Firm CHARGING law grads to work for them: Beck & Beck Forum

[lawschoolfiasco]

http://abovethelaw.com/2013/01/are-you- ... e+the+Law)

On a related note, if anyone wants to file an ethical complaint against the attorney Kenneth A. Beck you have to fill out and mail a complaint form to the Connecticut Bar. You can find the relevant information here: http://www.jud.ct.gov/OCDC/faq.htm#complain

[zomginternets]

I don't see what ethical rule this person has violated.

[manofjustice]

I don't see what ethical rule this person has violated.

The ABA will find one.

[MinEMorris]

Yeah, I have to say, even though it's very, very sad news for the legal job market and what he's doing strikes me as super sleazy, I'm not sure that he's doing anything that would strike me as uniquely unethical. If Beck & Beck were offering a 6 month getaway seminar targetted at newly grads for $6k where they put on performances showing you what they do and explaining what entry level legal work is like and how to do it, everyone would know that that's just a really shitty seminar deal. The fact that it's on the job shadowing and is paid in monthly installments doesn't really change that characterization in my mind. It's just an unusual version of an overpriced, really lame seminar or talk. I'm open to different perspectives on this, though. There's probably something I'm not seeing. The whole case recommendation thing was certainly absurd.

Edit: I'm always annoyed when the ABA swoops in and tries to play hero in these situations when they're basically Beck & Beck's accomplices. http://abovethelaw.com/2012/01/the-amer ... nemployed/

[ph14]

I would rather pay to do this than pay to do 3L.

[dixiecupdrinking]

They may not be violating a professional ethical rule but they're almost certainly violating labor laws.

[Myself]

.

[IAFG]

They may not be violating a professional ethical rule but they're almost certainly violating labor laws.

how? did you read the listing?

[Myself]

.

[Agent]

+1. Not particularly outraged about this Beck situation.

I would rather pay to do this than pay to do 3L.

[dixiecupdrinking]

They may not be violating a professional ethical rule but they're almost certainly violating labor laws.

how? did you read the listing?

Yes. This right here...

Once admitted to the bar, the goal is to have you handling matters with and eventually without supervision.

... basically means they are seeking free labor... in fact, employees that will pay them for the privilege of handling their cases. Unless there's another payment arrangement for admitted attorneys, which seems doubtful to me.

That's not legal, IMO. (Not saying the advertisement itself is illegal, just that it seems to be proposing an illegal employment arrangement.)

[prezidentv8]

I would rather pay to do this than pay to do 3L.

That is an oddly excellent point.

[dixiecupdrinking]

I would rather pay to do this than pay to do 3L.

That is an oddly excellent point.

How about paying to do this after paying to do 3L? Even better?