Bush Commutes Libby's Sentence

[GrayMatterWife]

oh, wait, so you started your clerkship after working in a firm for a few years?

I've given some thought to that, especially since I do a ton of patent lit and so many judges need patent insight. How did that work for you?

I did a US Dist Ct clerkship straight out of law school, then worked at a Firm. When my DH moved for residency, I figured that was the right time to jump off the treadmill: we were moving halfway across the country. Plus, to be honest, I was just about to start my 6th year of associateship. Most of the Firms, here and there, have 8-9 year partnership tracks. Sixth year is the year that they really start expecting not only tremendous hours (I was already at about 2400 billables/yr) but also serious business development. You had to start showing them what you really had, in terms of a business plan, to bring to the table for long-term (partnership) purposes. That would have meant even longer hours, which just didn't seem do-able. We had just had our son and my DH was starting neurosurg (16-17 hour days).

so I got a term clerkship to a judge for the Circuit Court when I got to uor new town. After that, I got a career clerkship to a new US Bankr judge. Terrific gig--bankruptcy work is right up my alley with my insolvency background, and I work around 8 hours a day...a very few weekends. The pay hit was enormous and depressing but we were ready for it.

I really miss the action sometimes (clerking comparatively is uneventful), but this was the right decision for our son. He was pretty much raised by our nanny his first year--a wonderful woman and I am sure a better maternal figure than me. But I was seriously out of touch with DS's daily life. I didn't even know he'd started on solid foods until a month after he'd begun, and had no idea that he liked getting tickled, and other little things that a mom should know.

[reciprocity]

we have a 6 year partner track, and they expect lots of hours out of the gate (I billed 2800 last year, and got a talking to about my level of commitment at my year end review)

Clemency

"Bush Commutes Libby's Sentence; US Surgeon General Issues Death Certificate for Accountability"

I'm a prosecutor and this just kills me. Obstructing justice is a huge deal - how can we ever tell whether there was a serious crime or not if people lie to investigators? While I'm on the political left, I think Bill should have resigned after it came out that he lied in that deposition, which is essentially the same thing that Libby did. (Of course, then Gore would have been President, would probably have been re-elected, and I wouldn't have to worry about deploying to Iraq.) You just can't be in public service if you're not in it for the greater good. What ever happened to accountability for your actions? Wasn't this the administration that was going to return us to law and order and accountability?

As for the commutation, it kills me that yet another white guy is getting a break from the system that doesn't give them to minorities. Judge Walton, you may note, it both a political appointee of President Bush and a black man. What Libby did is no different than lying to protect your brother who's dealing crack on the street, but what do you think your odds would be as a black man convicted of doing that of getting clemency from the President?

In all fairness, I can't accuse the administration of racism, however. They're also sheltering the head of the GSA, a black woman who essentially turned that executive agency into a branch of the RNC.

Marty
Hubby of an unemployed pediatrician and father to a 20 month old Tasmanian Devil Child

Re: Clemency

I'm a prosecutor and this just kills me. Obstructing justice is a huge deal - how can we ever tell whether there was a serious crime or not if people lie to investigators? While I'm on the political left, I think Bill should have resigned after it came out that he lied in that deposition, which is essentially the same thing that Libby did. (Of course, then Gore would have been President, would probably have been re-elected, and I wouldn't have to worry about deploying to Iraq.) You just can't be in public service if you're not in it for the greater good. What ever happened to accountability for your actions? Wasn't this the administration that was going to return us to law and order and accountability?

wowza. that is stronger than I would go, but I can see your point (and the whole dream scenario about Gore being the incumbent ...).

and I can totally join in on the outrage about these being the folks who would restore honesty and accountability. I can barely type that w/o gagging.

Go Keith Olbermann!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRf6goZef3w

[GrayMatterWife]

we have a 6 year partner track, and they expect lots of hours out of the gate (I billed 2800 last year, and got a talking to about my level of commitment at my year end review)

Eric:

Holy cow. 2800 and they weren't happy?! I did not realize that Chicagoland firms were doing NYC hours. Hope you're getting NYC pay... Seriously, 2800 is brutal. Man, hang in there.

Six year partnership track? Do you have a tiered partnership (junior/no equity, senior/equity) or a straight equity-only partnership? If it's the latter, that's a pretty tight time-frame to earn your stripes./build a client base. You must be under a ton of pressure. I can really understand wanting to give them the finger.

In all honesty, I cannot complain about the job I left. The hours were serious and the pressure was constant (I blackberried about work while in labor & delivery...), but I really was treated well by the partners (I mean, they were elementary school teachers building self-esteem in their pupils, but I felt like I was valued and a part of the team). It can be a decent situation. The only reason I left was because DH started residency and we had a child. Had those things not occurred, I am sure I would have stayed as long as I could.

If you are ever interested in clerking, I have to commend it as a great alternative to private practice, if you can withstand the pay cut...and deal with the fact that you've pretty much "ceilinged" (there's no where to promote to from a clerkship). I would be glad to help you out however I can in terms of the process, etc.

And, by the way--I know that a lot of federal judges love patent lawyers. With their scientific backgrounds, they tend to be extremely organized and logical in their argument construction. The two engineers (later becoming patent lawyers) I've co-clerked with were absolutely stellar minds.

And, if you ever want to bitch about Firm life, just PM me...

[GrayMatterWife]

Re: Clemency

I'm a prosecutor and this just kills me.
Marty
Hubby of an unemployed pediatrician and father to a 20 month old Tasmanian Devil Child

Hey, great...another attorney! (Words not often written...hahahaha). Cool. State or federal prosecutor?

And you also have a Tasmanian Devil Child? I thought it was just my genes...

Re: Clemency

Hey, great...another attorney! (Words not often written...hahahaha).

Sounds like the start of a "write a question for this answer" contest.

[reciprocity]

Holy cow. 2800 and they weren't happy?! I did not realize that Chicagoland firms were doing NYC hours. Hope you're getting NYC pay... Seriously, 2800 is brutal. Man, hang in there.

Six year partnership track? Do you have a tiered partnership (junior/no equity, senior/equity) or a straight equity-only partnership? If it's the latter, that's a pretty tight time-frame to earn your stripes./build a client base. You must be under a ton of pressure. I can really understand wanting to give them the finger.

well, I might get close to NYC pay on a good year (we're contingency, so) but yeah, 6 years to full partnership! It is a lot of pressure.

I think my plan is to go into law school administration as an alternative career path. I have some really close connections at my alma mater, and it would tie in well with my coaching (for the same school) but it's probably just as likely I'll be a fry cook on Venus in three years.

[spotty_dog]

Go Keith Olbermann!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRf6goZef3w

Heh, I finally hit this thread so I could see if anyone had mentioned it. Wowzers, he didn't pull any punches.

Also, for GreyMatterWife: Facts About Fred Thompson