Time magazine recently added to the discussion over the sweeping deferred associates situation. Now that many graduates are left in limbo and unsure if they are starting at their firm now, a year from now or perhaps never, more non-profit organizations, academic institutions and other entities are reacting to the situation
“Boston College, for instance, will let its graduates audit classes next fall for free. UCLA Law School has announced a Masters of Law program designed specifically for deferred associates. A number of firms have also begun matching their recruits to pro bono opportunities. That’s the option University of Pennsylvania Law School graduate Susan Wilker took when her job at Boston law firm Ropes and Gray deferred until at least January. Wilker will have her health benefits paid and receive $60,000 for working at Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, a nonprofit that focuses on education discipline and juvenile justice.”
Non-profit appear now to have the option to meet the widening gulf of legal services provided to low-income individuals. “For sure, the start-date delays have been a boon for public interest organizations around the country. Research shows that some 80% of legal needs go unmet among low-income Americans, and organizations that serve such clientele, such as the Legal Aid Society, now have their pick of top law school graduates — most of whom will arrive with a paid salary and health benefits attached.”
May 27th, 2009
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President Obama recently started to undertake the arduous task of nominating attorneys to the U.S. Attorney positions. Mr. Obama has moved forward with 6 nominations. He has 93 to go.
Do not expect a smooth nominating process: With recent U.S. Attorney firings during the Bush Administration and calls to appoint a neutral commission to evaluate nominations to provide a fair and neutral perspective on the nominees, Mr. Obama will face some challenges, particularly from Republican representatives who may view his appointments as political rather than based on their record on enforcing the law.
To read the full article on some of the potential obstacles Mr. Obama may face, click here.
May 20th, 2009
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At Stanford Law School on April 4th, students, legal practitioners and academics participated on a panel to address the decline in law firm pro bono work. It’s been well documented that law firms are feeling the impact of the economic recession, particularly those recent law school graduates who have been deferred from their firm. What is not as well documented is the impact on pro bono activity.
The panel, “Pro Bono and the Economic Crisis: The Impact on Education and Practice,” featured prominent public interest attorneys, private practitioners and academics from around the country to discuss the decline (and fear of an even greater decline) in pro bono activity, which has taken a serious hit during the economic downturn. Said one panelist, “…we need to develop a very serious plan of action for dealing with market fluctuations. We know from the research that, when firms are doing well, we see more pro bono, and when they aren’t, we see less pro bono.”
The panelists had varied backgrounds but they were fairly uniform in their sense of urgency. Many believed a new system of pro bono work at law firms should be presented to ensure those without the means to obtain legal services can secure representation.
To read the full panel transcript, click here.
May 20th, 2009
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Pro Bono |
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A recent New York Times article documents the story of Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, an environmental and human rights activist who was executed in the ’90s on what many consider drummed up murder charges. One of lawyers involved in helping to bring more facts behind the execution of Saro-Wiwa is Jennie Green, a staff attorney for the Center for Constitutional Rights www.ccrjustice.org). Ms. Green specializes in international human rights and for three years was the administrative director of Harvard Law School’s Human Rights Program.
May 10th, 2009
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In a recent Boston Globe article, Juan Valdivieso, expected to graduate in 2009, discusses and highlights a growing number of soon-to-be graduates experiencing the effects of an economic recession. Juan was going to leave law school with an offer from the D.C. based firm Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Recently, he received an email from the firm telling him that his employment had been deferred until 2010.
Valdivieso is part of a growing number of law school grads being deferred for a year. This Globe article highlights the trend of affecting students like Juan. “Valdivieso said he knows of 20 to 30 fellow Harvard students (the graduating class numbers 575) who have had their employment postponed, and many of them have been offered stipends. Students at law schools around the country are getting the same offer, and while no one tracks precise numbers, the trend “is pretty widespread,” said (James) Leipold, with participants including such noted firms as Latham & Watkins, based in California, and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, based in New York.” Leipold is the Executive Director of National Association for Law Placement which deals in career counseling and recruitment.
Mark Weber, Assistant Dean for Career Services at HLS, provided statistics to the reporter as well as some insight into what could happen in the near future as a result of this economic downturn, “There’s a lot of litigation that hasn’t taken place,” he said. “There’s a lot of regulatory work and a lot of appeals that aren’t being done right now. So when that stuff picks up, people are going to be busy.”
May 1st, 2009
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