Careers

Law Grad Turns to Cupcake Truck as Economy Sputters

Studying at New York Law School helped prepare Lev Ekster for his next career, albeit not the one he was expecting. During his many study breaks at a downtown bakery, it occurred to Ekster to wonder “Why can’t a cupcake come to me?” From that moment of inspiration, a post-law…

May 22, 2009 7:03 PM CDT

PD’s Book About Her Cases & Her Kids Shows Why She Went to Work

When Claudia Trupp had a cancer scare, the New York appellate public defender decided to author a book. Written between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m.. for six months, as her husband, who is also an attorney, kept the coffee coming, it was initially intended for her children. “I wrote it…

May 22, 2009 5:24 PM CDT

In One Month’s Time, Clifford Chance Loses Five US Partners

A mergers and acquisitions lawyer who is leaving the New York office of Clifford Chance is the fifth U.S. partner to exit the law firm this month. David Bernstein is leaving the firm to join K&L Gates, Legal Week reports. He previously headed the M&A group and corporate department at…

May 22, 2009 3:55 PM CDT

Lewis Brisbois Is Flooded with Top-Notch Job-Seekers

Los Angeles-based law firm Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith sees at least one new resumé every day, and the firm is attracting graduates of top law schools—despite its $85,000 starting pay. “It’s good to be a hiring partner at Lewis Brisbois,” writes Legal Pad. Los Angeles partner John Barber tells…

May 22, 2009 3:00 PM CDT

Panelists Trade Barbs at Debate on Work Ethic of Millennial Generation

Are members of the Millennial generation self-entitled and lazy? Or are they energetic, aware and forging a new path so they won’t have to sacrifice their families for a career? The Wall Street Journal Law Blog highlights the debate—and the conflicts—that emerged at a panel discussion last month at InsideCounsel…

May 22, 2009 1:35 PM CDT

More Lawyers Form Their Own Firms, Despite the Financial Sacrifice

Evidence is mounting that more lawyers are striking out on their own, even if it means lower pay and higher risk. Martindale-Hubbell listings are one indication of the trend. In the last 11 months, the number of new law firms it tracked rose 2.7 percent, the American Lawyer reports. In…

May 22, 2009 1:32 PM CDT

Sweeping Sonnenschein Pay Plan Eliminates Lockstep, Offers ‘Flexibility’

Joining a few other major firms that have recently made similar announcements—and perhaps going beyond their programs—Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal has announced a sweeping plan to reconfigure the firm’s relationship with its associates. It includes but is not limited to across-the-board cuts, at least initially, in associate pay and a…

May 21, 2009 9:23 PM CDT

Fish Firm Defers 1/3 of Incoming Class, Tells 1/3 More to Look for Another Job

After layoffs earlier this month of 35 attorneys and 85 staff, a major intellectual property boutique is now extending the pain to its incoming class of new associates. About one third of its incoming first-years will start on time this fall, Fish & Richardson tells Above the Law in a…

May 21, 2009 6:46 PM CDT

Morris Manning Axes Fall Interviews—and 2010 Summer Program

It doesn’t look like the economy is likely to improve significantly anytime soon. So Morris Manning & Martin is eliminating on-campus law school interviews this fall, “which of course means that we do not plan to have a formal summer program next summer,” writes managing partner Robert Saudek in an…

May 21, 2009 5:23 PM CDT

Male Judges Advise Women Lawyers to Lose the Distracting ‘Ally McBeal’ Look

Women lawyers tempted to go to court looking like Ally McBeal should take note: Male judges find the look distracting. At a panel session during the Seventh Circuit Bar Association, two male judges confessed that they can’t help but look. A National Law Journal reporter attended the session and reported…

May 21, 2009 1:46 PM CDT

Failed Merger Splits Las Vegas Firm, Top Partners Lead Group to Greenberg Traurig

Three top partners are leaving one of the largest law firms in Las Vegas and leading a group to Greenberg Traurig in the wake of an apparent failed merger, according to the Las Vegas Sun and the Am Law Daily. Founding partners Thomas Kummer and Mark Ferrario and chairman Michael…

May 20, 2009 11:48 PM CDT

Forced to Choose, Rutgers Adjunct Opts for Client Over Teaching Gig

Conflict-of-interest rules apply not only to lawyers in practice, but to law professors—including in-practice attorneys teaching only a single course, an adjunct professor at a state law school in New Jersey has learned to her dismay. So, forced to choose between a client and her $1,325-per-credit gig teaching an international…

May 20, 2009 9:09 PM CDT

Federal Judge David Winder Dies, Renowned for Kindness & Fairness

A retired federal judge renowned for his kindness, hard work and fairness in the courtroom died yesterday after a long illness. David Winder, a former chief judge of the U.S. District Court in Utah, was 76 years old. Asked by a juror after a complex intellectual property rights case had…

May 20, 2009 6:45 PM CDT

Reed Smith Cuts Associate Pay 10%; New Hires Could Take Bigger Hit

Associates at Reed Smith will be seeing an across-the board 10 percent pay cut beginning July 1. The law firm says in an internal memo that global economic conditions, changing client demands “and the competitive landscape in the legal industry” have already forced reductions in partner pay. “Sound business operations”…

May 20, 2009 6:05 PM CDT

Skadden Executive Partner: New Defection Shows Firm Is Talent Incubator

The executive partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is putting a positive spin on the firm’s latest partner loss. D.J. “Jan” Baker is leaping to Latham & Watkins, where he will lead the firm’s restructuring practice, according to the New York Times DealBook blog. Baker recently led the…

May 20, 2009 1:52 PM CDT