The LACBA Student Lounge Blog

LA Lakers and Ethnic Equality: Dreams Come True

As evidenced by Proposition 8, sexual orientation-based equality in California is still an unfulfilled dream.  California and Los Angeles (LA) are, however, making strides towards ethnic-based equality. 

On June 14, 2009, the childhood dreams of fifteen individuals came true, as the LA Lakers won the National Basketball Association (NBA) Finals.  Whereas the first LA Lakers championship team in 1972 featured solely Americans, this year’s team consisted of four foreign born players.

With the victory, Sasha Vujacic became the third player born in Slovenia to win an NBA championship.  Pau Gasol, additionally, became the first player born in Spain, Sun Yue became the first ethnic Chinese player, and Didier Ilunga-Mbenga became the first Belgian national to either play in or win an NBA championship.  Jordan Farmar, an American born Laker, is, furthermore, the NBA’s only current Jewish player.  As one of the most internationally well represented champions in NBA history, the Lakers, therefore, support the findings of recent studies, which suggest ethnic diversity does not negatively impact a team’s winning percentage. 

Ethnic diversity and success in California and LA, furthermore, extend beyond the sports world.  The U.S. News & World Report's Law School Diversity Index ranks law schools based on ethnic diversity.  Out of 200 accredited law schools, the Index’s top twenty-five ranked schools include twelve from California.  Amongst these twelve schools are four of the five accredited law schools in LA County: the University of Southern California (7), Loyola Marymount University (9), Southwestern Law School (17), and the University of California, LA (19). 

Although LA is well known as the home of Hollywood, some still remember the city for the 1992 LA Riots and the ensuing ethnic divide.  Earlier this month, people again filled the streets of LA.  This time, however, people of all ethnic backgrounds celebrated the Lakers’ win, together.  The 2009 NBA champions and Diversity Index’s rankings are, therefore, hopefully a sign ethnic-based equality in the United States, or at least in LA, is now more of a reality than a dream. 

 

Starting Salary for 2008 Law School Graduates: The Gap Widens

It shouldn't be a big shock to current law students or recent graduates, but the National Association for Legal Career Professionals is reporting on the salaries of 2008 law school graduates and the results are in. Curious yet?

You'll have to dust off your statistics dictionary to get all the details here, but the general conclusion is that the gap between 2008 graduates who landed a large income job upon graduation and those on the opposite end of the earning spectrum is getting wider. Here, it looks like the prevailing starting salary at large law firms is at $160,000, while the median starting salary overall is at $72,000, which of course means that half of the 2008 law school graduates who were involved with the study started at $72,000 or less. A few more ways to break this data down: 42% of 2008 law school graduates started between $65,000 and $40,000. 23% of all salaries reported were $160,000.

Predictions for 2009 graduates?

Proposition 8 and Same-Sex Marriages: From Coast to Coast

On May 26, 2009, while President Obama announced his recommendation of Sonia Sotomayor in Washington, D.C., the California Supreme Court provided its own headline. 

The Court upheld Proposition 8, which bans same-sex marriages in the state of California.  Law students, therefore, joined hundreds of protestors both outside the Courthouse and City Hall.  Still, as both voters and courts now agree on the issue, it seems unlikely California will recognize same-sex marriages in the near future.  On May 28, 2009, Sacramento KRXQ 98.5 FM radio hosts, Rob Williams and Arnie States, furthermore, expressed their dismay for the acceptance of transgender children.    

In response to Williams and States’ comments, however, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, Inc., Sonic Corp., and Chipotle Mexican Grill cancelled their advertising contracts with KRXQ.  Unlike California, New Hampshire is additionally scheduled to become the sixth state to recognize same-sex marriages.  Finally, following the California Supreme Court’s decision, Ted Olson and David Boies filed a federal lawsuit to overturn the ruling. 

Some members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community are, therefore, hopeful Olson and Boies’ action will lead to equal rights.  Still, other members of the community are weary to leave the decision with the courts.  In the meantime, Pacific McGeorge and UC Davis Lambda Law Students remain hopeful and recently marched in the Sacramento Pride Parade on June 20, 2009. 

Sonia Sotomayor and Abortion: Decisions, Decisions

The National Basketball Association’s current draft eligibility rules are still up for debate.  The courts, however, in an opinion Sonia Sotomayor wrote, previously upheld the National Football League's (NFL's) draft eligibility rules.  On May 26, 2009, Sonia Sotomayor made news again, when President Obama announced her as his recommendation to fill the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court. 

Following her nomination, critics and pundits are speculating Sotomayor's beliefs regarding Roe v. Wade because she has not directly ruled on abortion in the United States.  During his time on the bench, however, Judge Souter, who would be Sotomayor’s predecessor, reaffirmed Roe v. Wade.  Sotomayor’s disfavor for Roe v. Wade would, therefore, significantly shift the Court’s stance. 

On May 29, 2009, three days after President Obama’s announcement, Scott Roeder, allegedly, shot and killed Dr. Tiller, a controversial doctor known to perform late-term abortions.  While Dr. Tiller’s practice falls outside the scope of the Roe v. Wade debate, the murder highlights the ongoing controversy during a potential groundbreaking appointment.

If Sotomayor is appointed, she will be the first Hispanic judge on the Supreme Court.  If Sotomayor is appointed and has the opportunity to expand or decrease the scope of Roe v. Wade, however, future law students may learn about her for far more than her ethnic heritage.

NBA Draft Eligibility: Cashing In

California law schools and undergraduate programs are increasing tuition in response to the budget crisis, which is creating a hardship for many potential students.  Still, some high school student athletes with scholarship offers are considering avoiding college altogether.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) requires potential players entering the draft be at least one year removed from their high school graduation.  The league instituted this rule in response to the increasing number of recent high school graduates entering the draft.  Still, the NBA provides the opportunity of million dollar salaries, while its traditional alternative, college basketball, prohibits players from receiving any salary. 

Brandon Jennings, a high school basketball phenom and 2008 high school graduate, therefore, spent the last year playing professional basketball in Europe, where players can receive a salary without an age requirement.  Jeremy Tyler, a current high school basketball star scheduled to graduate high school in 2010, likewise plans to spend his first year of college eligibility playing professionally in Europe.  Tyler, however, also plans to forgo his senior year of high school, which will allow him to play in Europe for two years before entering the NBA draft. 

This new trend of playing in Europe provides American athletes with a lucrative temporary alternative to the NBA.  It permits them to play professionally at nearly any age and bypass the unpaid college basketball system.  Representative Steve Cohen from Tennessee, therefore, sent letters to the NBA requesting the league eliminate the rule. 

The NBA remains satisfied with the eligibility rule, so continued efforts by Cohen and others could lead to a potential lawsuit.  Meanwhile, due to the poor economy, many law firms are requiring recent law school graduates to either defer their salary or their previously agreed upon employment for up to eighteen months.  If the court decides the matter, the attorneys fighting for the players’ rights to earn an NBA salary without restriction, may, therefore, ironically be working without pay. 

LACBA Announces Small Firm and Solo Conference Scholarship

LACBA has announced that it will give a number of full scholarships for the LACBA 2009 Small Firm and Solo Practitioner Conference to LACBA Law Student members. The conference will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 24 and 25. Attending this conference will be a great value for law students who are considering a solo practice or working in a small firm.

Along with many networking opportunities and other benefits, the conference will include programs on the following topics:

Rainmaker 101: What to Do NOW to Build a Strong Book of Business
Cash Flow Tips to Thrive in a Down Economy
Follow Your Bliss
Are Lawyers Unbundling In a Frigid Economy
Do It Yourself Public Relations
Successful Strategies for Solo and Small Offices
Small But Mighty: How to Compete With the Big Guys
Get Paid What You are Worth: How To Get The Right Legal Fee
Work-Life Balance-Success Without Stress
Social Networking for Lawyers: A Roadmap to Success
Practical Solutions for Work-Life Balance
Negotiating and Mediating Your Way to Better Results in a Troubled Economy
Let’s Talk: Capturing the Wisdom of the Room
You can Have It All and Do It All
Computer Forensics in Civil Discovery a Primer
Turning Events Into Investments

For more information about the LACBA 2009 Small Firm and Sole Practitioner Conference, to inquire about the full scholarship or to become a LACBA Law Student member, contact Fatima in the LACBA Member Services Department by dialing (213) 896-6560.

CA State Bar Approves Bar Exam Fee Increases

Becoming an attorney in California will get a little more expensive in 2010. The California State Bar recently approved a tiered increase in state bar exam fees over the next few years.

A California Bar Journal article notes that general application fees will increase from $529 to $556 in 2010. In 2011, general application fees will move to $584 and in 2012 fees will rise to $614. Out of state attorneys seeking a California license will also see an increase. These fees will move from $769 to $808 for out of state attorneys in 2010, $849 in 2011 and to $892 in 2012.

Laptop users will also be subject to increased fees over the next three years, along with registration fees and Moral Character Determination fees.

Western State University College of Law Gets New Dean: William E. Adams, Jr.

Earlier today it was announced that Western State University College of Law has a new dean, William E. Adams, Jr. Adams came from the Shepard Broad Law Center of Nova Southeastern University in Florida, where he served as Associate Dean.

What's a new dean to do? Off the blocks, Adams will work toward making the Fullerton, California law school fully accredited by the American Bar Association. He succeeds Maryann Jones, who served the law school for 19 years.

Federal Student Loan Interest Rates Will Hit Record Low

Yes, higher education is expensive and it's not often that we get good news on the education finance front. However, some very good news has come down the federal student loan pike. On July 1, federal student loan interest rates will drop to the lowest rates in the history of the federal student loan system.

Available to students with variable interest rate federal loans who have not yet consolidated and who took those loans out before July 1, 2006, the new rates, according to a Studentloanconsolidator.com article, are as follows:

Stafford In Grace rate: 2% (down from 3.61%)

Stafford In Repayment rate: 2.5% (down from 4.21%)

Parent Plus Loan rate: 3.38% (down from 5.01%)

Law Grad Alternative Career of the Week: Cupcake Truck Driver

With the options of driving a cupcake truck around New York or studying for the bar exam, Lev Ekster decided to drive the truck. Ekster is now running a business called CupcakeStop. Finishing up at New York Law School, Ekster established the company, acquired a professional cupcake baker and plans to sell between 1,200 and 1,500 cupcakes a day at $2.50 a pop for full-sized cupcakes.

Here's how it works. CupcakeStop runs promotions like mini-cupcake giveaways, then Tweets the CupCake Stop truck location to followers on Twitter.

More on this story.