editor’s legal news picks

stay current with all the latest legal topics 

Biglaw’s Ws In The Fight Against Trump — See Also

Perkins Coie Gets A Permanent Injunction Against Trump’s Executive Order: Judge Beryl Howell goes all Shakespearean in slapping back Trump’s Executive Order. Microsoft Gets New Outside Counsel: Swapping Simpson Thacher (a firm that capitulated to Trump) for Jenner...

read more

How to Not Talk Politics and Survive

As much as you’d like to stop people from talking politics at work, perhaps with a handy table lamp, you know that’s unprofessional. Use these proven tactics instead. The post How to Not Talk Politics and Survive appeared first on Articles, Tips and Tech for Law Firms...

read more
HoLove Gets MAGA-Tinged Advice For DEI Probe

HoLove Gets MAGA-Tinged Advice For DEI Probe

Donald Trump’s attacks on Biglaw have had some interesting consequences. We — along with clients — have learned which firms took the short-sighted cowardly way out and capitulated to the mercurial demands of a bully and which are willing to fight for their firms and...

read more
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. “Federal Judge Strikes Down Trump’s Use of Alien Enemies Act to Deport...

read more
Contingency Fees Can Create Perverse Incentives

Contingency Fees Can Create Perverse Incentives

Contingency fees are a time-honored tradition in the legal profession through which attorneys accept a case in exchange for a portion of a recovery if a favorable outcome is achieved. In many instances, contingency fees allow greater access to the legal system since...

read more

It Was A Good Year To Be A Biglaw Equity Partner

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by ALM as part of their Am Law 100 ranking, of the 100 firms on the list, how many increased their profits per equity partner in 2024? Hint: The firm that had the biggest...

read more
Judge Slays Firm’s Use of Dragon Logo in Filing

Judge Slays Firm’s Use of Dragon Logo in Filing

"The Court is not a cartoon," wrote a federal magistrate judge in response to a law firm's illustrated dragon watermark on court documents.       "The Court is not a cartoon," wrote a federal magistrate judge in response to a law firm's illustrated dragon watermark on...

read more
Judge Slays Firm’s Use of Dragon Logo in Filing

Judge Slays Firm’s Use of Dragon Logo in Filing

"The Court is not a cartoon," wrote a federal magistrate judge in response to a law firm's illustrated dragon watermark on court documents.       "The Court is not a cartoon," wrote a federal magistrate judge in response to a law firm's illustrated dragon watermark on...

read more

Michael A. Kelly: Standing Up for What’s Right

Michael A. Kelly is a shareholder with Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger in San Francisco. AALM: What led you to pursue a career in personal injury law? MK: I clerked for the Walkup firm all three years during law school. I was inspired by the life-changing...

read more

James Helm: From Underdog to Top Dog

James Helm: From Underdog to Top Dog By Susan Cushing In an already competitive field, wanting to be at the top takes more than raw talent—it takes a relentless desire, bold advocacy, and a brand that commands attention. Enter James Helm, the visionary founder of Top...

read more

Zachary Ballin: Helping Put Lives Back Together

Massachusetts personal injury attorney Zachary Ballin continues the legacy of seeking justice for his clients – particularly first responders – that his father established with their firm. AALM: What about your father’s practice inspired you to pursue a career in law?...

read more

Jesse Soffer: It’s About People’s Lives

Miami lawyer Jesse Soffer found his calling for personal injury law – the ability to be a voice for someone who’s been hurt – as soon as he entered law school. Since, he’s spent his career fighting for fairness and accountability. AALM: How is your career different...

read more
Leah Wilson to Step Down as State Bar Executive Director

Leah Wilson to Step Down as State Bar Executive Director

Wilson's announcement to the bar's trustees Friday morning comes as thousands of people who took the February 2025 bar exam still don't know when they will learn if they passed or failed.       Leah Wilson, the embattled leader of California's state bar, will not seek...

read more
Announcing the Finalists for the 2025 Elite Trial Lawyers

Announcing the Finalists for the 2025 Elite Trial Lawyers

We are pleased to unveil the finalists and honorees for The National Law Journal Legal Awards highlighting the top litigation and appellate work from the past year.       We are pleased to unveil the finalists and honorees for The National Law Journal Legal Awards...

read more

Giving Up So Easy Has Real Consequences — See Also

Microsoft Just Booted Simpson Thatcher Off Payroll: Jenner & Block will be taking over from here. Skadden And Davis Polk Still Aren’t Out Of The Dog House: They both hired Miller Strategies to speak up for them. The Technology Is Good: You’ve just gotta worry...

read more

Kirkland’s Equity Partners Are Making Bank

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by ALM as part of their Am Law 100 ranking, what are the profits per equity partner at Kirkland & Ellis? Hint: The firm is the richest by gross revenue by a hefty...

read more
Thanks So Much To Our Advertisers

Thanks So Much To Our Advertisers

We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom Brightflag CobbleStone Software CosmoLex doeLEGAL Filevine iManage Kinney Recruiting Lateral Link LawPay LegalOn Technologies LexisNexis LINK Linksquares Litera Losey...

read more
Donna Adelson Pushes Judge For Another Delay

Donna Adelson Pushes Judge For Another Delay

Donna Adelson’s murder trial keeps getting snagged on setbacks. She had a conflict of interest with her son’s lawyer, then a different lawyer conflicted out soon after. She also tried getting the judge removed from her case. As commendable as the effort was, it didn’t...

read more

2025 Expert Witness Special Issue COMING SOON

Coming August 2025 Expert Witness Special Issue Attorney at Law Magazine is proud to announce its 2025 Women in Law Special Issue, highlighting female lawyers making an impact in the profession.  Want to Participate? Attorney at Law Magazine is excited to announce its...

read more
Paul Clement Takes His Seat At The Resistance Table

Paul Clement Takes His Seat At The Resistance Table

Fans of law and order — the concept, not the TV show — were shocked when the FBI announced on social media they arrested a judge simply because she would not let ICE arrest someone in her courtroom. The arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstructing a U.S....

read more
Morning Docket: 05.01.25

Morning Docket: 05.01.25

* Apple referred to criminal contempt investigation over refusing to follow app store court order. The opinion includes a groan-worthy “second bite at the apple” moment, which is a good time to remind lawyers that the phrase makes no sense and exists because we’re...

read more
Kohl’s Fires CEO for Undisclosed Deal with Vendor

Kohl’s Fires CEO for Undisclosed Deal with Vendor

The company said that Ashley Buchanan, who started just three months ago, must repay two-thirds of his $3.75 million signing bonus and has forfeited $17 million in stock awards he received to woo him aboard.       The company said that Ashley Buchanan, who started...

read more
Even Judges Aren’t Safe In Trump’s America

Even Judges Aren’t Safe In Trump’s America

The arrest of Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan is straight outta dystopian fiction. But at least retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer still has faith in the system, which makes one of us. Speaking of the High Court, Justice Sam Alito’s dissent would be laughable...

read more
Daily Report Set to Present 2025 Southeastern Legal Awards

Daily Report Set to Present 2025 Southeastern Legal Awards

The Daily Report and Law.com will recognize all the 2025 winners and finalists for the Southeastern Legal Awards during an awards presentation on Thursday, May 1.       The Daily Report and Law.com will recognize all the 2025 winners and finalists for the Southeastern...

read more
2025 Legal Industry Report

2025 Legal Industry Report

Our friends at MyCase recently surveyed over 2,800 legal professionals and covered a wide range of technologies that impact law firms, including artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI.  They also explored how law firm leaders approached the adoption of...

read more