Juice maker POM Wonderful has been under investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, a fact that is contained in publicly available court records that The National Law Journal was barred by a judge from publishing. Until now. At POM’s request,…

Juice maker POM Wonderful, which successfully sought a restraining order against The National Law JournaL to block the public of certain information in a suit involving the company, this afternoon will ask a judge to rescind the order. The National…

The American Academy in Berlin invites applications for its residential fellowships for the 2011–2012 as well as future academic years. The application deadline is October 1, 2010. Applications can be submitted online through the Academy’s website.The Academy welcomes emerging as well as established scholars, writers, and professionals who wish to engage in independent study in Berlin.

Peggy Ann Pascoe (obituary from mtstandard.com) <!—-> Peggy Ann Pascoe, 55, of Eugene, Ore., died Friday, July 23, 2010, of ovarian cancer. She was born on Oct. 18, 1954, in Butte to Jane and Frederick Arthur Pascoe Jr. She graduated from Butte High School in 1972. She earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Montana State

Having a long-running blog has brought me many blessings. Top of the list are the great connections I've forged with some of my readers, and their comments to my blog posts. 

I also tend to get a lot of comments from spammers. In the old days, the comments were kind of obvious so they were easy to pick out and delete, then the spammers became more clever. These days the spam comments are sometimes almost spiritual.

Here are a few that might inspire you to become a better person (these are copied exactly as they appeared in my in-box just before I deleted them):

• You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give. 

• I strictly recommend not to hold off until you earn enough amount of cash to buy different goods! You can get the loan or secured loan and feel yourself free. 

• I have been readed you blog. For me, it is so luck. Because of your excellent article remind me a lot of memories. Thank you so much.
  

• I received my first loan when I was a teenager and that helped my family a lot. However, I require the commercial loan again.

Having a long-running blog has brought me many blessings. Top of the list are the great connections I've forged with some of my readers, and their comments to my blog posts. 

I also tend to get a lot of comments from spammers. In the old days, the comments were kind of obvious so they were easy to pick out and delete, then the spammers became more clever. These days the spam comments are sometimes almost spiritual.

Here are a few that might inspire you to become a better person (these are copied exactly as they appeared in my in-box just before I deleted them):

• You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give. 

• I strictly recommend not to hold off until you earn enough amount of cash to buy different goods! You can get the loan or secured loan and feel yourself free. 

• I have been readed you blog. For me, it is so luck. Because of your excellent article remind me a lot of memories. Thank you so much.
  

• I received my first loan when I was a teenager and that helped my family a lot. However, I require the commercial loan again.

We’re rolling through the Vault 2011 list of the “prestigiest” firms in the land, so that you can comment on what it’s like to actually live, work, and breathe those firms (when you’re not choking on all the prestige in the air).

We’ve covered #1-10 and #11-20. Here’s the next round-up. Now it’s time for the London-based Magic Circle firms to join in the elite fun:

21. Arnold & Porter
22. Shearman & Sterling
23. Boies, Schiller & Flexner
24. O’Melveny & Myers
25. Ropes & Gray
26. Morrison & Foerster
27. Munger, Tolles & Olson
28. Hogan Lovells
29. Clifford Chance
30. Linklaters

What do associates have to say about the ups and downs of life at these firms? Here are some excerpts from their Vault listings…

Vault does not pull its punches. Arnold & Porter is described as “past its prime“; Shearman as having “lost its glory“; and OMM as being “nose-to-the-grindstone.”

People seem happy about MoFo, except about the firm’s new website (which made us ask What the Mofo?).

When associates have serious complaints at firms, they tend to be about partners. At Boston-based Ropes & Gray, associates say the upside is smart, friendly colleagues, but that those colleagues aren’t always people-persons: “Downside: Last minute requests, insecure partners that cause associates to pull their hair out, and lately job insecurity.”

Linklaters associates warn of “passive-aggressive British partners.”

Clifford Chance has a better British batch, apparently. The buzz there is of a “nice bunch from across the pond.”

Hogan Lovells may have fallen from #25 to #28 on the U.S. prestige list, but the firm appears to be on the move on the world stage, given its recent big merger. We’re big fans of Ho-Love, in part because firm chairman Warren Gorrell actually got on the phone with us to talk about the firm’s appearance in Sex and The City 2 (and has also sat down with us to discuss more serious topics).

The small and elite firm of Munger Tolles has no buzz. We don’t tend to hear much about this firm either. What’s it like to be among the Mungers?

Meanwhile, at Boies, it’s all about the Benjamins: “Gotta love those bonuses.”

What’s your take on this bunch of firms?

Earlier: Fall Recruiting Open Threads: Vault 1 – 10 (2011)
The 2011 Vault Rankings Are Out!
Fall Recruiting Open Threads: Vault 11 – 20 (2011)

Clifford Chance – United States – Morrison & Foerster – London – O’Melveny & Myers

I don’t believe you when you say just about anything anymore because I know that you will lie to a court any time it helps you. I know that. I saw you do it. I know you will do that. You have proven that to me beyond a reasonable doubt.

– Chief Judge James Holderman (N.D. Ill.) of Chicago, berating government lawyers — before a unanimous panel of the Seventh Circuit removed him from the case, in the middle of trial. Judge Richard Posner’s opinion cited Judge Holderman’s abuse of discretion and “unreasonable fury toward the prosecutors.”

Richard Posner – Chicago – United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit – Facebook – James Holderman

Announces New Podcasts for Week of July 26, 2010

There is lots of competition in the paralegal profession. If you intend to remain competitive, you must stay up to date with what’s going on in the legal world. Fortunately, there is a totally free resource that will let you do just that: Legal Talk Network.

Legal Talk Network was launched in May 2005, with originally produced legal podcasts, hosted by leading attorneys and legal experts. Legal Talk Network podcasts highlight the important issues in the legal profession with high profile guests in a talk show format. They’re produced by professionals and available on-demand on the Legal Talk Network website, in iTunes, by free subscription to RSS and from legal portals, blogs and social networking sites (too many to list)! Listeners worldwide get the latest legal topics and trends and legal professionals make connections with colleagues, helping everyone meet the challenges of a changing legal world.

The following podcasts were released the week of July 26th. I know you’ll find at least one, and probably more, that will help you be a better paralegal.

Today’s Paralegals: Career Advice, Ethics Tips & More
On this edition of The Paralegal Voice, co-hosts Lynne DeVenny and Vicki Voisin welcome attorney, mediator and management consultant, Nancy Byerly Jones, as she draws from her extensive legal experience to share career advice for paralegals. A passionate advocate for the paralegal profession, Nancy talks about the biggest challenges facing paralegals today, how the profession has changed over the years, handling conflict at work and how paralegals can enhance their individual value, as well as the value of the profession. Download MP3

Powering Up Your Personal Productivity
“Do more with less” is a mantra of the day. One of the great promises of the day is that technology will organize and optimize us, as computers take over the work we don’t need to do and make our lives easier. The reality feels more like a jammed email inbox, a mountain of to-do lists and technology we often fight with. In this episode, co-hosts Dennis Kennedy and Tom Mighell and special guest Allison Shields, discuss the importance of improving personal productivity and the role technology, when done well, can play in optimizing your work, enhancing your productivity and simplifying your life. After you listen, be sure to check out Tom & Dennis’ co-blog and book by the same name, The Lawyers Guide to Collaboration Tools and Technologies. Download MP3

Decade of E-Discovery, Compliance Challenges & Privacy
In this edition of the ESI Report, host Gina Jytyla, Managing Staff Attorney in the Legal Technologies division at Kroll Ontrack, welcomes Kimberly Marin, Security Analyst and E-Discovery Specialist with the Hershey Company and Nasar Ali, Legal Consultant for Kroll Ontrack, to discuss key milestones in e-discovery history, along with corporate compliance challenges and best practices for data management. In the Bits & Bytes Legal Analysis segment, Kroll Ontrack Legal Correspondent Kelly Kubacki explores City of Ontario, California v. Quon. Download MP3

Construction Defect Cases
Mass produced homes built with poor-quality products have led to a number of construction defect cases across the country. On this edition of Ringler Radio, host Larry Cohen welcomes colleague, Angus Kennedy out of San Diego, California, Attorney Bruno Wolfenzon, from Wolfenzon, Schulman & Rolle and Attorney Dave H. Gardner out of Newport Beach, CA, to look at the necessary qualifiers for construction defect cases, discuss the long term effects on homeowners, the tax side of these cases and the benefits of using structured settlements. Download MP3

Where to Sue and Not Be Sued: Surviving Litigation
In this edition of In-House Legal presented by Lex Mundi, host Tim Corcoran with Hubbard One, explores what In-House Counsel should know in order to survive litigation. Special guests include Joe Sepulchre, Partner with Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick (Lex Mundi member firm for Belgium), and Carla Swansburg, Senior Counsel with RBC Law Group. The group discusses how to sue, whether you have a choice and why In-House Counsel should care. Download MP3

Current Issues in Computer Forensics
Knowledge of eDiscovery is vital to today’s legal profession. On this edition of Digital Detectives, co-hosts Sharon D. Nelson, Esq., President of Sensei Enterprises, Inc. and John W. Simek, Vice President of Sensei Enterprises, welcome computer forensics technologist, Craig D. Ball, to talk about how some courts view computer forensics analysis as simply searching on a list of terms, avoiding waste in eDiscovery and the challenges of effective keyword searching. Download MP3

Law Student Applications Rise: Massachusetts’ First Public Law School
2010 marks the first year for the University of Massachusetts School of Law – Dartmouth, the state’s first public law school. Attorneys and co-hosts, J. Craig Williams and Bob Ambrogi welcome Dean Robert V. Ward, Jr., to talk about the new UMass Law school. They discuss the rise in applications in a down economy, the incoming class and faculty, accreditation and the opportunities available for students after they leave law school. Download MP3

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) violated congressional ethics rules and federal law in the handling of his personal finances and his fundraising for a university institute, a subcommittee of Rangel’s colleagues charged today. Two members of the House ethics subcommittee, for…

Donna Coleman Gregg has been named director of the Institute for Communications Law Studies at Catholic University of America’s Columbus School of Law. Gregg, a former senior policy adviser at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and…

By Brian Malcom

When the iPad was first released, syncing documents was cumbersome.  The user was required to place documents on the device using wi-fi transfers.  Now, you can use the sync cable included with the iPad to transfer documents from your computer directly to your iPad.  This allows for faster and more reliable transfers.  This is especially important with large documents, such as PDFs or PDF packages for document review.

After the tweak to the document transfer mechanisms for the iPad, the iPad has become a useful tool for reviewing large document productions.  In order to perform the document reviews, I recommend using GoodReader, an app available in the Apple app store.  This app, working in conjunction with iTunes, allows you to use your data sync cable to transfer large PDFs directly to the iPad.  You can password protect access to the GoodReader files for added security.  It also retains your place in reviewing a large PDF document, should you have to exit the app for any reason.  Another useful tool available in GoodReader is the ability to place and label bookmarks when reviewing a PDF.  This allows you to quickly flip through a large PDF file and flag documents of interest to your case.  You can display one page at a time if you are in portrait mode, or you can display two pages side-by-side if you were in landscape mode.  With the two pages side by side in landscape mode, you can quickly flip through large documents and then, by simply orienting the iPad into portrait mode, you can zoom in to a page that looks to be of interest.

One drawback I see with reviewing the documents on the iPad is the inability to print directly from the iPad.  You must use the bookmark feature or simply hand write the Bates number or PDF page number and print the pages later when you are at a PC.  This adds a frustrating little step in the process, but the convenience of being able to carry tens of thousands of pages in a lightweight electronic device with a fantastic user experience may outweigh this inconvenience.

Happy document reviewing.

The Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law (Swansea University School of Law) hosts its 2010 Annual International Colloquium, New Uses Of The Sea: International Shipping In The Twenty-First Century, Sept. 9-10, 2010.

The Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest seeks articles for a fall symposium on alternative court systems. Articles could address issues related to Family Court, Drug Court, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Benefits, Effects on Recidivism, and all other relevant topics. Submission is rolling, but deadline is August 10, 2010. Articles will be published Fall 2010. Authors may be invited to speak at the symposium at the University of Richmond. Submission guidelines are here.

The Richmond Journal of Law and the Public Interest is the scholarly voice for issues pertaining to social welfare, public policy, and a broad spectrum of jurisprudence. Published four times a year, the Journal publishes its content online to reach the widest audience possible, while also publishing one annual print issue focused on the work of the Virginia General Assembly. Our authors have included experienced practitioners, esteemed legal professors, and insightful individuals working to change the world around them.

“TTT,

I am highlighting Joan Wexler and her in$TTiTTuTTion this week on my blog. I was tipped to this PDF by a commenter on my site. Here is Brooklyn Law School’s IRS Tax Form 990, i.e. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax, for 2007.

http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2008/237/227/2008-237227990-050fa431-9.pdf

Go to page 18 of Crooklyn’s IRS Form 990 to see Joan Wexler’s salary and compensation for 2007.

As a dean who devoted 50 hours per week to her position, Joan G. Wexler took home $529,293 in salary; $40,146 in contributions to employee benefit plans & deferred compensation plans; and $50,580 in expense account and other allowances. This brings her TOTAL COMPENSATION for 2007 to $620,019.

Look at line 12 on page 1. The sewer of law took in $69,029,620 in total revenue that year. After total expenses, the “non-profit” school made a nice gain of $9,052,403 this year. On line 21, we can see that Crooklyn had $143,063,841 in total net assets. Line 59 shows the school had $244,
710,030 in total assets.

This lady and her institution have consigned LEGIONS of lawyers to a lifetime of debt servitude, anxiety and doc review hell. Tom, please provide the link to the IRS form, so your readers can see the figures for themselves. Thank you.

Nando”

http://thirdtierreality.blogspot.com/2010/07/profiles-in-flatulence-crooklyn-dean.html

Another great find by Nando. There are legions of underemployed document reviewers slaving away in unventilated basements, so that morally bankrupt individuals like Joan Wexler can continue pulling down half a mil a year by scamming unsuspecting college graduates with all those “inadvertent” errors to US News. The woman is a sham/con artist and she needs to be carted away and locked up before she destroys anymore young lives.

Fractional Freedoms: Slavery, Legal Activism and Ecclesiastical Courts in Colonial Lima, 1593-1689 has just been posted by Michelle McKinley, University of Oregon – School of Law. It appears in the Law and History Review (August 2010). Here’s the abstract:This article examines the ways in which enslaved litigants engaged with the ecclesiastical courts in 17th century colonial Lima. The article

Just posted on the Gilder Lehrman website is the lecture Reconstruction and Citizenship, originally delivered on June 12, 2007, by Eric Foner, the DeWitt Clinton Professor of History at Columbia University. According to Gilder Lehrman, Professor Foner “explains how the legal status of former slaves after the Civil War helped to define citizenship in the United States. He looks at the struggle

For those of you who are done with the July 2010 bar exam, congratulations! For those of you who still have another day left, our condolences — and good luck.

No administration of the bar is complete without some sort of mishap. The latest tale of woe comes from California. The state that some have called “ungovernable” also seems to have difficulty administering the bar exam.

Find out about goings-on in the Not-So-Golden State, and compare notes on the bar exam experience in different states around the country, after the jump.

A West Coast reader reports:

Just letting you know what a clusterf**k the California Bar Exam this year is. They are using ExamSoft with no absolutely on-site technical support.

After day 1, we were told to attempt to upload our exams from our hotels; the unlucky ones were unable to upload either automatically or manually. The unlucky ones (my program now asks me to re-register as if I never used ExamSoft before) were totally hung out to dry.

The State Bar people reiterated that they “provide no technical support” and that I was supposed to call ExamSoft. Apparently I’m not the only one having issues because I was on hold from 6:30 PM – 9:00 PM yesterday, and have been on hold since 5:30AM today. All this during the time when we’re supposed to be preparing for our MBEs.

Alas, the California bar takers still have one more day to endure. Those of you here in New York are done. From Scott Greenfield over at Simple Justice:

Whether you chalk it up to a rite of passage or a demonstration of the minimal degree of knowledge for the right to be responsible for other people’s lives, the bar exam must still be passed before you get to call yourself a lawyer. I believe it will be administered on July 27-28th in New York. Suddenly, all those smart-mouthed know-it-all kids who were busy telling lawyers all about their vision of the law are lying in their beds in the fetal position, praying that they don’t screw it up and reveal to the world, and their mothers, that they are are total, complete failures.

So, New Yorkers, how do you feel about your performance? Did you ace it — or are you a “total, complete failure[]“?

But we don’t mean to focus entirely on Californians and New Yorkers. We welcome bar exam anecdotes and reports from the field from all of our readers, regardless of the state or jurisdiction.

Did you also experience technological troubles during the bar exam? Did the person next to you lose his or her mind in the middle of the test? Did someone’s cell phone go off? Was there an earthquake?

Tell us about your bar exam experience in the comments. But a word of WARNING: Please do NOT discuss specific questions or topics from today’s bar exam in this thread. To learn why it’s a bad idea, see here. If we see such comments, we will delete them (and may ban the responsible commenter from future commenting).

Thank you. And to those of you who have to go back for another day tomorrow, best of luck!

Another Bar Exam [Simple Justice via Infamy or Praise]

Earlier: Bar Exam Day 2 Open Thread
Breaking: Earthquake Hits California on Day 1 of the Bar Exam!

Cartoon: Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal. To see a full-size version and discuss it, click here.

Law – Bar examination – Bar Exam – Education – Test Preparation

The latest edition of The Paralegal Voice, “Today’s Paralegals: Career Advice, Ethics Tips & More,” co-hosted by Lynne DeVenny and me, is now available at Legal Talk Network.

In this episode we welcome attorney, mediator and management consultant, Nancy Byerly Jones, as she draws from her extensive legal experience to share career advice for paralegals.

A passionate advocate for the paralegal profession, Nancy talks about the biggest challenges facing paralegals today, how the profession has changed over the years, handling conflict at work and how paralegals can enhance their individual value, as well as the value of the profession.

Also In this episode:

• Dealing with on-the-job stressors
• Dealing with boredom at work
• Career mistakes to avoid
• Dressing for professional success
• Steps to take if you think an attorney is engaging in misconduct

Page URL: http://legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/paralegal-voice/2010/07/todays-paralegals-career-advice-ethics-tips-more/

MP3Link:http://websrvr82il.audiovideoweb.com/ny60web16519/LTN/PLV/PLV_072110_CareerTips.mp3
Internet resources referenced in the podcast:

NBJ Consulting & Conflict Resolution, http://www.lawbusinesstips.com/

Nancy’s presentation, “Enhancing & Maintaining the Value of Paralegals”, http://www.lawbusinesstips.com/office-management/employees/legal-assistants/enhancing-maintaining-the-value-of-paralegals/

The Paralegal Voice also thanks its sponsors: Westlaw Deposition Services and the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA)

If you enjoyed The Paralegal Voice, please share the link to the podcast with your friends and colleagues.

Do you have a request for a future show or a question for us? You are welcome to contact us at TheParalegalVoice@gmail.com