80% of the Boyd students who took the Nevada bar for the first time in July passed–that’s the second highest pass rate for the school since it was founded. [UNLV]
The Public Defender’s office was granted its request to withdraw as counsel for Ammar Harris–who has said he plans on suing the office for violating his civil rights while representing him. Harris will get a less than speedy trial now that he will have attorneys coming in a month before the trial date. [RJ]
Sheriff Doug Gillespie and Commissioner Steve Sisolak have toned down their rhetoric about the LVPPA arbitration, with Gillespie acknowledging that it was less than transparent. [RJ; Las Vegas Sun]
Metro announced a $1.5 million settlement with the widow of Stanley Gibson–the veteran killed by a Metro officer. [Fox5Vegas]
The Supreme Court of Nevada officially launches its new website today. You have to admit that some Nevada courts do a pretty good job of staying up to date on technology. [Supreme.nvcourts.gov]
Say what you will about Boyd, but ever since I was there 5 years ago they have committed to raising the bar passage rates of students. With an 80% passage rate compared to the 66% passage rate for all test takers, they must be doing something right. Now if only they could raise the employment rate of Boyd grads…
Boyd's employment rate is just 60% (full-time, permanent jobs as lawyers). Some UNLV Law alum will convulse at what I am about to say, but it's the obvious truth – if Boyd closed its doors tomorrow, Nevada would be no worse for the wear. Given the national glut of attorneys, Nevada could meet its need for attorneys for decades to come without its own law school. And the professors at UNLV Law, like just about every other law school, contribute virtually nothing to the practicing bar. All the best articles on Nevada practice are found in practitioner-authored publications anyway. But UNLV Law does not really exist for the students (who just could have gone to law school elsewhere) or for the people of Nevada (see above). UNLV Law exists for the "prestige" of UNLV and for the administrators and professors who make very handsome salaries with very minimal duties.
I agree with your post, except for this part: "But UNLV Law does not really exist for the students (who just could have gone to law school elsewhere)"
I couldn't afford to quit my job and leave Las Vegas. I had a full scholarship to go to UNLV through their evening program, and I'm happy with the outcome. I knew many others in the evening program that were in the same position that I was in. All that said, you're right that there are too many law schools and too many lawyers being cranked out every year.
As someone who practiced in Nevada prior to Boyd's emergence, my opinion is that Boyd adds nothing. In fact, the glut of local lawyers it has produced (and continues to produce) has made practicing law here just a bit worse. Meaningless legal work, after all, has to be created in order to keep Boyd graduates working. Stuff that used to be resolved over the phone is now often the subject of grand hearings before the various Commissioners. And it certainly seems like there were fewer billboard lawyers before Boyd (not none, but fewer).
@9:54, I'm not sure Boyd is the cause of the issues you have raised. There may be more attorneys in Vegas now than there were back in 1999, but that is probably just a result of population growth more than having a fairly respectable law school. I'd rather have Boyd graduates filling legal jobs here than graduates from 4th tier California law schools.
And those billboard lawyers you mention, I'm pretty sure most of them didn't go to Boyd. You should probably aim your frustration elsewhere.
Guest
Anonymous
October 29, 2013 9:05 pm
I was in court this morning and saw both Jacob Hafter and Ben Childs in the gallery waiting for their cases to be called. I thought for a second … how awesome would it be to see those two loathsome individuals argue against each other. Alas, it was not to be. But, what might have been …
I think this is a good an intro as any to Childs http://www.lasvegassun.com/videos/2008/oct/06/875/ this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg there are many other stories out there involving him.
I once saw Childs in the Discovery Commissioner's court room, and he had a young child with him that was only in a tee shirt and diaper. The kid kept squawking, and the DC kept asking "whoever has the child" to leave (even though everyone knew who had the child). Anyway, Childs totally ignored her and acted like the kid wasn't his. It was so weird.
Guest
Anonymous
October 29, 2013 10:17 pm
So does Lisa Willardson have a constituency? I just don't know enough people outside my little legal niche to tell. Nevada Judicial Watch has 428 facebook friends. Is there a big pro-Willardson (or pro-Jones) faction out there in the legal community? Is there a chance she could be elected? And just how random is the list of people that Nevada Judicial Watch keeps pushing as judicial candidates? Are those all pro-Willardson/Jones people? Or are some of them her allies and others just harmless strangers who have nothing to to with Nevada Judicial Watch? And doesn't the whole thing feel a little…..high school?
Guest
Anonymous
October 30, 2013 1:17 am
5:22 – your statement applies equally to most law schools. What's your point?
Guest
Anonymous
October 30, 2013 1:20 am
3:17 – as appalled as I am to say this, some of the names I am hearing as potential judicial candidates make people like Halvorsen, Mosely etc. sound a lot more appealing
Say what you will about Boyd, but ever since I was there 5 years ago they have committed to raising the bar passage rates of students. With an 80% passage rate compared to the 66% passage rate for all test takers, they must be doing something right. Now if only they could raise the employment rate of Boyd grads…
Boyd's employment rate is just 60% (full-time, permanent jobs as lawyers). Some UNLV Law alum will convulse at what I am about to say, but it's the obvious truth – if Boyd closed its doors tomorrow, Nevada would be no worse for the wear. Given the national glut of attorneys, Nevada could meet its need for attorneys for decades to come without its own law school. And the professors at UNLV Law, like just about every other law school, contribute virtually nothing to the practicing bar. All the best articles on Nevada practice are found in practitioner-authored publications anyway. But UNLV Law does not really exist for the students (who just could have gone to law school elsewhere) or for the people of Nevada (see above). UNLV Law exists for the "prestige" of UNLV and for the administrators and professors who make very handsome salaries with very minimal duties.
I agree with your post, except for this part: "But UNLV Law does not really exist for the students (who just could have gone to law school elsewhere)"
I couldn't afford to quit my job and leave Las Vegas. I had a full scholarship to go to UNLV through their evening program, and I'm happy with the outcome. I knew many others in the evening program that were in the same position that I was in. All that said, you're right that there are too many law schools and too many lawyers being cranked out every year.
Thank you, 5:22.
As someone who practiced in Nevada prior to Boyd's emergence, my opinion is that Boyd adds nothing. In fact, the glut of local lawyers it has produced (and continues to produce) has made practicing law here just a bit worse. Meaningless legal work, after all, has to be created in order to keep Boyd graduates working. Stuff that used to be resolved over the phone is now often the subject of grand hearings before the various Commissioners. And it certainly seems like there were fewer billboard lawyers before Boyd (not none, but fewer).
Boyd isn't going away. But is should.
@9:54, I'm not sure Boyd is the cause of the issues you have raised. There may be more attorneys in Vegas now than there were back in 1999, but that is probably just a result of population growth more than having a fairly respectable law school. I'd rather have Boyd graduates filling legal jobs here than graduates from 4th tier California law schools.
And those billboard lawyers you mention, I'm pretty sure most of them didn't go to Boyd. You should probably aim your frustration elsewhere.
I was in court this morning and saw both Jacob Hafter and Ben Childs in the gallery waiting for their cases to be called. I thought for a second … how awesome would it be to see those two loathsome individuals argue against each other. Alas, it was not to be. But, what might have been …
Was Hafter wearing a bow tie?
Of course. He also had a cane. It seemed like he was in pain, which I think is karma coming back to bite him in the @$$.
I'm familiar with Hafter, but what is Childs' claim to fame?
I think this is a good an intro as any to Childs http://www.lasvegassun.com/videos/2008/oct/06/875/ this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg there are many other stories out there involving him.
None. He just has a very "endearing" personality like Hafter.
I once had Childs lock me out of a deposition at his office while my client was still inside the office with Childs. Very professional ….
Oh my God, that clip of Childs is amazing. Judge Cadish's reaction to some of the asinine things he is saying is priceless.
Glad you said something–the video is great. Makes me like Cadish even more.
I once saw Childs in the Discovery Commissioner's court room, and he had a young child with him that was only in a tee shirt and diaper. The kid kept squawking, and the DC kept asking "whoever has the child" to leave (even though everyone knew who had the child). Anyway, Childs totally ignored her and acted like the kid wasn't his. It was so weird.
So does Lisa Willardson have a constituency? I just don't know enough people outside my little legal niche to tell. Nevada Judicial Watch has 428 facebook friends. Is there a big pro-Willardson (or pro-Jones) faction out there in the legal community? Is there a chance she could be elected? And just how random is the list of people that Nevada Judicial Watch keeps pushing as judicial candidates? Are those all pro-Willardson/Jones people? Or are some of them her allies and others just harmless strangers who have nothing to to with Nevada Judicial Watch? And doesn't the whole thing feel a little…..high school?
5:22 – your statement applies equally to most law schools. What's your point?
3:17 – as appalled as I am to say this, some of the names I am hearing as potential judicial candidates make people like Halvorsen, Mosely etc. sound a lot more appealing
One is an Ex-Felon