Typography
for lawyers
Even though the legal profession depends heavily on writing, legal
typography is often poor. Some blame lies with the strict
typographic constraints that control certain legal documents (eg
court rules regarding the format of pleadings). But the rest of
the blame lies with lawyers. To be fair, I assume this is for lack
of information, not lack of will. This website tries to fill that
void. There are numerous guides on typography for generalists
available but none specifically aimed at lawyers. So as one of the
few typographers-turned-attorneys in America I figure that if I
don't do it, nobody will. - Matthew Butterick, civil litigation
attorney in Los Angeles
Canada
Blame
lawyers for killing firefighters' joy - 27 July
The news that there's a looming shortage of lawyers and that,
according to the BC Law Society, law firms must take steps to
halt the exodus of women from the profession, leaves me with
distinctly mixed feelings. It's sad, of course, that so many
female lawyers seem to be dropping out. But is an overall lawyer
shortage really so bad? It's better than a surplus, which is what
we have now. I think, in fact, we're already so over-lawyered
we're literally choking on red tape. We've gone from being a
society that values fair play and common sense to one that spends
its time dickering over legal technicalities - and allows its
spirit to be crushed by professional worrywarts and killjoys. - The
Province website
Keyphrase :
Legal Profession - Gender Issues
United Kingdom
Think
twice, budding lawyers told - 28 July
The Law Society is to launch a campaign warning students to think
twice about embarking on a career in law. The recession has taken
its toll on the profession because of the slump in commercial and
property deals, it said. The warning comes as many students run up
debts of £30 000 or more to study on law courses after leaving
university. - BBC News
website
Successful
lawyer drowned herself - 28 July
A top lawyer who was struggling to balance a demanding career with
caring for her three children drowned herself in the Thames, an
inquest has heard. Catherine Bailey, a partner at international
law firm SJ Berwin, vanished from her office on 9 January, West
London Coroners' Court heard. The next day South African Ms
Bailey, who lived in Islington, north London, was found in the
river near Richmond. Coroner Alice Thompson recorded a verdict of
suicide. - BBC News website
United States
ABA
Board to consider membership efforts at annual meeting - 27
July
Facing an expected membership decline of up to 4 000 lawyers this
year, the ABA has hired Leo Burnett Co to help market itself. The
advertising agency will give a presentation to the ABA Board of
Governors at the annual meeting that begins this Thursday in
Chicago, the National Law Journal reports. - ABA
Journal website
Despite
law firm efforts, women of color still face workplace challenges
- 21 July
Are law firms putting their bottom lines at risk? According to Catalyst's Women
of Color in US Law Firms, women of color face complex barriers
compared to other groups that may significantly decrease job
satisfaction and increase the intent to leave their current firm -
factors that affect a firm's bottom line. The study is the fourth
and final in Catalyst's Women of Color in Professional
Services Series examining how the
"intersectionality", or combined identities of gender
and race/ethnicity, puts women of color at a unique disadvantage
in the workplace. - Catalyst
website
Keyphrase :
Legal Profession - Gender Issues
Legal Profession - Race Issues
The
Bar Exam : a list of famous failures - 17 July
As it turns out, a number of well-known individuals - some famous
for their accomplishments in law, and others for different reasons
- didn't pass the bar on the first (or even second) try. To get
the ball rolling, here's a short list of a few bar exam failures.
- Above
the Law website