It’s time for another trip to the electric mailbag to see what’s on your collective mindgrapes.

At the behest of some of my colleagues and our insurance carrier, I’d like to reiterate that this post is not legal advice. Nobody reading this blog should expect to enjoy any kind of attorney-client relationship with me whatsoever. Frankly, if you’re coming here for legal advice, then you’ve got bigger problems than I can solve.

So with that out of the way, what searches are leading folks to our humble blog?

  • appellate lawyer fourth circuit. Howdy. (That was an easy one.)
  • virginia supreme court raise issue at oral argument. Indeed it does. Our robed friends are not shy. If, however, you are thinking of raising an issue for the first time at oral argument, think again. That’s dirty pool. If you’ve found a new case or legal point that absolutely must be brought to the Court’s attention, the most professional way to do so is by sending a short letter to the clerk as far in advance of oral argument as possible (and copying opposing counsel, of course). But really, that stuff is properly addressed at the briefing stage.
  • practitioner’s guide virginia supreme court. The VSB put one out in the late 1990s. If you can’t find it, drop me a line and I’ll shoot you a pdf version. The VSB is in the process of updating the guide. I will be sure to let everyone know when it is available. Virginia CLE also publishes an excellent guide called Appellate Practice–Virginia and Federal Courts.
  • “elena kagan” “admitted to the bar”. Seriously? I mean, it’s fine if you don’t like her, but to question whether she’s actually a lawyer? Why not just spread the rumor that she can’t read? According to her Judiciary Committee questionnaire–and how creepy cool is the internet for giving us instant access to that?–among her many other accomplishments, Kagan clerked for Justice Marshall, worked at Williams & Connolly, and served as Associate White House Counsel, Solicitor General of the United States, and Dean of Harvard Law School. Generally speaking, those are law jobs. For lawyers. More to the point, she’s admitted to the bar in NY and DC. It is probably time to concede that Kagan may in fact be a lawyer, and move on to her other shortcomings. Like height.
  • “elena kagan” & “scary smart”. That’s more like it.
  • virginia contract law for martial arts. Strong. If ever there was a niche just begging to be filled . . .

Once more, this is just for fun. I am not your lawyer. As far as you know, I am writing this with my fingers crossed. Or from jail. (Actually, from Charlottesville–anyone else headed to the Advanced Business Litigation Institute today?)