It is hard to say exactly why the FDLE raided him at this point. He is an aggressive foreclosure defense attorney who the bar is in the process of suspending. One of the reasons for the suspension is that he got caught settling a case with a bank for one sum, telling his client he settled for another, and keeping the difference. I suppose if he did that on a large enough scale then it would warrant an FDLE investigation. He also had some scheme where his clients were deeding their property to land trusts he controlled.
Big corporate client asked us to effectuate a settlement they almost botched by dragging their feet on issuing the check. Sure, whatever. Plaintiff's lawyer is in Oregon. Just had a sex change (Male to Female). I just got off the phone after a berating from the lawyer that my client is transphobic and bigoted against her because she underwent the sex change while the claim was pending. Left coast best coast.
client has no underinsured motorist coverage and doesn't want to settle for the 30k policy limit and wants to go to trial even though the person who hit her has no unprotected assets. awesome.
by the time I take depositions, pay experts, get the docs testimony, at least $10,000 is coming out of your pocket, this venue is terrible as well so getting $30k is not a guarantee, if you chose to go to trial it will be against the advice of counsel.
random question for you dudes: one of my best friends from college graduated from tulane law in may and just took the bar a couple weeks ago. he had a decent internship (or whatever you lawyer folks call it) during his 3L where, in his eyes, they implied strongly that they would eventually hire him but ultimately didn't. so he's currently just unemployed, living at his parents' house. based on other friends who have gone to law school, this seems like a rather unusual and undesirable position to be in since many have their post law school jobs lined up before they even start 3L. just how dire is his job hunt? is it really gonna be as tough as the dude seems to think it will be? he's obviously quite dejected by the whole thing but i'm just curious to hear from experienced people the realities of that situation and what sort of solace i can provide the guy.
A lot of the job search will depend on market and practice area, but he should get on the grind (especially using his existing network) although it may be kind of tough for a while. A few months after he finds out if he passes the bar, firms will probably start re-evaluating their hiring needs and he may be able to find something then. Unfortunately, until then most firms have probably met their hiring needs for inexperienced attorneys. Some smaller firms may currently be hiring, though. While economics and reality may dictate otherwise, I'd tell him to be very selective about the jobs to which he applies. I know a handful of people who were in a similar situation and jumped at the first job they could find. Most are still in the same or similar roles, and are practicing in an area they never envisioned themselves.
That happened to me. Felt pretty good about getting a job I interned with during lawschool but didn't get it. While waiting on my bar results I walked around in downtown Jackson in the summer sweating my ass off in the shitty Joseph A Banks 3 for 2 suits my dad bought me as a graduation present. I printed off names and addresses of every firm and just drove around town to law offices handing out resumes and asking for appointments. Didn't help worth a shit. Basically got no bites. Eventually had to get a job as Dillards just to pay my rent. Did that for like less than 2 months when a friend called me and said an attorney on the coast was hiring , drove down here, got the job, everything has been fine since.
Once he finds out he passed the bar some small boutique firm or solo practionener will hire him for about $50k a year. He will work insane hours and hate it but will gain exposure and should end up in a decent paying position within 12-18 months assuming he is halfway competent.
I turned down a really good clerkship opportunity in school. Thought I'd have no problem getting something else because I had done pretty well in school. Problem was, couldn't get bites from "lower" places after turning that one down. Ended up just fishing for a spot before the summer just like you did. Ended up getting on at a small firm, figured it would be a short term thing while I was in school and had no intention of being her permanently. 8 years later I'm still here, didn't make a whole lot the first couple of years, but got made a partner 2 years in and have had a pretty good run. Lot of fun too. Weird how things work out.
thanks for the replies. i thought there was a good possibility that his situation wasn't totally uncommon but glad to hear some personal anecdotes. for context, he's from NOLA and, as with most of the loons from that city, 100% committed to staying there. i have no idea what the market is for lawyers there but i imagine it's adequate
Same story as alot of folks on here. Finished up in 2011 from Colorado Law. Had a job offer from the firm I clerked for during 2L summer and midway through my third year they pulled it due to the economy, etc. Got on at a PI firm a month or so after graduating, stayed a year, moved to a bigger PI Plaintiff's firm for 2 years, and after having the experience/exposure, was able to get on at a midsize well known litigation firm in Denver, and I get to do what I want (i.e. not PI). Your buddy will make it where he wants if he is competent, he'll probably just have to slog through a couple of tough years before he gets there.
I didn't have a job for a few months. Did some contract work and then was closing residential loans for about a month before one of the firms I was doing contract work with called and gave me a job. It works out. Maybe not at a big firm, but knowing what I know now, I think I would have hated that anyway.
To change the subject a little, been actually practicing a little over 2 years. My first small claims trial is tomorrow, have a full day domestic relations trial Monday, and my first jury trial Tuesday. I guess I’ll know Tuesday afternoon if I’m worth a shit at this job we call lawyering.
My client allegedly told her ex that she found some syringes and was afraid he was using drugs so she may have to change her meeting place for visitation if she moves out. She confronts him and he says they’re for test injections. They get an ex parte suspension. Then a temporary with a road map towards unsupervised visits again which include a clean drug screen. He eventually gets a clean one a few months later. After about 9 contempt petitions back and forth the judge recuses and we have to wait months and months to get a final. She gets a valid supervisor and dude still won’t let her have visitation. Then he files for a step parent adoption and alleges my client has failed to have meaningful contact or support for a year. Most happened before I got into the case. Put the fear of God in them that they had to stop being contemptuous by all means and gain some credibility back with the court. This all started over a year ago. I got in the case December and immediately filed a motion to resume unsupervised after the clean drug scree but the ex hates my client’s new husband so much he refuses to let her see them as long as they’re married. So I’m fighting for resumption of unsupervised standard visitation and hoping the judge doesn’t do away with my client’s consent and sever her rights as a parent in favor of the step mom.
me: Did they get back to you about XYZ? her: I left a voicemail. me: today? Her: maybe a week ago. Not sure how to motivate ppl to care about cases/clients. “Leaving a voicemail” is just a step above not trying in some instances.
Mediation on Monday for my case. My lawyer came and talked to other employees the other day. Basically telling him the same thing I have been saying. So hopefully its done with fast
Currently torn between two competing job offers. One firm would offer tremendous growth opportunity, at a seemingly great place to work, but would require longer hours and a slight pivot in practice area to an area I am unsure whether I would like or dislike. Over time I think I would be able to direct my practice into an area I enjoy, but it would take a few years at the least. The other firm offers some practice growth, in a more stuffy but acceptable work environment, would require less hours, but I would largely continue working in my current practice area, which I enjoy. What have you TMB? Personal satisfaction in a fun work environment despite long hours and an uncertain practice area, or professional satisfaction in a less fun work environment? I'm thinking the latter, but looking for different perspectives to point out things I may not be considering.
Just talked to my Lawyer. My lawyer talked to the mediator about the case today and told him basic information and the mediator had no idea and said their lawyer knows barely anything. This is going to be a cakewalk Monday. We literally changed their hours to accommodate them to make schedule fit. Told the mediator and he had no idea. Just hilarious. He had NO IDEA that her husband still works for me.
I mean most mediators don’t give a f about anyone’s case until they’re in the room with you getting paid
Very true. Im just ready to get this shit fucking over with so I can get this fuck face out of my office.
No material difference, although the first firm has offered signing bonus and moving expenses, which I am about to ask the second firm to match.