editor’s legal news picks
stay current with all the latest legal topics
Law Firms Trudge Forward on Ethnic Diversity, Though Transparency Becomes Cloudier
A growing reluctance among law firms to disclose information made this year's data analysis significantly more challenging. A growing reluctance among law firms to disclose information made this year's data analysis significantly more...
Cadwalader Merger Talks Pick Up Pace
"We regularly evaluate our strategy to further capitalize on our market-leading strengths for our clients," the firm said in a statement Thursday. "We regularly evaluate our strategy to further capitalize on our market-leading strengths for our clients," the...
Three Essentials for Anyone Considering Solo Practice Right Out of Law School
Most who open a solo practice immediately after law school will struggle before they find their footing, or fail. These three things will set you up to succeed. The post Three Essentials for Anyone Considering Solo Practice Right Out of Law School appeared first on...
Rule Of Law Conservatives Awkwardly Embrace #Resistance
The Trump administration literally tore down the White House yesterday. After lying that his golden imperial ballroom — a Versailles-powered-by-Home-Depot monstrosity — “won’t interfere with the current building,” crews destroyed the whole East Wing — all during a...
Judges Admit The Obvious, Concede AI Used For Hallucinated Opinions
Thanks to the investigative zeal of Senator Chuck Grassley, we now know… exactly what we knew all along: Judge Julien Neals of New Jersey and Judge Henry Wingate of Mississippi put out opinions with fake cites because of artificial intelligence hallucinations. It’s...
Apply Today: Legislation Creates More Georgia Judgeships
The Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia is seeking nominees and applicants for a superior court vacancy on the Brunswick Judicial Circuit and state court vacancies in Bryan, Henry and Spalding counties. The Judicial Nominating Commission of Georgia is...
Transparency About Complications: Ga. Appellate Court Declines to ‘Open the Floodgates’ Against Physicians
"If the court were to find there was a claim here that would certainly have implications on how forthcoming doctors are with their patients about complications in medical procedures," defendant-appellee attorney Erin Coia of the Weathington Firm told the Daily Report...
Class Counsel in Real Estate Commission Settlements Change Banks After Judge Orders Disclosures
Class counsel in more than $1 billion in antitrust settlements over real estate commissions transferred the funds from Huntington National Bank this week after a federal judge ordered disclosures of financial relationships. Class counsel in more than $1 billion...
Donald Trump Put His Thumb On Third Circuit Rulings — See Also
Like Him Or Not, His Appointing Spree Is Prolific: 6 of the 8 republican judges are there because of him. It Is Getting Harder For Some Republicans To Blame Everything On Biden: Concerns about the rule of law have them backtracking some of their prior support. OpenAI...
Blake Poole: Standing the Watch
Blake Poole: Standing the Watch By Susan Cushing On a blistering afternoon in Iraq, Blake Poole’s convoy rolled through hostile terrain. He had already seen more than his share of combat, but the dangers never dulled. In 15 months of nonstop fighting, his vehicle had...
Sandro Monteblanco: Defending Justice Across Borders
Sandro Monteblanco: Defending Justice Across Borders By Susan Cushing When attorney Sandro O. Monteblanco founded the Monteblanco Law Group (MLG) more than two decades ago, he had a clear vision: to create a boutique law firm dedicated to international clientele and...
Candice Fields: Navigating an Immovable System
Federal criminal defense attorney Candice Fields longed for a meaningful career, so she traded in her job promoting textile products in the design trade for a law degree. “I knew instinctively that I wanted to protect individual constitutional rights,” she said. “I’m...
The Urban Crime Debate: It’s Time to Return to Common Sense Solutions
The debate over urban crime today seems to be following a familiar refrain, much like the contemporary remake of an old movie. In the 1960s, there was a push to adopt more forgiving criminal laws during a period of perceived public safety. As a result, more...
Here’s One Thing I Like About AI
OK, simmer down. You know that I am not fond of AI, at least so far, but have you ever tried to explain the relevant Rules of Professional Responsibility to a nonlawyer client, which is most, if not all, clients? Have you ever tried to explain even one rule to a...
Thanks To Our Incredible Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay 8am™ MyCase Aon Axiom BARBRI Brightflag Caret Legal CobbleStone Software Concord CosmoLex Draftable Filevine FlexOffers.com iManage InfoTrack...
Trump’s Love Affair With Crypto Continues
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Who is the latest cryptocurrency figure to receive a pardon from Donald Trump for his conviction for violating the Bank Secrecy Act and failing to maintain proper anti-money laundering controls? Hint:...
Third Circuit Has Been Utterly Transformed By Donald Trump
Earlier this month Jennifer Mascott became Donald Trump’s most recent appointee to the Third Circuit. It was done over the objections of the home state senators; neither senator from Delaware returned their blue-slip from either Delaware senator (the tradition of...
OpenAI Asks Grieving Family For Funeral Guest List, Pictures, Videos
While wanting to know the guest list is a reasonable urge, going far enough to actually ask is usually a set up for social embarrassment. Asking who got invited to the destination wedding? You don’t know because you weren’t invited and either aren’t as bright a star...
The ‘Brazen’ Sports Betting Scandal Everyone Is Talking About
[This case is] one of the most brazen sports corruption schemes since online sports betting became widely legalized in the United States. — Interim United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Joseph Nocella, Jr., in a press conference earlier today...
The Law Firm Disrupted: The Am Law 100’s Rising Valuation Explains Why Outside Capital Wants In
Am Law 50 CFO Madhav Srinivasan's latest effort to apply Wall Street valuation techniques to the country's largest law firms offers a rosy picture. Am Law 50 CFO Madhav Srinivasan's latest effort to apply Wall Street valuation techniques to the country's largest...
Simplify Your Intake Process With These Legal Billing Templates
Building trust with clients is crucial for your firm and its reputation. One of the easiest ways to enhance the client experience is to clearly communicate your firm’s guidelines during the intake process. To help your firm ensure high client satisfaction, our...
Here’s A Guide To Help You Make Sense Of Clio’s New Line Up Of Products And Features
The post Here’s A Guide To Help You Make Sense Of Clio’s New Line Up Of Products And Features appeared first on Above the Law.In delivering his keynote at the 2025 ClioCon in Boston last week, CEO Jack Newton described the litany of new products and features he...
Judges Stress Coordination as Mass-Tort Litigation Expands Across Courts
Among those presenting during the Philadelphia Bar Association's webinar was U.S. District Chief Judge Nancy Rosenstengel of the Southern District of Illinois. Among those presenting during the Philadelphia Bar Association's webinar was U.S. District Chief Judge...
The AI Disclosure Laws That Solo And Small Firms Really Need To Know About
Since the public release of ChatGPT in November 2022, solo and small law firms have been inundated with ethics opinions by the ABA and 20 different states regarding artificial intelligence use and client disclosure obligations. While these ethics considerations are...
Hold The Gushing: The Clio AI Announcement Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Game Over
The legal tech world is gushing over Clio’s announcement last week as if the AI landscape just changed forever. Maybe. But anytime people gush, I get a little skeptical. I thought about this in light of the Thomson Reuters announcement this week of a a new...
Why Are So Many Lawyer Entrepreneurs Successful? Overcoming The Double Whammy
Lawyers make terrific founders. Some might say it is counterintuitive. Aren’t lawyers rigid in their thinking? Isn’t it all about minimizing risk above all else? Yes, for lawyers who choose to work as lawyers. But lawyers who choose to start companies are making a...
Better Business Bureau to Certify Influencers, in Bid to Tamp Down Legal Risks for Celebrities, Brands
"Because the brands are maybe working with influencers that aren't trained, there's risk to the brand," said Jennifer Santos, an attorney for the BBB's National Advertising Division. "Because the brands are maybe working with influencers that aren't trained,...
BBB National Programs to Certify Influencers, in Bid to Tamp Down Legal Risks for Celebrities, Brands
"Because the brands are maybe working with influencers that aren't trained, there's risk to the brand," said Jennifer Santos, an attorney for the BBB National Programs' National Advertising Division. "Because the brands are maybe working with influencers that...
AALS Acquires Paul Caron’s TaxProf Blog
TaxProf Blog 2.0 launched Thursday with a new team of editors from 10 law schools across the country. TaxProf Blog 2.0 launched Thursday with a new team of editors from 10 law schools across the country.
What I’ve Learned: Random Thoughts For Young Lawyers
There’s a column in Esquire titled “What I’ve Learned” where famous people share what life has taught them. About 15 years ago, I wrote my own “What I’ve Learned” piece for a legal publication. Here I go again. My first boss told me, “Don’t make the client’s problem...
Burning $200M To Kill 5 Ukrainian Civilians: A Snapshot Of The Doomed Economics Of Russia’s Invasion
With a brittle ceasefire in the Middle East, President Donald Trump secured the headlines he wanted, and he has now set his sights on Ukraine. Meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House on October 17 to discuss the possibility of further...
Trump Pardons Changpeng Zhao of Binance
President Trump has pardoned Changpeng Zhao, who was convicted over a single count of violating the Bank Secrecy Act and failing to maintain proper anti-money laundering controls as the CEO of Binance, the company he founded. President Trump has...
Lost on a Technicality? Ga. Appellate Court Weighs Impact of E-filing Error on a Default Judgment
"Not to be glib with Scripture, but let he who has never attached the wrong PDF to an e-mail cast the first stone," defendant-appellant attorney, Miles Skedsvold, of Robbins Alloy Belinfante Littlefield, said during oral arguments this week. "Not to be glib with...
‘Workslop’ Crisis Looms for Small Businesses as AI Adoption Outpaces Quality Controls
“If you treat generative AI as a free intern, you'll soon pay for it with client churn," the marketing firm OutreachX says in a new analysis. “If you treat generative AI as a free intern, you'll soon pay for it with client churn," the marketing firm OutreachX...
Banged-Up Hertz Hands Legal Reins to 6-Time GC
Piero Bussani has been the top lawyer for two hotel companies, two homebuilders and two firms in the investment industry. Piero Bussani has been the top lawyer for two hotel companies, two homebuilders and two firms in the investment industry.
Office Of Special Counsel’s Nomination Pulled After Racist Text Scandal
We have found the line! It’s easy to imagine in 2025 that there is no scandal too great to stop a Trump nominee but, well, there is such a thing as too much scandal. And Paul Ingrassia has found that threshold! The 2022 Cornell Law grad was nominated to lead the...
Government Chaos Means Record Revenues For Biglaw Lobbying Practices
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I don’t expect the chaotic pace will slow down for the remainder of the year. — Loren Monroe, a principal at BGR Group, in comments given to Reuters, on the record revenue top D.C. lobbying firms took in during...
Top 7 Ways Law Firms Can Fortify Their Security and Protect Client Trust
In the minds of your clients, trust and security are intertwined. As stewards of confidential client information, law firms must go beyond minimum compliance. The following seven strategies, drawn from real-world experience in legal technology, outline actionable ways...
Eighth Circuit Signals Future of Police Misconduct Cases May Hinge on the Detail of Resistance by a Protester
In Locke v. County of Hubbard, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, in an opinion authored by circuit court Judge Jonathan Kobes, reversed the dismissal of a protester's lawsuit against the county and two of its police officers related to excessive use of...
CMS’ New $50B Rural Health Fund — Is It Just Another Band-Aid?
The post CMS’ New $50B Rural Health Fund — Is It Just Another Band-Aid? appeared first on Above the Law.The post CMS’ New $50B Rural Health Fund — Is It Just Another Band-Aid? appeared first on Above the Law.
Utah AG Fires Motley Rice From Opioid Lawsuit
The Utah attorney general's decision this month comes after one of the defendants, OptumRx, moved to disqualify Motley Rice for conflict-of-interest reasons. The Utah attorney general's decision this month comes after one of the defendants, OptumRx, moved to...
Call for Nominations for the Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards 2026
The WIPL Awards return in 2026 on an earlier schedule to align with next year's General Conference Midwest Conference taking place in April in Chicago The WIPL Awards return in 2026 on an earlier schedule to align with next year's General Conference Midwest...
Morning Docket: 10.23.25
* AI is speeding up M&A deals by harnessing the power of algorithms to rewrite the same sentence 50 times only to arrive back at the same boilerplate. [The Information] * Reddit sues Perplexity over scraped data claims. [Law360] * David Lat advises young Biglaw...
Why Lawyers Struggle With Retirement (It’s Not What You Think)
David Hunter | Yes, lawyers ask about having enough money for retirement. But those questions often mask what they’re really worried about. The post Why Lawyers Struggle With Retirement (It’s Not What You Think) appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms...
Who Is Your Go-To Law Firm?
If you are an in-house attorney and haven’t yet taken our Outside Counsel Survey, you can still weigh in. We are compiling our annual list of the top outside counsel and need your input. Tell us which law firms you engage, and what level of work you entrust to them....
No, Your Honor, I Didn’t Call You That, I Was Talking About, Um, Bundt Cake
Appeals court decides that some things are best left unsaid. And among those things are calling your judge the c-word. Just so we’re clear, even though this was over Zoom, we’re not talking about “cat.” After trying to bully Michigan Law Review through litigation, the...
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: How AI Is Changing Law Firms
Artificial intelligence will give solos and small firms “a huge advantage,” according to one legal tech consultant. In this episode of “Adventures in Legal Tech,” host Jared Correia speaks with Ernie Svenson — aka “Ernie the Attorney” — about the psychology behind...
LAPD Tried To Fight Order That Wouldn’t Let Them Shoot Journalists, Shot Them Anyway
The recent “No Kings” protest brought out millions nationwide. There’s been a lot of focus on what the protest means, both as a standalone event and as a potential starting point for further organizing and concrete demands. The protest was lauded for how...
Will NetDocuments’ ‘We’re Not A Rock Band’ Approach To Legal AI Sustain It?
In the season of seemingly never-ending user conferences, the NetDocuments Inspire conference took place this week in Scottsdale, Arizona. NetDocuments is one of the leading document management service providers and is finding its way in the AI landscape. I came to...
The Real And Fictional Connections To A Top Law School
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Téa Leoni’s character in the CBS television show Madam Secretary is a law school graduate of which T14 law school? Hint: In real life, Leoni’s father, Anthony Pantaleoni, was an alumnus of the same law...
Threats To Call ICE Puts Chill On In-House Attorney’s Career — See Also
Two Losses Don’t Make A Right: Former associate general counsel loses the game and her job over a Dodger’s win. There Goes Your Nomination!: Paul Ingrassia’s nomination gets pulled after self-professed Nazi streak went public. Violence From The No Kings Protest Came...
To A Sometimes ‘Shell-Shocked’ ClioCon Audience, Jack Newton Presented Clio’s Vision for a New Era of AI-Driven Legal Work
Have you ever found yourself present in a moment and realized you were witnessing something historic? It is not an exaggeration to say that is what many of the 2,700 in-person attendees felt who were present for Clio cofounder and CEO Jack Newton’s keynote address...
A Day in the Life of a Clio Lawyer, As Powered By Its New ‘Intelligent Legal Work Platform’
In his nearly 90-minute keynote at ClioCon last Thursday, CEO Jack Newton laid out an ambitious array of new products that, together, form what he called the Intelligent Legal Work Platform, transforming Clio from a “system of record” to a “system of action.” Read: To...
How It Works: A Demo of Eve Legal’s Call Intake for Law Firms
Today, we’re taking a special look at Eve’s new call intake features, which help law firms to field and categorize calls from new and existing clients. Joining me to walk through the product is Eve CEO and Founder Jay Madheswaran. Eve is a leading Legal AI platform...
Fed. Judge Denies Automatic Stay as Third Party Appeals to 7th Circuit
"As Virginia Surety recognizes, if a ruling denying intervention is overturned on appeal, the trial court can reopen discovery to allow the intervenor to catch up and, to the extent needed to avoid unfair prejudice, permit the intervenor to relitigate issues decided...
Opportunity Gaps Persist Amid Record Employment for Class of 2024
White graduates and those with at least one lawyer as a parent saw higher employment rates, particularly in sought-after roles. White graduates and those with at least one lawyer as a parent saw higher employment rates, particularly in sought-after...
Maybe AI Hasn’t Changed Everything: Balancing Offline, Online and AI-Driven Legal Marketing
Karin Conroy | Stop choosing between AI speed and human connection. Legal marketing balance drives credibility, expertise, and good client relationships. The post Maybe AI Hasn’t Changed Everything: Balancing Offline, Online and AI-Driven Legal Marketing appeared...
How I Made Partner: ‘Actively Participate in Bar Organizations, Both Locally and Nationally,’ Says Max Mishkin of Ballard Spahr
"For media lawyers, at least, I would encourage actively participating in bar organizations, both locally and nationally. The D.C. Bar's Arts, Entertainment, Media, and Sports community and the ABA's Forum on Communications Law have both been great ways to strengthen...
Critical Mass With Law.com’s Amanda Bronstad: Paraquat Judge Orders Aimee Wagstaff Not to ‘Blow Up the Settlement’, Thousands of Talc Cases Could Be Dismissed
CFTC Veteran Dan Ullman Joins Orrick as Partner Amid Fintech Expansion
“CFTC expertise is more in demand now than it ever has been, Behnam Dayanim, a partner at Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, observed in an interview. “CFTC expertise is more in demand now than it ever has been, Behnam Dayanim, a partner at Orrick Herrington...
Why Law Firms Have Never Needed Their General Counsel More
Many law firms have had their own general counsel for several years, but some believe the role has never been more crucial. Many law firms have had their own general counsel for several years, but some believe the role has never been more...
Law Professor Fired For Comments On Charlie Kirk’s Death Over Objections Of Appeals Panel
Law professor Felicia Branch was fired by the University of Arkansas Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law over comments she made on Facebook concerning the death of far-right activist Charlie Kirk. Branch called particular attention to the methods of Kirk, such...
Teaching Law In A Red State (Part II): The Woke DEI Indoctrination Argument
Dear Governor, State Senator, or Representative, Thank you for your interest in my course, [redacted]. You probably discovered my course by accessing “Simple Syllabus” or scouring our course offerings page, rather than engaging in some other constituent concern. I...
Ninth Circuit Confirms Trump Can Send SEAL Team 6 To Assassinate Dancing Inflatable Frogs
In Trump v. United States, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court considered the proposition that granting Donald Trump unchecked presidential immunity opened the door to a president sending commando units to assassinate political rivals without repercussion...
Will Office Of Special Counsel Nominee’s ‘Nazi Streak’ Stop Him From Being Confirmed? It’s 2025, So Who Knows?!?
Yesterday, POLITICO exposed yet another up-and-coming Republican group chat with wildly offense rhetoric. This one features the off-color remarks of Paul Ingrassia, Donald Trump’s nominee for the position of federal ethics watchdog Special Counsel. Ingrassia graduated...
Alina Habba’s Questionable Designation As U.S. Attorney Seems To Stump Even Her Lawyer
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Well, I guess, I cannot. — Henry Whitaker, counselor to the attorney general, in response to a question asked by a judge during arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, concerning Alina...
Watch Your Words
As fall Fridays go, the one last week was pretty eventful, at least for patent types. While I will let the proverbial dust settle for a bit on the big news out of the USPTO regarding changes to the IPR scheme, there is no doubt that seismic change is afoot. The...
The Best Thing About ClioCon Was The Word No One Said
This year, “agentic” became the sexiest buzzword to hit vendor PowerPoints. It’s everywhere from specific products to the era itself. At times, it seems that no copy can leave the door without the word “agentic” crammed in there, despite it hitting the ear with...
The SCOTUS Clerk To SCOTUS Justice Pipeline
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Who was the first Supreme Court justice to serve on the Court with the justice they previously clerked for? Hint: The Judicial Oath was administered to the justice-designate by that justice. See the...
This Firm Is Keeping Partners On The Same Level — See Also
Top Biglaw Firm Eschews Two-Tier Partnerships: They don’t plan on revisiting partnership structures any time soon. Fake Claims, Real Consequences: The 9th Circuit rules Trump can deploy troops to Portland. Law Professor Fired Over Charlie Kirk Comments: She was fired...
Paul Hastings Managing Partner Establishes Scholarship Fund at Northwestern Law
The $250,000 Smith & Heyliger Endowed Scholarship Fund will support students at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The $250,000 Smith & Heyliger Endowed Scholarship Fund will support students at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
‘Just Silly’?: Civil RICO Claims Skyrocket Following Supreme Court’s CBD Decision
The risks and costs for corporate defendants increase substantially if a plaintiff's civil RICO claims survive a motion to dismiss, according to Martin Weinstein, a Cadwalader partner who said the U.S. Supreme Court's April 2025 decision allowing a civil RICO lawsuit...
Federal Appellate Court Reinstates $400K ‘Personal Injury Tort’ Claims in Bankruptcy Court
"Even under the 'narrowest' test for determining whether a claim is for a 'personal injury tort,' assault and battery clearly constitute personal injury torts," said Judge Cynthia A. Norton, who authored the opinion. "Even under the 'narrowest' test for...
Trump’s National Guard Deployment Provides Another Test for Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has been deferential toward President Donald Trump's crackdowns in Democratic-led cities. Its latest test involves his deployment of 700 troops to Chicago. The Supreme Court has been deferential toward President Donald Trump's crackdowns in...
Atlanta PI Attorney Resigns From Committee Chair Position for Failure to Discipline ‘Case Runners’
“I think it is easier to get arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death in this state than it is to actually get disciplined for a [case running] bar violation, Darl Champion told the Daily Report. “I've heard of people saying they've submitted audio...
‘Excellence Is Your Greatest Currency’: NFL Agent Nicole Lynn on Law, Losses and Leading With Grit
“Getting a seat at the table isn't enough, Lynn said. “You need a seat at the table early. Because that's when the gaps start—when your male counterpart gets a deposition in year two and you don't until year four." “Getting a seat at the table isn't enough, Lynn...
Associate GC’s Firing Exemplifies Hard Line Employers Are Taking to Rein In Risks From Viral Videos
ManpowerGroup dismissed Shannon Kobylarczyk less than 24 hours after the Milwaukee Brewers fan was captured on video telling a Latino Los Angeles Dodgers fan, "You know what, let's call ICE." ManpowerGroup dismissed Shannon Kobylarczyk less than 24 hours after...
Courtroom Pointers from the New Federal Judges in San Jose, California
Some background and practice tips from U.S. District Judges Casey Pitts, Eumi Lee and Noe l Wise, who took part in a Federal Bar Association panel earlier this month alongside their colleagues Trina Thompson and Araceli Marti nez-Olgui n, who sit in San...
The Rise of ‘Settled Expectations’ In USPTO Review and the Fallout for Patent Owners and Challengers
The landscape for discretionary denials at PTAB is evolving quickly; both patent challengers and owners must adapt their strategies to ensure they are not left behind by the USPTO's new approach. The landscape for discretionary denials at PTAB is evolving...
‘Website Time’: The Big Law Phenomenon That Could Lead to a Liability Nightmare
When pushing out lawyers, law firms often keep their website profiles online so they can get another job, but some believe this could lead to ethical and insurer scrutiny. When pushing out lawyers, law firms often keep their website profiles online so they can...
Law Firm Metrics: Why Law Firms Struggle with Data Chaos (and What to Do About It)
Brooke Lively | As a law firm owner, you don’t need more reports. You need better ones. Start with one clean set of numbers that everyone believes. The post Law Firm Metrics: Why Law Firms Struggle with Data Chaos (and What to Do About It) appeared first on Articles,...
ASU Law Launches AI and Legal Tech Studio
“This new studio is part of ASU Law's bold initiative to reimagine legal education for the AI era, a mission that deeply resonates with me, new program director Sean Harrington wrote on LinkedIn. “This new studio is part of ASU Law's bold initiative to reimagine...
The Top Law Schools For Tax Law (2025)
As the old saying goes, nothing in life is certain except death and taxes — and perhaps that’s why tax lawyers are able to enjoy such fulfilling careers. Tax law is typically considered one of the most sophisticated and prestigious practice areas, and law schools are...
It’s ‘Open Season’ For New Partners To Be Recruited In Biglaw’s ‘Free-Agency Era’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [When someone is promoted to partner] they immediately start getting a lot more calls just by virtue of the title. When firms have their eye on somebody, they aren’t deterred if the person made partner a few...
Awards Restore Faith In The Profession — At Least For One Night
Last week, Suffolk Law School became the latest venue for the American Legal Tech Awards ceremony, an event informally called “Legal Tech Prom” as the legal technology world’s best and brightest trade the corporate-branded quarter zips for evening formal wear. While...
Supreme Court Shutters Its Doors To The Public
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, the Supreme Court ran out of funding over the weekend and closed its doors to the public. When was the last time the Supreme Court was closed to the...
4th Time The Loser — See Also
Jeanine Pirro Loses The Same Case For A Fourth Time: Throw in the towel! The Studying Might Be Taxing: But choosing the best school for tax law isn’t! Where’s The Justice In This Department?: A DOJ whistleblower comes forward on behalf of the Constitution. Treat Us To...
Pennsylvania Attorney Accused of Crypto Fraud Strikes Last-Minute Plea Deal
The defense attorney said his client backed away from trial partly because “the subject of cryptocurrency is unfamiliar to most—including a jury—and often thought to be wrought with fraud and wrongdoing. The defense attorney said his client backed away from...
Legal Ethics Roundup: Legal Ethics On 60 Minutes, Fed Judges Warn Of Crisis, More AI Fines, DOJ Ethics Probes & 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! Screenshot...
‘We Colored Inside the Lines Here’: 3rd Circuit Hears Arguments on Habba’s Appointment
If the Third Circuit upholds the ruling by Brann, that would set up a conflict with a 2022 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, United States v. Arthrex, giving the case a straight path to the U.S. Supreme Court. If the Third Circuit...
Judge Alsup Outlines Details of $1.5B Bartz v. Anthropic Settlement in Memorandum Opinion
The deal—the largest copyright class action settlement in history—“provides value in prompt closure, Alsup wrote. “It avoids a prolonged, complex, and expensive trial—and all ensuing appeals. The deal—the largest copyright class action settlement in...
‘Vindictive Prosecution?’ Comey’s Defense Attorneys File Motions to Dismiss Indictment
President Donald Trump ordered the prosecution of James Comey in retaliation for the former FBI director's criticisms, his lawyers said in a motion asking a federal judge to dismiss the indictment for alleged vindictive prosecution from an interim U.S. attorney that...
Jeanine Pirro Is The Biggest Loser
On Thursday, jurors in DC threw up two giant middle fingers to US Attorney Jeanine Pirro. Again. In fact, it was the fourth time the residents of the nation’s capital had flipped off Pirro in the same case. The charges involved Sydney Reid, who was roughed up by ICE...
Moving Past The Hype: AI In Action For Corporate Law Departments
Imagine a day focused on strategic, meaningful legal work instead of tedious, manual tasks. In this guide from our friends at Litify, you can move past the hype and explore the practical ways to use AI throughout your workflow, from intake to billing. Whether itʼs...
Lasting Peace In Israel Is As Certain As Canada Becoming The 51st State
(Image via Getty)Think about the wars that Israel has had with its neighbors. The first war was in 1948, when Israel came to exist. Virtually the entire Arab world took up arms. But Israel won its War for Independence, or “nakbah,” the disaster, depending on whose...
Things At The DOJ Are Just As Lawless As You Feared
From all accounts, Bari Weiss — the newly installed head of CBS News — won’t rest until she turns the storied news organization into a sycophantic Trump administration mouthpiece. But, while that day is coming, it is not today. Or, perhaps more accurately, it wasn’t...
Kenny Loggins Pooh-Poohs President Using His Music To Sh*t On Protestors
Part of being sworn in as President is a promise to uphold the Constitution. Few things undermine a promise to uphold our Supreme Law quite like using your social media presence to broadcast fantasies of being crowned king and dropping shit over citizens exercising...
Comey Expands Criminal Defense Team as DOJ Raises Specter of Fitzgerald Disqualification
"[T]here is no good faith basis to claim a 'conflict' between Mr. Comey and his counsel, much less a basis to move to disqualify lead defense counsel," former FBI Director James Comey's expanded defense team wrote in a brief responding to allegations federal...
Get Ready: ATL’s Legally Themed Halloween Costume Contest Will Be Here Soon
Spooky season is upon us, and you know what that means: Above the Law’s annual Halloween costume contest will soon be here. For more than a decade, the ATL editors have solicited legally themed costumes from our readers, and we’re continually impressed with how...
NuScale Power CLO Departs After Just 4 Months, Replaced With Nuclear Industry Veteran
In announcing the hiring of James Canafax as chief legal officer on Monday, the company made no reference to Shahram Ghasemian, whom it had hired for the role in June. In announcing the hiring of James Canafax as chief legal officer on Monday, the company made...