ALMResearchBlog

Lawyers in the Movies

In case you missed it, note Carolyn Elefant’s post on Legal Blog Watch about lawyers in current movies, such as Michael Clayton. We’d like to add a few suggestions of our own. Just for starters: Court TV’s 15 Most Memorable Movies , the University of California at Berkley Library’s Lawyers and the Legal Process in Movies, and LSU Law Center’s Women Lawyers in Films.

Texas Bar Runs YouTube Contest

As Carolyn Elfant noted recently on the Legal Blog Watch, in response to the increasing uses of online video in the legal profession—including the Supreme Court's citation of an online video in a decision—the Texas Bar has launched a contest entitled "Lone Star Stories: Texans on Justice." The contest is open not just to lawyers but all Texans and asks them to submit short, original videos that illustrate their vision of justice.

According to this story in Texas Lawyer, The contest offers entrants a chance to win $2,500 in each of two categories. Those in the younger-than-18 category are competing for a $2,500 scholarship. The State Bar will award a $2,500 cash prize to the winning contestant in the 18-and-older category. Rules and the entry form can be accessed by clicking here. The deadline for entries is December 15, 2007

A Lawyer Walks into a Bar ...

We heard about this one on AboveTheLaw.com, and no, it's not a new, or even an old, lawyer joke. It's a critically acclaimed, independent documentary film about lawyers and the legal profession, according to ATL. Their posting about the movie, A Lawyer Walks Into a Bar, provides a synopsis, as well as links to the trailer and official web site. The documentary is about is a celebration of the law and triumph over adversity that follows six future lawyers of all ages and backgrounds as they undertake the rigorous and excruciating California Bar Exam, while also dealing thematically with certain hot button issues in our profession.

You can't order it through NetFlix yet (I tried), and it doesn't seem to be playing anywhere but film festivals. However, if you just can't wait, you can order it through the official web site for $22.

Fewer Women Are Seeking Law Degrees

That was the title of a recent National Law Journal article on the American Bar Association’s statistical report showing that the percentage of women in law schools has declined each year since 2002. According to the ABA, five years ago, women made up 49 percent of law school enrollment. This year, 46.9 percent of law school students are women. The article explores some of the reasons for this trend--a strong economy in 2004-2005 may have led many to go right into the work force; there are more options available to women these days; and, as always, there are the quality of life issues entailed in working as a lawyer in private practice.

Statistics for the Legal Market

While it’s not exactly comprehensive, this interesting set of legal business stats put together by Margaret Grisdella, president of Leagl Expert Connections was posted recently on the Law Marketing Portal. We noted that the demographics came from the ABA’s ever-useful Lawyer Demographics web page.

Summer Associates Challenged to Use (Gasp!) Print Resources

This item appeared earlier this month on the Wall St. Journal Law Blog and we were just as shocked, I'm sure, as you will be. Summer associates at Pillsbury Winthrop took part in the firm's sixth annual Summer Associates Research Challenge. Three teams had to answer 40 legal questions the fastest and most accurately in 90 minutes or less - using only print resources! No Google, no Westlaw, no computers allowed.

The WSJ reporter covering the story, Peter Lattman, tried his best to get the law students to admit that Pillsbury was "stuck in the dark ages." But they refused to comply. Originator of the context, partner Bill Atkins, explained to Lattman that he was no Luddite. He came up with the idea after seeing some summer associates with computer printouts of some two-dozen cases. "I'd look at them and say, 'For the love of all that's holy, those cases are right down the hall in a book!'" Most shocking of all - the summer associates love the experience!

Across the Pond: Greener Grass?

According to a recent poll of 2,886 lawyers by TheLawyer.com, working for U.S. firms is less appealing than working for global U.K. firms. Only 7% found U.S. firms to be “the most attractive employers,” the report said, though associates at the biggest London firms found U.S. firms a bit more appealing than other lawyers. The writer of the report, Ben Moshinsky, attributed this lack of appeal in part to the “rocketing salaries” at U.K. firms, which has removed some of the monetary incentive for moving from a U.K. firm to a U.S. firm.

Training: Business Development, Marketing

The Web Audio Conference Division of ALM Media is offering several conferences in June and July relating to business development for lawyers. The Law Firm Associates Guide to Personal Marketing and Selling Skills is scheduled for June 21st at noon EST. And the Lawyer's Field Guide to Effective Business Development is scheduled for July 19, also at noon EST. For questions and information on bulk pricing, email: [email protected] or call 212-313-9248.

The 50 Most Influential Women Lawyers in America

For the first time since 1998, The National Law Journal has published its list of The Most Influential Women Lawyers in America.The NLJ asked readers to nominate women lawyers who have had a national impact in their fields and beyond during the last five years. They looked for women with the demonstrated power to change the legal landscape. In the end, the list reflects not just the most influential women lawyers, but some of the most influential lawyers, period, according to NLJ. Click on the link above for the complete list.

Women Lawyer and Obstacles to Leadership

A study conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Workplace Center found what most of us already know: Women are less likely to make partner at large firms because of difficulties faced in blending work and parenthood. MIT's Workplace Center said it surveyed 1,000 Massachusetts lawyers and found that 35% of female associates with children left large firms between 2002 and 2004, compared with 15% of male associates with children. The authors found that most male lawyers have spouses who are less career-oriented and can assume childcare responsibility, while female lawyers tend to have spouses with an equal or greater commitment to career and who earn as much or more. In a nutshell: long work hours and parenthood don't mix. The full study can be accessed in PDF format here.

Data for the number of female lawyers at NLJ 250 and AmLaw 200 firms is available through ALM Research Online in the current (2007) Diversity Scorecard spreadsheet, available free to subscribers and for $250 for non-subscribers. Diversity Scorecard also includes the data and rankings from this year’s report on minority lawyers at NLJ 250 and AmLaw firms. Historical data is also available to premium subscribers for the years 1984, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1998, and 2001-2006.