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Falling Out of Love With the SmallLaw Antichrist

May 12, 2010 by Mr. 162 9 Comments

It’s sort of amazing what qualifies you to receive praise in law.  I’ve realized it’s more of an individual sport than an actual profession.  When you’re a newly installed BigFirm drone, you believe words like “partnership” and “teamwork” mean something.  What a fraud that is.  It’s never about building camaraderie, it’s about the kill.  This…

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer

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The Overrated Lifestyle of L.A. Law

April 20, 2010 by Mr. 162 25 Comments

Los Angeles is an awful place to be a lawyer.  On Friday night, I was hanging out with a friend who works in the entertainment industry—a great guy with more natural good looks and people skills than anyone I’ve ever met.  Not slimy politician people skills either.  I’m talking legit dynamic social skills with a…

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer

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My Dashboard Confessional

January 7, 2010 by Mr. 162 13 Comments

Call it karma.  I buy a new (slightly used) car and it has a squeak.  Nothing major.  Just a tiny little squeak coming from behind the dashboard.  Just a little peep to remind me that this car is, in fact, not new.  New cars do not have squeaks coming from behind the dashboard.  True: It…

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer

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The Dark Art of the Small-Firm Biggie Smalls

October 20, 2009 by Mr. 162 16 Comments

In a small law firm, the art is apparent early on. Can you juggle? Can you tap dance? Are you fearless? Can you riff like Biggie Smalls?

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer Tagged With: boutiques, law firm jobs, small firms

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DregLaw and the Infinite Averageness

September 3, 2009 by Mr. 162 26 Comments

I exist in the toxic waste of the legal world: cases that are lose-lose, petty, undignified, and just plain bad.

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer Tagged With: BigLaw boutiques, bottom feeders, SmallLaw

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Do-It-Yourself American Law

August 7, 2009 by Mr. 162 25 Comments

The average unpaid student clerk at my firm has more experience than a third-year at Gibson making $225K a year. Go figure.

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer Tagged With: associates, law jobs, work ethic

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The Legend of Mr. 162

July 9, 2009 by Mr. 162 18 Comments

I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for years. Can’t remember when it started, but if you would have given me an aptitude test in grade school, “lawyer” would have come up top 5. I’ve always argued dispassionately and felt more confident arguing a position than talking about what I believe.  But perhaps some of my…

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer

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Vacations and the Myth of Irreplaceability

June 18, 2009 by Mr. 162 5 Comments

Even for a boutique lawyer, there’s no way to ever get 100% away from work. Even if the other lawyers in my firm had the time or inclination to help me out—which they don’t—there’s a lot of “getting up to speed” in a case that is required to make effective arguments. And by “getting up…

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer Tagged With: boutiques, law firm jobs, vacation

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Opposite of BIG

June 4, 2009 by Mr. 162 25 Comments

The opposite of BigLaw is a good life.

Filed Under: Columns, Lawyer Tagged With: biglaw, law firm jobs

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