"And you thought John Edwards had good hair? I'm taking things to a whole new level."
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Associate Photo Caption
"And you thought John Edwards had good hair? I'm taking things to a whole new level."
Friday, March 6, 2009
Things Lawyers Like - Wearing a Suit
Business casual may have taken over corporate culture in the early 1990s, but the suit remains the most favored item in the quintessential lawyer’s closet. Sure, your typical law firm is stocked with male and female lawyers dressed in some version of a button down shirt and dress pants, but this reality does not sit well with tried and true lawyers. The type-A, go-getter attorney lives by the mantra that if you want to play with the big kids, you better put down the country club gear and suit up.
Most of today’s lawyering involves the filing and serving papers or riding herd on a couple of conference calls, but it definitely does not include extensive face-to-face meetings with clients or the court. Nevertheless, nothing helps a lawyer channel his or her Atticus Finch like putting on a suit. If a suited lawyer has a long day that involves the ordering of Chinese food while reviewing documents in a dimly lit office, that lawyer will feel true accomplishment. At this moment, the lawyer can picture him or herself in every motion picture based on a John Grisham novel.
Lawyers generally believe that the more powerful or important the event, the more aggressive the suit must become. Representing a client in a big M&A deal? You better break out a dark suit with thick pin stripes. Heading to a bar association meeting for some networking? Dust off your dressiest duds for maximum impact. Meeting some old high school friends for dinner? Suit up if you want to show them who has moved to the head of the class. Running for President as a woman? Rock the pant suit, day in and day out.
Maybe the mystique of the suit is just a result of lawyers trying to meet expectations. Who pictures a lawyer dressed like a JC Penney employee anyway? Or maybe Men’s Wearhouse is to blame. Lawyers are just like everybody else. Put them in a well-fitted suit and they can’t help but love the way they look.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Partner Doppelganger
If Venable LLP patner Otho Thompson had a
doppelganger, it would be...
the "tainted" junior Senator from Illinois, Roland Burris.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Summer Position? It Will Cost You.
Rocked by dwindling donations and emboldened by the dismal job market, many public interest legal entities have decided to get fiscally creative in advance of the 2009 summer job season. With numerous law students no longer able to count on summer positions at law firms, the previously neglected public interest internship has become a prized possession. Sensing an opportune moment to gain an infusion of new funds, agencies such as Legal Aid and the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society have decided to add an admission fee to their summer programs.
“While we pride ourselves on providing legal services for free, we have never been committed to the idea of giving people a free boost to their legal careers,” explained Elizabeth Sundry, the Director of Manhattan’s Elder Law Clinic. “Our best lawyers come to us because they are passionate about our agency’s mission. With this year’s implementation of a $250/week admission fee for summer interns, we decided to ask our summer interns to put their money where their mouths are. It’s the smartest thing we’ve done since asking some of our wealthier clients to start writing the agency into their wills.”
Generally, law students seem unfazed by this change. “You have to put this in perspective,” explained Talia Bindry, a first year law student at Columbia Law School. “I was prepared to sacrifice my well-being and social life to take a job at a big firm. Now that those opportunities are drying up, I don’t see a problem with pumping out a couple hundred bucks a week this summer to increase my chances of landing an underpaid position at one of these agencies after I graduate. I think the admission fee may even be tax deductible which would be awesome if I had any income.”
Unfortunately for Bindry, she is soon going to find out that the admission charge is just the tip of the iceberg. Like veritable amusement parks, pro-bono agencies have adopted a pay-to-play model. Reportedly, summer interns will be required to swipe a credit card for access to the internet, bathroom and vending machines. Depending on the program, interns may even be required to provide their own office supplies. Even the instant coffee is likely to require an instant donation of a dollar per cup. Will big law follow suit with its summer associate programs? Stay tuned.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Small Shop Web Flop
If I was represented by The Baehr Law Firm, I'd probably have a mental image of my attorney being one "bear" of a lawyer. Well, maybe not, but I am pretty sure I would not picture him as a tiger.
Also, if you're trying to look as tough as a tiger, I'd recommend not smiling and leaving the purple button-down in the closet.
The Baehr Law Firm
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