Whistleblower Insider

Whistleblowers, whether government or corporation insiders, are making news these days. Whistleblower law, a specialty practice area centered around several federal statutes and regulatory agencies responsible for preventing fraud and corruption and protecting consumers and the public welfare, is the focus of Whistleblower Insider, a free blog created by the law firm Constantine Cannon LLP.

An internationally recognized firm with offices in New York and Washington, DC, Constantine Cannon practices primarily in whistleblower representation, antitrust, government relations, commercial litigation and securities.  Their client base includes the healthcare, banking, electronic payments, insurance, telecommunications, and government contracting industries.

With Whistleblower Insider, it's easy to keep up with developments in whistleblower law and litigation.  In addition to the topical posts written by specialist attorneys at the firm, the blog includes a resources page with links to the texts of major whistleblower statutes and enforcement agency websites.  To receive email alerts as a free subscriber, just provide your email address.  



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

New Lawyer Tips for Success

Above the Law recently posted an article that gives new lawyers the inside track on success when first starting out at a firm.  These are the kind of tips that many new lawyers wish someone had told them before they had to find out the hard way. (Never go near the office of the managing attorney without a yellow legal pad in your hand was my own "new lawyer" lesson learned.)

10 Things Your Law Firm Boss Wants You To Know, but Isn't Going to Tell You is a quick read of small things that seem obvious...but are not. The article also references Greenhorn Legal, a company that regularly posts a New Lawyer Tip of the Week on their blog and also posts real world legal tales of horror by the (formerly new) lawyers that suffered through them.  An example? The Disaster Stories Part IV: Using Social Media Irresponsibly. 

The blog's author, Desiree Moore, has written a book that explain the unspoken rules to surviving in a law firm as a new lawyer.  Find Thrive : a new lawyer's guide to law firm practice by Desirée Moore at the Hofstra Law Library.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Law Firm Pronunciation Guide

When the conversation in the Library this week isn't about exams, it's about jobs. Here's something new to eliminate at least some of the job search stress facing law students. You no longer have to fear mispronouncing the names of prospective employers such as Sughrue Mion PLLC, Gardere Wynne Sewell, LLP, and hundreds of others. Georgetown Law's Office of Career Services has just launched their Law Firm Pronunciation Guide.  Click on any firm name in the list to hear an MP3 audio file with the correct pronunciation before you set out for that interview. 

Acknowledgment to Legal Blog Watch.

Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

NALP Update: New Recruiting Guidelines

NALP, the National Association for Law Placement, announced yesterday its long-awaited timing guidelines for the 2010 legal recruiting season. After months of consideration, the association decided against setting specific dates before which offers could not be made, and settled on a modest change--a "28-day rolling response deadline for candidates not previously employed by the employer, and a November 1 response deadline for candidates who have been previously employed by the employer."

You can read the press release of the announcement here. That NALP's decision (see my February 21 post) followed "spirited" dialogue is reflected in this response from the Above the Law.
Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

What is the Future of the NALP?

The National Association for Law Placement is the group that coordinates law firm recruiting on law school campuses. The recession has brought calls for changes to current recruiting standards, including a proposal by the NALP that all summer associate job offers be issued in January.

This has led Peter Kalis, a partner at K&L Gates, to suggest that law firms and law schools work together to change how law firm recruiting is done, without the NALP.

It seems apparent that how law firm recruiting is done will change somewhat over the next few years, but how it will change--and how much it will change--is anyone's guess.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The Future of First Year Associates

This WSJ Law Blog post summarizes a panel that discussed the future of the law business, part of that being the current model for new associates. A lawyer's education does not end with law school, but clients aren't always happy to pay for newer attorneys who are still learning the ropes.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Capturing Law Firm Information

If you are job hunting, preparing for interviews, or researching any type of information published on law firm web sites, try Fee Fie Foe Firm. This free search engine is designed to provide more effective access to law firm web site material, and aims to be the most comprehensive window on law firms, from large multi-nationals to smaller boutique firms and solo practitioners having a presence on the internet. Firm and attorney profiles, press releases, expert analysis, and other information can be found quickly, with date limitations, and with results tags for "people," "expertise," "publications," and "media releases." To search firms beyond the United States, select UK, Canada, or one of several other countries.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Advice For New Associates

In a recent article in the National Law Journal, Steven Bennett outlines how new law firm associates can avoid some common pitfalls. His answer to problem number one, wasting time?

"Ask lots of questions when receiving an assignment. Ask more later, if you are still not sure of the assignment."

This is advice librarians have been giving associates for years, as law firm librarians are often the victims of associates who have very vague or confused understandings of their assignments.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Spring OCIs?

There is some talk of moving the summer associate recruiting process from the 2L Fall Semester (often, in reality, summer) to the 2L Spring Semester. There is no telling whether this idea will catch on.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Blawg Tips

Law.com has a good article this week with tips for people with legal blogs. The tips are largely for attorneys with "blawgs" that are attached to their firm's websites, but most of them apply universally.



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

The Rough World of Attorney Athletics

This NY Lawyer article, about a negligence suit against the Lawyers Athletic League that was thrown out last week, makes law firm basketball sound a little more competitive than some might expect. The suit alleged that in 2006, a ringer (each team is allowed two) and former college player who was playing for a law firm team was punched and injured by an enforcer who was playing for the Food Bank of New York City. So, if you ever have the opportunity to join a law firm team, try to find out about the team and the competition beforehand.

NY Lawyer is a free site owned by law.com that describes itself as "the free daily news site for young associates."




Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat

Answers to the Questions Associates Should Be Afraid to Ask

Via law.com here (this article, written by "The Snark," is semi-serious).



Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat