BitterLawyer.com is a legal humor and news blog targeted at disgruntled lawyers. The site features a webshow titled Living the Dream, created by Rick Eid, which follows the bumblings of fictional big law junior associate Nick Conley (played by John T. Woods).[1] Accompanying blog posts describe the real-life inspirations behind each webisode. There are also many columns: an advice column authored by "an Ex-Bitter"; "Associate Abuse," which posts associate war stories from all over; "Bitter by Numbers," an opinion column appearing in list form; "Loose Ends," which covers legal news; "Bitter Rant," which posts lawyer rants from all over; "Pictures Framed," which posts images or illustrations of lawyers and invites readers to submit captions; and "Temper(a)mental," written from the point of view of a legal temp.[2]
Type of site | Blog |
|---|---|
| URL | http://www.bitterlawyer.com/ |
| Commercial | Yes |
| Current status | Active |
Contributors
editRick Eid, an executive producer of the NBC series Chicago P.D. created the site in 2008. He has also been a producer and writer for the television shows The Ex List,[3] Law & Order, Law & Order: Trial by Jury, Conviction, and The Guardian. He is also a former Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom associate and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips partner.[4][failed verification]
Former contributors include:
- "Ex-Bitter," a former BigLaw partner.
- Gregory D. Luce, creator of the satirical website Big Legal Brain and former editor of Bitter Lawyer.
- "Law Firm 10," formerly a BigLaw associate in Chicago.
- "Matthew Richardson," a now-unemployed mergers and acquisitions BigLaw associate in New York.
- Michael Estrin, a former lawyer and full-time writer.
- Philadelphia Lawyer
- BL1Y
Recognition
editBitter Lawyer was ranked in the ABA Journal Blawg 100 in the "Lighter Fare" category, calling the blog "a category killer for legal humor websites."[5]
In 2010 Bitter Lawyer won a Webby for best legal website.[6]
Notable Interviews
editBitter Lawyer regularly interviews celebrities with a connection to the legal community, typically people were formerly lawyers but have since made a name for themselves in another profession.[7] Past interviews have included:
- The New York Times Puzzle Editor Will Shortz,[8]
- Eugene Volokh of "The Volokh Conspiracy,"[9]
- humorist and author Tucker Max,[10]
- author Elizabeth Wurtzel,[11][12]
- Jeff Marx, composer for Avenue Q,[13]
- cartoonist Stephan Pastis,[14]
- author Jeffrey Toobin,[15]
- Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach,[16]
- Joe Escalante, owner of Kung Fu Records.[17]
Ownership
editIn April 2011, Bitter Lawyer was acquired by the owners of Lawyerist.com.[18]
In May 2014, Lawyerist sold Bitter Lawyer to Bitter Empire, LLC, a company owned by Lisa Needham and Joline Zepcevski.[19]
References
edit- ^ Eid, Rick (October 1, 2008). Dream Life, The Second Act. Forbes.com.
- ^ Living the dream blog. Abajournal.com. Blawgs directory.
- ^ The Ex List IMDb.com
- ^ Abajournal.com
- ^ The 2009 ABA Journal Blawg 100. Abajournal.com. 2009.
- ^ Webbies for Law sites Archived April 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Webbyawards.com.
- ^ Recent Interviews. Bitterlawyer.com.
- ^ "Interview with Will Shortz: UVA Law Grad, Puzzlemaster, Ping-Pong Aficionado". Bitterlawyer.com, August 21, 2011.
- ^ "Eugene Volokh: Un-American legal conspirator?" Archived 2014-03-12 at the Wayback Machine. Bitterlawyer.com, January 11, 2010.
- ^ "Tucker Max - The anti-lawyer". Bitterlawyer.com, August 25, 2009.
- ^ "Bitter Lawyer Loves Elizabeth Wurtzel – Part 1". Bitterlawyer.com, July 23, 2009.
- ^ "Bitter Lawyer Loves Elizabeth Wurtzel – Part 2". Bitterlawyer.com, July 24, 2009]
- ^ "Jeff Marx: JD to Avenue Q". Bitterlawyer.com, August 5, 2009.
- ^ "Stephan Pastis: Rat, Pig, Lawyer". Bitterlawyer.com, June 2, 2009.
- ^ "Jeffrey Toobin: ‘Supreme’ Writer". Bitterlaywer.com, May 27, 2009.
- ^ "Mike Leach: Texas Tech Head Coach, J.D." Bitterlawyer.com, May 11, 2009.
- ^ "Joe Escalante, Owner, Kung Fu Records". Bitterlawyer.com, November 20, 2008.
- ^ Lawyerist Acquires Legal Humor Website Bitter Lawyer Archived April 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Lawyerist.com, April 14, 2011.
- ^ Empire State Of Mind. BitterEmpire.com, August 20, 2014.