I found your article on Skadden Arps (”Chicago Law,” June 9) extremely depressing. Here are the best and brightest young legal minds devoting 70 frantic hours a week to ”the deal” (i.e., mergers, acquisitions and corporate restructuring) and in the process, doing absolutely nothing to improve the quality of life or to make the world a better place or to increase in any way the sum total of human happiness and well-being.
Among those at the opposite end of the scale from the partners` million-dollar annual salaries are day-care and early childhood teachers, to whom we entrust our most precious possession, our children, and whose annual pay-somewhere in the $12,000-$15,000 range-scarcely places them above poverty level.
Quite a commentary on American values.
WILLIAM KAPLAN, Wilmette
Does Skadden Arps` required 70- 80-hour work week apply to the 24-hour crew of proofreaders, photocopiers and paralegals who do all the ”scut”
work? If so, are they permitted to take advantage of the in-house gymnasium, physiotherapist and caterers? After all, without them, none of Skadden Arps`
deal-making would be possible.
KRISTIN K. HIGGINS, Chicago
After reviewing your article on Skadden Arps, I was left with the impresson that the firm was only concerned with doing ”the deal” and making money. Nowhere in the article was there any concern expressed for the client. On the contrary, the article seemed to suggest that it mattered not which side the firm represented as long as (big) money was to be made.
The managing partner`s comment that kids` birthdays and family concerns were secondary to the firm`s interest is a sad commentary. This overriding zeal for fees does not enhance the legal profession`s image in the public eye. JAMES T.J. KEATING, Chicago
It`s About Time
I am enclosing a photocopy of a letter that I wrote to your publication in 1977 regarding an article that appeared in the Chicago Tribune Magazine in 1970. The article was about the Procrastinators Club of America, which I was interested in joining.
I am still interested, but I haven`t gotten around to doing anything about it until now. If anyone at the Magazine could send me an address for the club, it would be greatly appreciated.
LUCINDA MORIARITY, Brookfield
Sorry about the delay. We`ve been meaning to get back to you, but, well, you know, you put things off and . . . .
We were unable to come up with any recent information on the Chicago Procrastinators, a group mentioned in the story that appeared in the Magazine on Oct. 4, 1970. However, the national headquarters for the Procrastinators Club of America Inc. is located at 1405 Locust St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102.- Ed.
Road Worrier
I was appalled by the one-sided presentation of motorcyclists in the article ”Road Pirates” (June 2). While this subculture continues to exist, perpetuating the biker outlaw image created in B movies, it represents a small minority of bikers.
Many motorcyclist organizations participate in charity fundraisers, the most prominent being the annual ”Toys for Tots” run. I hope to see future cover stories on some of the more typical motorcycle organizations although those groups will not provide the sensationalism of the ”Road Pirates.”
MARTY GRAVES, Bolingbrook
One week we can read about the biker subculture and the next week about the renovation of a North Shore mansion. There`s a place for everyone in this great city. Thanks for taking us to all of those places.
TOM JAVORCIC, Berwyn
