Legal Research

Selections From National Law Journal Daily Headlines June 23, 2008

By David Badertscher, PLL

Source: NLJ.com, June 23, 2008.

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Pace of new firm offices is brisk
"espite the economic downturn in 2008, law firms have opened new offices at a brisk pace so far this year. Dozens of law firms have planted flags on the West Coast, in the Midwest and the South during the first half of 2008, with a noticeable absence of expansion on the East Coast. Much of the growth has come from large law firms looking to fill in the gaps of their service coverage."

Local employment laws flourish
" growing number of municipalities are taking employment regulations into their own hands, passing laws that have Corporate America's head spinning with a confusing patchwork of compliance issues and liability concerns. Labor and employment attorneys note that, in recent years, local employment laws have started popping up in cities everywhere, addressing everything from mandatory paid sick leave to higher minimum wages to the unlawful hiring of illegal immigrants."

anted: military lawyers at home
"eavy ongoing deployments of active military members as well as the calling up of reservists from civilian life has increased the need for military lawyers to go into local courts to help service members with the myriad legal problems that brings. But most states erect impractical or insurmountable barriers. Only about 10 states have moved in recent years to open their courthouse doors to military lawyers with out-of-state licenses"

CRIMINAL LAW  |  U.S., Mexico clash again in court over executions
"awyers for the United States and Mexico are back in the International Court of Justice over Mexico's unusual request for an order to delay the imminent executions of five Mexican nationals on Texas' death row because the United States remains in default of its treaty obligations. The International Court began two days of arguments last Thursday on Mexico's formal request for an 'nterpretation'of the court's 2004 ruling. Meanwhile, Mexico has asked the court to take any and all steps necessary to prevent the execution of its citizens, 50 of whom are on state death rows."

HICAGO  |  The 'other Obama' honed her skills at Sidley Austin
"ichelle Obama, whose husband Senator Barack Obama aims to become the next U.S. president, graduated from Harvard Law School and spent just three years at a law firm. But her legal experience played a critical role in shaping her career and life. During her brief stint as an associate at Sidley Austin in Chicago, Obama honed legal skills that have served her throughout her career. Colleagues said she often displayed lawyerly critical thinking, negotiating and analytical abilities that benefited her work."

EB-ONLY  |  Former U.S. attorneys petition to support attorney-client privilege
"hirty-two former U.S. attorneys have asked the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to move legislation protecting the attorney-client privilege in government investigations to the floor of the Senate before the current session ends. In a letter to Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the former prosecutors said the legislation is still necessary despite recent steps by the Department of Justice to counter a widespread belief among corporations and their counsel that a "culture of waiver" of the privilege exists in department investigations. "

Full post as published by New York Supreme Court Criminal Term Library on June 23, 2008 (boomark / email).