editor’s legal news picks

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This Is Why We Have Bar Exams

This Is Why We Have Bar Exams

Kim Kardashian is trying to enter the legal profession without a law school education. The bar exam is a deeply flawed and largely unnecessary test, but the best case for having some kind of licensing exam is to make sure anyone taking an alternative path to a law...

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Letitia James’s Biglaw Hire

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to recent reports, New York Attorney General Letitia James retained which Biglaw firm to work on two civil rights probes? Hint: The firm will advise the NYAG on its response to two grand jury...

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$300K Bonuses?! — See Also

These Firms Are Really Giving Back To Their Associates!: Great time to work at Boies Schiller or Kellogg Hansen! Another Boutique Putting The Market To Shame: Dunn Isaacson Rhee is paying out some major coin! The Gift That Keeps On Taking: Economists say Trump’s...

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$10,000? Courts Juggle Penalty for Lawyers Misusing AI

$10,000? Courts Juggle Penalty for Lawyers Misusing AI

The varying penalties prompt a question: Will one of these approaches convince lawyers to be more careful when using AI?       The varying penalties prompt a question: Will one of these approaches convince lawyers to be more careful when using AI?       

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Is GEO the New SEO for Law Firms?

Legal consumers are increasingly asking ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini their legal questions before—or instead of—searching Google. If your firm isn’t visible in those AI platforms, you’re invisible to a growing portion of your market. When they wonder “What should I do...

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Jack Smith to Start Law Firm With Three Former Prosecutors

Jack Smith to Start Law Firm With Three Former Prosecutors

Former special counsel Jack Smith will work with Tim Heaphy, a Willkie partner who served as chief investigative counsel for the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 attack.       Former special counsel Jack Smith will work with Tim Heaphy, a Willkie partner who...

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Top 10 Predicted Business and Human Rights Issues for 2026

Top 10 Predicted Business and Human Rights Issues for 2026

As we continue our annual tradition of identifying 10 key business and human rights issues for the next year, our predictive powers are amply tested by the current geopolitical climate. But we draw strength from Human Rights Day and offer our top 10 business and human...

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AI Summit 2025: Hard Questions Or More Hype?

This week, the 10th annual AI Summit kicks off at the cavernous Javits Center in New York City. The promoters describe it as an event that “[b]rings together visionary leaders, innovators and technologists who are shaping the future of artificial intelligence.” The...

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Big Bonuses Aren’t Just For Biglaw

Big Bonuses Aren’t Just For Biglaw

More proof that boutique law firms can play with the Big(law) boys when it comes to associate bonuses! Today, Texas-based litigation boutique Yetter Coleman announced its year-end bonus scale for associates. Yetter, one of the top litigation firms by law school...

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Being A Lawyer Is Super Popular Right Now

Being A Lawyer Is Super Popular Right Now

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the ABA’s latest Profile of the Legal Profession, how many lawyers are there in the United States? Hint: For the first time since the COVID pandemic, the number of lawyers has increased,...

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The Boutique Money Is Beautiful — See Also

The Boutique Money Is Beautiful — See Also

Kellogg Hansen Comes In Over The Market!: Big money from a small firm! Boutique Money Is Bigger In Texas: Check out Yetter Coleman’s bonus compensation! The Sotomayor “Gotcha” Moment Doesn’t Hold Up Under Scrutiny: A handful of examples over 230 years isn’t the stare...

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Ben Crump Behind Florida Jury’s ‘Record’ $779M Award

Ben Crump Behind Florida Jury’s ‘Record’ $779M Award

“This was wrong on every level. It was a terrible wrong, it was an astonishing wrong, it was a monumental wrong, said Ben Crump, who helped represent the widow. "And the jury returned a monumental verdict."       “This was wrong on every level. It was a terrible...

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Dr. Helena Huckabee, PhD, BCBA-D

Home Expert Witness Medical Dr. Helena Huckabee, PhD, BCBA-D Emerge9200 East Mineral Ave, Suite 100Centennial, CO 80112(303) 322-9000emergeprofessionals.com Meet the Expert I am a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Doctoral (BCBA-D). I...

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“Shadow AI”: The Hidden AI Already In Your Law Firm

“Shadow AI”: The Hidden AI Already In Your Law Firm

“Shadow AI highlights a growing risk for firms that have yet to develop comprehensive governance strategies for artificial intelligence. In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the question is not whether AI is present in your organization, but whether it is...

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US Lawyer Head Count Reaches All-Time High

US Lawyer Head Count Reaches All-Time High

Currently, there are 1,374,720 lawyers in the U.S. as compared to 1,355,963 in 2024—a 1.38% increase from 2024, according to the ABA's 2025 Profile of the Legal Profession.       Currently, there are 1,374,720 lawyers in the U.S. as compared to 1,355,963 in 2024—a...

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Alina Habba Quits Job She Never Legally Held

Alina Habba Quits Job She Never Legally Held

Alina Habba announced today that she is “stepping down” from her position as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. Which is a creative way to describe leaving a job that the federal courts have ruled she doesn’t actually hold. Habba, the parking garage...

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New Jersey Judge Signs Off on $13.2M BlockFi Settlement

New Jersey Judge Signs Off on $13.2M BlockFi Settlement

The court granted colead counsel—Brian Calandra, a partner at Pomerantz, and Olimpio Squitieri, a partner at Squitieri & Fearon—their request for $2.7 million in attorney fees, or 20.4% of the settlement fund.       The court granted colead counsel—Brian Calandra,...

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Alina Habba Steps Down as New Jersey’s Acting U.S. Attorney

Alina Habba Steps Down as New Jersey’s Acting U.S. Attorney

After a three-month-long battle over the legality of her appointment, beleaguered acting U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba has resigned from her post.       After a three-month-long battle over the legality of her appointment, beleaguered acting...

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When a Name Isn’t Just a Trademark

Many assume that brand protection begins and ends with traditional trademark law. But some of the most powerful safeguards for names, symbols, and product designations exist completely outside of our trademark law statutes. For example, use of the terms Olympic, Swiss...

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We Notice If You Notice — See Also

We Notice If You Notice — See Also

White-Collar Crime Matters If You Disrespect Trump: It’s a very clear “We go after our political enemies” message. The Art Of Saying Goodbye: Here are some easy guidelines for telling the firm adios. Tish James Is Unscratched: No luck on that indictment. Sorry Trump!...

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DOJ Adds Another No Bill To Its Trophy Case

DOJ Adds Another No Bill To Its Trophy Case

Donald Trump’s Ragin’ Revenge Tour bombed in yet another venue yesterday, as a grand jury in Norfolk no-billed his effort to reindict New York Attorney General Letitia James. As ABC and MSNOW were first to report, the jurors didn’t buy the claim that James lied on a...

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