editor’s legal news picks

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How’s This For Wasteful Government Spending?

How’s This For Wasteful Government Spending?

I don’t take hypocrites lightly. When I worked at a law firm, I was always annoyed, for example, when the firm had no money for business development for the plebian partners but somehow always found money for exotic locales, five-star hotels, and $100-a-bottle wines...

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Americans Know The Truth About The Supreme Court

Americans Know The Truth About The Supreme Court

The myth that the Supreme Court is a politically neutral body that just calls “balls and strikes” in its jurisprudence has been well and truly shattered. According to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll, only 20% of respondents think the Supreme Court is politically neutral. The...

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Morning Docket: 06.16.25

* Poll reveals majority of Americans understand Supreme Court is partisan institution. [Reuters] * They’re raising taxes on the free office snacks your bosses supply so they can give even bigger tax cuts to your bosses. [Washington Post] * “Trial tourists.” New least...

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How Appealing Weekly Roundup

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. “Woman accused of being a witch in Brazil can seek asylum in U.S., court...

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Stat(s) Of The Week: Biglaw’s Office Space

Stat(s) Of The Week: Biglaw’s Office Space

Back at the start of office reentry, we asked our audience to compare their desire for higher pay with their desire for remote flexibility.  We learned that it would take a 30% pay increase to persuade over half of our readers to voluntarily abandon remote work.  Four...

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This Biglaw Firm Lost 42% Of Its Attorneys Last Year

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by the National Law Journal, which Biglaw firm saw the largest percentage decrease in head count in 2024? Hint: The firm saw a 42% decrease in head count, from 293 lawyers...

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Willkie Partners Are Walking Away! — See Also

To Cooley, That Is!: They are leaving in favor of a firm with a backbone. Skadden De-Fangs Their Distinguished Fellows Program To Keep Trump Happy: How will they reconcile helping the poor and “conservative ideals”? Back And Worse For You!: The injunction restriction...

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Down the Rabbit Hole: Bankruptcy Practice In Uncertain Times

Down the Rabbit Hole: Bankruptcy Practice In Uncertain Times

The world — and particularly the U.S. economy — is navigating unprecedented and turbulent times. For bankruptcy professionals, it may feel as though we've fallen down Alice's rabbit hole, where the rules we've long understood and accepted no longer apply. In this new...

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In Wake of Trump Deal, Willkie Loses 7 Litigators to Cooley

In Wake of Trump Deal, Willkie Loses 7 Litigators to Cooley

The group includes San Francisco managing partners Simona Agnolucci and Benedict Hur, both of whom were formerly partners at Keker, Van Nest & Peters.       The group includes San Francisco managing partners Simona Agnolucci and Benedict Hur, both of whom were...

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Lawyer Hiring Is Down, But There’s No Need To Panic

Lawyer Hiring Is Down, But There’s No Need To Panic

Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. One minute the recession was imminent, the next minute the stock market has rebounded to where it was at the beginning of Q1. So things can change at the drop of a hat. And we did see strong hiring numbers for...

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The Incredible Growing Biglaw Firm

The Incredible Growing Biglaw Firm

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by the National Law Journal, which Biglaw firm grew its headcount the most in 2024? Hint: The firm added 314 full-time lawyers last year. See the answer on the next page....

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A Huge Thanks To Our Advertisers On ATL

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Pay Frustrations Prompting More GCs to Move On

Pay Frustrations Prompting More GCs to Move On

Legal chiefs are taking on more responsibilities at the same time companies are tying more of their compensation to achieving performance targets.       Legal chiefs are taking on more responsibilities at the same time companies are tying more of their compensation to...

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Weinstein Retrial Ends With Mistrial on Final Count

Weinstein Retrial Ends With Mistrial on Final Count

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Curtis Farber declared a mistrial on the outstanding charge of third-degree rape after the jurors indicated they were at an impasse. The panel found Weinstein guilty of one count but acquitted him on another on...

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Judge Wears ‘Palestine’ Hat to Court Training Session

Judge Wears ‘Palestine’ Hat to Court Training Session

A judicial ethics expert says the judge was wrong to wear such attire at a judges' meeting but any discipline should be lenient to survive First Amendment scrutiny. However, one observer noted, "The phrase 'Free Palestine' is not hate speech."       A judicial ethics...

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So Long And Thanks For All The DEI — See Also

Kirkland Boots Their DEI Staff: Surprise surprise, everyone. If It Looks Like An Arrest And Smells Like An Arrest: Call it something else! Then the Marines can do whatever they want! Elon Musk Still Blames Collusion For Advertisers Wanting Nothing To Do With Twitter:...

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Fixing The Clerkship System

Fixing The Clerkship System

This week, thousands of clerkship hopefuls apply broadly for federal clerkships via the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review (OSCAR). Then, over a several-day period, judges extend interview offers, and students hop on planes or trains with as little as...

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