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Trump Picks Jennifer Mascott, of the White House Counsel’s Office, for 3rd Circuit Vacancy
“The incredible people of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have Great Confidence in Jennifer," President Donald Trump wrote in a Truth Social post Wednesday night. "She will be a STRONG Judge, and protect the Rule of Law. “The incredible people of...
Shelsey Hall: A Loving Kindness
In 2017, NC State sophomore Shelsey Hall was asked by her aunt to edit a speech she was about to give. Her aunt is ShawnDya Simpson, and the speech was for Simpson’s swearing-in ceremony as a Supreme Court Justice for the State of New York. “A big part of her career...
To Tip Your Tour Guide? The Epitome Of Tipping Culture. Being Forced To Tip A QR Code In Advance? Hell Itself.
“Tip creep” has been a pervasive issue in American culture for some time now. Many businesses, faced with rising costs or insurmountable greed, have increasingly turned to tip encouragement as a means of underpaying their employees while simultaneously being...
Government Attorneys Now On Board With The Whole Secret Police Thing
Masked ICE agents are only the start of the assault on government transparency. Now, government attorneys that are arguing to deport immigrants are doing so in secret. The Intercept reports on two separate instances immigration judges in New York City declined to...
Quantifying The Cost Of Retirement: It’s More In Your Control Than You Think
Does this sound familiar? Another late night at the office. It’s 9 p.m. and you’re staring at another stack of briefs. Your phone buzzes with a text from your spouse asking when you’ll be home. Again. The thought crosses your mind: When can I actually retire from all...
Democrats Leave Senate Judiciary Hearing as Republicans Advance Bove’s Nomination
“What is another half an hour to allow senators to be heard?" said Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey. "But here we are jamming this through with some sense of false urgency. “What is another half an hour to allow senators to be heard?" said Sen. Cory Booker, D-New...
Over 90 Former DOJ Lawyers Sign Letter Opposing Emil Bove Nomination… Oh, Wait, Sorry That’s *900*
(Photo by Angela Weiss – Pool/Getty Images)Dating back to his first term, Donald Trump’s judicial nominations included nominees who were deeply unqualified, deeply unserious, and deeply problematic. But none of them — not the ghost hunters or the blog boys — managed...
ICE Attorney Hates His Job But Cannot Quit Until His Student Loans Are Forgiven
As soon as Donald Trump took office, he made it loud and clear that he was going to go bigly on immigration enforcement. Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff, demanded a daily quota of 3,000 immigration-related arrests. The Department of Homeland Security...
Judge Sends $500K Attorney-Client Fee Dispute to Texas Court
The court concluded that numerous factors weighed in favor of transferring the case to Texas and granted the motion under 28 U.S.C. § 1404, which allows a court to transfer a case for the interest of justice or for the convenience of the parties and...
Trump Administration Fires SDNY Prosecutor Maurene Comey, Who Led High-Profile Sex-Trafficking Cases
Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, has been an SDNY prosecutor since 2015. She prosecuted Sean Combs and handled the cases of late financier Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The move comes as the U.S. Justice Department is...
New Bipartisan Bill From Rep. Carter Aims To Crack Down On PBMs
The post New Bipartisan Bill From Rep. Carter Aims To Crack Down On PBMs appeared first on Above the Law.The post New Bipartisan Bill From Rep. Carter Aims To Crack Down On PBMs appeared first on Above the Law.
U.S. State Courts Cautiously Approach AI Despite Efficiency Promises And Staffing Crises
The post U.S. State Courts Cautiously Approach AI Despite Efficiency Promises And Staffing Crises appeared first on Above the Law.A new survey of state courts reveals a striking paradox in the American judicial system: Even though courts face severe staffing shortages...
Meta Settles $8 Billion Class Action With Shareholders
The plaintiffs alleged the social media giant misled Facebook users about how it shared their personal data in violation of a 2012 Federal Trade Commission consent order. The plaintiffs alleged the social media giant misled Facebook users about how it shared...
Morning Docket: 07.17.25
* DOJ fires Epstein and Diddy prosecutor. So… did Trump go to some freak offs? It also happens to be James Comey’s daughter so watch your seashells! [CNN] * ICE lawyers refusing to be identified in public proceedings. Everyone wants to be the secret police as long as...
Lexitas Launches AI-Powered Deposition Platform for Transcript and Video Analysis and Review
One of the areas of legal practice in which generative artificial intelligence is having a significant impact is litigation, bringing new products designed to handle the time-intensive work of conducting discovery, sifting through evidence, analyzing depositions and...
Law Firm Deals with Trump Remain ‘Front-of-Mind’ in Public Scrutiny
One of the latest to publicly slam the firms settling with Trump was former President Obama. One of the latest to publicly slam the firms settling with Trump was former President Obama.
What Clients Don’t Know About Microsoft Purview Could Hurt Your Case
Litigators should ask clients these 10 questions before relying on Microsoft Purview for eDiscovery. The post What Clients Don’t Know About Microsoft Purview Could Hurt Your Case appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and Lawyers.Litigators should ask...
Simmons & Simmons Plans Abu Dhabi Return, Eyes Strategic China Alliance
Simmons & Simmons is planning a return to Abu Dhabi to capitalise on the city's growing asset management and tech sectors, while it also explores a strategic alliance in China as part of its broader international expansion. Simmons & Simmons is planning...
With Compensation Soaring, Lateral Partner Vetting Is Really Heating Up
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Compensation has skyrocketed, and [firms are] just trying to do as much due diligence as possible. Laterals can be a big investment for firms. They want to make sure they get it right. — Brian Davis, a partner...
There’s A New Firm On The Block! — See Also
$125M Cowardice Begets New Law Firm: Guess which firm these founding members came from! Alan Dershowitz’s Much To Do About “Nothing” About Epstein List Leaves Him Worse Off: Is no one nearby telling him to shut up? Florida’s Got More Than Sunshine: Check out the...
Meta’s Board Backed Zuckerberg Amid Privacy Scandals, Ex-Board Member Testifies
Jeffrey Zients was the first defendant to take the stand in an $8 billion class action lawsuit Meta shareholders brought against the company's current and former board members. The shareholders allege that Meta's Facebook misled users about how it shared their...
ONU Law Professor Settles Suit Against School Over Dismissal
In April 2023, Scott Gerber was pulled from his classroom, banned from campus and allegedly forced to sign a separation agreement—and he told Law.com at the time that he didn't know why. In April 2023, Scott Gerber was pulled from his classroom, banned from...
Biglaw Bigshots Leave To Form Their Own Firm… You Have Nine Guesses Which Firm They’re Leaving
Like proper Jerry Bruckheimer action stars, David Esseks and Eugene Ingoglia just walked out of A&O Shearman leaving explosions in their wake. Esseks, A&O Shearman’s co-head of investigations & white-collar, will join Ingoglia in a new litigation outfit,...
NY Prosecutor Who Pulled Rank Over A Traffic Stop Gets Reprimanded, Plans To Retire
Speed limits are kind of like the 15 drink per day limit on the Carnival Cruise line. Is it annoying? Sure, but at some point you recognize that limits are placed on people to ensure public safety. As nice as it is to get home right after work, going 20 miles over the...
Alan Dershowitz Reprises Role As Captain Underpants
You have the right to remain silent, Alan Dershowitz. No one is making you run to the Wall Street Journal and remind us again that you are up to your underpants — which you never took off! — in the Jeffrey Epstein mess. Four years ago, when Dersh was a sprightly...
Who Knew Biting Other Lawyers Was Frowned Upon?
Biglaw summer associate let go after biting upwards of 15 people at the firm. Now that sounds crazy, but that’s because it is. We also discuss a lawyer’s biting response to a demand letter. A lot of the professional decorum advocates objected to the tone, but at a...
Controversy Over Judge’s Secret Romance Heads To Trial
The romance between Texas bankruptcy judge David R. Jones and Biglaw partner Elizabeth Freeman has birthed some intense controversy that remains ongoing. See, Jones, the (now former) federal bankruptcy judge, somehow didn’t recuse himself from cases involving Freeman,...
This Biglaw Firm Offers Top Salary For Starting Associates
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by the National Law Journal for its NLJ 500 ranking, which firm on the list has the highest starting salary for associates? Hint: While most of Biglaw has coalesced at the...
In LPWhisperer Defamation Fight, Texas Court Rules Law Demands More Than Hurt Feelings
“The ruling highlights how courts are demanding clear, quantifiable harm—lost revenue, damaged partnerships or specific financial fallout—before awarding significant relief, said Darrell P. White, a partner at Kimura London & White. “The ruling highlights...
Zuckerman Legal Group Joins the New York Law Scene, Focusing on Criminal Defense, Title IX Cases
The new firm, founded by criminal defense attorney Seth Zuckerman, opened its doors on July 1. Zuckerman said he is looking forward to "aggressively" advocating for his clients on his own terms and continuing to be available around the clock. The new firm,...
No Remedy for Superintendent’s Rescinded Job Offer, Federal Judge Rules
The Easthampton School Committee unanimously voted to hire Vito J. Perrone as superintendent in March 2023, but rescinded the offer after he addressed two of its members as “Ladies in a contract negotiation email. The members called it a "microaggression" and voted...
Law Firms Usher in New Regional Leadership Amid Shift Toward Shorter Terms
“It's a good sign that firms are really paying attention to operations, said Avis Caravello, a legal recruiter and strategist. “It's a good sign that firms are really paying attention to operations, said Avis Caravello, a legal recruiter and...
Lawsuit Trend: Expect Influx of Ghost-Network Class Actions
The Senate Committee on Finance also released a report in 2023 on ghost networks at use in Medicare Advantage. This study concluded more than 80% of listings for mental health providers were "inaccurate or unavailable." The Senate Committee on Finance also...
Tom Girardi Begins Prison Sentence This Week, Asks for Bail Pending Appeal
Tom Girardi, 86, will report to federal authorities on Thursday to begin his prison term but has asked to be released on bail while he appeals his 87-month sentence. Tom Girardi, 86, will report to federal authorities on Thursday to begin his prison term but has...
Burford Capital Raises $500M Via Debt Offering to Broaden Litigation Finance Portfolio
The funder is also inching closer to realizing a windfall estimated at $5 billion from a long-running investment in a case against Argentina, but the country has filed an emergency appeal of a court order compelling it to turn over assets. The funder is also...
Study: CLOs Must Be in Sync With CFO to Maximize Impact
“When financial strategy is integrated with legal foresight, organizations are better positioned to mitigate risk, seize strategic opportunities and drive sustainable growth, said Conrad Woody, managing partner of Odgers in Washington, D.C. “When financial...
Dunn Isaacson Rhee, Paul Weiss Spinoff Boutique, Now Has 26 Lawyers, Plans to Grow
The boutique will take on a broad range of work, and "presumes that this will include being adverse to the [Trump] administration," said a spokesperson. The boutique will take on a broad range of work, and "presumes that this will include being adverse to the...
How It Works: A Demo of Supio Legal AI
On this episode of How it Works, I’m joined by Ed Kirk, Head of Partnerships at Supio, to walk through the Supio Legal AI platform. Supio specializes in personal injury and mass tort litigation, developing an AI-powered platform that helps law firms organize, analyze...
How to Double Your Law Firm Practically Overnight — Without Wasting 3 Years on ‘Organic Growth’
Sasha Berson | If you’re not making acquisitions part of your growth plan in 2025, you're going to get left behind. The post How to Double Your Law Firm Practically Overnight — Without Wasting 3 Years on ‘Organic Growth’ appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for...
Am Law 100 Firm Hit With Second Malpractice Claim This Year… With Three, They Get A Free Sandwich!
No matter what becomes of these claims, it’s been a rough year for Akerman LLP. It’s only July and the firm has a strong lead in the “Most Cases Against Its Own Clients” race. A couple months ago, the firm went to court seeking unpaid fees from some medical companies...
Professor Discusses Equitable Relief, Bombarded With Replies Complaining About DEI
Last night, the Supreme Court authorized the Trump administration to dismantle the Education Department, using the shadow docket to block efforts to temporarily halt the action. When the dust settles, the administration should lose, but by then all that will be left...
Donald Trump’s Second Shot At Remaking The Federal Judiciary Has Officially Begun
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Yesterday, the Senate approved the first judicial nominee of Trump’s second term. Which circuit will be welcoming a new colleague as a result? Hint: Joe Biden’s nominee for this seat was set aside as...
Second Time’s The Curse — See Also
Top 100 Firm Hit With Their Second Malpractice Claim This Year: They’re scoring big in a contest you don’t want to win! Hit-And-Run Claims First-Year Associate: Our condolences to his friends and family. Not The Biggest Fan Of John Sarcone III: A panel of judges...
First-Year Biglaw Associate Killed In Hit-And-Run Crash
We have more sad news to report from California, where a young associate from a top Biglaw firm was recently struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while riding his bicycle. Blake Ackerman, 27, a 2023 graduate of Loyola Law, was a first-year associate in the...
Obama Calls Out Biglaw Firms That Capitulated To Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [They] set aside the law [not because they were] going to be thrown in jail, but because they might lose a few clients and might not be able to finish that kitchen rehab at their Hampton house. — Former...
Federal Judges Give Big Ol’ Nope To New York U.S. Attorney Pick
As of today, John Sarcone III is out of a job. The former regional administrator for the US General Services Administration and town attorney in Westchester County was appointed to a 120-day term as interim U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York by Pam...
Judge Reprimanded After Dismissive Treatment Of DAs
While judges should get a lot of leeway when it comes to their courtrooms, there should also be limits. Things like play handcuffing children to prove a point or actually handcuffing children over fake laws are at the top of my “shit judges shouldn’t be doing in their...
More Power for Trump After Supreme Court Ruling
The ruling represents additional evidence of the Roberts Court's inexorable move towards a unitary theory of the executive branch, which posits that the president should be able to control the exercise of all executive power, one legal observer said. The ruling...
Provable Hires General Counsel With Strong Latin American Legal Perspective
Provable, the infrastructure firm supporting the privacy-centric blockchain platform Aleo, announced Tuesday that Damien G. Scott has joined as general counsel, as the company pushes to bring programmable, privacy-preserving technologies into the regulatory...
COVID-Era Law Grads Remain Highly Mobile
Roughly two-thirds of 2021 graduates have changed jobs already, while 1in 5 made a career-intention shift during or immediately after their second year of law school. Roughly two-thirds of 2021 graduates have changed jobs already, while 1in 5 made a...
Law Firm’s Strategic Win: $40M Verdict Against Hotel in Child Sex-Trafficking Case
"You're going to see an uptick of more plaintiffs' attorneys wanting to try and help a lot of survivors get their fair compensation ... when the venues are looking the other way," co-lead counsel said. "You're going to see an uptick of more plaintiffs' attorneys...
Thief Steals Unreleased Beyoncé Music In Atlanta
Tragedy has struck one of the most successful female singers of all time. Beyoncé Knowles, known for Ring The Alarm and 102 other RIAA certified titles, had her work stolen in Atlanta. She was not present, nor was anyone reported harmed, but the stolen goods could be...
Creating Judicial Accountability Where Before There Was None
Aspiring law clerks are applying and interviewing for clerkships right now. Before The Legal Accountability Project (LAP) launched our nationwide Clerkships Database (aka “Glassdoor for Judges”), clerkship applicants accessed information about judges, if it existed,...
Former Showtime Legal Chief Flips Script for Moses & Singer
Robert Rosenberg was general counsel of Showtime from 2021 until 2023, when a restructuring by parent Paramount Global cost him his job. Robert Rosenberg was general counsel of Showtime from 2021 until 2023, when a restructuring by parent Paramount Global cost...
How You Can Transform Your Inefficient Intake Process
The post How You Can Transform Your Inefficient Intake Process appeared first on Above the Law.While innovation has revolutionized many aspects of legal practice, intake has largely eluded the attention of developers.Instead, many law firms rely on disparate processes...
25 AGs Sue Trump Admin Over $6.8 Billion Education Grants
"We've stopped them over and over again," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said. "We've stopped them over and over again," Connecticut Attorney General William Tong said.
Freshfields, A&O Shearman Advise on $7.8 Billion Techem Deal, Expected to Be Germany’s Largest in 2025
Swiss investor Partners Group restructures its stake in Techem, selling a 51% majority to its own infrastructure arm, in a deal that is likely to be Germany's largest private equity transaction of the year. Swiss investor Partners Group restructures its stake in...
GLP-1s, Personalization, And Big Pharma Power Plays: What’s Really At Stake In The Eli Lilly Lawsuit
The post GLP-1s, Personalization, And Big Pharma Power Plays: What’s Really At Stake In The Eli Lilly Lawsuit appeared first on Above the Law.The post GLP-1s, Personalization, And Big Pharma Power Plays: What’s Really At Stake In The Eli Lilly Lawsuit appeared first...
The Impact Of GenAI On In-House And Outside Counsel Relationships: Its Use Is Only Going To Grow
A new study from LexisNexis confirms what many have suspected: in-house counsel are increasingly relying on GenAI tools and large language models (LLMs). And that use? It’s probably the lowest it will ever be. That’s something outside counsel need to be thinking long...
Inside The Minds Working At US Midsize Law Firms: 2025 Priorities Revealed
The post Inside The Minds Working At US Midsize Law Firms: 2025 Priorities Revealed appeared first on Above the Law. 2025 US Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report Get the insightsSubmit the form below to download the report when it is released.The research Who we...
Robert Josefsberg, Litigator Who Championed Civility, Dies at 86
Robert "Bob" Josefsberg, a towering figure in south Florida's legal community whose courtroom tenacity was matched only by his insistence on civility, died on Monday from a heart attack while conducting a deposition with his grandson by his side. He was 86 years...
‘Untenably Broad:’ Federal Judge Dismisses Class Action Kickback Claims Against Chicago Pharmaceutical Company
“Under [the plaintiffs'] reading, virtually all pharmaceutical product-support services would qualify as a kickback, U.S. District Court Judge John Tharp for the Northern District of Illinois said. “Under [the plaintiffs'] reading, virtually all pharmaceutical...
Morning Docket: 07.15.25
* Supreme Court allows Trump to move forward with plan to eliminate the Department of Education. Why? Well, that might require writing an opinion and they’re not going to do something like that. [One First] * Plaintiff side firms can be just as lucrative for...
Contract Review Platform LegalOn Expands Into Matter Management and Updates Its Interface
LegalOn Technologies, a legal technology company that until now has focused on AI-driven contract review, said today that it is expanding into matter management with a major upgrade to its platform that allows legal departments to manage the intake and execution of...
A ‘Wake Up Call:’ Mamdani’s Election Alarms Many in Big Law
Mamdani is slated to meet with business and law firm leaders in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday through visits with the business group Partnership for New York City. Mayor Eric Adams will meet with the same group on Thursday. Mamdani is slated to meet with...
Yum Brands’ Former CLO Jumps to Rival Fast Food Titan
Scott Catlett will serve as chief legal and administrative officer of Inspire Brands, which has amassed 33,000 restaurants since launching seven years ago. Scott Catlett will serve as chief legal and administrative officer of Inspire Brands, which has amassed...
Australia’s Class Action Surge Sets 2025 on Record-Breaking Pace
Employee and consumer class actions dominate while shareholder class actions are making a comeback. Employee and consumer class actions dominate while shareholder class actions are making a comeback.
Cable Management Nightmares Are Destroying Your Home Office
Bull Garlington | Cable chaos ruining your office space? Common issues from tangled cords to pet damage, plus proven ways to fix them. The post Cable Management Nightmares Are Destroying Your Home Office appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms and...
Former Judges Urge Rejection of Bove’s 3rd Circuit Nomination, Warn of ‘Personal Loyalty to President’
The ex-judges—co-led by the well-respected conservative J. Michael Luttig—highlighted controversies during Emil Bove's short time at the Justice Department, including allegations he steered prosecutors to drop corruption charges against New York Mayor Eric Adams as...
3rd Circuit Revives Attorney Fee Dispute in $300M Settlement
The Third Circuit vacated and remanded a U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey's decision granting summary judgment to New Jersey personal injury firm Mazie Slater Katz & Freeman and two of its attorneys, who represented the plaintiffs in...
Lawyer Cites AI Hallucinations, Responds With Pretentious Meditation On Nature Of Being
It’s a day that ends in “y” so we have another story about a lawyer filing fake citations with a court after Skynet trolled him with phony research. The first public hallucination humiliation should’ve nipped this in the bud and yet — somehow — the problem seems to be...
Biggest Biglaw Partner Raid Of The Year
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by Am Law, which Biglaw firm hired the most lateral partners from a single firm in the first six months of the year? Hint: This firm picked up 17 partners (and 54 lawyers...
Revenge Ages Well — See Also
This Former Legal Secretary’s “I Quit!” Is Still Worth Talking About: If you bring your home life to work, your secretary might tell your spouse you were cheating! Kirkland Questionnaire Perks Up Ears: Is this a sign of attendance policy consequences to come? Hey Man,...
Meet the Former Simpson Associate Who Is Running for Congress
Taylor Wettach, running for Iowa's 1st congressional district, resigned from Simpson because he said he didn't want to be at the "capitulating" law firm after its deal with Trump. Taylor Wettach, running for Iowa's 1st congressional district, resigned from...
Michael Considine Named EDNY First Assistant U.S. Attorney
Considine—who is rejoining the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York—most recently worked as a litigation partner at Seward & Kissel, where he co-managed the government investigations practice group and the litigation...
Deep-Sea Mining Co. Shakes Off Shareholder Suit Over $2.9B Valuation
U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee dismissed the lawsuit against TMC The Metals Co. on Friday, finding that the company hadn't deceived investors with statements that it could mine the minerals used in electric vehicle batteries at a “significant reduction in the...
You Have To Read This Epic Tale Of Biglaw Revenge
This week, Slate is featuring ruminations on the nature of revenge. And as our country is increasingly run by the petty grievances of a powerful man, it feels particularly relevant. Perusing the content, I was struck by one particular tale of Biglaw revenge. Alison...
Morgan Lewis Litigation Associate, ‘A Bright Rising Star,’ Killed in Hit-and-Run While Bicycling
Blake Ackerman, 27, died July 10 after being struck by a fleeing BMW driver. He had only just begun his legal career with Morgan Lewis in January. Blake Ackerman, 27, died July 10 after being struck by a fleeing BMW driver. He had only just begun his legal...
Nevada Rejects NextGen UBE, Creates 3-Part Bar Exam
The Nevada bar examination will include a multiple choice examination, a performance examination and a supervised practice component, according to a joint report filed by two court-appointed task forces on April 2, 2024. The Nevada bar examination will include a...
‘Dirty Little Secret’: Another J&J Talc Trial Opens in Boston
Dallas-based Dean Omar Branham Shirley is handling another talcum powder trial against Johnson & Johnson, which began on Monday in Boston. Dallas-based Dean Omar Branham Shirley is handling another talcum powder trial against Johnson & Johnson, which...
Legal Chief Who Exited EMC After $67B Sale Takes Legal Reins of Quantum Computing Firm
Paul Dacier is giving up his partner post at Quinn Emanuel to become chief legal officer of IonQ. Paul Dacier is giving up his partner post at Quinn Emanuel to become chief legal officer of IonQ.
Supreme Court Allows Department of Education to Carry Out Mass Firings
Over dissents from the liberal justices, the Supreme Court said it would allow the Department of Education to terminate nearly 1,400 employees, part of the Trump administration's efforts to gut the agency. Over dissents from the liberal justices, the Supreme...
‘My Lawyers Did Splendid Work:’ Tony Buzbee Defeats Jay-Z
Sheppard Mullin secured a complete dismissal of defamation and extortion claims brought against Texas attorney Tony Buzbee and The Buzbee Law Firm in a highly publicized lawsuit filed by American music mogul Shawn “Jay-Z Carter in connection with pre-litigation demand...
This Biglaw Firm’s Chair Is Trying To Steer Clear Of Trump’s Wrath
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [The Trump administration] seems to have a little bit of an ax to grind with [Biglaw]. For us, it’s been trying to stay clear of the kinds of events that have triggered some of the actions, because I don’t...
States Sue Trump For Money Congress Already Allotted To Public Education
Harvard isn’t the only school worried that the Trump administration will screw over their funding. Public schools get their fair share of funding from the government too — at least they should. On Monday, several states filed suit to challenge the Trump...
Kirkland Asks Associates Suspicious Question That Has Folks Wondering
Big changes rarely happen quickly at Biglaw firms. Even before the rank-and-file associates catch wind of anything, there’s usually much discussion and analysis going on at the management level. So when the world’s richest law firm, Kirkland & Ellis, made a change...
Judge Orders Sanctioned CFTC to Pay Up $3.1M to Big Law Counsel
“Considering the complexity of the matter, the issues involved in the motion, and the challenges faced by defendants in defending against a federal agency's serious allegations of $300 million in potential liability, defendants' retention of highly experienced counsel...
Judge Orders Sanctioned CFTC to Award $3.1M to Big Law Defense Counsel
“Considering the complexity of the matter, the issues involved in the motion, and the challenges faced by defendants in defending against a federal agency's serious allegations of $300 million in potential liability, defendants' retention of highly experienced counsel...
Promising Young Midsize Firm Associate Dies In Texas Floods
We have more tragic news to report from Texas, where a young associate from a midsize firm recently passed away as a victim of the deadly flash flooding that hit the state. Josephine Hardin, a 2023 graduate of Emory Law, was a third-year associate with Atlanta-based...
Judge Orders ICE Goons To Stop Racial Profiling And Start Following The Constitution
The Supreme Court is perfectly willing to let the Trump administration break the law, but trial judges are not. And so on Friday, yet another federal district court judge issued an injunction attempting to rein in ICE’s goon squads. In a case captioned Perdomo v....
Admit It: Trump’s Done A Few Things Right
(Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)As regular readers of this column know, I’m no fan of Donald Trump’s. But even a stopped clock is accurate twice a day. Can we admit that Trump has achieved at least a couple of worthwhile things? First: The border. For...
UFC Hires Legal Chief Who Could Hold His Own in the Ring
Las Vegas-based United Fight Championship hired Francisco Arias this month from Fifth Season, a Los Angeles-based film and TV production company, where he'd been legal chief since 2022. Las Vegas-based United Fight Championship hired Francisco Arias this month...
Thinking Differently About AI: Lawyers Need To Stop Using AI Like A Glorified Admin
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. – Steve Jobs, Apple’s “Think Different” 1997 Ad This past weekend, the ninth annual community sponsored MacStock Conference was held in a...
Microsoft Legal Technology Expert Ben Schorr Joins Affinity Consulting Group
Ben M. Schorr, one of the leading experts in the use of Microsoft products in legal practice, has joined Affinity Consulting Group LLC, one of the top companies in the U.S. providing strategic business and tech-implementation consulting for law firms and legal...
Stat(s) Of The Week: Legal Marketing In The AI Age
For most legal marketing professionals, the AI era has seen growing budgets, according to a new report by the Legal Marketing Association and Above the Law. When adjusting for inflation, 54% of respondents to the 2025 Legal Marketing Decision-Makers Survey report...
Federal Judges Nix Trump Administration Appointment for U.S. Attorney in Upstate New York
The judges made the announcement in a simple one-sentence statement. As an appointee of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, interim U.S. Attorney John Sarcone III had required approval by the Board of Judges to continue as U.S. attorney throughout the remaining...
Legal Ethics Roundup: The Ethics Of DOJ Firings, Jackson On The State Of Our Democracy, Wasteful SCOTUS Paper Filings, AI SCOTUS Arg & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal Ethics Roundup, here. Welcome to what captivates, haunts, inspires, and surprises me every week in the world of legal ethics. Happy Monday! Hello from...
How I Made Partner: ‘Develop a Practice That Is True to Who You Are,’ Says Julie Simeone of Patterson Belknap
"To sustain your motivation, it is important to develop a practice that is true to who you are and that resonates with your interests. There are different ways to build a career; but it's ultimately up to you to figure out what you find satisfying." "To sustain...
Big Tech Has Become a ‘Kitchen Table Issue,’ FTC Commissioner Mark Meador Says
The recently sworn-in commissioner spoke about the Federal Trade Commission's willingness to consider structural remedies in merger cases, the importance of intellectual diversity over partisan balance on the now all-Republican commission and ongoing enforcement of...
Morning Docket: 07.14.25
* More states adopt NextGen bar exam instead of more rational alternative of not having a bar exam. [Law.com] * Dershowitz says he knows who’s on the Epstein list that Bondi says doesn’t exist but can’t go into details because of confidentiality obligations....