Additional Readings about the Legal Industry and the Law Governing Lawyers
Eric Goldman
Last updated 12/9/2005
Letter to a Young Law Student by Dahlia Lithwick
Balancing law school debt and public service careers
How to Pay for Your Law Degree (copies are available in the library)
Advice on finding a job in a tight legal market
Interviewing tips (some of the snootiness probably doesn’t play well in Wisconsin)
Perspectives on working in small law firms
Directory of Wisconsin lawyers
Notes on seeking a job as a law professor
The Clifford Chance associates go off (a preview of gripes you might have as a big firm associate). An update from March 2005
Patrick Schiltz, On Being a Happy, Healthy, and Ethical Member of an Unhappy, Unhealthy, and Unethical Profession
Suggestions on delegating and being delegated to. More on giving feedback
Time management suggestions
Advice for the recent law graduate
“A pie-eating contest where the prize is more pie”
Good discussion about recording time. The ABA report on billable hours from 2002.
An unsatisfying in-house insurance defense job, but an expensive lifestyle. What to do?
Debunking the myths that life as an in-house lawyer is better
Your supervising partner talks a good game but doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Should you speak up? Yes!
30% of law school graduates don’t practice law
Milwaukee associate discusses why he/she pads hours
300+ Things I’m Glad I Knew – Or Wish I’d Known – My First Year as General Counsel
Attorney Work-Life Balance Calculator
Big-firm training may be oversold
Business lawyer-friendly article on attorney-client privilege
An analysis of the lawyers’ roles in Enron
Law Partner Gets Five-Year Suspension for Neglecting Cases Over a Decade (discussing how a lawyer cracked under the pressure of billable hours and satisfying his mentor)
Zealous advocacy or stupid lawyer tricks? You decide. [NOTE—I am not as forgiving as this magistrate judge!]
Multidisciplinary Practice run amok (and other problems)
An example of delegation run amok
Demand letter for $40 leads to disbarment
Jenelle L Glasbrenner, a small town criminal defense attorney in Wisconsin, busted for overbilling. The resolution of her criminal case. Suspension of her license. Her reinstatement.
Barking like a dog costs attorney $8,500
Holland & Knight partner wants face time
Backdating stock option exercises leads to bad legal problems for in-house general counsel of major multinational corporation
Judge shows little tolerance for an ill-advised motion to transfer venue
Judge feels like he is a kindergarten teacher
Be careful leaving nasty voicemails to opposing counsel
35 day month = jail time. Lawyers as gatekeepers
3 month suspension for padding hours on contingent fee case
94 hours in a 24 hour day
Sample conflict waivers and engagement letters prepared by the Milwaukee Bar Association (use with caution!)
SEC “Up the Ladder” Rules
under Sarbanes-Oxley