Careers

‘Mad Rush’ of August Interviews May Contribute to Associate Attrition, Law Dean Says

Northwestern University law dean David Van Zandt says he’s concerned about the “mad rush” of August on-campus interviews for summer associate positions. Worried about their competitors, law firms quickly snap up those with the highest grade point averages. Law students about to enter their second year of school have little…

Jul 27, 2010 10:30 AM CDT

Head of Dewey & LeBoeuf Palo Alto Office Leads 3-Partner Team to Kaye Scholer

Barely two years after joining Dewey & LeBoeuf, the managing partner of the firm’s East Palo Alto office is leaping to the nearby Menlo Park, Calif., office of Kaye Scholer. Barbara Caulfield is leading a three-partner team to her new firm, all of whom have an intellectual property focus, reports…

Jul 27, 2010 12:10 AM CDT

Well-Known Lawyer Gets 8 Years in Fiduciary Fraud Involving Millions of Dollars

A well-known South Florida forensic accountant and attorney made a tearful apology in federal court in Miami on Friday before being sentenced to eight years for stealing millions, much of it from the accounts of individuals he oversaw as a court-appointed fiduciary. Lewis Freeman, 61, received 270 letters of support,…

Jul 26, 2010 6:35 PM CDT

One-Month Interview Delay Is ‘Bold New Move’ for Northwestern Law School and Jones Day

Updated: Northwestern and Jones Day have decided to do something about the much-criticized process of holding on-campus interviews for summer associates in August before their second year of law school. In a “bold new move,” Jones Day will visit the campus a month later, according to a Northwestern press release.…

Jul 26, 2010 3:44 PM CDT

BigLaw Mentoring Gap Is Growing, Retired Partner Says

Steven Harper recalls the time he was a third-year associate preparing for his first jury trial. A partner helped him craft his opening statements without worrying about lost billable hours. That kind of help is in shorter supply today, according to Harper, an adjunct professor at Northwestern University who recently…

Jul 26, 2010 12:24 PM CDT

Lawyer’s Multiple Disability Claims Irk Targeted Businesses in Calif. City

A San Diego lawyer has irritated business owners in the town of Redlands, Calif., by sending out letters on behalf of clients demanding $6,500 settlements for claimed violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and related state law. Attorney James Mason says he represents two disabled veterans who don’t live…

Jul 23, 2010 5:31 PM CDT

25% of 2009 Grads in Temp Jobs; Few Actually Earn $72K Pay Median, NALP Says

NALP is sounding a cautionary note about new salary figures for 2009 law grads that show the median annual pay for those who were working full-time in all reported jobs was $72,000 and the average was $93,454. NALP, which calls itself the Association for Career Professionals, explains in a press…

Jul 23, 2010 1:21 PM CDT

Citing Public Policy, Wis. High Court Bars Reinstatement of Fired Menards Lawyer

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled 4-3 that the Menards home-improvement chain is not required to reinstate the company’s top in-house lawyer who was fired after complaining about her pay. The court ruled today that an arbitration decision requiring the company to reinstate Dawn Sands violates public policy, according to…

Jul 21, 2010 3:45 PM CDT

Summer Associate Hiring Plummets 44%, Survey Shows

A survey of 114 law firms chronicles the tough job market for summer associates, finding a 44 percent drop in the number hired this year. The law firms hired an average of 31 summer associates this year, down from 55 last year, the Am Law Daily reports. In raw numbers,…

Jul 21, 2010 12:22 PM CDT

A Funny Thing Happened to Alex Barnett’s Legal Career: In a Dismal Job Market, He’s Now a Comedian

Unemployment has had a humorous aspect for attorney Alex Barnett. Laid off by two law firms during 2008, the former class action plaintiffs lawyer now earns a paycheck by doing contract legal work for the city of New York. But his main gig is a new career launch as a…

Jul 21, 2010 12:38 AM CDT

Death of Reed Smith Practice Leader Struck by Train Ruled a Suicide

A senior partner at Reed Smith committed suicide last week, dying of multiple injuries after being struck by a commuter train in Chicago. Stewart Dolin was a corporate and securities partner who headed practice groups both at Reed Smith and, before it merged with Reed Smith, at Sachnoff and Weaver,…

Jul 20, 2010 11:40 PM CDT

Legal Job Hunters Should Tune in to Interviewer’s Personality, Recruiting Directors Say

Law students interviewing for law jobs need to show—and practice—their emotional intelligence by providing good answers to hypothetical questions and connecting with interviewers. Law firm interviewers are looking for candidates with interpersonal skills that can be used to foster client relationships, according to Alison Bernard and Niki Kopsidas, recruiting directors…

Jul 20, 2010 2:54 PM CDT

New SEC Disclosure Rules Take Toll on GC Bonuses; Average Drops Below $1M

The total average cash bonus for general counsel at Fortune 500 companies has dropped by 18 percent, to below $1 million, and new SEC disclosure rules may be partly to blame. The average cash bonus, a combination of traditional bonuses and nonequity incentive compensation, is $947,781, Corporate Counsel reports. Traditional…

Jul 20, 2010 1:36 PM CDT

Ex-White House Lawyer Accused of Murder Attempt Checks Out of Psychiatric Center

A former White House lawyer accused of attempted murder for allegedly beating his wife with a flashlight at their Connecticut home has checked himself out of a psychiatric facility. John Michael Farren finished the in-patient phase at the center and is staying with his sister and brother-in-law, his lawyer told…

Jul 20, 2010 1:00 PM CDT

Former Bingham Lawyer Publishes His 18th Novel

Richard North Patterson gave up a partnership at the firm now known as Bingham McCutchen to pursue a different career, and he makes more money than ever. Patterson went from the Securities and Exchange Commission to BigLaw to full-time writing, the Washington Post reports. “He’s the rare D.C. attorney who…

Jul 20, 2010 10:30 AM CDT