- Quickdraw McLaw
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- In the Sun v. RJ case, it appears that Randall Jones’s understanding is that Sheldon Adelson is not an owner of the RJ. [Las Vegas Sun]
- CCSD to vote on $100K settlement to rape victim. [Las Vegas Sun]
- More drama in the Wynn lawsuit. [RJ]
- Concerns raised after accused murderer posts bond. [I-Team]
Can we compile stories of 1st year associate screws up that seemed major, but were minor; OR, to be fair, that were actually major, but seemed minor.
Or seemed major and were? I will start. I know an attorney that once left an entire confidential case folder behind after hanging out at Gordon Biersch! Lucky for said individual some other kind soul later returned it.
>1st year associate screws up that seemed major, but were minor
They all are minor. You don't get enough responsibility to *actually* be able to fuck something up beyond repair.
Unless you blow an appeal deadline. Don't do that.
If a first year blows the deadline to file a notice of appeal it was not the associate who screwed up, it was the screw up of whoever left it up to a first year to file a notice of appeal.
I'll throw myself under the bus. First year, mother comes to me for child custody and child support. Very important to her. Went to hearing. Judge said I didn't file Affidavit of Financial Condition so could not hear case. I felt terrible. I instantly filed and got a new hearing so no real harm but the look of disappointment on my client mad me feel really bad. I would say also that in the many, many years since then I learned most Judges would simply take some quick testimony on the employment and not make everyone wait on child support. Even though 100% my fault, the Judge was really rubbing it in. I never missed another AFC.
1:30–Some lawyers who have practiced 20 years go to a hearing without having filed the financial forms. So don't feel too bad.
And yes, if the obligor was merely a modest hourly wage earner, simply stating his hourly rate of pay may well have been sufficient to fashion a temporary support order, without prejudice.
Arguably, the judge should have merely done so, rather than busting your chops and complicating your life(i.e. client will lose faith in attorney, and keep calling to complain and insisting the attorney correct the error, get them the support, since, after all, the judge already indicated it is the attorney's fault, etc.)
But some of these judges particularly relish giving newbie attorneys a baptism by fire.
My first day as an associate, I was handed a file and told to work it. First thing I saw was a motion to compel filed against us, set for hearing in only a few days, with no opposition filed and without even draft discovery responses in the file. I panicked, but my boss thought it was no big deal — told me to get the client into the office to put together the discovery responses, and he would go in to the hearing and soft-shoe the judge who was a good buddy.
After that introduction to the practice of law, nothing I did at that firm could be considered a major screw up!!
The Sun story is misleading and internally inconsistent.