Saturday, December 01, 2007

Plaintiff's Work

"De Novo Legal is searching for attorneys for an upcoming document review project. Candidates must be admitted to the bar of a US state and be flexible for OT. Work will be on the plaintiff’s side of a class action with an expected duration of 6-8 weeks."

Note to newbies: If you plan on involving yourself in the temporary attorney racket, STAY AWAY from plaintiff's side class action firms. Not only do many of these smaller firms treat you like shit, but they will conflict you out of many future projects on the defense side. I know it may be tempting to work through the holidays, but if you take this short 6-8 week project, you may very well be spending the next few years living out in a van down by the Hudson River.

91 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does anyone have a list of plaintiff firms that can cause major conflicts problems?

Anonymous said...

Absolutely accurate about the potential for being conflicted-out for long periods.

At least one plaintiff's side class action firm that I'm aware of treats people fairly decently. The downside is that the hourly rate is low and there's no overtime. In addition, the projects usually are far more demanding than simple document review.

Anonymous said...

Virtually all of them could create conflict problems, but Milberg Weiss used to top the list.

Incidentally, these are not true conflicts, usually. People who work on doc reviews have limited to no access to the rest of the firm or its work. I've suspected that part of the rigorous enforcement of "conflicts" is simple animus against class action firms.

If you can't stick it to the firm, stick it to the sucker temporary attorneys who work for them.

Anonymous said...

Comment #3 seems accurate. Whether the defense firms are doing it out of principle or just out of spite, if they see that you've worked for a plaintiff's firm, you're done.

Securities firms seem to be the worst because they tend to sue everybody under the sun. They do have temps for things other than relevance/privilege review; assignments that actually have you write short memos or fill in spreadsheets. But I'm not sure if that temporary respite from clicking is worth alienating every possible defense firm out there.

Anonymous said...

It' not animus. The defense firms aren't trying to stick it to the plaintiff firms, but rather they are afraid that the disgruntled temp will stick it to the defense firm. Imagine being disqualified from a multi-million dollar account because one of your temps had access to the other side's hot documents? Could this happen? Practically no, but theoretically yes. Why take the risk when there are a hundred other people out there willing to do the same job who haven't worked for plaintiff firms?

Anonymous said...

This was just posted:

"Via EP DINE
Attorney (Document Review) -- Major Firm

Reply to: ccheskin@epdine. com

Major national firm seeks several NY admitted attorneys for a
document review assignment. The rate is $35 per hour, plus time and
one half for
overtime, which should be substantial."

"Frank-En"dine never pays O.T., serious red flag. Looks like "Frank-En"dine is at it again.

Anonymous said...

it seems that large law firms, law schools, education lenders are all part of the scam. i know i'm preaching to the choir, but just to summarize...

you invest 3 yrs of your life on a single goal of becoming an attorney.

by the time you graduate, you've accumulated six-figure loan from loan sharks. and then you realize that graduation means nothing because you have to study harder than you've ever studied in your life for an exam,

exam, which you were completely unprepared for by law schools and is so difficult that you have take professionally taught courses which costs thousands of dollars

you realize that law degree is not useful for everything and is not respected in every field and absolutely not applicable to other professions like you were told by law school recruiters and your "counselors"

your career service office has no interest in helping you find jobs even though the office is filled with useless full time workers (whom you pay ridiculous salaries with your tuition money) whose job it is to find you jobs.

no high-salary large firm wants to hire you because you're a new attorney and didn't graduate from the top 10% of your class.

so after hundreds of resumes and tens of interviews, a nice partner at a small firm is willing to give you a shot, but you can't take the job because it doesn't pay enough for you to pay your rent and your school loans.

so you try to find non-legal jobs and realize that you're not qualified for anything and no one really cares about your work ethics, legal knowlege, discipline, or high level of education.

and you get a job as a temp attorney so you can pay your bills while you're trying to figure out what to do and before you know it you forget everything you learned in law school except for privilege issues...

Anonymous said...

Google, Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Fitzpatrick%2C+Cella%2C+Harper+%26+Scinto&btnG=Google+Search

We made it onto the 1st page!

Looks like the sun is finally beginning to shine on these evil law firms.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Davis represents one of the few bright spots for the struggling U.S. labor movement: Despite a blue-collar image, many of the fastest growing unions in the U.S. represent white-collar professionals, including physicians, nuclear engineers, psychologists and judges.
***

The growth of white-collar unions says much about the precarious nature of jobs of all types in the current economy. Decaying job security and benefits and the effects of global trade on labor costs all have begun to reach into the ranks of professional workers.

"Professionals join unions because they feel that their work is being devalued. Many of these workers had good pensions and good benefits, and they don't anymore," says Kate Bronfenbrenner, director of labor education research at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Professionals, she adds, may fear being replaced by independent contractors or seeing their jobs outsourced.
***

Anonymous said...

At least they are upfront about it being a plaintiff's firm. Most agencies practice a don't ask /don't tell policy when it comes to this.

Anonymous said...

I applaud agencies that are upfront about the plaintiff's firm thing. When I first started out, Andrew Rider was very upfront about the dangers of taking a plaintiff's firm project that he was pitching.

Anonymous said...

Andrew Rider is as sleazy as they come. He placed me at Milberg Weiss, but never told me that I would be conflicted out of future assignments. That is exactly what happened, until I took Milberg off my resume. Don't trust a word that Rider says.

Anonymous said...

FUCK! I just applied for that Epdine thing!!! Anyone know what project it is? How do they get away with such a bait and switch?

Anonymous said...

5:11- nice try with your attempt to blame an agency person instead of doing your own due dilligence before taking a temp job.

You are a RETARD and don't deserve to be employed. YOU OBVIOUSLY CANNOT THINK OR TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

I look forward to walking over you as you beg for money in the subway station as I head in the morning to my lucrative perm job.

Loser.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Andrew Rider!

Anonymous said...

Andrew Rider... does he look like David Spade?

Anonymous said...

8:12- this isn't Andrew Rider, you fool.

Just someone who knows better than to blame someone else for his mistakes. I did my due dillegence when I was a temp. I also took reponsibility for what put me in the shit temp attorney situation. And now I have a nice job I can support my family with.

I guess you don't-- so go on, blame the recruiters. See how far that gets you.

And no, I won't give you my spare change.

Anonymous said...

"And now I have a nice job I can support my family with."

What, as a recruiter? How does it feel to exploit people now?

Anonymous said...

9:02, again you are mistaken. I practice law at a mid-sized firm. You remember the concept of PRACTICE, right?? That thing you wanted to do but now can't even get a temp job doing. Your job is now going on a bloggie and whining about recruiters who don't give you shit.

Way to go LOSER!!! Your current lot in life sums you up. No job, no temp job. Ha. Now bend down and shine my shoes for Christmas, bitch!

Anonymous said...

STAY AWAY FROM EP DINE!!!

It's true: they NEVER, EVER pay OT. There is always some string attached. Any time they advertise a job as paying OT, it is wise (and justified) to assume it's a bait-and-switch.

EP Dine is the WORST of ALL THE AGENCIES in NYC. Work with them AT YOUR OWN RISK. And don't say you weren't warned.

Anonymous said...

12:17AM, Well for one, I remember the concept of practice and if you don't practice being more polite, you egg white, I'll kick your ass. You're lucky this is a blog. You sound like a jerk.

Anonymous said...

12:45, you are an uninformed troll. She was promoted, I heard. Lucky for her or for anyone that doesn't have to deal with these blog posting "attorneys".

Anonymous said...

Let go? No way. Someone that works in Hudson told me she got a very prestigious position now. Nothing on this dumb blog is ever true.

Anonymous said...

--A person who hasn't done this work wouldn't understand the potential negative impact of doing plaintiff's class action work. They think conflicts are going to be analyzed the way they are in a "normal" law practice.

--It is possible to do substantive work at plaintiff's firm on a temporary basis. But they usually don't pay enough to make it worthwhile, at least not through an agency.

Anonymous said...

and you are asking this questions of the morons that troll this blog? For fucks sake- have you no one else to talk to??!

Anonymous said...

Calling your employees morons and trolls is the reason why blogs like this exist.

Anonymous said...

This blog exists so the little guy with no job, no brain but with law degree can come on here and bash on people anonymously. Here is where the losers can feel BIG.

Everyone, even his peers know that at the end of the day, y'all still have no jobs, no insurance and shitloads of loans. If this blog is your saving grace- you are pathetic- but rejoice!

Anonymous said...

Well, blogs like this have definitely changed the dynamic. It used to be that socially inept associates/agency employees with little dicks could boss around and abuse temp employees (many of whom are seeking work/life balance) ad nauseum. Those days are over.

Anonymous said...

OK! I am new at this. Barely remember Prof Responisibility. What is wrong with taking a Planitiff's side of the case discovery? I thought working for a Defense would cause more long term problems.

Anonymous said...

OK! I am new at this. Barely remember Prof Responisibility. What is wrong with taking a Planitiff's side of the case discovery? I thought working for a Defense would cause more long term problems.

Anonymous said...

OK! I am new at this. Barely remember Prof Responisibility. What is wrong with taking a Planitiff's side of the case discovery? I thought working for a Defense would cause more long term problems.

Anonymous said...

It's fascinating to see how truth brings out the nastiness. Secure individuals with genuine arguments don't need to resort to that.

Anonymous said...

hey perm jober...next time you kiss your wife, let me know how my dick tastes.

Anonymous said...

12:17, having two lines on your cell phone while running errands for coffee or pizza is not practicing in a mid-sized firm. I thought we told you this before. Although you got the asshole attorney attitude down. Now, I need a double latte and my pencils sharpened, douche...hurry

Anonymous said...

8:48 - what are you good at?

Anonymous said...

The men on this blog are obessesed with her. It's bizarre.

Anonymous said...

65 rulz

Anonymous said...

And the "just reward" is a bunch of unemployable loser temps going on an anonymous blog and making high school remarks?

Losers. Get a life.

Anonymous said...

That's right, 10:25! Loser temps anonymously making fun of a loser recruiter!

Anonymity is akin to guerilla warfare. Guerilla warfare occurs when you have one combatant that is far more physically/materially powerful than the other. The weaker can't fight the stronger on an open field because they'd be crushed. So they rely on stealth and hit-and-run tactics.

Here, the recruiters/agencies/firms are the stronger combatant because they control the cash flow. To come out in the open to fight them would be suicide.

Just remember when you criticize people airing it out anonymously on this blog: the U.S. was created via guerilla warfare. The Continental Army in the American Revolution was a guerilla force.

Go ahead - make fun of me now for saying that.

Anonymous said...

7:12, some class act attorney you must be. Go now and enjoy your basement roaches- aka your peers.

And keep sucking up to the recruiters, with your gangsta mentality, you'll need them FOREVER.

Anonymous said...

7:12 must have gotten a '0' on the analogy section on his SAT.

Comparing your crap ass agency-needing situation to the US Revolution?? HA.

What is your goal in this "war"?? To get a job and an attorney? Heh.

Good luck with that. With your case comparison skills I'm sure Cravath will be calling you any moment.

Anonymous said...

10:25. I consider myself at war with those who take advantage of me, you asshole. And that's what the agencies and firms do: they take advantage of temps like me (and you, if you're actually a temp and not an agency hack or permanent attorney at a firm).

So go stuff it up your ass, dickhead.

Anonymous said...

Since when is gender the same thing as race? What kind of education you must have... And, you made it through law school? --Says a lot for our educational system.

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone ever admit to being conflicted, when there is no way anyone can verify your past projects?

David R Waldman said...
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Anonymous said...

Anton Phillipe Wolfgang van Sertima said...
Anton Phillipe Wolfgang Van Sertima said...
The preceding post was posted by David Waldman; deletion pending

Anonymous said...

Case Details - Charges
CASE INFORMATION
CourtNew York Criminal Court

Case # 2014NY033914

Say hello to your temp attorney 2014 blog commenter:

Defendant Waldman, David R

Charge Detail Disposition/Sentence
PL 240.30 1A
**TOP CHARGE** A Misdemeanor, 1 count, Not an arrest charge, Arraignment charge
DescriptionAgg Harassment 2 - Threat
PL 240.26 01 Violation, 1 count, Not an arrest charge, Arraignment charge
DescriptionHarassment 2nd- Phy Contact

Anonymous said...

Look where David Waldman's abuse of women landed him. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES. He enjoys using this old blog as a way to act out. Maybe you know him from law school?

David R Waldman
Case Details - Appearances
CASE INFORMATION
CourtNew York Criminal Court

Case #2014NY033914

Defendant Waldman, David Robert
04/30/2014
APAR3A Judge Dominguez, D
Domestic Violence Case

Case Continued (adjourned) - Temporary Order Of Protection Issued

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Anonymous said...


Inmate Details
WALDMAN, DAVID
NYSID: 12659887R

Booking Information
Incarceration 10-DEC-2014
Book & Case Number:
3491416626
Current Housing Facility:
MDC (Manhattan Detention Complex)
Arrest Date:
09-DEC-2014
Arrest Number:
m14705669l
Next Court Date:
12-DEC-2014
Bail and/or Bond:
$1,500.00 bail or $3,000.00 bond
Charge Information
Docket:Indictment:Court Part:Court Name:
Charge:
2014NY091426 00000 0000 D Manhattan Crim. Ct.
215.50 MA (CRIMINAL CONTEMP- 2ND A Misdemeanor)

David R Waldman
Year of Birth: 1968
Sex:Male
Race: White
Height: 5 ft 9 inches
Weight:172 lbs
Hair Color:Brown
Eye Color: Hazel
Nativity: New Jersey

David R Waldman said...
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Anonymous said...

Criminal Temp Attorney David R Waldman is back in jail on charges stemming from domestic violence:

WALDMAN, DAVID
Booking Information Incarceration 06-MAR-2015
Book & Case Number: 3491502606
Current Housing Facility: MDC (Manhattan Detention Complex)
Arrest Date: 06-MAR-2015
Arrest Number: CRTDRT
Next Court Date: 09-MAR-2015
Bail Status: remanded

Anonymous said...

DAVID WALDMAN IS DENIED BAIL!!!

Last Appearance: 03/06/2015 --- Information updated
Part: C --- Information updated
Judge: Scherzer, A --- Information updated
Calendar Section: To Pay Surcharge --- Information updated
Arraignment / Hearing Type: Violation of Conditional Discharge --- Information updated
Court Reporter: Bent, M --- Information updated
Outcome / Release Status: Continued-to Pay Fine/sur/cvaf, Returned On Warrant / Remanded --- Information updated

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