Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Be sure to pay those student loans!

Especially in Texas. It seems that in Texas you can get dis-barred for failing to pay your student loans.

In this attorney's case it was $67,000 worth of debt he was trying to walk away from.

Two things come to mind:

Well, in Tax class we learned that loan forgiveness is actually income so he would have to pay taxes on the $67,000 if he was able to get rid of the debt successfully.

Second, its a pretty bold move to try to grab a little piece of his own "bailout". But it speaks more to his character to follow through on a promise to carry out a contract (his student loan).

Interesting.

RW

Monday, April 13, 2009

Sabbaticals in BigLaw?

Big City - Skadden, Arps Offers Lawyer $80,000 to Take a Year Off - NYTimes.com

You may have heard that US firms are having a bit of a tough year.... As a result, many of them are asking their incoming 1st year associates to arrive a little later in 2009, in some cases in 2010 and in others not at all.

One firm, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is giving every one of their associates the chance to take the year off and pocket $80,000 for the privilege of not showing up to work.

Sounds like a pretty good deal. Perhaps they should offer this at all firms to stem the layoffs?

On a related note, layoffs are happening in Canada too but not at quite the same pace as below the 49th parallel.

RW

Friday, April 3, 2009

Here's another great Law Revue video, this time from our colleagues at the University of Virginia.

Enjoy.



RW