The Latest Information in the Inquiry into the Firing of U.S. Attorneys

This week Kyle Sampson, former Department of Justice Chief of Staff, dropped a political bombshell when he flatly rebutted U.S. Attorney General Gonzales' statement that he was not directly involved in decision making regarding the plan to fire U.S. Attorneys. The flames of the ensuing political firestorm are being fanned by documentation available from Department of Justice and White House emails (some of which are available for review online) showing not only the factual inaccuracy of Gonzales' statements, but also a surprisingly cavalier attitude toward the dismissals and their impact.

Easy access to breaking information in the investigation of the firing of U.S. Attorneys can be found at the following sites:

Attorney Firing Investigation page on C-SPAN.org with video of Sampson's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, documents selected for public release by the Department of Justice, and video of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' press Conference.

Full Coverage: U.S. Attorney Firings from Yahoo! News, featuring links to news stories, editorials, video, audio, and related websites

Full audio files for NPR's continuing coverage at NPR.org

For a view from outside the United States, read the latest on the "U.S. Prosecutors Row" as reported by the BBC.

Associate Salaries Continue to Climb

In its bid to attract the best and brightest of the Class of 2006, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges, a California-based litigation firm, set off a bidding war that immediately impacted first year salaries and is now prompting raises for senior associates as well.

For New Lawyers, the Going Rate Has Gone Up
From The New York Times
By ELLEN ROSEN
Published: September 1, 2006

Should you have any doubt that peer pressure generated through the Internet impacts salaries, just read through the very lively discussion still ongoing at Above the Law.

Take for example, the most recent firm to leave the "Hall of Shame":
Skaddenfreude: Seyfarth Shaw Leaves the List of Shame
From Above the Law, A Legal Tabloid
Posted In: Biglaw , Money , Seyfarth Shaw , Skaddenfreude
By David Lat | 03.28.07 at 03:58 PM

Vault Guide to Underrated Law Schools Provides Recruiters' Insight

For the Vault Guide to Underrated Law Schools, Vault surveyed legal recruiting professionals, law firm hiring partners and corporate counsel across the United States, seeking their opinions on law schools deserving more credit for the caliber of legal professionals they produce.

Recruiter comments provide helpful insight into reasons for selecting schools:

"With our recruiting experience from these schools [Baylor Law School and Dedman School of Law], we have found that the candidates are of the same or similar caliber as the top schools from which we recruit."

"Although not considered a 'top' law school by many, in our experience Fordham students and graduates are at the top of the profession, on par with graduates of Ivy League law schools."

"California Western and McGeorge have provided our firm with some of the best attorneys we've ever seen. I'd put them up against any Top 20 school. They have a drive to do well, and they are extremely hardworking."

To view the list visit http://www.vault.com/lawschool/underrated/.