The Life and Career of Michael J. Bowers: Partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP Michael J. Bowers is a true Southern gentleman, complete with the accent and the good manners. He is also a partner at Balch & Bingham, LLP, the former Attorney General of Georgia, and chairman of the Georgia Judicial Nominating Commission. In addition, Bowers was named by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the ''100 Most Influential Georgians'' for eight consecutive years... (391 views)
It's Quiet Around Here...Too Quiet: Five Signs That You're Going to Be Fired When I was growing up, my parents had a book for self-diagnosis. The book purported to help the reader define an ailment without the pesky trouble of driving to the doctor's office. By answering such questions as ''Are you running a fever?'' and ''Are you having trouble swallowing?'' you could track through hundreds of pages of flow charts to arrive at a laundry list of... (2596 views)
''Just Browsing'': Looking for Positions While Employed It's Saturday afternoon, and on your way home from the dry cleaners, you spot an amazing three-tiered red velvet cake with buttercream frosting in the window of a bakery. Perhaps you even dare to step inside for a few minutes and look around. The moment someone says, ''Can I help you,'' however, your response is the same as always: ''No, I'm just browsing.'' (2 views)
Sherman, Richichi & Hickey Sherman, Richichi & Hickey, LLC, has been operating since 1973, representing clients in Fairfield County, CT, and the New York metropolitan area. The firm's partners and associates have had years of experience in practice areas such as residential and commercial real estate, personal injury, criminal defense, civil litigation, employment litigation, business transactions,... (308 views)
The Life and Career of Michael 'Mickey' sherman considered as a Courtrooom Jester. Probably one of the coolest and most laid-back lawyers ever, Michael ''Mickey'' Sherman has been an attorney for more than 30 years and has yet to lose his sense of humor about his career. (1738 views)
Building a Reputation for Yourself as an Industry Expert Several times per month, I receive phone calls from recent law school graduates who are looking for entry-level jobs. The typical conversation starts something like this: (175 views)
The Lifestyles of Lawyers We've all heard different versions of the Ecclesiastical statement ''There is a time for everything.'' In fact, the adage was immortalized in The Byrds' song ''Turn, Turn, Turn'' decades ago—so much so that other musicians, such as Wilson Phillips and Dolly Parton, have covered the song in their own unique styles. (139 views)
Student from 4th tier law school plans LL.M. to better prospects Question: I am graduating from law school this May. I did not go to a very good law school (fourth-tier) and do not yet have a job. My friends and I think it's our school's reputation, and a few of my classmates are talking about getting an LL.M. from a school with a better reputation. Will an LL.M. from a much better school make me more marketable? (232 views)
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, prides itself on offering boutique-type, specialized services with a commitment to clients. In addition, the firm is ''deeply committed to diversity, to public service, to involvement in the communities [it] serves, and to excellence in all [it does].'' (18 views)
A Part of Nashville History: Hal Hardin In the latest rash of women accused of murdering their husbands, along with Melanie McGuire and Mary Winkler came a defendant with an odd twist: a female Nashville lawyer accused of murdering her lawyer husband. (2571 views)
What to Do When You Are: OVERQUALIFIED On a daily basis in my practice, I encounter numerous candidates who are graduates of Ivy League schools, practice in Wall Street or Magic Circle firms, are pioneers in cross-border work, are leaders in their respective industries, and, generally speaking, sit at the upper echelons of their practice areas. (501 views)
The Law Offices of Eric J. Dubin Sole practitioner Eric Dubin has been running his own firm in Southern California for approximately one decade, winning a series of prominent cases in Los Angeles County, Orange County, and Riverside County. Dubin handles all of his firm's cases individually, seeing each of them through every stage. (75 views)
Battling Robert Blake...Again: Plaintiff's Attorney Eric Dubin Orange County attorney Eric Dubin gained national acclaim when he won the $30 million civil suit against actor Robert Blake in 2005. Now, two years later, with a recent appeal to the court's decision having been filed, Dubin prepares to take on the case once again, but he's not too worried about losing this time, either. (561 views)
Resume Tailoring In my line of work, ''resume tailoring'' refers specifically to clients who would like extended periods of time to work on their resumes and cover letters with me so that we can adjust their documents as their position descriptions and employment desires shift. However, the broader definition of ''tailoring'' with regard to resumes, I think, now reflects more than ever its... (23 views)
Drug Companies and ''Off-Label'' Marketing Recently, pharmaceutical companies have come under fire for allegedly employing a practice known as ''off-labeling,'' whereby they persuade physicians to prescribe drugs for reasons other than the drugs' developed purposes. As a result, Congress has launched an investigation into the practice, class-action suits have been filed, and large settlements have been reached. (2 views)
Michael Brizel: General Counsel for Saks, Inc On Monday, April 16, Michael Brizel joined the Saks, Inc., team, and on May 7, he will begin his new duties as the company's general counsel and executive vice president. The former general counsel and senior vice president for Reader's Digest, Brizel will be taking the place of Charles Hansen at the company, which is most recognized for its Saks Fifth Avenue department... (117 views)
I Wish I Knew How to Quit You: The Guide to Making a Graceful Exit Before turning the doorknob to enter a partner's office, stop, breathe, and repeat after me: ''Less is more.'' (28927 views)
Is voluntary disclosure during an interview a good idea? Question: I am a third-year litigation associate in a mid-size law firm and was recently told that I should start looking for a new position. The reason I was given by the partners is that although I am a valued attorney and have done good work, there is not enough work to sustain me at this point. The partners specifically told me that they would help me find a new... (90 views)
Making Pro Bono Worth Reading About Every legal professional seeks to find ways to make his or her resume stand out from the rest. Sometimes it can feel a lot like applying for college all over again. You may ask yourself, ''Do I have enough volunteer work? Do I show knowledge and experience in a variety of areas? But do I still look focused and dedicated to my line of work? Most of all, does what I have... (11 views)
The Best Way to Prepare for a Job Search and Interviews Several years ago, when I was looking for a position in Los Angeles, I interviewed with numerous law firms. During virtually every one of these interviews, I ran into an attorney who knew not one, not two, not three, but numerous, numerous attorneys in my current firm. (159 views)
Angela Williams Brings a Musician's Finesse to Her Job as General Counsel of the YMCA of the USA When Angela Williams was in the 11th grade, she had her career goals narrowed down to two options: she was either going to be a professional musician or an attorney. (198 views)
Want to Improve Your Legal Writing? First, Improve Your Writing. (Part I) I am not an attorney. My specialties are writing, editing, and communications. However, I have spent virtually my entire career working for legal publishers and legal-service providers, and I now speak legalese very well. My experience has taken me to the point where odd phrases like ''of counsel'' and ''sexy boutique firm'' no longer confound me. (137 views)
Should I Disclose a Chronic Illness to a Potential Employer? I recently represented a candidate who sent me information via email for his cover letter. I had asked him, ''Have you always known you wanted to be a lawyer?'' His response was ''no.'' In fact, he had always wanted to be a doctor. However, he had inherited a progressive neuromuscular disease that prevented him from pursuing a career in medicine. (9823 views)
The Life and Career of Katherine Bacal: Partner with Baker & McKenzie, LLP Before going to law school, Katherine Bacal had no plans to enter the legal profession. In fact, she initially wanted to be a history professor. (4229 views)
Dating the Interviewer Forgive me now for the comparison I am about to make, but interviews are, in a lot of ways, no different from blind dates. Think about it. Each person involved asks empty, detail-oriented questions in an attempt to gain as much information as possible about the other before their time together comes to an end. (12 views)
Paul Barringer: General Counsel for Common Good While working for his family's business, Paul Barringer made the decision to enter the legal profession. His motivations sprang more from a sense of practicality and necessity than from any deep aspirations to become a lawyer. (87 views)
Associate stuck working with difficult partners Question: I am a first-year litigation associate at what many consider to be a top (and difficult) firm. I am stuck working closely with two very difficult partners that always criticize my work and rarely give me any positive feedback. I know that my work quality is not that horrible because other partners have told me that they heard my work product is very good and... (1771 views)
Tacopina & Seigel, PC Located in Manhattan, with an affiliate office in Rome, Italy, The Law Offices of Tacopina & Seigel, PC, has worked on many of the most infamous cases associated with high-power legal drama. Some of its most notorious clients include Joran van der Sloot, the teenager suspected of murdering Natalee Holloway; Diana Bianchi, the 19-year-old who was at the crux of Christie... (165 views)
The Life and Career of Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinton is a woman who is out to change history. As an aggressive ambassador for social change and improvement throughout the world, Clinton has broken a number of women's stereotypes and norms, paving the way for a whole generation of female attorneys and politicians. As the country's first woman contender for the presidency, Clinton is ''in—and she's in... (2027 views)
A word of caution for aspiring Junior Associates You made it. You left a relatively good job and an established professional identity with faith in your ability to redefine yourself. You managed to get through law school without getting divorced or reported to Child Protective Services. You performed well enough to get a permanent offer from a top law firm. (121 views)