge William B. Chandler III, who is now 60, says it is time to move on and pursue other opportunities in corporate law…

Apr 25, 2011 9:59 PM CDT

Inspired by Son’s Description of Law Classes, Dad Pursues Degree at Rutgers, Too

Updated: It isn’t unusual for a son or daughter to follow a parent into law practice, even attending the same law school. But Bill Popovich and his son have followed that program in reverse. Talking with his son, also named Bill Popovich, about what he’d learned every day in classes…

Apr 25, 2011 9:37 PM CDT

Ex-Associate Sues Quarles & Brady, Alleges Firm Gave Minorities Harsher Evaluations

A former associate at Quarles & Brady in Phoenix contends in a lawsuit that the law firm was more critical of minorities than whites and gave better work to nonminorities. The suit by Luis Ramírez claims that after he complained about discrimination, he was blackballed from work for some clients,…

Apr 25, 2011 1:18 PM CDT

Are You the Type that Likes to Run with Scissors? McKenna Long Has a Test to Exclude You

McKenna Long & Aldridge noticed a difference between the way it was hiring new lawyers and the way its corporate clients hired top employees, and decided to do something about it. “We found that six 30-minute interviews and a lunch are not the norm in their processes for hiring candidates…

Apr 22, 2011 12:21 PM CDT

New 2nd-Career Option for at Least One Lawyer: Kate Middleton Lookalike

The impending London wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton has created new career opportunities for a lucky few who happen to resemble the royal couple. For those who wish to cash in, there’s money to be made by maximizing the similarities and taking gigs as lookalikes, the Wall Street…

Apr 21, 2011 9:02 PM CDT

UVa to Pay Bar Review Expenses for Law Grads Who Are Unemployed

For law graduates who don’t yet have jobs lined up, the University of Virginia is trying to eliminate a potential financial obstacle to getting licensed to practice. It will pay up to $500 in bar application costs and $1,500 in bar review expenses, reports Virginia Law Weekly. Hat tip: Above…

Apr 21, 2011 7:32 PM CDT

Want to Be a Legal Star? Be Willing to Take Risks, Set Goals and Network

The most successful lawyers aren’t reclusive, and they aren’t afraid to take risks, a legal search consultant says. Legal recruiter Michael D’Amore, founder of Attorney Career Catalysts, interviewed managing partners, general counsel, lawyers and business executives to develop a list of the 10 traits of the most successful lawyers. He…

Apr 21, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

To Expand Client Base, Atlanta Lawyer Joins Singer Toni Braxton’s Family-Oriented Reality Show

An Atlanta attorney appearing in a promotional teaser for a recently launched reality show has already garnered the attention of prospective clients. Antavius M. Weems is raising his profile through his involvement with a reality show centering on Grammy award-winning singer Toni Braxton and her family. Weems, who represented Braxton…

Apr 20, 2011 8:13 PM CDT

King & Spalding to Be Paid Up to $520 an Hour to Defend Marriage Law

King & Spalding will be paid up to $500,000 to defend the federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriages. Leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives hired the law firm after the Justice Department declined to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in court challenges, Politico reports. Former U.S. solicitor…

Apr 20, 2011 5:57 PM CDT

Law Firms Should Follow Army’s Lead, Try Resilience Training, Psych Expert Says

Large law firms would be well-advised take the lead from the Army, which is training its recruits in resilience skills, according to a lawyer who teaches positive psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. Writing at the Careerist blog, lawyer and professor Dan Bowling says the Army’s efforts should get lawyers’…

Apr 20, 2011 10:30 AM CDT

DLA Piper Promotes 53 Lawyers to Partner

DLA Piper has promoted 53 lawyers worldwide to partner, 17 of them in the United States. The number is higher than last year, when 41 lawyers were promoted to partner, and the same as 2009, when 53 were promoted, the Am Law Daily reports. A press release has the complete…

Apr 19, 2011 5:17 PM CDT

Most of Joseph Flom’s Millions Will Go to Charity

Joseph Flom’s multimillion-dollar estate will go mostly to charitable causes. Joseph Flom, a name partner at Skadden Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, died in February at the age of 87. He was the firm’s first associate in 1948, and he went on to lead the law firm. Flom’s will gives…

Apr 19, 2011 2:08 PM CDT

New Parents at O’Melveny Get Free Life-Transitions Coach

O’Melveny & Myers is helping new parents transition back to their legal work by providing a free life- transitions coach. O’Melveny officially launched its “Momentum One” initiative on Friday after trying it out in a pilot program last year, the Recorder reports. Coaches from AbilTo will work with associates, partners…

Apr 19, 2011 1:03 PM CDT

New ‘JD Match’ to Help Law Firms Find Law Students to Interview; K&L Gates Giving Service a Tryout

Tired of the traditional on-campus law school interviewing process? A consultant may have the answer for some who would like to deal more directly with law firms and other legal employers seeking law students who want to apply for work. Bruce MacEwen has developed a JD Match program intended to…

Apr 19, 2011 12:26 AM CDT