Shugart Legal

10/22/2025

I just reviewed a document that had sections labeled as roman numerals. Article 9 was VIIII.

03/27/2025

I am so proud to be on the board of Hawaii Women Lawyers, who is a signatory to the ABA's statement in support of the rule of law (i.e., against all the actions taken by Trump to undermine our judicial system)

We the undersigned bar organizations stand together with and in support of the American Bar Association (“ABA”) to defend the Rule of Law and reject efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.

04/09/2024

Because the office cats, Spike and Henry, are also outdoor cats, I have to keep a towel on the desk for them because of the rust-colored dirt here in Hawaii. It really limits my desk space!

04/17/2023

Murphy, the new office dog, joins Henry, one of the office cats

09/30/2022

"Gunderson Dettmer has deferred start dates for new associates, a development that prompted Above the Law to wonder whether a trend is in the offing.

"Above the Law’s tipsters said associates were told that their Oct. 31 start date was being pushed back to Jan. 17, 2023. The associates will reportedly get monthly stipends of about $6,000 but no health insurance until they start work. That’s a fraction of the $215,000 annual salary for first-year associates, Above the Law points out.

Gunderson reportedly cited slowing demand as the reason for the delay. The law firm has more than 400 lawyers in 11 locations worldwide, according to its website."

First, $6,000 isn't a stipend, it's an incredible rate of pay for most people in the US. Second, and as I've said before, no first year associate is worth $215,000 a year. If you're a client at a firm that pays its associates like this, you are paying for their learning.

Gunderson Dettmer has deferred start dates for new associates, a development that prompted Above the Law to wonder whether a trend is in the offing.

03/18/2022

Chewy, the new office dog.

01/21/2022

If law firms are paying right-out-of-law-school attorneys $215,000 a year, that means that clients are paying a heavy premium for those newbies to learn on the job.

Another round of salary increases may be in the offing.

01/05/2022

Chewy, the new office dog. Don’t let his calm demeanor fool you, he’s already chewed up 2 of my earphones.

03/25/2021

Clients need to know what their fees are actually paying for at big law firms.

Biglaw firms are saying 'thank you' in the best way they know how -- with money.

01/25/2021

Office Guard Cats

12/18/2019

I’ve got the nicest clients in the world, but why do they all want me to get fat?

08/05/2019

California employers should make sure that the pay stubs for their employees have all the details required by California law - this is one of the easiest mistakes for employers to make! For example, every pay stub must show the remaining sick leave available to that employee. Maximum fine, which is easy to get to, is $4,000. Here is the CA Department of Labor's sample pay stub: