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Broadcom Legal Chief’s Monstrous Pay Package in ’24 Proves Not to Be a Fluke
Mark Brazeal has spent 24 years at Broadcom across two stints. He's been legal chief since 2017. Mark Brazeal has spent 24 years at Broadcom across two stints. He's been legal chief since 2017.
Consumer Class Action Against Eggland’s Best ‘Cage Free’ Advertising Moves Forward, Judge Rules
U.S. District Judge Franklin U. Valderrama for the Northern District of Illinois cleared the bulk of a consumer class action against Eggland's Best to move forward after concluding that the group of plaintiffs sufficiently alleged they were misled by statements on the...
The Audacity Of AI Incompetence
Another day, another fictitious case citation. Blink, and you’ll miss the most recent comedy of AI-created errors.Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, the frequency of court submissions riddled with AI-hallucinated gibberish has increased exponentially. Now,...
How Some Law Departments Are Winning Law Firm Rate Negotiations
Where do legal teams still have meaningful leverage in rate negotiations? Even where legal teams negotiate aggressively and achieve apparent “wins,” net year-over-year increases frequently remain in the high single to double digits, according to proprietary Persuit...
With 100 Days Until FIFA World Cup 26, Congress Should Be Concerned
With just over 100 days until kickoff, U.S. host cities for the 2026 World Cup went to Capitol Hill with a warning — not a progress report. Before the House Homeland Security Committee, local officials described frozen FEMA funds, coordination gaps, and mounting...
NY Judge: Crypto Platform Developers Not Liable for Misconduct of Unknown Third-Party Issuers
"Despite three chances to get it right, plaintiffs remain unable to allege plausible claims," U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York wrote in the 32-page opinion and order. "Despite three chances to get it right,...
Law School Tells Students, ‘You MUST Be Aligned Politically With President Trump,’ For Summer Job
In The Hunt for Red October, we learn that Soviet submarine carried a “political officer,” a Communist Party appointee whose job wasn’t navigating or torpedoing things, but making sure everyone on board remained sufficiently loyal to the regime. Not to spoil a...
The Week in Data March 3: A Look at Legal Industry Trends by the Numbers
Catch up on the latest data from across the Law.com newsroom, including Big Law's biggest lateral hires of 2025. Catch up on the latest data from across the Law.com newsroom, including Big Law's biggest lateral hires of 2025.
Northwestern Hospital Can Proceed With Equitable Relief in Insurance Dispute, Federal Judge Says
The judge noted a split between other courts in the district about whether quantum meruit claims can be maintained against third-party beneficiaries to the BCBS Illinois contract. The court said it would fall in line with another Chicago federal judge's decision from...
West Virginia Is Not Here For Authoritarian Cosplay
Down in the Southern District of West Virginia, four federal judges — appointed by presidents of both parties — have spent the last several weeks issuing rulings sounding the alarm over a MAGA immigration initiative dubbed “Operation Country Roads.” The policy, a...
Moving The Needle On Judicial Equity
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to an analysis by Adam Feldman’s substack Legalytics, who is the only U.S. President to appoint more women to the federal judiciary than men? Hint: Women have outnumbered men in law schools...
Health Gorilla Calls Epic Lawsuit ‘Attack On Interoperability’ In Motion To Dismiss
The post Health Gorilla Calls Epic Lawsuit ‘Attack On Interoperability’ In Motion To Dismiss appeared first on Above the Law.The post Health Gorilla Calls Epic Lawsuit ‘Attack On Interoperability’ In Motion To Dismiss appeared first on Above the Law.
Paladin and PLI Partner to Connect Law Students with Pro Bono Training and Opportunities
Paladin, a pro bono management platform, and Practising Law Institute (PLI), a nonprofit legal education provider, have announced a partnership aimed at integrating skills training with pro bono work for law students. Under the arrangement, law students using...
Morning Docket: 03.03.26
* The DOJ’s long-awaited antitrust trial against Live Nation-Ticketmaster kicked off Monday. If you want tickets to the hottest trial of the year, then good news! It’s free (plus applicable surcharges). [NBC News] * Supreme Court’s conservatives issue another pair of...
As Women’s History Month Kicks Off, Aderant Makes History, Of A Sort, Naming Its First Female CRO
March is Women’s History Month and, as it kicks off, the legal business software company Aderant is announcing an executive appointment that is historic, at least within the context of this nearly 50-year-old company — its first female chief revenue officer. Aderant...
Inside Trump v. Slaughter: Bill Kovacic on the Supreme Court Fight Over FTC Firings
This week on Legal Speak, we preview a Supreme Court Brief discussion about whether President Donald Trump should be allowed to fire members of "independent agencies," including the Federal Trade Commission. This week on Legal Speak, we preview a Supreme Court...
Early Financials Show Declines in Big Law Equity Tiers, With Law Firms Being ‘Much More Careful’
Law firms' equity tiers may continue to shrink in 2026, partly as a way to keep up profits amid uncertain demand and pressure on billing rate hikes. Law firms' equity tiers may continue to shrink in 2026, partly as a way to keep up profits amid uncertain demand...
DOJ Seeks to Reverse Course on Dismissing Appeal on Law Firm Executive Order Litigation
According to the government's filing, the law firms' counsel said they “oppose the government's unexplained request to withdraw yesterday's voluntary dismissal, to which all parties had agreed. Under no circumstances should the government's unexplained about-face...
Exasperated, GCs Finally Demand Transparency, Value From Outside Counsel
“With bills like these, it's hard not to feel like you are a cow getting milked, said Andrew Woods, general counsel of PubMatic. “Half the time I moo quietly to myself while I'm reviewing my counsel bills. “With bills like these, it's hard not to feel like you...
From Boilerplate To Architecture: How AI Broke The Monolithic IP Clause
For a long time, IP risk lived in one place. One clause. One indemnity. One catch-all promise that everything would be fine if it wasn’t. That approach worked reasonably well when software had clear authorship, clear inputs, and outputs that behaved as lawyers...
Shift Happens: 5 Ways to Handle Change as a Lawyer
Jamie Spannhake says change often feels like a problem to solve, or an obstacle to overcome. But the real obstacle is our belief that things will remain the same. Here are five ways to handle change gracefully and with less stress. The post Shift Happens: 5 Ways to...
Looking Stupid Has A $940M Price Tag! — See Also
DOJ Drops Defense Of Biglaw Bullying Executive Orders: See what happens when you’re actually willing to fight in court? Political Appointments For Law Students? Political purity tests for law jobs! The Early Bird Gets The Litigation Finance Knowledge: Make the most...
Federal Judges Threatened For Doing Their Jobs Speak Up
Right now is a tough time to be a federal judge. While the judiciary has long been (naively) thought of as the neutral branch, judges with steadfast commitment to upholding the Constitution have been facing serious consequences. By consequences I don’t mean being...
More Than a Dozen Law Firms Criticize ‘Fast Track’ Approval of $7.25B Roundup Settlement as ‘Unreasonable’
'The court should not rubber-stamp even the first step of this vast proposal,' law firms claiming to represent 20,000 Roundup clients wrote in an intervention motion about the $7.25 billion class action settlement. 'The court should not rubber-stamp even the...
Too Fat to Succeed at Work? ‘Overweight’ Could Soon Be a Protected Class
"A lot of people think that being fat is a choice," noted Law Professor Doron Dorfman, who said overweight people historically had minimal legal protection because the issue of weight was saddled with moral questions. "A lot of people think that being fat is a...
Biglaw Drafts Evacuation Plans As Missiles Fly In The Middle East
If you thought 2026 might finally be the year Biglaw got a break from “unprecedented events,” think again. Major firms across the Middle East are quietly preparing evacuation plans after Iranian missile and drone attacks disrupted airspace, damaged infrastructure, and...
Standing Up And Cheering For American-ish Principles
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)During his State of the Union address, Donald Trump thought he was being clever. He challenged the Democrats in the chamber: “If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American...
DOJ Drops Defense Of Biglaw Executive Orders, Leaving Capitulating Firms Holding $940 Million Bag
Well, well, well. Would you look at that? After months of bluster, threats, and performative chest-thumping, the Trump administration is reportedly slinking away from its own unconstitutional tantrum. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Department of Justice “as...
What Happens When Being The ‘Most Feared Firm’ In Biglaw Becomes A Branding Problem?
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Some of the feedback is that our aggressive persona puts certain clients off. It slightly bemuses me that you would go out and hire a litigation firm that’s not regarded as aggressive. At the point of...
Hate To Say I Told You So Again: Your Chats Ain’t Private
On February 20th, my article warning about the dangers of clients using GenAI tools and creating discoverable information was published. Unbeknownst to me, the day before the article was published, a ruling from the Southern District of New York affirmed my very...
Former Federal Anti-Corruption Chief Spells Out Long-Term Consequences of DOJ’s ‘Illness’
There is a “broader kind of illness at DOJ, said John Keller, who once led the DOJ's Public Corruption Unit before resigning in February 2025 alongside several DOJ officials over a directive to end the prosecution of Eric Adams. There is a “broader kind of...
What Was Behind a Spike in Judicial Misconduct Complaints Last Year?
As is common each year, the allegations made most frequently were related to the merits of a decision or ruling (with 1,603 allegations), up 400 from 2024. Litigants accounted for 79% of complainants, followed by prison inmates at 16%. As is common each year,...
Jury Trial Begins in DOJ Lawsuit Seeking Live Nation-Ticketmaster Breakup
A former New York University business school professor may testify as a damages expert for the plaintiffs as the U.S. Department of Justice's antitrust case against defendants Live Nation and Ticketmaster proceeds to a jury trial in Manhattan federal court. A...
CFTC Taps Greenberg Traurig Shareholder David Miller to Be Enforcement Director
CFTC chairman Michael S. Selig appoints veteran prosecutor David I. Miller as enforcement chief as the agency deepens its oversight of crypto and prediction markets. CFTC chairman Michael S. Selig appoints veteran prosecutor David I. Miller as enforcement chief...
Sources: DOJ Plans to Abandon Appeal of Law Firm EO Cases
A source with knowledge confirmed to Law.com that a filing from the government to withdraw the appeal may happen as soon as Monday. A source with knowledge confirmed to Law.com that a filing from the government to withdraw the appeal may happen as soon as...
DOJ Moves to Abandon Appeal of Law Firm EO Cases
In statements, the firms quickly celebrated the DOJ's filing for dismissal. In statements, the firms quickly celebrated the DOJ's filing for dismissal.
Ex-WWE Legal Chief Decides He’s Ready for Rumble
Maurice Edelson is joining the YouTube competitor as it strives to reach profitability and regain the engagement it experienced during the 2024 presidential election. Maurice Edelson is joining the YouTube competitor as it strives to reach profitability and...
Investment Firm Says BlockFills Drained Client Bitcoin, Masked Huge Losses
Dominion Capital alleged that BlockFills commingled client assets and concealed heavy losses, seeking damages and an asset freeze after the cryptocurrency lender halted withdrawals. Dominion Capital alleged that BlockFills commingled client assets and concealed...
What to Do When Trade Non-Compliance Turns Criminal: Potential Trial Defenses in Tariff Evasion Prosecutions
This article examines potential defenses in tariff evasion and non-compliance prosecutions and offers practical guidance for counsel preparing to litigate them. This article examines potential defenses in tariff evasion and non-compliance prosecutions and offers...
Lawyers Usually Should Not Open Their Own Practices Right After Graduating From Law School
Ever since I started this column almost nine years ago, law students have reached out to me seeking advice on their careers. I welcome this contact, and anyone who wants to ask my advice on their plans or career moves should feel free to email me at...
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sure Knew How To Turn A Phrase
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Harrison Ford reprises his role as CIA analyst Jack Ryan in what 1994 movie? Hint: The title is derived from a legal test devised by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. See the answer on the next page. The...
As Litigation Finance Grows, Law Students Have Opportunity To Get In On It Early
Law schools spend a lot of time teaching students how to argue cases. Or, maybe more accurately, how to read opinions about past litigations that offer dubious value to their eventual careers marking up term sheets. But in any event, what schools haven’t spent much...
When It Comes To Judges, Trump Is An ASS Man
When the Pentagon announced that they’d kneecaped themselves by refusing to give money to law students accepted to the country’s most prestigious and highly ranked law schools, it became a lot less obvious where they’d do their recruiting from. Before the last few...
Why Your Competitor Pays Half What You Do: Decoding Legal Research AI Pricing
Law firm technology spending surged 9.7% in 2025 — the fastest growth the industry has likely ever seen, according to the Thomson Reuters State of the Legal Market report. Knowledge management budgets climbed even faster at 10.5%. Westlaw and LexisNexis are pushing...
Legal Ethics Roundup: Ethics Of AI Glasses In Court, Gambling Lawyer Guilty, SCOTUS Restricts Access to Counsel, Judge’s Novel Recusal & 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. Hello First Monday! I’m...
Atlanta Judge Resigned but Is Not Off the Hook: Discipline Case Continues
As a judicial watchdog agency contends the resignation of a judge during a pending ethics case "should not result in the matter being dismissed as moot," respondent counsel for a former Atlanta judge challenge the notion. As a judicial watchdog agency contends...
Law Firm Mergers Mean Lateral Movement — Lots Of It
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Anytime there’s a merger or a new entrant into the market, that volatility creates movement among lawyers. The reason is that the merged firm may not be the best place for all of the lawyers who were at each of...
Hegseth Labels Anthropic A Supply Chain ‘Risk,’ After Trump Orders Gov To Ditch AI Firm
The post Hegseth Labels Anthropic A Supply Chain ‘Risk,’ After Trump Orders Gov To Ditch AI Firm appeared first on Above the Law.The post Hegseth Labels Anthropic A Supply Chain ‘Risk,’ After Trump Orders Gov To Ditch AI Firm appeared first on Above the Law.
August’s New Live Assist Lets Lawyers Be Active Listeners – and Active Fact Checkers
In every deposition, client call or witness prep session, there is an inherent tension. The more focused attorneys are on listening, the less bandwidth they have to simultaneously verify what is being said against the record. Conversely, the more they are mentally...
August’s New Live Assist Lets Lawyers Be Active Listeners – and Active Fact Checkers
In every deposition, client call or witness prep session, there is an inherent tension. The more focused attorneys are on listening, the less bandwidth they have to simultaneously verify what is being said against the record. Conversely, the more they are mentally...
Morning Docket: 03.01.26
* Biglaw drafts plans to protect staff in its Middle East offices. [Law.com International] * As “Operation Epstein Fury,” continues in the Middle East, it appears Trump administration insiders are cashing in, making big prediction market bets on military timing....
Major Law Firms Draw Up Middle East Evacuation Plans Amid Iran Attacks
Several major firms, including White & Case and Baker McKenzie, have told staff to work remotely following Iranian missile and drone attacks that are disrupting airspace and financial markets. Several major firms, including White & Case and Baker...
2026 Growth Map: How Real Estate Attorneys Can Expand into Niche Land Markets
If you are looking to expand your real estate practice, look to niche land markets (think data centers and solar farms) beyond the suburbs and city centers. If you are looking to expand your real estate practice, look to niche land markets beyond the suburbs and city...
Adobe Wooed Pentland Aboard as CLO With Eight-Figure Stock Grant
Adobe said it set Louise Pentland's new hire stock grant "at the level it determined necessary to be market competitive, taking into consideration our emphasis on at-risk versus fixed compensation opportunities, and to make her whole for the significant equity she...
How I Made It Back to Partner: ‘Business Development Is a Long Game,’ Michael Millikan of Ice Miller
"Be engaged. Be present in the office. Build relationships. Seek feedback. Make time for these things and ask your partners how you can improve. Do not make the same mistake twice. Begin building your network early and stay intentional about staying in touch with...
Chief Justice Roberts Stares Into The Abyss — See Generally
Chief Justice Roberts Relishes Role As President’s Favorite Doormat: John Roberts traded his credibility so Trump could hold press conferences calling the Chief “very unpatriotic.” But Don’t Call It A Comeback: And don’t mistake his tariffs opinion — or those of...
New Novel Skewers Law School Rankings, Faculty Politics, And When Legal Education Gets Kinky
Would Above the Law really publish a story about a law school dean’s bio being replaced with dungeon porn? Yeah… that tracks. If you’ve spent any time in the legal academy — or even just read our coverage of it — you understand that the annual U.S. News rankings...
DOJ Feels The Squeeze As DHS’s Courtroom Pain Sponge
It’s not every day that a federal judge threatens to hold the US government in contempt. But yesterday it happened three times. “The Court is not aware of another occasion in the history of the United States in which a federal court has had to threaten contempt—again...
Lying Has Consequences, Feds — See Also
Liars Keep Losing In Court: Judges keep catching federal officers with their pants on fire. These Aren’t The Lawyers You’ve Been Looking For: OpenAI helps shut down fake law empire. When Mardi Gras Turns Violent: Shia LeBeouf gets hit with two charges of battery and a...
Proposed Federal Rule Is Good for Employers—Depending on Location
The proposed regulations should serve as a reminder for employers to think through their classification of workers as independent contractors, said attorney Mark Goldstein of Reed Smith in New York. The proposed regulations should serve as a reminder for...
ChatGPT Helped Build A Fake Law Firm Empire — Now OpenAI Is Shutting Them Down
OpenAI is quietly waging its own brand of legal ethics enforcement — and the target isn’t lawyers or law firms, it’s ChatGPT accounts masquerading as them. According to reporting by Legal Cheek, OpenAI has banned a cluster of ChatGPT accounts tied to bogus law firms...
Legal AI: What Government Agencies Need To Consider
It’s an understatement to call this time exciting. But it can also be bewildering. With new AI offerings popping up every week, how can government professionals decide which ones are worth their time? Our friends at Filevine created this guide to answer these...
Judge Orders Shia LaBeouf To Rehab After Mardi Gras Brawl
For millions of people, Mardi Gras is their last hurrah before they get all pious on Ash Wednesday. So they let loose! Alcohol, calorie-rich foods, and all sorts of levity make up for obligatorily giving up McDonald’s or whatever for the next 40 days. But sometimes...
The Human Cost Of Our Broken Justice System
In this episode of The Jabot Podcast, I sit down with public defender, reform advocate, and author Emily Galvin Almanza to discuss her new book The Price of Mercy: Unfair Trials, a Violent System, and a Public Defender’s Search for Justice in America. Emily shares her...
Private Loan Exchange Launches As Federal Lending Tightens The Screws On Law Students
If you’ve been feeling like the federal student loan safety net is shrinking just as tuition keeps doing its annual “number go up” routine, you’re not imagining things. Recent federal policy changes have materially reshaped how graduate and professional students —...
Oregon Jury Awards Record $242M To 16 Wildfire Victims
Wednesday's verdict, which is expected to increase to $305 million when doubling economic damages under Oregon law and adding a 25% multiplier for punitive damages, is the 16th trial against PacifiCorp. Wednesday's verdict, which is expected to increase to $305...
Crowell, Polsinelli, Hogan Lovells, Holland & Knight, Pillsbury Among Big Firms in Tariff Refund Battle
Dozens of cases have been filed in the week since the U.S. Supreme Court decision, with many more expected to be filed in the coming weeks and months. Dozens of cases have been filed in the week since the U.S. Supreme Court decision, with many more expected to...
How Paul Weiss Clients Are Receiving Brad Karp’s Return to Litigation Partner Ranks
In Big Law, as with most industries, the ideal scenario is about pleasing the client and keeping business, and Law.com interviews with some of Karp's clients indicate they want him to stay on their matters. In Big Law, as with most industries, the ideal scenario...
Maduro’s Counsel Says Government Is ‘Outright Forbidding Payment’ for Legal Defense
Barry Pollack argued that his Maduro will not be able to receive a fair defense against the narco-terrorism conspiracy case the U.S .has brought against him, if the U.S. government continues to block Venezuela from paying his legal fees. Barry Pollack argued...
Litigation Trends to Watch: Claims Surge Over New DOJ Privacy Rule, Excluded Shareholder Proposals and Third-Party Hiring Agencies
A new line of class actions accuses businesses of transferring data to 'countries of concern' under the DOJ's Bulk Data Transfer Rule. A new line of class actions accuses businesses of transferring data to 'countries of concern' under the DOJ's Bulk Data...
Unlocking the Future: How AI Is Redefining Corporate Legal Strategy
Legal teams face rising data, regulation, and cost pressures. This webcast shows how to adopt AI responsibly, manage risk, and transform legal into a proactive, data-driven strategic partner. Legal teams face rising data, regulation, and cost pressures. This...
New York Judge Blocks Binance’s Bid to Dodge Investor Class Action
A New York federal judge refused to send a long-running securities class action against Binance to arbitration, ruling that users who signed up before a 2019 terms update were not bound by a later-added arbitration clause. A New York federal judge refused to...
Gimme An ‘A’! Gimme An ‘I’!
Given the recent gyrations in the markets, it’s no wonder that people are jittery about the effects (past, present, and future) of AI in our profession. True, we are not the only profession that is nervous about AI’s potential to completely reset our landscape. Jobs...
The Quiet Edge: How Real Confidence Is Built In The Dark, Not On Display
Confidence is misunderstood in our profession. Young lawyers often think confidence is volume. It is the booming voice at a hearing, the perfectly timed objection, the sharp cross-examination that leaves opposing counsel blinking. It is the partner who never seems...
DOJ’s Losing Streak Continues Because Federal Officers Just Can’t Stop Lying
I’ll take my joy where I can. And this iteration of the Trump DOJ continues to provide bright bursts of schadenfreude-tinted sunshine. Any competent DOJ can close cases. Any barely competent prosecutor can push a case past a grand jury. Any sufficiently slippery...
Anatomy Of A Modern Merger: A Step-By-Step Guide For GCs
Editor’s note: A companion webinar featuring these speakers is available on-demand, with CLE credit available. Use the form at the bottom of this article to access the presentation. This is the first in a three-part series. Although the deals market has shown a...
How Appealing Weekly Roundup
Ed. Note: A weekly roundup of just a few items from Howard Bashman’s How Appealing blog, the Web’s first blog devoted to appellate litigation. Check out these stories and more at How Appealing. “Judge Vows to End Trump Administration’s Noncompliance ‘One Way or...
9th Circuit Reinstates Trump Order Ending Union Bargaining for Federal Workers
The federal appeals court said the six federal worker unions that sued over the executive order failed to show it was likely issued in retaliation for their constitutionally protected public criticism of the Trump administration. The federal appeals court said...
A Nuanced Discussion with David Lat About Paul Weiss and Brad Karp
Attorney, author and journalist David Lat joins Legal Speak's Patrick Smith for a more detailed look at what transpired at Paul Weiss and what happens next for Brad Karp. Attorney, author and journalist David Lat joins Legal Speak's Patrick Smith for a more...
Morning Docket: 02.27.26
* Anthropic rejects Defense Department ultimatum to rewrite their contract and remove guardrails or face potentially devastating retaliation. [Axios] * Bill Clinton due to testify about Epstein after Hillary’s deposition devolved into Pizzagate and UFOs. [Reuters] *...
On Their Own Terms: The Power of Entrepreneurship for Black Women in Law
Camille Stell | Entrepreneurship isn’t the only path forward, but for Black women in law, it can be one of the most powerful. Advice from four solo attorneys. The post On Their Own Terms: The Power of Entrepreneurship for Black Women in Law appeared first on Articles,...
Gain Clearer Financial Insight with Customizable Reports in Bill4Time
Product Spotlight | Bill4Time. Stop settling for static spreadsheets. To truly manage a business, firms must move beyond tracking hours to embracing sophisticated law firm financial reporting. The post Gain Clearer Financial Insight with Customizable Reports in...
String of GOP-Appointed Circuit Judges Announce Senior Status Plans. Are More to Come?
This past week three appellate judges, all appointees of former President George W. Bush, informed the White House of their plans to take semi-retirement. This past week three appellate judges, all appointees of former President George W. Bush, informed the...
From Barista Aprons to Factory Floors: Why Top GCs Savor Time in the Trenches
“If you really want to deeply learn the business, you have to be a part of the business and not just sit in meetings, said Jessica Nguyen, deputy general counsel of Docusign. “If you really want to deeply learn the business, you have to be a part of the business...
How I Founded a Law Firm: ‘Build a Structure That Can Grow Beyond You,’ Says John Hall Jr. of Hall Booth Smith
"You need a deep understanding of your craft, clear principles for how you intend to practice, and a genuine understanding of the clients you are serving. This is a service profession at its core. Beyond that, build a structure that can grow beyond you. If the goal is...
Law Firm Disrupted: The Limitations on Following the Money
Are some legal markets at risk of being oversaturated as Big Law moves in? At this point, there appears to be no shortage of work to go around in some growing markets in the U.S., but a limited talent pool could pose problems down the road. Are some legal...
DraftKings’ Move for Early Appeal Fails in Class Action Over App Liability
The sports-betting company requested to certify an interlocutory appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, asking if a mobile app or its specific features can qualify as a "product" under Illinois' products liability law. The sports-betting...
Tom Goldstein Goes Bust
Yesterday, a federal jury in Maryland convicted the SCOTUSblog co-founder on 12 of 16 counts after a six-week trial befitting the wild indictment we covered last January. After celebrity testimony and constitutional showdowns, Goldstein’s trial ends with convictions...
Too Good To Be True — See Also
William Christopher Swett Gets Charged With A Lot Of Fraud: No relation, of course. Maurene Comey Makes Partner: The administration’s brain drain lets Biglaw snag major talent! Tom Goldstein Convicted On 12 Of 16 Counts: Can’t win ’em all. Abrego Garcia Still Getting...
5 Tips For Proving Your Legal Department’s Value
The post 5 Tips For Proving Your Legal Department’s Value appeared first on Above the Law.The post 5 Tips For Proving Your Legal Department’s Value appeared first on Above the Law.
AI Research Can Be Used Against Clients In Court. It Shouldn’t Be.
I’m a practicing attorney, and I want my clients to use AI. That might sound counterintuitive coming from someone who earns her keep selling legal advice. Plus, many attorneys express frustration when clients show up with contracts full of unlawful provisions drafted...
Maurene Comey Takes On New Role As Partner At Law Firm
For all of the administration’s big talk of meritocracy coming back to put the people who actually deserve the jobs in power, there’s been a lot of incompetency at the helm. Planes falling out the sky, repeated failures to indict pedophiles — let alone a sandwich —...
Abrego Garcia Invokes The ‘Chill The Hell Out’ Defense Against Trump Administration
The DOJ has been using the “throw spaghetti until something sticks” method against Kilmar Abrego Garcia for ages now. With too much egg on their face to just leave him alone after it came to light that he was wrongly deported to an El Salvadoran slave camp and forced...
Three Years After Launching As First AI Legal Assistant, CoCounsel Reaches 1 Million Users — And Thomson Reuters Teases What’s Ahead
The post Three Years After Launching As First AI Legal Assistant, CoCounsel Reaches 1 Million Users — And Thomson Reuters Teases What’s Ahead appeared first on Above the Law.CoCounsel, which launched almost exactly three years ago, on March 1, 2023, as the first AI...
Fifth Circuit Judges Begin Erasing Dissenting Opinions They Don’t Like
Judge James Dennis was a member of the original panel, concurring in part and dissenting in part from the panel opinion. See Woodlands Pride, Inc. v. Paxton, 157 F.4th 775, 789–803 (5th Cir. 2025) (Dennis, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). Judge Dennis...
JFK Conspiracy Goes All The Way To Biglaw
The Warren Commission brought together a number of prominent lawyers– from Chief Justice Earl Warren to Covington alum Senator John Sherman Cooper — to investigate the Kennedy assassination, but who would be the only one enshrined in the name of a current elite Biglaw...
Securities Lawsuit Challenging Musk’s Statements About Twitter Deal Heads to Trial
The trial is scheduled to last for two to three weeks, with a break on March 11, and will be held at the Phillip Burton Federal Building in San Francisco. The trial is scheduled to last for two to three weeks, with a break on March 11, and will be held at the...
AccessLex Launches Tool to Help Law Students Navigate Private Lending
AccessLex developed the tool in response to the student loan caps and the elimination of federal graduate and professional Direct PLUS loans, as mandated in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. AccessLex developed the tool in response to the student loan caps and the...
‘Stunning Fall From Grace’: Prosecutors Seek Tom Goldstein’s Detention Pending Sentencing
"His exposure is certainly federal prison in addition to significant restitution, fines and things of that nature," a Cole Schotz member and white-collar criminal defense lawyer said of SCOTUSblog founder Tom Goldstein after a Maryland federal trial jury found...
Plaintiff in Social Media Addiction Trial Testifies: ‘It’s Too Hard to Be Without It’
The plaintiff in a high-profile trial against Meta and YouTube who goes by Kaley, or K.G.M., said she became addicted to social media as a child, leading to her depression and body dysmorphia. The plaintiff in a high-profile trial against Meta and YouTube who...