IL Candidate: Close Down 2 Law Schools

General, Law School

Forget George Clooney, I have a new crush. Scott Summers, who is running for Illinois state treasurer, says that Illinois could save money by eliminating two of its three state law schools.

Summers went to Northern Illinois University Law, but thinks it should be shut down along with Southern Illinois:

“We have three public law schools,” Summers told the Daily Herald. “And another seven or eight private law schools and a whole bunch of unemployed lawyers and underemployed lawyers. How long can we as taxpayers continue to support this?” Summers said the state “got by just fine” with one public law school, at the University of Illinois, until SIU’s law school opened in 1973.

It’s a very special man who tries to shut down his alma mater. You go, Scott Summers. Call me, let’s have lunch…

Leave a comment

Sad Tales

General

Any OLs out there who think having a law degree will bring you success and happiness should read the comment below that was posted by a reader last week. If that doesn’t convince you that having a JD doesn’t help you find success and happiness, maybe the obituary about the Reed Smith partner will.

From a reader:

I am close to the end of my rope. I received 4 rejection emails today alone. Though I am grateful that they even took the time to update me on their hiring decision as most employers don’t even bother. But seriously WTF am I supposed to do? My car may be repo’d any fucking day now, my car insurance will be canceled for nonpayment on Friday, my daughter’s 8th birthday is tomorrow and my credit is SCREWED. No one will hire me. NO ONE. Government, legal, nonlegal, nonprofit not a soul. I’ve even tried taking the JD off but still no luck. I’ve done doc review but the projects keep ending abruptly after only a week or two. I don’t qualify for unemployment. I’ve already sold all of the gold I own (seriously) and was paid a whooping $132 for it. That was 2 months ago. I’ve never been so desperate in my life. This shit is depressing. Thx for letting me vent.

Death of Reed Smith Practice Leader Struck by Train Ruled a Suicide

A senior partner at Reed Smith committed suicide last week, dying of multiple injuries after being struck by a commuter train in Chicago.

Stewart Dolin was a corporate and securities partner who headed practice groups. He was 57 years old. Dolin headed the United States corporate and securities practice at Reed Smith.

Dolin was struck by a CTA train at a Blue Line station in the downtown Chicago Loop at about 1:45 p.m. on July 15. The Cook County medical examiner’s office ruled his death a suicide.

Still time to drop out and get a full refund.

Leave a comment

Ex-Associate Takes Down Blog

General

Ed Heyburn, a former associate at a New Jersey law firm who started a blog, Levinson Axelrod Really Sucks, has taken his blog down as part of a settlement with Levinson Axelrod.

I never read this blog, a shame because it sounds funny. I hope they paid him well. Unfortunately we’ll never know, the agreement is confidential.

He managed to get in a few barbs before removing it, saying that one of the partners, “had a mustache reminiscent of a 1970s porn star.” The blog also “celebrated Levinson Axelrod losses and encouraged readers to file legal ethics complaints against the firm.”

I’m guessing it’s not going to be easy for him to find another job.

Leave a comment

Follow the 99 Cent Lead

General

I still think this is a good deal, but the 99 Cents Only Stores are getting sued for raising their prices to 99.99 cents. The class-action suits were filed in Los Angeles claiming unfair and deceptive business practices and misleading advertising.

Now that’s an idea for all of us who went to TT and TTT who were told 98% of graduates make $160,000 and based our decisions and ability to repay loans on those figures.

The 99 Cent Store at least made an effort to disclose:

Eric Schiffer, chief executive of the retailer, told the Times that the company “took every possible effort and avenue to basically bombard the consumer about our increase.” Signs have been changed, large posters are in store windows, and ads have been changed in newspapers.

I took a walk by 3 different TTTs in New York. None of them had signs that mention the employment decrease or the amount of unemployed lawyers. They are still saying everyone is getting a job. Those magical, fictional jobs where lawyers are happy and spend lots of time in court.

The attorney for the class action explained their position:

“If they call themselves 99 Cents Only, it should be 99 cents,” he said. “The people who go to that store are typically lower income or seniors, so the people they’re taking advantage of are the ones least able to discern the difference and least able to afford it.”

So, if they call themselves a law school that has a 98% employment rate 6 months after graduation, sounds like the law schools are taking advantage of the ones the least able to know that they are lying.

I think we should follow the the 99 cent lead. The only way the law schools will stop lying to prospective students is if they are forced to by a court.

Leave a comment
1 … 15 16 17 18 19 … 29