Opening Statements

Letting It All Hang Out

Alexander Lee is dedicating his professional life to airing out laundry. Clean laundry—not that other stuff.

Jan 2, 2010 4:00 AM CST

In June 2006, Reno, Nev., judge Chuck Weller was shot in the chest by a disgruntled litigant in a divorce case assigned to him. Earlier that same day, it was discovered, the judge’s assailant had murdered his ex-wife.

Jan 2, 2010 3:50 AM CST

Worth the Work?

Percentage of law school admissions officers at 152 ABA-accredited law schools who say that legal internships and jobs help candidates in the admissions process. Great advantage ……………. 4% Some advantage ………….. 36% No advantage at all ………….. 20% Source: 2009 Kaplan Inc. law school admissions survey.

Jan 2, 2010 3:40 AM CST

What, GC Worry?

What are the top concerns of corporate counsel now? Reducing outside legal spending ……………. 80.5% Compliance work ……………. 78.2% Staffing/work levels with fewer resources ……………. 60.3% Keeping management apprised of legal developments ……………. 60.0% Staying current about changes in the law ……………. 54.1% Source: 2009 Association of Corporate Counsel/Serengeti Managing…

Jan 2, 2010 3:30 AM CST

That’s Hot. And That’s Not.

Bankruptcy practices continue to be hot, with demand for bankruptcy lawyers’ services growing 18 percent in the first nine months of 2009. Litigation continues to show signs of life, with demand increasing by nearly 2 percent during that time. Transactional practices continue their downward demand spirals. Merger and acquisition practices…

Jan 2, 2010 3:20 AM CST

History Fix for “Shoeless” Joe?

Maybe it ain’t so, Joe.

For 90 years the reputation of Chicago White Sox outfielder “Shoeless” Joe Jackson has been tarnished by the belief that he and seven of his teammates threw the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati Reds. The Black Sox scandal was seemingly validated by Eliot Asinof’s historical account, Eight Men Out.

Dec 2, 2009 4:59 AM CST

Going to the Dogs—in a Good Way

If Duval County, Fla., Judge Emmet Ferguson has his way, there will be a dog in every courthouse across the country.

“Dogs put smiles on people’s faces, and there usually aren’t a lot of smiles in a courthouse,” says Ferguson, who works out of Jacksonville.

Dec 2, 2009 4:49 AM CST

By the Numbers

88 law firms were among 305 businesses achieving perfect scores on this year’s Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index. 2006 was the first year the CEI measured law firms for practices and policies that are supportive of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals, and only 12 achieved a perfect…

Dec 2, 2009 4:39 AM CST

How Many Postal Workers Does It Take ...

If this sounds like the start of a bad joke, please forgive Philadelphia writer Leigh Deveres for filling in the punch line.

Dec 2, 2009 4:29 AM CST

The Stamp of Justice

Looking for that special something to jazz up your holiday cards? How about the mugs of Associate Justices Joseph Story, Louis D. Brandeis, Felix Frankfurter or William J. Brennan Jr.? This fall the United States Postal Service introduced a set of commemorative stamps honoring these justices. At 44 cents each,…

Dec 2, 2009 4:19 AM CST

DP Does a Double-Take

M.E. Hart doesn’t mind if he’s become something of a joke on the Internet. It just means that his message is getting out.

Dec 2, 2009 4:09 AM CST

Coming to America

So much for the Honeymoon. Rati Sud had barely stepped off the plane after a 17-hour flight from India when her new husband allegedly punched her and pushed her off the bed for refusing his demands for sex.

It was all downhill from there.

Dec 2, 2009 3:59 AM CST

Come On, Get Happy

There always have been legions of disaffected and unhappy lawyers. Few, however, thought there were any alternative ways of practicing law that might change their outlook.

Dec 2, 2009 3:49 AM CST

Baghdad Law

Tom Donovan’s firm seems to be perched on the rim of the apocalypse. Sandstorms can turn the noonday sky black and knock out the law firm’s connection to a communications satellite. Routine trips outside of Baghdad’s International Zone require a security escort to the tune of $6,000 a day.

Dec 2, 2009 3:39 AM CST

Court Jester

Whether you learned about Clarence Darrow from the fictionalized film Inherit the Wind or from more accurate historical sources, certain characteristics probably come to mind when you hear his name: tireless opponent of the death penalty, champion of the working poor, great orator. Comedian, however, is probably not one of…

Nov 2, 2009 3:40 AM CST

Letting It All Hang Out

Wringing Truth from Tragedy

Worth the Work?

What, GC Worry?

That’s Hot. And That’s Not.

History Fix for “Shoeless” Joe?

Going to the Dogs—in a Good Way

By the Numbers

How Many Postal Workers Does It Take ...

The Stamp of Justice

DP Does a Double-Take

Coming to America

Come On, Get Happy

Baghdad Law

Court Jester

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