New Faces, New Ideas: Diversity in Law Firms Makes Business Sense, Part 2 This is the second of a two-part article on diversity in law firms. This first article examined why more law firms are recognizing the value of having a diverse workplace. This second part provides ideas for recruiting and retaining an inclusive workforce and offers some advice to smaller firms. (162 views)
How to redeem instant 80% on Tax Returns We all know we should save for retirement, yet study after study shows that most Americans aren't saving enough. But I don't need studies to tell me that — as editor of The Motley Fool's Rule Your Retirement newsletter service, I hear from retiree wannabes all the time about how they wish they could save more, but they just don't have the money. However, when I tell them... (34 views)
Tours of plantations, historical sites bring area's colorful past to life The Old South took on new significance with the Mississippi Queen's daily shore tours offering glimpses into the history, folklore, politics and traditions of ports along the river. Passengers choose from antebellum plantations, Civil War battlefields, formal gardens, Cajun communities and museums in bustling cities. (333 views)
Profile: Theresa Prater, RP, Treasurer, American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc., and Senior Paralegal, Rural/Metro Corporation, Scottsdale, AZ A paralegal for 25 years, Theresa Prater is a founding member of the American Alliance of Paralegals, Inc. (AAPI). LawCrossing speaks with Ms. Prater about the association and her switch from law firm life into the corporate world. (120 views)
Working in Chambers: Judicial Clerkships Provide a Unique Career Experience For law students and new attorneys, judicial clerkships are exciting and highly coveted positions with plenty of responsibilities and rewards alike. ''A judicial clerk is someone who acts as the judge's assistant at every stage of the proceeding,'' explained Debra Strauss, attorney and former federal clerk for the Southern District of New York. She is also the author of... (1340 views)
The Life and Career of William J. Pascrell: A career in public service, politics, and government At the age of eight, William J. Pascrell III was already actively involved in political campaigns, thanks to a public service-oriented family. He recalls helping his father and others work on various campaigns in his home state of New Jersey. In fact, his father, a former high school teacher and mayor, would go on to become a New Jersey Assemblyman and U.S. Representative. (56 views)
Law students should make the best use of study aids and guides Emanuel's. Gilbert's. Each is a name law students will become very familiar with during the course of studying to become a lawyer. Just how useful and necessary these study aids and class outlines are to get you through law school depends on whom you talk to. (462 views)
The Life and Career of Donald B. Verrilli, Partner, Jenner & Block, Washington, DC Donald B. Verrilli is a seasoned Supreme Court specialist, trial attorney, expert on Constitutional law, and pro bono champion of death row inmates. LawCrossing speaks with Mr. Verrilli about his role in some of the leading cases of our time. (107 views)
The Life and Career of Cesar Perales Founder of Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund When Cesar Perales took over as executive director of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund two years ago, it was a triumphant homecoming. LawCrossing speaks to Mr. Perales about how the PLDEF has expanded its mandate to fight for justice for all Latinos. (508 views)
Its still a good time to save for a fruitful retirement Maybe you cared more about Woodstock than shares of stock. Perhaps you spent more time on disco than on Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO). Or it could be that you kept a better eye on your favorite VJ at MTV than on your 401(k). (8 views)
A Question of third-party guilt Early on the morning of Dec. 31, 1989, someone raped and murdered 86-year-old Mary Stewart at her home in York, S.C. A jury convicted Bobby Lee Holmes of the crime, and a trial court sentenced him to death. The question is, did Holmes do it? Or was it a third party entirely? (220 views)
Autumn's best in Canada If you go to Cape Breton Island during foliage time, it's easy to find unity with the area's most famous resident, innovator Alexander Graham Bell. (73 views)
Part Two of Two: Civil Rights Expand Globally with Columbia Law school's Human Rights Internship Program As 125 Columbia Law School students near the end of their public service work this summer, we will take a look at the law school's Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP). This program sends law students around the world, and around the United States, to work for public interest organizations seeking to improve human rights. (445 views)
Profile Jim Barber, CP, Christensen & Jensen, P.C., Salt Lake City, UT Jim Barber has been a paralegal for more than 18 years. About five years ago, he decided he had enough experience to share, so he started writing. He has been published in numerous paralegal publications, such as the National Paralegal Reporter and the Texas Paralegal Journal. But it was an article he helped write for the University of Detroit Mercy Law Review that has... (200 views)
Columbia Law Students Work at Home and Abroad With the Human Rights Internship Program (Part 2) Human rights issues are not limited by borders or nationalities — and this is aptly illustrated by the work Columbia University Law School students are doing this summer through the Human Rights Internship Program (HRIP). (337 views)
Law Schools Are Looking Beyond Their Own Walls for Students' Clinical Experience Law students, more and more, cannot live by theory alone. While it is still possible for a student to go through law school and graduate having never worked through a legal problem on behalf of a clinic client, staying instead firmly within the classroom, this scenario is becoming less and less likely. (37 views)
The Life and Career of Joe Swimmer: The business of law at LexisNexis As an executive with LexisNexis, Joe Swimmer uses his J.D. to improve and expand the well-known research tool used by countless lawyers and law students. It didn't take long for Mr. Swimmer to find his niche. A 1997 graduate of Stanford Law School, he practiced for about two years at San Francisco law firms-handling everything from energy law to mergers and... (299 views)
New Faces, New Ideas: Diversity in Law Firms Makes Business Sense This is the first of a two-part article on diversity in law firms. This first section examines why more law firms are recognizing the value of having a diverse workplace. The second part will provide ideas for recruiting and retaining an inclusive workforce and offer some advice for smaller firms. (886 views)
The Life and Career of Rena Cutlip Lawyer representing migrant farm workers Victims of domestic violence generally feel powerless and are often lost in the system. For immigrant women, the problems can be much worse, with victims unaware of their rights. Illegal immigrants often tolerate abuse out of fear that they will be deported if they seek help. Tahirih Justice Center helps women and girls fleeing human rights abuse. LawCrossing speaks with... (155 views)
Simplify Your Financial Life Simplicity of life, even the barest, is not a misery, but the very foundation of refinement; a sanded floor and whitewashed walls and the green trees, and flowery meades, and living waters outside... — William Morris (6 views)
The Life and Career of Nina Kaufman: Law, Laughter, and Legal Advice for Small Businesses Did you hear the one about the attorney/stand-up comedian? She's so funny she keeps her clients laughing even after they get the bill. (331 views)
CASE OF THE DISENCHANTED DONORS If and when it goes to trial next year, the civil suit of William Robertson, et als, v. Princeton University promises to be a jawdropper. The case dates from 1961, when the Robertson family made a huge gift to the university. Now the heirs want their money back, and Princeton won't return it. (60 views)
Visitors to Honduras take a trip back in time Encircled by a maze of ancient stones and craggy plateaus while standing amid the noble shadows of enormous towering temples where throbbing Maya hearts were once sent off to the gods, it feels as if a 3,500-year-old cocoon is squeezing one's senses back to the ancient world, to the intriguing and timeless secrets of the Copan ruins. A stone's throw from the Guatemalan... (130 views)
Columbia Law Students Free to Pursue Public Interest Through Comprehensive Programs This summer, a remarkably high number of students (125) from Columbia Law School is working in the public interest and human rights fields in two programs that offer both financial and institutional support. These two main public interest programs at Columbia Law-the Public Service Fellowship and the Human Rights Internship Program-are administered by the Center for Public... (173 views)
Students Get Inspired, Get Experience with Columbia Law School's Public Service Fellowships Getting a paid legal job for your first summer after law school is a rare thing. Getting paid by the law school is rarer still. (377 views)
Profile: Negar Ashtari When women call the Tahirih Justice Center for help, paralegal Negar Ahstari is generally their first point of contact. LawCrossing talks with Ms. Ashtari about her work at the center and the desperate women who call there for help. (361 views)
Learning from Others' Mistakes: Legal Staff in Court over Ethical Violations To err is human, but errors made by employees of a law firm may be costly. (1855 views)
A Look at LL.M. Programs Jenna Kalcevic always knew she wanted to attend an LL.M. program early on while attending law school at the University of Trier in Germany. Coming from an international family herself-her mother is German and her father American-and having lived in both countries, it was only natural she would end up back in the states again. (205 views)
Will the future see a technologically advance method of trials Perry Mason never used a laser pointer, litigation database, video animation or a PowerPoint presentation. All Perry needed were the facts, and the notable efforts of Paul Drake, his personal investigator, and Della Street, his legal secretary. (51 views)
How to retire gracefully Won't retirement be great? No more need to update your knowledge and improve your skills. No more colleagues to interact with. No more contributing to the nation's gross domestic product. No more reason to get out of bed in the morning... for two decades! Then you die. (738 views)