Such a jammed week for interesting/quirky news items that we couldn't wait for the end of the week to pass them along:

1. Top 10 summer associate programs. We know you can't resist lists—so here goes nothing: Vault's best summer programs in the overall category. It's based on that magical mix of reality (what it's really like to work there) and fun (I assume that means accessibility to ridiculously expensive restaurants and entertainment):

1. Venable

2. Troutman Sanders

3. Schiff Hardin

4. Paul Hastings

5. Bingham McCutchen

6. Dickstein Shapiro

7. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer

8. Gibson Dunn & Crutcher / Shook, Hardy & Bacon (tie)

9. Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz

10. Irell & Manella

Vault also has a list for summer programs that give you the best idea of what each practice is like and the ones that are the most fun. So pick your poison. (Vault)

2. Best reason to pick University of Michigan Law School: Mating Opportunities! If you want to get a spouse, along with your J.D., send in your deposit check to Michigan. This is what the school's web site says: "If you were inclined to choose a law school based on the likelihood of finding love, you should pick Michigan." That come-on comes straight from the mouth of Sarah Zearfoss, Michigan Law's admissions dean (click here for our Q&A with Michigan's gatekeeper).

3. Poor Mayer Brown. The Chicago-based firm was just anointed the latest poster child for Big, Bad Law. Is it any worst than other firms? (The New Republic)

4. Most embarrassing person of the week: Is this any way for a nice Brooklyn Law School graduate to act? Geraldo Rivera takes selfie of his bare torso and posts the image on Twitter. He tweets: "I look pretty good for a 70-year-old." (Huffington Post)

5. Not to be a killjoy about that Royal Baby, but... First of all, let me say that I am not at all excited, jubilant or moved by that new baby who's soon moving to Buckingham Palace. Just another ridiculously costly royal mouth to be fed by a nation that can scarcely afford such luxuries—if you ask me.

Second, I'm frankly disappointed that Kate and Will didn't produce a girl on this much-anticipated occasion. What a lost opportunity to make history—considering that the leaders of the 16 Commonwealth countries finally abolished (after how many hundreds of years?) the preference for boys to assume the throne.

  

 

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