In a development likely to reduce the number of matrimonial disputes going through acrimonious litigation in New York, Governor David Patterson finally signed into law yesterday an amendment to New York’s domestic relations law adding “irreconcilable differences” as a valid ground for divorce.  New York was the only state remaining in the country to require proof … Continue reading New York last state in the country to finally add a no-fault divorce provision →

Gina Brown and Jean Sternlight have announced the winner of the 2010 Boskey Essay contest:  Flora Go, a student at Harvard Law School, for her essay, “Mediation as Practiced in Criminal Law: The Present, the Pitfalls, and the Potential.” Formal announcement appears here. And the essay itself is available here. MM

Kent Syverud, Dean of the Washington University School of Law, has been named one of two trustees for the $20 billion Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Trust.  As trustee, Dean Syverud will be administering the trust, which presumably means he’ll be signing off on the paying of monies that Kenneth Feinberg and his group award to spill victims. … Continue reading Kent Syverud named BP Fund Trustee →

Earlier this summer, I attended a talk by David Brooks at the Chautauqua Institution in New York.  (Quick aside: The Chautauqua Institution is as close to heaven as any place I have ever found.  How’s that for an endorsement?)  During his talk, David Brooks told the audience that there are, apparently, more Americans who own … Continue reading Ferrets, Fox News, and Framing →

Herbert Kritzer has posted The Antecedents of Disputes: Complaining and Claiming on SSRN. The article is a compendium of empirical research into the “naming, blaming, and claiming” process that leads to disputes. (See Felstiner, Abel, and Sarat, The Emergence of Disputes: Naming, Blaming, Claiming . . .) It goes much deeper than the usual disputing … Continue reading Kritzer on Complaining & Claiming →

I learned earlier today that Grande Lum has accepted a position in the Small Business Administration, directing the Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone) program.  A brief article appears here.  The HUB Zone program has faced a considerable scrutiny in recent years for some of  its practices, and I think it’s safe to say that … Continue reading Grande Lum (Hastings) to the Obama Administration →

I wonder if anyone can direct me to simulations / roleplays that take place in a criminal law setting.  I used one out of the PON Clearinghouse a long time ago, and I know of a second one.  Neither quite fits my purposes for this coming year, and I wonder if anyone out there has … Continue reading Simulations in a Crim Law setting ? →

Harvard’s Laurence Tribe is currently serving as a senior counselor in the Justice Department on access to justice. Last week he addressed the nation’s state chief justices at their annual conference, where he gave an impassioned plea to reform “a system in which the deck is stacked in favor of those who already have the … Continue reading Tribe on Private Dispute Resolution and Access to Justice →

Many lawyers seem to be constantly questioning whether they can be happy as lawyers.   A new book, The Happy Lawyer:  Making a Good Life in the Law takes a comprehensive look at this question and concludes that yes, it is very possible to be a happy lawyer.  Professors Nancy Levit and Douglas O. Linder do a … Continue reading Can Lawyers be Happy? →

Susan S. Raines, Director of the Master’s of Science in Conflict Management Program at Kennesaw State University in Georgia send around a notice earlier today that they are looking to make an entry level hire in their graduate program. According to the description: Minimum qualifications at the time of appointment include a Ph.D. in conflict … Continue reading Kennesaw State is Hiring →