The Archives

Everything written by Larry Ribstein on law, economics, and more

What if the NCAA adopted Dodd-Frank?

Larcker & Tayan speculate, for example (footnotes omitted): Researchers have long noted that the compensation of college football coaches has risen faster than the compensation of other university employees. According to one study, the compensation awarded to head coaches rose 500 percent between 1986 and 2007. By comparison, the compensation of university presidents rose 100 percent ... What if the NCAA adopted Dodd-Frank?

In-house counsel symposium at Wisconsin

November 18-19, University of Wisconsin, an all-star cast of scholars and lawyers, plus me, “discuss the under-explored, but growing, role of in-house and corporate general counsel in the rapidly changing market for legal services.” It’s “Who’s in the House? The Changing Role and Nature of In-House and General Counsel”.  Be there.

Lawyers and soybeans

Nice article in Slate on technology’s effect on law practice featuring computational law guru Dan Katz. Some wag contributed this quote: In Illinois, where I live, you see vast stretches of unoccupied land—because you no longer need people to farm the corn and soybeans that we grow around here. When I look at soybean fields ... Lawyers and soybeans

Taxicabs in Milwaukee

I’ve often discussed the wonderful world of professional licensing beyond lawyers and its perverse effects on entrepreneurship.  The posts have covered licensing of witches, horse teeth floaters, cat groomers, and tour guides.  Here’s a story about taxicabs. Milwaukee allows 321 taxicabs. Almost half the licenses are owned by one person.  The Institute for Justice has ... Taxicabs in Milwaukee

India, the UK, and US law firms

The Law Blog reports that India is considering letting in U.K. law firms after long barring all foreign law firms from having offices in India. The LB notes that the UK would have to reciprocate by allowing Indian firms and that “[i]t’s unclear whether U.S. firms would be invited to the party.” Well, I imagine ... India, the UK, and US law firms

The Hastings strategic plan

The plan (HT Leiter) has got everything, down to thinking about a mascot and faculty op-eds. But I don’t see any planning for the future of legal education in the new legal information industry Hasting’s students will have to confront. This would seem to be sufficiently “strategic” to deserve some consideration. Here’s something they might look ... The Hastings strategic plan

The problem of the corporate tax

John Steele Gordon, writing in the WSJ, peels the corporate veil away from Warren Buffett’s tax situation: Warren Buffett recently claimed that he had paid only $6.9 million in taxes last year. But Berkshire Hathaway, of which Mr. Buffett owns 30%, paid $5.6 billion in corporate income taxes. Were Berkshire Hathaway a Subchapter S corporation ... The problem of the corporate tax

Small business, partnership law and software

Two partners form a business in 1995 for providing dial up internet service to rural Wisconsin.  Their relationship deteriorates and in 1999 one (Bushard) withdraws, writing a letter expressly dissolving the partnership.  (The letter presciently noted that “this is an optimal time for selling the business at maximum value.” Indeed, a firm had expressed a ... Small business, partnership law and software

Concluding Unlocking the Law

It’s been a great symposium.  Many thanks to all of our outstanding contributors!  This Symposium demonstrated blogging’s potential for productive intellectual discussion of an important current topic.  We expect to have more such virtual conferences. We’ll have a wrap-up tomorrow of all of the posts here.  I will offer some reactions after I’ve had time ... Concluding Unlocking the Law

Larry Ribstein on The Future of Legal Education

What will legal education be like in the significantly deregulated world I’ve predicted in prior posts? I gave some thought to this question in my recent paper, Practicing Theory. There I pointed out that law schools, and particularly law faculty, have benefited from the same regulation that has benefited lawyers.  Although lawyers now complain that ... Larry Ribstein on The Future of Legal Education

Larry Ribstein on After the Fall (Of Regulation)

My previous post in this symposium argued that deregulation is upon us.  Here I’ll discuss what that could entail. The legal information expert:  I summoned up the specter of computers practicing law.  There is in fact no doubt that computers can practice law as that term is defined by some courts and regulators: giving personalized ... Larry Ribstein on After the Fall (Of Regulation)

Larry Ribstein on Deregulating Lawyers Whether They Like it or Not

Much of the writing on deregulating the legal profession asks skeptically whether it could or should happen.  It was logical to wonder what could change when the profession was locked up tight by the lawyers themselves. What opposing political interest group was comparably well-organized or well-informed? Consumers could sue to break up the regulatory monopoly, ... Larry Ribstein on Deregulating Lawyers Whether They Like it or Not