Comments for I Am Not a Lawyer http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com Musings on the U.S. Legal Scene From An Outsider Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:20:13 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on About by bibomedia http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/about/#comment-44 bibomedia Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:20:13 +0000 #comment-44 :) :)

]]> Comment on Two articles criticizing the culture of large law firms. by iamnotalawyer http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/two-articles-criticizing-the-culture-of-large-law-firms/#comment-42 iamnotalawyer Thu, 21 Feb 2008 02:06:45 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-42 Yes, I just noticed that I forgot the link! I'm very sorry. I quite enjoy your blog so far, and would like to be able to tell people where it is. And thanks for dropping by to expand on all of this. Yes, I just noticed that I forgot the link! I’m very sorry. I quite enjoy your blog so far, and would like to be able to tell people where it is. And thanks for dropping by to expand on all of this.

]]> Comment on Two articles criticizing the culture of large law firms. by Jordan http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/02/20/two-articles-criticizing-the-culture-of-large-law-firms/#comment-41 Jordan Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:26:52 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=23#comment-41 Lorelei, those lists are definitely profitable -- the periodicals rank the top X firms in a given area (corporate finance, litigation, whatever), guaranteeing that every lawyer at those firms will pick up the article to see where they ranked. And of course, they also contact the firm to suggest an ad to complement their appearance. We don't do these sorts of lists in our magazine, largely because we're a member publication, and it's a tad impolitic to be telling a member law firm that it ranks a sterling 11th in its favourite practice area. :-) But even if that weren't the case, I still wouldn't want to do these sorts of lists. As you point out, they're lazy journalism, mostly an exercise in ego feeding. Clients can form their own opinions about lawyers and sure don't need legal trade pubs to help them. As far as the big firms here go, the Canadian versions aren't much different from their US counterparts -- smaller, of course, and if possible even less innovative, but the structures, issues and challenges are largely the same. I write about Canadian firms when they do something interesting or illustrative of trends; unfortunately, that's not very often. :-) Thanks for the shout-out and kind words, though I feel compelled to mention that the post doesn't actually link to the article in question, which is at http://law21.ca/2008/02/15/if-i-had-two-billion-dollars/. Keep up the good work -- we need more non-lawyers talking about us. :-) Lorelei, those lists are definitely profitable — the periodicals rank the top X firms in a given area (corporate finance, litigation, whatever), guaranteeing that every lawyer at those firms will pick up the article to see where they ranked. And of course, they also contact the firm to suggest an ad to complement their appearance. We don’t do these sorts of lists in our magazine, largely because we’re a member publication, and it’s a tad impolitic to be telling a member law firm that it ranks a sterling 11th in its favourite practice area. :-) But even if that weren’t the case, I still wouldn’t want to do these sorts of lists. As you point out, they’re lazy journalism, mostly an exercise in ego feeding. Clients can form their own opinions about lawyers and sure don’t need legal trade pubs to help them.

As far as the big firms here go, the Canadian versions aren’t much different from their US counterparts — smaller, of course, and if possible even less innovative, but the structures, issues and challenges are largely the same. I write about Canadian firms when they do something interesting or illustrative of trends; unfortunately, that’s not very often. :-)

Thanks for the shout-out and kind words, though I feel compelled to mention that the post doesn’t actually link to the article in question, which is at http://law21.ca/2008/02/15/if-i-had-two-billion-dollars/. Keep up the good work — we need more non-lawyers talking about us. :-)

]]> Comment on Help a Blogger Out by Greg May http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/02/13/help-a-blogger-out/#comment-32 Greg May Wed, 13 Feb 2008 23:48:32 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=20#comment-32 Thanks for the help! Thanks for the help!

]]> Comment on Rumors of the Billable Hour’s Demise Are Greatly Exaggerated by Jon http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/01/29/rumors-of-the-billable-hours-demise-are-greatly-exaggerated/#comment-29 Jon Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:02:58 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=12#comment-29 I've noticed that most lawyers wear suits and use latin in briefs, and lawsuits still use a vertical row of right parens when the ability to typeset with an actual vertical bar has long been possible. Something tells me there just isn't much desire to change in this industry. I’ve noticed that most lawyers wear suits and use latin in briefs, and lawsuits still use a vertical row of right parens when the ability to typeset with an actual vertical bar has long been possible. Something tells me there just isn’t much desire to change in this industry.

]]> Comment on Have They Seen a ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Commercial Lately? by Jon http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/have-they-seen-a-girls-gone-wild-commercial-lately/#comment-28 Jon Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:51:58 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=16#comment-28 I really really really want to see an ad by <a href="http://www.mofo.com" rel="nofollow"> Morrison & Foerster </a> using Samuel L. Jackson. I really really really want to see an ad by Morrison & Foerster using Samuel L. Jackson.

]]> Comment on Internet privacy rights in California by Jon http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/02/07/internet-privacy-rights-in-california/#comment-27 Jon Tue, 12 Feb 2008 05:49:34 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=17#comment-27 Ah, the freedoms we commenters hold dear: flaming and trolling. Also, your mom is gay. Ah, the freedoms we commenters hold dear: flaming and trolling. Also, your mom is gay.

]]> Comment on In Which I Add to the Dogpile on California Medi-Pot Protections by Law Guy http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/in-which-i-add-to-the-dogpile-on-california-medi-pot-protections/#comment-24 Law Guy Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:54:54 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/in-which-i-add-to-the-dogpile-on-california-medi-pot-protections/#comment-24 The Law needs to be more descriptive for patients and employers. The employer probably does not care if the employee uses marijuana, they are just protecting themselves legally in case of an accident. They have no choice until the law can protect them as well! The Law needs to be more descriptive for patients and employers. The employer probably does not care if the employee uses marijuana, they are just protecting themselves legally in case of an accident. They have no choice until the law can protect them as well!

]]> Comment on Have They Seen a ‘Girls Gone Wild’ Commercial Lately? by RumorsDaily http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/02/06/have-they-seen-a-girls-gone-wild-commercial-lately/#comment-17 RumorsDaily Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:17:44 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=16#comment-17 I just read about a case the other day where a Girls Gone Wild girl was suing over being used in commercials and on the box cover (and, presumably, in the video). She even has an IMDB page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1257293/ This isn't at all what you were discussing, but your title reminded me of her. I just read about a case the other day where a Girls Gone Wild girl was suing over being used in commercials and on the box cover (and, presumably, in the video). She even has an IMDB page:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1257293/

This isn’t at all what you were discussing, but your title reminded me of her.

]]> Comment on More about what non-workplace behavior your employer can fire you for. by iamnotalawyer http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/more-about-what-non-workplace-behavior-your-employer-can-fire-you-for/#comment-15 iamnotalawyer Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:47:07 +0000 http://iamnotalawyer.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-15 Yes, particularly "periplus," for which I couldn't find a more pointed definition. While I have mad respect for Ninth Circuit judges, I do feel strongly as a writer that good communication is simple. Which means only using fifty-cent words if you truly need to. Yes, particularly “periplus,” for which I couldn’t find a more pointed definition. While I have mad respect for Ninth Circuit judges, I do feel strongly as a writer that good communication is simple. Which means only using fifty-cent words if you truly need to.

]]>