JD Journal » ABA

ABA Tells Judge not to Overrule Denial of Duncan School of Law

jim — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:53:56 +0000

A Tennessee judge has been urged by the American Bar Association not to force the ABA to withdrawal its denial of accreditation of Lincoln Memorial University’s law school. The law school filed a lawsuit of antitrust last month.

The ABA, in its brief of response, said that the temporary restraining order request by the Duncan School of Law is “undeserved and unprecedented.” They also said that it should not be approved.

The denial decision was made on December 20 by the ABA, which says that Duncan has not run out of ways to appeal the decision. The decision was made by the ABA’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar. The ABA also states that Duncan cannot show that it will be harmed beyond repair by the denial because the school can apply for accreditation from the ABA.

The response from the ABA also stated that if it was ordered to remove from its website the denial notice then truthful speech would be silenced. This is information that law students, both prospective and current, along with the public, need to know.

“There is a strong public interest in having those who look to the council’s evaluation of legal education — including current and prospective law students, faculty, state supreme courts and bar admission authorities, the U.S. Department of Education and the public — receive prompt and accurate information,” the response issued by the ABA explained. “Duncan’s requested restraint on truthful speech would harm this public interest.”

The Duncan School of Law is based in Knoxville, Tennessee. The ABA was sued by the school on December 22, 2011, claiming that the ABA practiced collusion with various law schools in order to restrain competition amongst other schools by denying accreditation for the school.

Instead of appealing the decision by the ABA, the law school has decided to file a lawsuit against the ABA. The school claims appealing would not work because of the “complete and utter disregard” by the Council of the ABA of all the data presented by the law school.

There are almost 200 students enrolled at Duncan, which opened during the fall semester back in 2009 for students going to school part-time and then opened to full-time students last year. The reason issued for the ABA denial to Duncan was that LSAT average scores for students incoming was too low for those studying at the school to finish their law study and then be admitted to the ABA.

In the lawsuit, Duncan alleges that there were no fewer than eight schools that have scores for the LSAT that average lower than those that were accredited by the ABA. In the ABA response, the bar claims that Duncan has not been able to provide enough information to prove claims of antitrust.

Michael L. Cioffi, of Blank Rome LLP, is the representative for Duncan along with Robert H. Watson Jr. of Watson Roach Batson Rowell & Lauderback PLC.

Duncan School of Law Sues ABA

jim — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:14:19 +0000

The law school at Lincoln Memorial University has sued the American Bar Association in Tennessee Federal Court. The law school claims that the association colluded with other law schools to lower competition by not accrediting the school purposely.

The lawsuit filed by the Duncan School of Law alleges that the ABA’s refusal to accredit the school is an attempt to restrain trade, which is a direct violation of the Sherman and Clayton acts. The lawsuit also alleges that the ABA acted together with other accredited law schools in an effort to boycott the law school at Lincoln Memorial University. This in turn injures competition and drives the cost of legal education higher.

“In addition to being unreasonable and arbitrary, the ABA’s decision was motivated by a desire to restrain trade and limit competition among law schools,” the complaint said.

The chairman of Lincoln Memorial University, O.V. ‘Pete’ DeBusk, said in a released statement that the ABA had the privilege to judge law schools in the United States by evaluating their applicable standards. He also mentioned that the ABA is the sole entity in the country doing this.

“What kind of example would we be setting for our law students if we allowed them and our school to be treated unfairly and took no action to right this wrong?” DeBusk said, according to Law360.

There are close to 200 students enrolled in the Duncan School of Law in Knoxville, which opened in the fall of 2009 for part-time students. The school opened to full-time students in 2010. On December 20, the ABA refused accreditation for the school, saying that the average LSAT scores for incoming students were too low for them to complete the program and gain admission to the ABA.

Duncan then claimed that no less than eight other law schools in the country with lower LSAT averages were awarded accreditation by the ABA, which makes the decision by the entity unreasonable. Duncan went on to claim that there was no factual basis for the decision by the ABA to deny the school accreditation. The complaint then goes on to detail that there were two other agencies in the country that found the school in compliance with standards as tough as those set forth by the ABA. Those two other institutions include the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners.

Since the school has not received accreditation from the ABA, it means that it will not be eligible for certain federal loan programs and other aid packages. For the school’s graduates to sit for bar exams in 48 states, the accreditation is needed from the ABA.

“In short, [the Duncan School of Law] has been the victim of a group boycott orchestrated by defendant ABA in concert with these accredited law schools, to the detriment of [the Duncan School of Law], its students and the public at large,” the complaint said.

The John Marshall Law School Launches New Law School in Savannah

rebneely — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:13:02 +0000

The John Marshall LawSchool, located in Atlanta, Georgia, announced in recent days that it had received American Bar Association approval to launch a Savannah branch campus next fall. The new location will be called Savannah Law School.

Alan Boyer, associate dean for recruitment and marketing, was quoted as saying in the December 8^th Law.com article, “Law school establishing branch in Savannah”: “There is no other law school serving that part of the southern Atlantic region. As word has got out, we’ve had some applicants to the school here inAtlanta ask to switch over to Savannah.” The region is expected to experience a large population growth over the next ten to fifteen years.

The new campus will probably draw students from over twenty nearby colleges and universities, according to Boyer. The closest ABA-accredited law schools are the Charleston School of Law in Charleston, S.C., and Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Fla.. Each is 90 minutes or more away by car. The University of Georgia School of Law in Athens, Georgia State University of College of Law and John Marshall’s main campus are over four hours away.

Over 1,500 judges and lawyers work in the Savannaharea; this gives a strong indication that students would have opportunities for externships and clerk positions, according to John Marshall administrators.

The school plans to enroll almost 100 students next year, with 60 attending full-time and the rest part-time. The part-time program is aimed at doctors, law enforcement officers, paralegals and retired military servicemen and -women. A “noncompetitive” environment will be stressed, which is intended to encourage teamwork; this means there will be no forced grading on a curve.

Richardson Lynn, dean at John Marshall, will oversee operations in Savannah, which will maintain a separate faculty from that at the main campus. He was quoted as saying: “With the new Savannah Law School, students from theSavannaharea and throughout the Atlantic coastal region can begin their legal careers closer to home. And students from around the country and the world can live and learn in a community rich in culture, heritage and southern hospitality.”

The school will begin hiring for the new branch in the spring. Interested students are able to begin the application process this month.

Though the ABA has approved new campus, theSavannahLawSchoolstill needs to get provisional accreditation. Boyer was quoted as saying: “Our plan is to immediately begin that process so that the inaugural class will be able to sit for the bar inGeorgia.”

In addition to the city of Savannah getting a new law school during the next academic year, a small group of lawyers is planning to open the California Desert Trial Academy College of Law in Indio,Calif., in September. As well, plans for other new law schools are underway in the Louisiana and Indiana. In addition, the Thomas M. Cooley Law School has plans to open a new campus inTampa, Fla., next year.

Although some legal educators are skeptical about launching new, additional law schools during a time when hiring in the legal industry has declined, the ABA is of the mind that limiting the number of law schools could pose an issue with regard to antitrust laws.

Is ABA Ignoring the Class of 2010?

EmploymentCrossing — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:28:09 +0000

The candidates who graduated in law in 2010 have faced the worst ever employment scenario in the last 20 years! It is unfortunate that the American Bar Association doesn’t feel obliged to make people know how individual schools fared in the overall full-time legal employment placements. Even if 2010 graduates haven’t found jobs, which we know they haven’t, will ABA be able to hide the fact? ABA is expected to act responsibly and exert itself in making the employment situation known rather than blocking the facts, says ATL’s Staci Zaretsky.

Read the original article here:
The ABA Focuses on Losing the ‘Lost Generation,’ One Statistic at a Time

Senator Grassley not satisfied with ABA’s response, asks more questions

EmploymentCrossing — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 09:40:10 +0000

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) was not satisfied with the ABA”s response last month to the questions that he had asked the organization about how it handled law schools. Grassley has asked ABA more questions about how it helps recent law graduates pay back their student loans, its accreditation procedures and what the organization is doing to help the young lawyers who are facing fewer job opportunities today.

Read the original article here:
ABA’s stance on law school accreditation transparency fails to satisfy senator

Some Law Schools are Starting to Reduce the Sizes of Their First Year Classes

EmploymentCrossing — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 23:06:18 +0000

The American Bar Association is accepting too many attorneys; there are too many lawyers for the positions available, depressing the market. To combat this, some law schools are reducing the sizes of their incoming first-year law students. Although this is probably too little too late, it is a step in the right direction.

Read the original article here:

Trendspotting: Will Law School Start Decreasing The Supply of Unemployable New Lawyers?

Law Schools Offering More Opportunities to Study Abroad

rebneely — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 17:09:08 +0000

As the world becomes increasingly global, America’s law schools are offering more opportunities for students to learn about international law, as well as foreign legal systems, according to the March 29th article at usnews.com, “Law Schools Go Global”.

The opportunities to study abroad are increasing accordingly. In 2009, over 100 U.S. law schools offered over 250 such programs, according to the ABA.

In the usnews.com article, Hulett Askew, a consultant for the American Bar Association’s legal education and admissions section, was quoted as saying about foreign study programs: “The growth overall in the last 5 or 10 years has been steady—and even dramatic.”

The most common study abroad opportunities are offered during the summer. Approximately 8,000 U.S. law students participated in a foreign program in 2009, despite the downturn in the economy. According to the ABA, around 40 U.S. law schools have semester abroad options.

Alexis Paddock, a Georgetown graduate, spent a semester at the school’s Center for Transnational Legal Studies. “It’s like going to 10 countries” to study,” she was quoted as saying.

Steven Ratner, a professor at the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor Law School was quoted as saying: “It’s simply impossible to be a competent lawyer” without understanding “how law works across borders.”

Proposed Law School Accreditation Standards to Change Reporting of Graduate Employment

aostler — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 20:20:01 +0000

The American Bar Association has made new drafts to its law school accreditation standards. These proposed changes would change the way that law schools report employment information for their graduates, as well as making the requirements for passing the bar stricter, and allowing distance education students to take more credit hours. Several other major changes have also been proposed.

According to a letter from the consumer information subcommittee of the Standards Review Committee of the ABA, the requirement that exists for law schools to publish “placement rates” and “basic consumer information” leaves a lot open to interpretation.

The subcommittee also wrote the following: “Not surprisingly, with such a vague standard, schools’ practices vary widely. Some schools provide detailed information; others provide a bare minimum.”

According to the new proposal, the employment status of students after nine months would be disclosed by law schools, in addition to the percentage of the students in law school-funded jobs. They would also be required to give information about the percentage of graduates with employment that requires bar passage and those who hold non-legal jobs. Schools will also be required to specify how many students they have in part-time and full-time jobs.

These proposals will be discussed in Chicago by the Standards Review Committee on April 2 and 3. It will have an open forum as part of the meeting so that other parties can give their own comments about the proposals.

Morning Update

joshua — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 16:24:53 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, January 18, and here’s a quick look back at recent news…

Dykema added a former AG to its roster in Michigan…

Two former Senatorsare joining forces at Arent Fox…

The number of part time lawyers in large firms is climbing…

And the ABA is considering allowing schools to not require the LSAT for admissions…

Senate Approves Changes to “Red Flag” Rule

joshua — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 20:15:53 +0000

Despite Republican promises to block any legislation in the Senate until the Bush tax cuts are extended, the Senate moved quickly yesterday to approve a bill co-sponsored by John Thune (R-SD) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) that would redefine the term “creditor” for purposes of the controversial “red flag” rule used by the FTC. Under the current broad definition, lawyers, doctors, and other people or businesses that provide services upfront in the expectation of future payment are considered creditors. This bill redefines it to a more common sense definition of someone that advances funds based on credit reports in the expectation that the money will be repaid later. The House of Representatives must take up the bill before it will become law, but the ABA is anticipating quick passage by the House.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 13:53:17 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, October 4th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

Chicago Based SmithAmundsen opened an office in St. Louis…

Sidley Austin enlisted a former assistant U.S. Attorney as practice head…

The newly formed Stewart Dugger & Dean will launch in early 2011…

Former law firm partner Eric Wisler was charged with bribing State Senator Wayne Bryant…

President Obama announced the nomination of Jimmie V. Reyna to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit….

Obama Announces Nomination of Jimmie V. Reyna to U.S. Court of Appeals for Federal Circuit

joshua — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:06:23 +0000

On September 29, 2010, President Obama announced the nomination of Jimmie V. Reyna to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC).

Mr. Reyna is a partner in the Washington, DC office of Williams Mullen. He sits on the firm’s board of directors, and directs the firm’s International Trade and Customs Practice Group.

The CAFC has nationwide jurisdiction of appeals arising from a range of courts, including federal district courts, the Court of International Trade, and the U.S., Court of Claims. The jurisdiction of appeals also arises from a variety of agencies involving a number of subject matter areas, including international trade, government contracts, patents, trademarks, and certain money claims against the United States government.

With over three decades of legal experience and 24 years as an international trade practitioner, Mr. Reyna is well qualified to serve on the CAFC bench. Mr. Reyna has been a valued and effective advocate for corporate clients in a broad range of U.S. and foreign venues. He has authored numerous books and articles on international trade, trade policy and customs. He has earned a stellar reputation as a practitioner and a scholar.

Mr. Reyna has a long record of service to the legal profession and the community. He served on numerous positions in the American Bar Association (ABA) and the HNBA. He served as HNBA National President from 2006-2007. He founded the HNBA Journal of Law and Policy, and has served as its Editor-in-Chief for many years. He also has a record of service with the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, the ABA Presidential Commission on Diversity and the ABA House of Delegates, and within the ABA International Law Section. For over ten years, Mr. Reyna has been a director of Community Services for Autistic Adults and Children, a service organization in Maryland. He has mentored many lawyers and law students over his 30-year career. In 2009, the Government of Mexico honored Mr. Reyna with its Ohtli Award, in recognition of his contributions to opening pathways for the Mexican-American and Latino communities in the United States.

The HNBA is an incorporated, not-for-profit, national membership organization that represents the interests of the more than 100,000 attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, and law students of Hispanic descent in the United States, its territories and Puerto Rico.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:19:41 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, September 22nd. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Dinsmore & Shohl welcomed former Deputy General Counsel for EPA…

A former Kennedy Chief of Staff Returned to WilmerHale…

A Thompson Hine Partner was reappointed to the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College board of trustees…

A Greenberg Traurig partner was named co-chair of the ABA Committee…

Cadwalader announced the launch of the Cadwalader International Law and Litigation Center…

48 Winstead PC Attorneys were selected as Texas Super Lawyers…

Greenberg Traurig Partner Named Co-Chair of ABA Committee

joshua — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:54:28 +0000

James M. Nelson, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Sacramento office, has been appointed Co-Chair of the Welfare Plans Subcommittee for the American Bar Association Labor Section’s Employee Benefits Committee. In the role, Nelson will be responsible for co-managing the Employee Benefits Committee treatise chapter on health and welfare plans and managing the committee’s presentation on welfare plans at the annual Midwinter Meeting.

Nelson is office chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice in Sacramento. He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, and will be inducted as an elected Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in November 2010. He is also an editor of the Employee Benefits Committee Newsletter for the ABA’s Labor and Employment Section, and author of “Health and Welfare Benefit Plans: A Legal Guide to Planning and Management.”

Greenberg Traurig’s Global Labor and Employment Practice consists of over 100 lawyers in the United States and abroad who provide practical workplace strategies, counseling, technical assistance, and litigation services to clients in a wide range of industries.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 12:04:52 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, August 19th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Former Merrill Lynch counsel John Bevilacqua joined Fulbright…

Johnsrun and Knuesel, LLC, based in Winona, Minnesota, took over court-appointed counsel in Houston County…

Dallas-based law firm Goldfarb Branham LLP launched an investigation into Marlin Equity Partners buyout of Phoenix Technologies…

Howrey’s Jerrold Ganzfried assumed Chairmanship of ABA’s Council of Apellate Lawyers…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:21:54 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, August 17th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Andrew J., “A.J.” Thomas joined Jenner & Block’s L.A. office as partner…

A Greenberg Traurig partner was named ABA Committee Co-Chair…

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP added two partners to its Hong Kong practice…

Kobre & Kim prepared to open an office in Hong Kong…

Greenberg Traurig Partner Named ABA Committee Co-Chair

joshua — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:45:20 +0000

Robert M. Goldich, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Philadelphia office, has been appointed to a two-year term as employer co-chair of the Employment Rights and Responsibilities Committee (ERR) of the American Bar Association’s Section of Labor & Employment Law.

The employment rights committee addresses developments in the law governing the rights and responsibilities of individuals in the workplace and the resolution of disputes between workers and employers. Goldich has served as program chair and administrative chair of the ERR Committee, and also co-chair of its Trial Advocacy Subcommittee and ERISA Litigation Subcommittee.

Goldich is a member of Greenberg Traurig’s labor and employment practice in Philadelphia. He is an elected Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.
Greenberg Traurig’s Global Labor and Employment Practice consists of over 100 lawyers in the United States and abroad who provide practical workplace strategies, counseling, technical assistance, and litigation services to clients in a wide range of industries.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:43:01 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, August 12th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

The National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms will hold its diversity conference in Washington D.C….

Boies, Schiller & Flexner partner Zack takes reins as ABA president…

Vault.com ranked Ropes & Gray as the “Best Firm to Work For” for the second year in a row…

Florida Attorney General issued subpoenas to three South Florida foreclosure law firms…

Stephen Zack Takes Over as ABA President

joshua — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 19:17:37 +0000

The reins of the American Bar Association were handed over this week when President Carolyn B. Lamm passed the gavel to incoming President Stephen N. Zack at the ABA’s annual meeting.
According to a recap of the event provided by the ABA, Lamm called Zack, a Miami-based partner at Boies, Schiller & Flexner, an “incomparable advocate and strategist,” while also noting his rise through the ranks of both The Florida Bar as well as the ABA.

Multiple reports noted that Cuban-born Zack is the first Hispanic to serve as president of the ABA.

Zack’s main practice area is complex commercial litigation, emphasizing class actions, products liability cases and federal multi-district litigation. He is a specialist in civil trial law, as well as eminent domain, corporate and international law.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:06:41 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, August 11th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Venable added corporate attorneys from DLA Piper as partners in its New York office…

Megafirm DLA Piper promoted two partners to the office of chair…

Thompson Hine’s Michael Zimmer was named ABA Committee Co-Chair…

The National Law Journal Survey of Law Firm Economics revealed a tough economic climate…

Employees laid off in Louisiana are suing over their job loss…

A National Law Journal study showed that law firms cut costs by cutting lawyers and law firm staff…

Joel M. Schoenfeld, music industry executive and lawyer joined Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp as a partner…

LeClairRyan selected a new CEO…

Thompson Hine’s Zimmer Named ABA Committee Co-Chair

joshua — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:20:12 +0000

Thompson Hine LLP of counsel Michael J. Zimmer was named co-chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Carbon Trading and Energy Finance Committee. The appointment is peer-nominated and the term spans the 2010-2011 ABA year, which began on Aug. 8.

Zimmer focuses his practice on energy project development and regulation, climate change, energy project acquisitions and finance transactions. He has more than 35 years of legal experience and has served clients in more than 35 states and 20 countries.

Zimmer has served in various capacities with the American Council for Renewable Energy and the marketing committee of the Ohio Fuel Cell Coalition and the ABA. He was also the only practicing lawyer on the U.S. Green Building Council Energy & Atmospheric Technical Advisory Group (EATAG) Committee from 2005-2009.

Thompson Hine is a business law firm with more than 400 lawyers in offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, New York and Washington D.C. It was established in 1911.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 27 May 2010 12:51:35 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, May 27th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

Report: Varied Billing Rates Could Provide Bargaining Chip…

Twin Cities Attorney Charged With Embezzlement…

Mintz Levin Awarded Presitgious ABA Pro Bono Award…

Sonnenschein, Denton Agree on Merger…

Mintz Levin Awarded Presitgious ABA Pro Bono Award

joshua — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:18:22 +0000

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo has been awarded the American Bar Association’s Pro Bono Publico Award in recognition of its “outstanding commitment to volunteer legal services” in connection with work leading to passage of a landmark sexual assault, stalking and harassment law in Massachusetts.

Mintz Levin is among five individuals and institutions to be honored with this year’s award, which will be presented by the Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service at the ABA’s annual meeting in August.

“Twenty years ago the firm focused its pro bono efforts on protecting victims of domestic violence. Today, we are equally, if not more, committed to furthering those efforts and engaging attorneys across all of our offices,” said Robert I. Bodian, managing member of Mintz Levin. “It is particularly gratifying to be receiving this award because it recognizes Mintz Levin’s contribution to the passage of a law that will have positive effect on the lives of so many people.”

The Massachusetts law, which was signed by Governor Deval Patrick in February, allows victims of sexual assault, stalking and harassment to obtain protective orders against their stalkers. Mintz Levin attorneys took the lead in drafting the bill on a pro bono basis.

The ABA’s Pro Bono Publico Awards program seeks to identify and honor individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession that have enhanced the human dignity of others by improving or delivering volunteer legal services to the nation’s poor and disadvantaged.

Recipients must be nominated by other individuals or organizations.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 08:28:03 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, February 15, and as the 3rd Monday in February it is also Presidents Day. For those of you not fortunate enough to have a three day weekend, let’s take a look at Friday’s news…

Tipsters tell us that Hawkins & Parnell is opening in Austin…

Colson Hicks is opening in Washingtonwith the help of a managing partner from Greenberg Traurig…

Sidley Austin finally told its associates what they would be paid in 2010…

So did Winston & Stawn, but it’s not good news…

Layoffs are coming in the Los Angeles courts…

The Senate confirmed a few nominees…

25 firms have formed a consortium to file a class action against Toyota…

Podhurst Orseck picked up a big lateral from Holland & Knight…

Harry Reid leveled a sharp criticism against the ABA judicial evaluation committee…

and former President Bill Clinton was released from the hospital…

Reid Criticizes ABA Judicial Nomination Evaluation

sara — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:53:29 +0000

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada criticized the American Bar Association on Thursday after some members of the organization’s judicial evaluation committee rated a nominee from his state as “not qualified”. The ABA has evaluated nominees for over 50 years. A 15 member committee rates each nominee as either well qualified, qualified or not qualified, based on interviews and background material. The ratings have been controversial over the years, especially with conservatives who believe the committee is biased.

Reid was upset by the ABA’s rating of Gloria Navarro, nominated for the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. “I think the ABA should get a new life and look at whether people are qualified, not whether they have judicial experience”, Reid said during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he introduced Navarro. Reid also said, “The ABA says she hasn’t had judicial experience. That is upsetting to me…I asked President Obama, ‘Let’s get someone on the court that hasn’t been a judge. I think we need people on the bench who have been out there, like Gloria…She has had experience in the real world of government and in the real world of the law.”

Navarro has never been a judge but she has worked as a government lawyer handling civil litigation, a public defender and a lawyer in private practice.

Morning Roundup

sara — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:30:01 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, February 11, and here’s a look back at yesterday’s stories…

The American Bar Association will reduce the cost of annual dues for solo and public interest lawyers…

GM’s Rod Gillum has joined Jackson Lewis…

Law firm Ruden McClosky is not dissolving despite several departures…

Revenues are up and profits per partner are down at Perkins Coie…

Revenues are down and profits per partner are up at Buchanan…

Harvard Law has launched the Public Service Venture Fund to assist new graduates…

Revenues are up at Barnes & Thornburg…

Chadbourne Adds Partner in D.C. Office

joshua — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:05:12 +0000

Chadbourne & Parke has added David H. Evans as a partner in its Washington D.C. office. Evans, who was previously with Arent Fox, will join Chadbourne’s antitrust practice.

Chadbourne managing partner Charles O’Neill said Evans brings a ‘unique skill set in technology and e-commerce.’ He has chaired the ABA Section of Antitrust Law’s Computer and Internet Committee and was a member of its council. He is currently chair of its legislative committee.

Chadbourne & Parke is headquartered in New York City and also has offices in Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Mexico City, London, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Warsaw, Kyiv, Almaty, Dubai and Beijing.

Daily Roundup

joshua — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:13:28 +0000

As we get closer and closer to New Years Eve, I want to remind everyone to be be careful and to have a fantastic and safe holiday. We want every single one of our readers back next year!

Here’s a look at yesterday’s news…

Ron Parraguirre is Nevada’s new chief justice…

A branch of Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attempted Christmas bombing…

Recruitment firm Sivin-Tobin has lost its appeal in its suit against Akin Gump…

Congress continues to be unsympathetic to the ABA’s appeal for debt relief for law students….

In house counsel at Fortune 500 companies have named Ulmer & Berne the “go to firm”…

And Mayer Brown announced bonuses, with no new surprises….

ABA’s Loan Relief Proposal for Law Graduates Rejected by Congress

Aine Ford — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:12:47 +0000

Despite recent efforts from the American Bar Association to help recent law school graduates defer their student loans, neither the Obama administration nor Congress have gone along with the ABA’s proposal.

Carolyn Lamm, ABA President, said last week that the association will keep pushing by building support for student loan relief for recent graduates.

The ABA has been lobbying the Obama administration in response to the growing debt of recent graduates who have been unable to find jobs because of the recession.

Lamm says that she and other ABA officials have met with aides on Capitol Hill, at the U.S. Department of Education and in the White House to press their case, so far without success. She goes on to say that while they are interested in education and in helping, they have yet to find a solution.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:20:28 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, November 19 and this is your quick look back at the headlines.

A judge in Louisiana held that the US Army is liable for some Katrina damage…

Google debuts its new case law database….

Winston & Strawn has two new offices in Asia…

David Hamilton is getting his up or down vote for confirmation…

and the ABA is looking for a new leader….

Changing of the Guard at the ABA

joshua — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:38:48 +0000

Henry White has resigned as the executive director of the American Bar Association. R. Thomas Howell, the organization’s general counsel, has stepped in as interim executive direction. In the mean time, a search committee has been appointed to find a permanent replacement for White.

The ABA is the world’s largest voluntary membership professional organization, counting over 40,000 members on its rolls. Among other things, the ABA is in charge of law school accreditation.

ABA Offers Free Suicide Prevention Info

Erik Even — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:40:46 +0000

With two recent attorney suicides, and one from December just now announced, all probably spurred to the economic downturn, the American Bar Association is making available free information about legal industry suicides.

What Lawyers Need to Know About Suicide During a Recession: Prevention, Identity and Law Firm Responsibility is a free MP3 audio download available here.

From the ABA:

Suicide is our most preventable form of death. Many attorneys are in frequent contact with populations at elevated risk for suicide. In their professional roles, attorneys occupy a strategic position to intercept suicidal communications and identify and refer potentially suicidal clients, as well as employees and colleagues, for professional assessment and possible life-saving treatment. In addition Model Rule 1.14 gives the attorney broad power and responsibility when representing clients with diminished capacity.

Attorneys also have the highest rates of depression and suicide of any profession. Statistics suggest that the rate of suicide attempts among attorneys and their clients is increasing as the effects of the recession widen.

This program addresses the ethical responsibility employers have to assist attorneys in their employ that may be suicidal.

The complimentary download is cosponsored by the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs.

ABA: 3,500 Laid Off in March

Erik Even — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:46:03 +0000

The American Bar Association estimates that at least 3,500 attorneys and staff lost their jobs in March 2009.

In February, the group estimates 2,000 jobs were lost, with 1,500 on the street in January.

Firms that did not report solid layoff numbers were not included in the tally.

In just the last week, JDJournal estimated the loss of 455 lawyers and 219 staff; the week before, 91 lawyers and 177 staff; and the week before that, 574 lawyers and 812 staff.

Legal Aid Programs Hurt; So Do Third-Year Law Students

todd — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:56:50 +0000

Legal aid programs are hurting from a reduction in funding from Interest on Lawyer Trust Account Programs and state budget cuts, forcing layoffs and cuts in services.

Legal aid groups across the country are expected to cut their staffs by 20% or more. This comes in lieu of the fact that demand for legal services is up by 30% or more, according to the New York Times.

Connecticut Legal Services might have to cut one third of their 150 legal positions. The $16 million budget for legal services in East Texas is expected to drop to $4 million. And New York Governor David Paterson is proposing a budget that would terminate the state’s $8 million appropriation for legal aid.

The situation will negatively impact third-year law students who are hoping to find jobs in legal aid when they graduate. Nonprofit legal groups often don’t make decisions about hiring until the spring or, earliest, late winter. This forces many students to find public interest jobs until they find out about hiring decisions, according to National Law Journal.

A story in The New York Times describes the lawyer trust account funding as fading due to Federal Reserve interest-rate reductions.

ABA President H. Thomas Wells Jr. said in a statement, “This is an opportune time to seek out [ABA] resources, get involved and make a difference for our practices, our profession and our communities.”