|
The Snark
Previous missives from our anonymous associate ... CONTACT THE SNARK Do you have dirt to dish? Do you have a column idea? Or do you just need to vent in six-minute increments? E-mail The Snark at snarkatlanta@yahoo.com.
Complicated web of power
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
Big Law is governed by many unspoken social rules. The line between acceptable and unacceptable behavior often depends on where you fall in the Big Law Hierarchy. Before the angry e-mails start, my discussion ....
Monday, November 02, 2009
When the going gets tough ...
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
One of the side effects of lean economic times at Big Law is an increase in internal competition for work and hours. In the boom times, there was more than enough work for all of Big Law's worker bees. ....
Monday, October 26, 2009
Task-Code Billing for life
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
Cost-conscious Big Law clients want more bang for their buck, and who can blame them? Don't we all expect a steep discount on anything we buy these days—houses, TVs, cars—because no one is buying much ....
Monday, October 12, 2009
When will lawyers learn to listen?
by Special to the Daily Report
Lawyers are a diverse bunch, but one thing they all seem to have in common is a love for the sound of their own voices. This is not just a Big Law thing—it is lawyer thing. The most satisfying outlet ....
Monday, September 28, 2009
Survivor's guilt
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
So you're a survivor. The recent Great Purge of law firm personnel passed you by, and you still have a paycheck, a current business card and an office to go to every morning. You should be elated, right?Well, ....
Monday, September 21, 2009
Love in the time of Big Law
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
One of the most common pitfalls of working at Big Law is the temptation to become romantically involved with a colleague. The allure flourishes early on when Big Law throws large groups of over-achieving, ....
Monday, August 24, 2009
Big Law = Big Brother 
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
In these turbulent times, you must always be on your best behavior at Big Law—even during those rare hours when you are outside of the office. You work with hundreds of other Cogs, partners and staff, ....
Monday, August 03, 2009
How to survive on a slashed salary
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
Big Law Cogs who've managed to survive round after round of layoffs now are reeling from the latest hit to come their way: a pay cut propelled by the continuing decline in partner profits.Big Law has ....
Monday, July 27, 2009
Beware of the Boss Man (or Boss Lady)
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
One of the many typical personalities you encounter as a Cog in Big Law Land is Mr. Big Law Boss Man, or in some cases, Ms. Big Law Boss Lady. You might think these titles refer to actual bosses—like ....
Monday, July 13, 2009
Time bomb of self-destruction
by Special to the Daily Report
Are you self-destructing? Are you staying in your Big Law gig even though it makes your eyes bleed because you are too risk averse or have too big of a second mortgage to make a move in this economy? ....
Monday, July 06, 2009
Cost-cutting incognito
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
Big Law has been cutting the budget for months now and eliminating perks and former necessities in order to preserve the bottom line. This is completely acceptable, but of course Big Law must not admit ....
Monday, June 22, 2009
What's the big rush?
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
Big Law attorneys are fueled by many sources—greed, ambition, arrogance, intellectual curiosity, caffeine, denial, low self-esteem … the list is endless and varies for each individual lawyer in the Big ....
Monday, June 15, 2009
Summer campers hit the wall
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
This year's summer class faces a steep, sweaty, painful and daunting challenge if its members hope to nab an offer of employment from Big Law. One misstep and a hapless Summer Camper will be summarily ....
Monday, June 01, 2009
The summer of seriousness
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
The theme song of the 2008 Big Law Summer Program (and all those glittering summers that preceded it) as “Celebration.” As in, “Celebrate good times … Come on!” For decades, that party went on. And on. ....
Monday, May 18, 2009
Big Law's bubble has burst
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
Was that it? Did the peak of our Big Law careers come and go while we were too busy billing hours, sipping martinis and playing golf to notice? Did Big Law experience the end of an era without so much ....
Monday, May 11, 2009
How to spend your sabbatical
by The Snark, Special to the Daily Report
OK. Say you're one of the handful of lucky third-year law students whose Big Law job offer has been modified from $165,000 per year plus parking, gym membership and a 2,200 minimum billable hour requirement ....
|
