Cam Ferenbach, "the highly respected president of the State Bar of Nevada, a shareholder in the prestigious Lionel Sawyer Collins firm and a 30-year veteran of the profession," recently spoke at the swearing-in ceremony our new July admittees. His topic was avoiding professional unhappiness.His example was from our comments.
Lovely to have such a highly respected member of our bar citing our humble little blog in such an important speech. Although we have a sneaking suspicion we may have just uncovered the identity of "double kickstands guy."
(LV Legal News; Thanks Tipster!)
Hopefully he prefaced the discussion with "if you're luck enough to find a shitty 40k job ..."
ReplyDeleteWhen I was looking for a job right out of law school I read the recruiting page of Lionel Sawyer. It said twice, TWO TIMES, that “although we are not a sweat shop, we blah blah blah [SIC]”
ReplyDeleteMy only thought was that this must be the biggest sweat shop in town.
So lets look at Fernbach’s advice:
Find a mentor: This means, if you are a woman, a sleazy old partner who will try to sleep with you every day. If you are a man, in all honesty, probably the same thing.
Pursue a practice that suits your personality: This one I know. 4:45 on a Friday, a partner drops an “urgent matter” on your desk that he has sat on for 2 months that must be on his desk Monday morning by 5:00 AM (even though he gets in at 11:00). Of course he will let it sit in his in box for another 3 weeks and then tell the client that the damm associate fucked up. By virtue of the fact that you still show up for work, this should suit your needs.
Make time yourself: See above.
Protect your reputation. Also see above, by not pursuing a sexual harassment suit, you can protect your reputation by not getting black listed from every firm in town.
Great advice to you young’uns. Happy practice to all.
Based on the first two comments, presumably from professionals, I can see why Las Vegas is the stupidest city in America.
ReplyDeleteMessage to new lawyers: we are not all bad.
"Pursue a practice that suits your personality: This one I know. 4:45 on a Friday, a partner drops an “urgent matter” on your desk that he has sat on for 2 months that must be on his desk Monday morning by 5:00 AM (even though he gets in at 11:00). Of course he will let it sit in his in box for another 3 weeks and then tell the client that the damm associate fucked up. By virtue of the fact that you still show up for work, this should suit your needs."
ReplyDeleteThis is the absolute truth and the exact reason I left my job at a regional firm!
@8:35
ReplyDeleteThis has nothing to do with Fernbach, I do not know him and he is probably an upstanding lawyer.
That said, the rest of the post is mostly from experience and accurate. You will be abused by your senior attorneys dumping their trash on your desk after they neglect the matters.
If you are a woman, you will be deal with sleazeballs constantly trying to sleep with you.
You also need to be smart and able to teach yourself the law because that is about the only way that you will become a good lawyer.
Don't want to get all preachy, but happiness is a decision, not an emotion.
ReplyDeleteAnd lawyers aren't the only professionals who have to eat shit these days just to keep a job.
For those of you in your 20s or early 30s and don't know any better, these dark days will pass.
Just remember how you felt about the partner that shat all over you in a decade when you're a partner and have control over some newly minted attorney.
New attorneys, spend time "on your personal well-being." It looks like you can take a vacation, exercise, OR spend time with your family, but probably not all three. In reality, you will most likely be chained to your desk by some old stodgy partner, be sexually harassed daily, and get berated every chance they get. Your only option will be to turn to the addiction of your choice. For some, it is anorexia, others porn, but for most it appears to be food and alcohol. If you need proof, just wait a few years, and then look back on your law school photos and see how your peers have magically ballooned up. Most firms are run by miserable old bastards so don't think for a minute they want your life to be any minute. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteCan anyone confirm that Stacey Roundtree was allowed to "quietly" resign from the PD's office this past Friday?
ReplyDeleteDon't listen to all these negative posters. Like any job, the new employee gets the less desirable work. Be positive learn from your experience and be the best lawyer you can be. Or turn to addictions ruin your life and be miserable like many others choose to be.
ReplyDelete9:42- Let's not live in a world of "lollipops and unicorns." Take "Suzy Squarebush" for example. Look what she resorted to in order to cope with the stresses of this profession.
ReplyDeleteDon't want to get all preachy, but happiness is a decision, not an emotion.
ReplyDeleteI think will print that out and stick it on the wall next to my desk. Nice.
Good God what a bunch of lazy bastards! You cry that you might have to work long days for not as much as you want for the car you like. You should be counting your blessings. Without your law degree you could be working equally long hours as a manager of a Walmart, or as a cole minor. You could be in a job that puts your actual life at peril instead of the shine on your shoes. There is nothing wrong with working hard and long and even less wrong wih the partner aka owner/investor of the capitol to run said firm, dumping work on the upstart. what a bunch of pansy assed lazy frat boys.
ReplyDeleteI have worked at two of the bigger more respected law firms in town. I have never felt abused by a partner. All the partners I have worked with/for have been just as hard working, if nor more so, than the associates. Yes, a lot has been demanded, but nothing partners themselves wouldn't do.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone going in to law thought it would always be a 9-5 job. I don't know where all the miserable commenters work, but my friends at other firms have had similar experiences to mine. There are bad bosses and good bosses, you can ask around and find out who is who.
I have not worked for LSC, and I think it's reputation is that a high level of work is expected, you get paid well, and work with some of the best lawyers in the State. High pay plus high hours does not equal sweat shop. Again, I haven't worked there so I'm not speaking first hand, but I know when I have a case against LSC it is time to bring my A game.
If you don't develop a decent working relationship with your bosses you will always think that they are trying to screw you (figuratively and/or literally) and maybe it's true. But there are plenty of lawyers out there who work hard, spend time with their families, take vacations, get involved with the community, etc. If you can't figure it out, don't blame anyone but yourself.
@9:13
ReplyDeleteSo will these dark days pass by the time my clerkship is over in August?
And what are the chances of me getting a non-DA/PD government job rather than working at a firm?
My two cents is that the first two years is for a Spartan lifestyle - bill crazy hours, work crazy hours, race along that learning curve as fast as you can. No outside life. If you are unfortunate and married already (too soon!), tell the spouse to buy a puppy for companionship.
ReplyDeleteThen, in the third and fourth years you focus a little more on higher-level thinking and work. That's not a bad time to start dating and thinking about family or longterm goals (hike mount everest or whatever).
Somewhere around the 8th year, you should know what you are doing. That's when you either drop to 1,500 or fewer hours, get married and start to raise a family, or you become the miserable 3,000 hour per year partner who thinks the world of him or herself, but is actually despised by pretty much everyone. Any attorney doing this (and I mean litigation and transactional work) for over fifteen years who is still burning the midnight oil drafting (associate work), reviewing (senior associate work) or guiding (jr. partner work) a case or file has fucked up. (I personally know many highly intelligent and accomplished sr. partners who actually write motions, contracts and opinion letters - often into the wee hours while the spouse is at home alone watching TV. Are you fucking kidding me? You should be at the golf course - or in the hottub with the spouse - taking calls from whomever you put in charge of the project!)
As for me, I jumped ship and happily bill about 40 hours per month. I see my kids every day, morning and night. It's a good life.
10:19 AM:
ReplyDeleteHi, Frank, how you doin'?
Yours,
Cole Minor
@10:26 -- If you're on a normal clerk tract you've only been on the job for two months. That means you have 10 months to impress your judge and the influential attorneys who practice before him or her.
ReplyDeleteWhatever you do, set in motion today what you want to accomplish tomorrow.
Cole Minor????
ReplyDeleteSounds like a cool name for a band.
A "cole minor"? Seriously, 10:13?
ReplyDelete10:19 a.m. = Bruce Alverson
ReplyDeleteI heard LSC was Lying, Stealing, and Cheating, but maybe I heard wrong.
ReplyDeleteC'mon: Cole Minor is obviously a dyamund in the ruff.
ReplyDeleteDear Cole: You just confirmed we are the dumbest city in the United States.
ReplyDeleteFrom original blog post: "Although we have a sneaking suspicion we may have just uncovered the identity of "double kickstands guy."
ReplyDeleteIt looks like "Double Kickstands Guy" is branching out and doing appellate work:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0BwBHrlfAKe7mM2I1ZTQzMjctYWZjOS00ZmJkLWE2ZTctNmIyMzM3NTYwZDI0&hl=en&authkey=COzG0JQO
Pretty good work. There is a lot of good verbiage and many great arguments in there.
Now, YOU @#$%@$%*ING MOTHER-@#$%%!! ARE ON NOTICE... (although he did forget to add "Respectfully submitted").
Dear Minor: Did you major in mining and miner in English?
ReplyDeleteWhere the fruck did you go to school?
@8:35. I'm sure judging people makes you feel smart. Keep it up if that's your "addiction of choice."
ReplyDeletePow! Judge this bitch. . . Big double kickstand in your face!
ReplyDeleteHere is a better link to Kichkstand Guy's petition:
ReplyDeletehttp://kevinunderhill.typepad.com/Documents/Pleadings/ass_clown_petition.pdf
It is worth a read...
One more try.
ReplyDeletehttp://kevinunderhill.typepad.com/Documents/Pleadings/ass_clown_petition.pdf
OK, just Google "ass clown petition" and go to the first link. There is a link to the petition that page as well as a description. Feel free to bill a 0.8 to whomever you want.
ReplyDeleteAn actual petition to the 9th circuit and worth a read. I especially like the closing.
@ 10:19:
ReplyDeleteSuccessful Troll is Successful.
To comment on the point of this thread, Michael Sommermeyer over at the Supremes just sent a press release advising foreclosures in Nevada are closing in on 80,000.
ReplyDeleteMight we suggest you youngsters bone up on your bankruptcy skills?
http://lvlegalnews.com
it's wrong to call judges ass clowns and bitches....?
ReplyDeleteAnd Dear Newly Minted Attorneys....
ReplyDeleteThe law that should have been tested on the bar exam but was not is the "Law of Supply & Demand".
"Law schools are manufacturing more lawyers than America needs, and law students aren't happy about it."
http://www.slate.com/id/2272621/?gt1=38001
I love that the law students aren't happy about it. Why did you go to law school if you didn't think you could find a job? I think it's the lawyers who should be mad that these new attorneys are coming in and taking legal work for $40k/year. How do I compete with that (other than my superior legal skills)?
ReplyDeleteA few of the early posters have no clue about LSC. The billable hours requirement is a 'soft' 1800 hours---substantially less than what other full service large firms require.
ReplyDelete8:29 a.m.,
Don't be angry at LSC because you got rejected, be angry that you're stuck at a dirt-hole "practicing" insurance defense and serve no purpose on this earth other than to frustrate crippled peoples' efforts to recover from traumatic events. On the bright side, reviewing all those medical records and photos of maimed limbs must give you a strong stomach.
@4:29, I started at a "Top Tier" firm in and did not apply to LSC. Actually, the worse experience was meeting the fine folks at Hale Lane. The lovely Mr. Peek is the most vile piece of garbage that I have ever encountered.
ReplyDeleteI don't like to get into these arguments, but come on, insurance defense? I now have my own firm and have a much better lifestyle and pay than I would at a firm.
Big firm life sucks, plain and simple. You can pretend all you want but at the end of the day you know its true. I was thinking about this today, I am never pissed off at work anymore, ever.
Hey, if you have the credentials or connections to get a job at LSC, go for it, sweat shop or not. Having it on your resume will guarantee you never work a $40K job in this town.
ReplyDelete@4:29 - Are really going to take a jab at the entire insurance defense bar? I work at a national firm, and about 50% of the work is insurnance defense. When liability is adverse, as opposed to contrived, and the plaintiff has reasonable damages, the claim is paid. What I see a lot more of are plaintiff's in small accidents with simple whiplash that are funneled through the system of multiple doctors by their lawyers to inflate their damages. Why should I pay more for my auto insurance because so many folks think they're going to retire thanks to an auto accident.
ReplyDelete4:49, Yes, even though life sucks at these firms, you can really pad your resume with high end work that looks really impressive, just make sure you get out before its too late.
ReplyDeleteThe person who said Peek is a "vile piece of garbage" was being too kind. Peek wishes he was just a "vile piece of garbage." In truth, he is a little man, who is ashamed he is hispanic, who is ashamed he is short, who is embarrassed he has a tiny penis, and who is insecure about his ability, consequently, he compensates by being a bully.
ReplyDeleteYea, mommy and daddy did a number on good'ole Steve. I can't imagine having that much hatred inside, every day must be just miserable from the time that he wakes up until the time that he goes to bed at night.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that he wants to share his misery with others and has the ability to do this to his associates.
But then again, why change, if he worked really hard at it, I mean years of hard work and discipline, he could work his way up to being a miserable asshole. That is about as far as he can go in life.
I have a real good friend at LSC and never have heard anything about it being a sweatshop. There are tons of people who are partner-track who haven't made their paltry 1800 hours in years.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, I think the folks there would say that in exchange for relatively good cases (by NV standards), good pay, and pretty good quality of life (there aren't a ton of late nights / weekends) you work at a stuffy (suits and ties everyday) and behind the times (senior partners still think it's 1978) office in a no frills environment with cheap furniture, cheap firm sponsored events, low bonuses, etc.
Ha, I'm sure none of the commenters ripping on Peek has worked for him. I understand where the animosity comes from - he is difficult to be adverse to, but his associates, clients, and partners do not complain about him. And he is a Chambers / Legal Elite / Super Lawyer / whatever other ranking every year. And his penis isn't small, it's nice.
ReplyDeleteNobody wants his boyfriend's opinion.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the guy's a Super Lawyer for Pete's sake, leave em alone!
ReplyDeleteCam is a great guy as are many, many attorneys at LSC. Sam Lionel is one of the finest Lawyers in Las Vegas.. a model of hard work and an exceptionally fine man. I don't work for them.. I have my own indivisual practice.
ReplyDeleteBam bitch! How ya like me now? In your face!!!
ReplyDelete@10:31 a.m. -- you bill 40 hours a month? you fucked up somewhere along the way. I billed 5 hours last month, made a shitload of money, banged a 20 yr old model 28 times last month, morning, afternoon, late at night, in the hot tub, on the golf course. You're a sucker for working as hard as you are.
ReplyDelete11:22 PM: I bow to you, Master.
ReplyDeleteI used to have similar feelings about Peek. But after having been to war with him on a couple of cases (mixed results) he has changed. Stand up for your client, do your homework, you will get his respect and the BS stops. Also, I love Cam, he is a great guy and interesting to talk to. However, I have NEVER been impressed with any of the litigators at LSC. The real talent left Sam years ago.
ReplyDelete8:22 AM
ReplyDeleteEver heard of Paul Hejmanowski? If you don't think Hejmanowski is an impressive litigator I don't know what's wrong with you. He is honestly as good as any litigator in the state. His advocacy skills are fantastic.
I agree about Cam, nice guy, has some juice, better than average attorney, but I've never been overly impressed with him.
I drink your milkshake!
ReplyDeleteI banged your daughter "cole minor"
ReplyDeleteTard
cole minor ha ha boyd grad lol. From boyd grad. Takes one to know one. No wonder why they trash boyd.
ReplyDeleteI suppose it can be said that I live a little bit in "the unicorns," but I have had three excellent mentors in my short time as a Nevada attorney and I will take a minute to pay them tribute here. First, Sid Kistler at the law firm of Gordon Silver taught me how to enjoy the law and embrace my curiosity in practice. He has been a mentor to many lawyers. Second, Tony Zmaila of the beloved "Z group," who taught me to be confident in a room full of older, seasoned attorneys and trust my instincts. Last, my current mentor and friend, Dennis Haney who has taught me more than I ever thought I would need to know about mechanic's liens.
ReplyDeleteAnd the great thing about any one of these gentlemen is that if you called them for assistance, they would help you out because they are great people and they enjoy the practice of law. There are numerous other attorneys who I didn't work with who have lended a hand when I called. Georlen Spangler, Brian Pezzillo, Bryce Kunimoto, to name just a few.
Paul Hejmanowski is outstanding as an attorney and his style is untouchable. He has helped many of my firm's clients and lawyers through the years. Cam is also a great lawyer who gives back to the community. Although I believed the rumors of "the sweat shop" back in law school I have come to respect many of the lawyers at LSC.
Also, as a last note, hate Boyd grads all you want, but we are the future of the practice and for many of us, Nevada is the home we love and want to protect. If you think you are too brilliant, I look forward to seeing you in court.
Accident at Work Lawyers
ReplyDeleteConnect with the Road Traffic Accident Solicitors & Law Firm in Middlesex, Essex. O P Law is Best Road Traffic Accident Solicitors in London provides the best legal opinion from best Solicitors in London for all injury problems.