How to Become a Law Professor: Part 1 - Tips & Resources for Landing a Jobs in Academia In the first of a two-part series on becoming a law professor, LawCrossing investigates the traditional academic route to this career. Next week's installment will examine how those who do not fit the classic mold may still pursue a career in teaching law. (10055 views)
How Public Defenders Protect People's Rights And Change Lives: A Look At Public Defenders Law In Action Public defenders have one of the toughest gigs in the legal industry - but also one of the most rewarding. Sacrificing the big paycheck to help those in need, public defenders find job satisfaction — and excellent training — amid some of the most emotionally-taxing circumstances. (9963 views)
Law Firm Titles Explained: Of Counsel, Non-Equity Partners, and Equity Partners Attorneys who are able to stay employed in a law firm for a long time can go several routes after being a senior associate. Every law firm has three main titles for attorneys who have achieved a high seniority level. These titles are: Of Counsel, Non-Equity Partner, and Equity Partner. (6455 views)
Maximizing Your Legal Career Through Law Firm Economics: What You Need to Know Attorneys who choose to work in law firms often do not know what they are getting themselves into. From summer associates to senior partners, proving your economic worth to your firm is often difficult, but always necessary. Find out what you need to do to show your law firm that you can fit into their economic model and that you are worth keeping around. (4310 views)
Jack Levin: Senior Partner of Kirkland Ellis - A Look into His Successful Legal Career Jack Levin's admirable career has allowed him to take on legal roles as diverse as law professor at a few top law schools, author of some of the most important corporate law literature in the field and partner at one of the most revered law firms in the country. He sits down and talks about all of them with us, and gives insight into the evolution of the corporate law... (4040 views)
Johnnie Cochran: Biography and Legacy of the Iconic Lawyer The world's most famous lawyer adds a Law Star to his ever-expanding trophy case and talks with LawCrossing about his high-powered career beyond O.J. (3815 views)
Become a Lawyer: Uncover What It Takes to Build a Career Behind the Bar Page 2 Why do I have to take it? Since the quality of education and specific curricula can vary significantly from school to school, the bar exam determines a standard level of competency among law school graduates. In conjunction with a demonstration of sufficient character and fitness (your bar application includes a questionnaire used to determine that you are... (2036 views)
Recruiting Technical Specialists for Legal Firms: Strategies for Profitable Hiring During the height of the technology boom, law firms were increasingly taking on technical specialists who could provide valuable help on patent work. Is this a viable job option for people with scientific backgrounds and no legal degree? (2018 views)
Become a Practicing Attorney: 5 Advantages of Joining Law Review (Part 1) At one time or another, every law student wonders whether writing for a major student publication or law review will open unique career opportunities in the future. Many students also question whether the time devoted to law review tasks might negatively affect their studies. LawCrossing sought out three practicing attorneys' opinions on whether to pursue this honorable... (1754 views)
Guide to Pepperdine University School of Law: Detailed Overview and Admissions Requirements Offering a Malibu campus that trumps even those of other Southern California schools, Pepperdine provides students with an attractive setting to go along with its cutting-edge legal programs. (1188 views)
How Richard M. Cooper Achieved Success as a Partner of Williams & Connolly Richard Cooper, 62, has a worldwide reputation as a food and drug attorney and has had a prominent career in both public service and private practice. LawCrossing speaks with Mr. Cooper about his career and the merits of public service. (889 views)
Is Working on Weekends and Holidays Necessary for Lawyers? Mental health and work-life balance have been the latest buzzwords in every field these days especially with the Great Resignation happening as a consequence of the coronavirus disease 2019. (848 views)
Choosing Between a Large Law Firm and a Small Law Firm: Pros and Cons When it comes to selecting a law firm, one important decision to make is whether to opt for a large law firm or a small law firm. Both options have their own unique advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will explore the key differences between large and small law firms, weigh the pros and cons of each, and provide valuable insights to help you make an informed... (695 views)
Concord Law School: Get an Online Law Degree from Anywhere Through the Internet, you can shop online, pay your bills, and chat live with a friend in Bulgaria, all without leaving the comfort of your home. So why not earn a law degree online? In 1998, Kaplan, Inc., the titan of school-preparation testing, pioneered the concept by establishing the nation's first online law school. A legal education is now just a few clicks away. (663 views)
Lee A Paige, CLA: Senior Legal Assistant at Morrison Foerster LLP in San Francisco, CA For many, becoming a paralegal is a second career. While other areas of the economy stagnate, the paralegal profession has been booming over the last few decades, attracting hordes of professionals looking for a second career. LawCrossing talks with star paralegal Lee A. Paige about the challenges of retraining yourself and the importance of getting an education—well... (633 views)
How To Reduce Billable Hours & Increase Profitability For Law Firms Back in the late 80s, Stephanie Morris graduated from law school, clerked for a federal judge, and then started practicing as an associate in a reasonably sized, big city law firm. ''It was mandatory that every associate bill 1,800 hours a year,'' she remembers. She labored in the firm, before a trip to the doctor confirmed her belief that her work environment ''was crazy... (611 views)
Real-Life Hero and Law Star James A. George Honored with Bronze Star Imagine you're busy juggling caseloads in a bustling law practice. The phone rings. You've got three days to report for active duty and will likely be sent to Iraq. (523 views)
How to Market Your Law Degree from a Lower Tier Law School Outside Your State: Tips & Strategies Not everyone goes to a law school that is nationally recognized and universally accepted. While it certainly makes it tougher if you didn't, there are ways to move your law degree to another area of the country, if that's what you really want. (491 views)
Solving the Dilemma of a Catch 22 Situation: How to Resolve it After graduation from law school, the Harvard or Yale graduate will have an easy time finding a job because most of the top firms around the nation will come to him/her. But what of the other law school students? For those students, finding a job can be tough, especially because the reputation of the law school one graduated from carries a lot of weight. (437 views)
Former National Lawyers Association President: Rita Lowery Gitchell's Journey to Success Rita Gitchell talks with LawCrossing about her crusade on behalf of working mothers, the thorny issues involved with her practice area, the challenges involved in raising kids while practicing law, and how her strongly held beliefs led her to eventually serve as the first female president of the National Lawyers Association. (416 views)
Debevoise & Plimpton: A Look at One of the Largest Law Firms in the World Since its inception in 1931 in New York, Debevoise & Plimpton has enjoyed a long and fruitful history that has led to its reputation as one of the most prestigious law firms in the world. Top-notch corporate and litigation departments, a stellar pro bono practice, and a pleasant firm culture all help to distinguish Debevoise from its competition. (414 views)
Remember that Counselor is Another Word for Lawyer: Get to Know Melinda Sarafa As a white-collar crime litigator and a former public defender, Melinda Sarafa has represented clients ranging from low-income immigrants to a Miami nightclub owner suspected of organized crime activity. While the stakes in such cases might be vastly different, Sarafa, a partner at Zuckerman Spaeder in New York, says attorneys must never forget their ultimate roles as... (356 views)
At the University of Arizona Law School, Mary Birmingham is Breaking Barriers Mary Birmingham has been a law school career services professional for going on 19 years, but it has been at the University of Arizona Law School, her second career services post, that she and her colleague, Paula Nailon, established one of the American legal profession's signature career services programs, one likely to be copied by other law schools. (296 views)
Harness the Power of Oral Argument Techniques: An Inside Look at Georgetown's Supreme Court Institute Before the United States Supreme Court heard arguments in the case United States v. Booker last October, the winning side was mooted at Georgetown University Law Center's Supreme Court Institute, Washington, DC. (274 views)
Solo Practitioner Attorney: Everything You Need to Know A solo practitioner attorney is a lawyer who operates their own law firm and works independently, without partners or associates. They handle all aspects of their legal practice, from client relations and case management to billing and marketing. Solo practitioner attorneys can specialize in various areas of law, such as criminal defense, family law, immigration, or... (271 views)
Litigation vs. Transactional Law Litigation and transactional law are two distinct areas of practice within the legal profession. Litigation involves representing clients in legal disputes and advocating for their rights in court. It encompasses the process of resolving conflicts through legal proceedings, such as filing lawsuits, conducting discovery, presenting arguments, and ultimately seeking a... (263 views)
Improve Your Grades: Strategies for Winning the War Against Your Law School Exams The enemy is largely unknown. It lurks in the minds of your professors throughout the semester but is never fully revealed until it's too late. You find yourself trapped in a classroom with no way out (except if you leave an ID card with the proctors, you may visit the bathroom, one at a time, as long as you're quiet) and just a few hours to attack before it's all over.... (245 views)
Child Psychology Expert and Attorney Margaret McLean Transforms Courtrooms with Creative Play Therapy Solutions Being a fulltime litigator and fulltime mother is not an easy balancing act. LawCrossing speaks with Margaret McLean about her new courtroom-based thriller novel and how writing it allowed her to bring the courtroom home while raising her three children. (229 views)
Jan M. Conlin: A Successful Partner at Robins Kaplan Miller & Ciresi Law Firm Through her involvement in some monumental intellectual property cases involving a few of the country's largest and most respected corporations, Jan Conlin has made quite the name for herself, despite never having envisioned the practice of intellectual property law as her ultimate career. (228 views)
Become a Lawyer with Robert Corn-Revere's Top Tips for Lawyers-in-Training This week's Star of the Week, noted First Amendment advocate Robert Corn-Revere, recently made headlines as he played an instrumental part in the decision by New York Governor Pataki to overturn Lenny Bruce's 40-year-old conviction on obscenity charges. (204 views)