In a fairly dramatic event, the American Law Institute, which created the "intellectual framework" of our capital justice system, walked away from one of its defining projects: finding a intellectual rationale for capital punishment.

A recent survey on student engagement shows that nearly 30 percent of law school graduates are graduating law school with $120,000 in debt. This figure is up 11 percent since 2006. As mentioned in an earlier blog post, the debt factor does not seem to be a huge deterrent in applying to law schools, as law school admissions have admitted seeing a rise in applicants.

It appears that in times of crisis, many lawyers and law firms revisit the main reason why one goes into legal practice: to help the disadvantaged and defend just causes. Every year, The National Law Journal issues the Pro Bono Awards to lawyers doing exemplary pro bono legal work that merits recognition. Although the awards have not been given out just yet, the journal noticed a few positive trends when analyzing the data:

Although humorous, the video does raise some valid questions about the path law school offers. Considered to be a surefire way to a safe and secure career, the market for lawyers is clearly not what it used to be and many of those not graduating from top law schools may be left out in the cold when it comes time to graduate and find a job.

Two U.S. Senators have proposed legislation the Roosevelt Scholars Act as a way to attract top performing students to the federal government. It is being called the "civilian ROTC." Below are the details. The full description of the Roosevelt Scholars Act can be found here.

Legal aid programs in Massachusetts are taking a significant hit. Greater Boston Legal Services, for example, has taken a 15 percent cut to its staff. The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, the primary financial supporter of local civil legal aid programs around the state, cut its funding for services by 54 percent over the past year. All this while there has been an increase in the demand for assistance in handling housing, health care and child custody issues within the Commonwealth.

The Recorder recently wrote about new money coming into California Legal Aid organizations as well as positive recent developments for the various groups, like balanced budgets.

A recent letter to the editor in the New Yorker Magazine highlighted Bruce Wasserstein's life achievements and work as the owner of The New Yorker. Bruce Wasserstein was a joint degree graduate of Harvard Law School and Harvard Business School. The Wasserstein Public Interest Fellows Program was named in his honor.

A recent USA Today article mentioned two HLS graduates, Dan Lindsey and Melanca Clark, in a story focusing on the dearth of legal service attorneys available to poor people facing foreclosure.

Equal Justice Works posted a nice blog entry about the top reasons to be a public interest lawyer.

According to a recent column by Boston Globe's conservative columnist Jeff Jacoby, federal civil servant employees' salary is rising and holding a comparative advantage vs. private sector employees.

In a piece written in the National Law Journal, serious questions are highlighted over the changing legal field and the implications of a legal education. A recent letter from the Dean of the University of Miami Law School, Patricia White, highlighted the changing legal market and asked students to rethink their reasons in going to law school. Quite bold considering the potential money the school could have lost if students took the Dean up on her advice.

Externships - short-term positions with nonprofit organizations, government agencies or other organizations that are unpaid, credit-based and supported by a faculty member and supervising attorney - are apparently gaining popularity as a means to help recent law school graduates gain an edge in the job market and "stick out."

The University of Minnesota Law School launched a new fellowship program aimed at building legal experience for recent graduates entering the job market.

Steven Donziger '91, is at the epitome of what many may consider an epic David v. Goliath legal battle. Donziger is the lead U.S. Attorney in the case of Aguinda v. ChevronTexaco. The case pits 30,000 Ecuadoreans who claim oil drilling done by Texaco (now owned by Chevron) has lead to untold amounts of pollution of water and land where the Ecuadoreans live.

The DOJ's Civil Rights Division is reportedly undergoing significant policy and organizational restructuring according to a recent New York Times article. These changes could lead to new hiring within the division and a revamping of what has long been considered an historic division within DOJ that recently has been under some serious scrutiny.

The hay-day of high salaried firm positions, although not over, is definitely on hold. Law firms are looking to significantly restructure their finances and hire attorneys and law firms that have recently deferred associates, in many cases, gave the option to work a year at a public interest law firm while being paid by the law firm that deferred their start at a significantly reduced rate. Public Interest organizations are still reacting to this phenomenon with mixed feelings.

The DOJ’s Criminal Division, in efforts to back up the recent talk of the Obama Administration, is beefing up its fraud unit. As reported in…

It has already been well documented that nationally, legal aid is being hit hard by the economy and the Madoff scandal. In Massachusetts, a state that has a long history of providing legal aid to low income and individuals in need, has seen its funding seriously reduced. Greater Boston Legal Services, the largest legal assistance agency in the region, will be cutting its staff by over 20% in the fall. Other organizations across the state have had to cut staff and close on alternate Fridays.

A recent NY Times article highlights the unique dilemma District Attorneys Offices in New York are facing with the downturn in legal jobs with private firms.

The ABA Journal recently wrote up an article about what practice areas are "thriving" in the legal industry.