Do women make better lawyers than men?

May 31, 2008

schroder_joseph_women_argue-thumb.jpgThe very question is likely to be viewed as heretical in some quarters of the legal profession, but this ad for US firm Schroder, Joseph Associates LLC invites the question. “Let us make the case for your company”, says the ad, having discreetly trumpeted the 100 per cent female-owned firm’s impressive (and aggressive) litigation record.

However, online advertising and marketing commentator Adrants is not on message with Schroder.

“While the ad might be compelling on one level, what does it say about the men, if any, who work for the firm?” says anguished of Adrants. “Surely, they must be good lawyers as well or they would have been booted out the door long ago.”

Adrants also declaims as follows: “Ever notice how women, when in conflict with another, or with a man for that matter, discuss the issue at great length until every last feeling is expressed? Ever notice how men, when in conflict with another (but not a woman), just punch each other, offer up a fist bump or brush it off with a ‘no worries, dude?’ Though some might debate the point, that’s not sexist. It’s just a natural difference in the way men and women deal with confrontation and disagreement.”

This, as Carolyn Elefant at Law.com points out, is an example of “gender stereotype”. It’s also rather sloppy and cliched. But no matter. What do you think? Is one sex naturally better than the other at law?

 

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Supreme Court on Twitter

February 6, 2012

Something remarkable happened today. Yes, the Supreme Court launched its Twitter feed. It even has a Twitter policy, one of caveats, disclaimers and little by way of illumination but regardless: who would have thought that the successor body to the House of Lords would stoop to engage with the world of tweets, hashtags and retweets?

We look forward to the day when court business will be conducted via Twitter. Meantime, check out this link for an excellent blog on the Supreme Court.

Not so right said Fred

February 2, 2012
fred hat

So Farewell, then, Sir Fred Goodwin.

Now you are just Fred.

Not Right Said Fred, but plain Fred.

The Forfeiture Committee did for you.

No one had heard of it before,

But Dave said it had to act, and it did.

Trouble is that no one knows what to think.

Is it ‘Alas, poor Fred‘,

Or ‘Hurray! Sir Fred is dead!’?

We don’t know.

Do you?

By A. Mob, aged 1,378 and a half.

London Goes AWOL

January 31, 2012
CNN

STOP PRESS:

Fed up with being stuck on the Thames in south-east England, London yesterday decided to move. In a dramatic gesture which augurs ill for the Olympics, the city upped sticks and relocated to East Anglia.

Lawyers were not consulted about the move, and the city’s precise motivation remains unclear. However, financiers fear that London’s decision is a sign that it wishes to downsize. Moreover, a source from London said: “We no longer want to be Britain’s seat of power. If the Scots can deregulate, why can’t we? East Anglia is a nice place where nothing happens. It’s time for a quiet life. Please respect our right to privacy.”

Elsewhere, Birmingham did not do anything, but Manchester was seen to be packing its bags. “There’s an opportunity for us,” said Manchester. “We can become London.”

East Anglia said: “We don’t mind. It’ll be refreshing to be associated with something other than fens and flatness.”

A cartologist at CNN, which broke the extraordinary news, was later fired.