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March 05, 2011
Rancho Bernardo, California.
I spend a lot of time here in this suburb of San Diego. In one sense, it's a bit like my beloved alma mater across the country: a small serious community of reasonable men and women who work hard at producing young adults who may some day take their places as high-functioning members of the ultra-bourgeoisie. Just way less fun, free-thinking and diverse. Suburban San Diego. While "well-educated" and white collar, it's stiff, reactionary and semi-literate.
But it's a great place to rest--and think. I do get the people. I do like them. However, unlike the more energetic and erudite out-of-state dream builders, writers, artists, and unabashed Alphas who move further north to Los Angeles--LA transplants tend to hail from the American Northeast--newcomers to Southern California are from safe no-nonsense enclaves of the Midwest and South.
It's like, well, Pittsburgh or Indianapolis or any number of fine cities in "flyover" land where the message is stark but honest and clear: "Succeed--but do so on our terms. Don't go too far too fast on your own. Don't make us feel uncomfortable about ourselves." As one friend notes, both San Diego and Orange counties are, at best, "Ohio with Water". At worst, Death with a View.
It's getting better, though. Slowly, in small waves, both San Diego and next-door Orange are seeing increasing diversity in peoples, and in thought. It can't be stopped.
Posted by JD Hull at 11:59 PM | Comments (0)
Corporate Counsel: What kind of SEC?
See Broc Romanek's piece yesterday, "Should the SEC Be Reorganized? If So, How?" Excerpt:
With a government shutdown averted--at least for two weeks--SEC Staffers still have plenty to be concerned about. One of the Dodd-Frank studies--required by Section 967 of the Act--is being prepared by an independent consultant, the Boston Consulting Group.
Expected to be published soon, the study's stated purpose is to "examine the internal operations, structure, funding, and the need for comprehensive reform of the SEC, as well as the SEC's relationship with and the reliance on self-regulatory organizations and other entities relevant to the regulation of securities and the protection of securities investors that are under the SEC's oversight."
Given that this study was commissioned at a time when it was expected that the SEC would receive more funds and would be in full hiring mode--and now the opposite is true--it will be interesting to see how the study handles this dramatic change in the Congressional-regulatory environment.
Harvey (1950): "Well, what did you have in mind?"
Posted by JD Hull at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)
March 04, 2011
The Good, The Bad, The Wakened.
Stand Up Loud: Dance. Off Your Limp & Faggy White-Collar Knees.
Posted by Holden Oliver (Kitzbühel Desk) at 02:25 PM | Comments (0)
March 03, 2011
Bang Bang for Customers: Step Up. Sound Off. Change It All.
Warner Bros./Columbia Records
The very best reformers commence on themselves. -- George Bernard Shaw
Break out of captivity...your heart's still wild. -- Patty Smyth
No time for Weenie lawyers--of either (a) the Lazy Blowhard or (b) Skittish Dweeb variety. It's time for lawyers to lead. Put clients first.
Tell clients what you really think. Give advice--not just options. Stop covering your ass. Take risks.
Stop pretending you are "special". (That's over.) Minimize clubbiness. Stop making the law about your convenience and schedule. Fire bad clients. Fight mediocrity. Fight mediocre lawyering.
Stop writing documents which sound like hopelessly incurable mental patients talking to themselves.
Surround yourself with strong talented people who challenge you. Fire employees who who don't buy into your goals--or who don't or won't get it--and stop pretending they'll see the light.
Demand that law schools give you minimally functional, motivated, self-reliant graduates who can think on their own--and who believe that any kind of work is an honor and privilege to perform.
Think like a business person and not a mere academic. Practice discipline and structure. Help clients control costs. Become a trusted consigiliere.
Change the way people think about lawyers. Stop being Passive Weenies and Ineffectual Dorks. Act. Serve.
Posted by Holden Oliver (Kitzbühel Desk) at 12:59 AM | Comments (0)
March 02, 2011
Justin, Josh, Ashley, Brittany: Do you get it yet?
Note, too, that Iran is not a household appliance. Rumsfeld not a TV drama. Cameron not an African republic. Good for DLA Piper's Kimberly Egan and her "Everything associates didn't learn in law school" at Law.com. You hit some nails on the head; we'll buy you dinner with Charlie, Holden and me. Current events emphasis especially good, ma'am. But new associate batch's biggest problems? Consider (1) bad writing and disrespect for The Sentence, (2) cultural illiteracy bordering on loathsome disease, and (3) wimping out quickly, totally and unashamedly at the first sign of adversity or complexity of any nature. Pick up on them next time you write. Gold star, though. Trophy. Balloons and ice cream on Friday.
Posted by JD Hull at 11:37 PM | Comments (0)
February 28, 2011
Prepare to Hurl: Megan's Law for Law Students.
And Dean Mentschikoff rolls twice over in her grave. Via Hull McGuire Of Counsel Greenfield and fellow Buckeye Gamso, view this from a University of Miami law student and both Greenfield and Gamso's posts:
"All about me, 24/7". Would you trust her with a Client for 5 minutes?
Sorry, Sweetie, but you're in training to be a Servant--not a Grand Dame. Can you imagine this young person in a few years with any good clients that stick? Lots of issues here. But how about Bills Of Rights for Wealthy Obese Teenagers, Underachievers, and St. Louis Cotillion Participants?
Posted by JD Hull at 12:00 AM | Comments (2)
Sheen-1 or 2 Points. Media--Less Than Zero.
Query: Is there Anyone more Irresponsible & Whoring than Network News Talking-Head Shrinks? We'll take Charlie any day.
Posted by JD Hull at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)