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A Look Back At The 2025 Dumpster Fire

We’ve made it to the end of the year! And what do we have to show for it as a profession? Our most elite law firms signed deals rather than stand up for themselves in the face of illegal Trump bullying efforts. Others quietly tried to erase their history to avoid the...

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Stat(s) Of The Year: ATL 2025 Data Roundup

Stat(s) Of The Year: ATL 2025 Data Roundup

As we close out 2025, we’ve compiled some highlights from the data collected through our surveys and other research over the last year: No. of participants in ATL surveys: 7,591 No. of surveys conducted: 13 No. of times someone cursed at us in a survey response: 16...

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The High Cost Of Biglaw Equity Partnership

The High Cost Of Biglaw Equity Partnership

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a survey by Am Law, the high end of equity partner contributions at one Am Law 100 firm is what percentage of a new equity partners’ annual compensation? Hint: There is a big range of...

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Even AI Knew Something Was Up — See Also

Even AI Knew Something Was Up — See Also

That Time ChatJAG Pointed Out The Obvious: Immediate egg on Hegseth’s face. Look At All That Prestige!: Vault’s Biglaw rating struck a little off for not factoring in the pro bono payola firms. Take That, Ed Martin: Georgetown Law had no qualms with fighting back. Now...

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Anti-White? Who’s in the EEOC Crosshairs After Pivot

Anti-White? Who’s in the EEOC Crosshairs After Pivot

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission invited white men who have experienced workplace discrimination based on race or sex to contact the agency.       The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission invited white men who have experienced workplace discrimination...

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Sneak Peek at July 2025 Bar Passage Rates

Sneak Peek at July 2025 Bar Passage Rates

In Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Georgia, the top schools didn't fare as well compared to lower-ranked schools for July 2025 bar passage rates.       In Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Georgia, the top schools didn't fare as well compared to lower-ranked schools for July...

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What’s Keeping GCs Up at Night? It’s a Lengthy List

What’s Keeping GCs Up at Night? It’s a Lengthy List

"My CEO is saying, 'How are you managing your budget? Can't you use AI? Let head count be flat next year,'" said Lisa Roberts, general counsel of Stax Payments.       "My CEO is saying, 'How are you managing your budget? Can't you use AI? Let head count be flat next...

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Challenging Truisms And Embracing A Cockroach Mentality

Challenging Truisms And Embracing A Cockroach Mentality

A tech entrepreneur’s 12-minute rant on a recent Law Punx podcast cuts through legal AI marketing nonsense. Antti Innanen, who founded Dot. after practicing law for several years, said what I have been thinking: the idea that AI will free us all up to do high-end...

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Biglaw’s In Its London Era

Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Over the last 10 years, by what percentage has the number of London lawyers at U.S.-led law firms increased? Hint: Kirkland, Latham, Goodwin and Paul Weiss are leading the London charge. See the answer...

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Recall A Biting Memory — See Also

Touchy With The Teeth: Sidley associate fired after (politely) gnawing on her co-workers. Keep The Congratulations On The Hush Hush: Kirkland opts out of advertising their newest partners. Prof. Files Fed Suit After Kirk-Related Censorship: Bold move, University of...

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How Law Schools Advanced Legal Tech in 2025

How Law Schools Advanced Legal Tech in 2025

Law schools are partnering with legal tech companies and tapping innovators to guide them in using rapidly developing technology.       Law schools are partnering with legal tech companies and tapping innovators to guide them in using rapidly developing...

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Best Of ’25 — See Also

Chief Justice Roberts Get Outed By A Handshake: Hard to play impartial after the buddy buddy display. Bye Bye, OCI: Latham dropped out of the time-tested recruitment method. You’re Arresting Me For What?: Former cop arrested over a Facebook meme. Words Have...

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Another National Security Concern!

Another National Security Concern!

President Donald Trump demolished the East Wing of the White House without going through any government approval process. The administration said that it didn’t need anyone’s approval to demolish the old building; it needed approval only for constructing, not...

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Morning Docket: 12.29.25

* The Supreme Court told the Trump administration it couldn’t deploy national guard troops to police cities. [One First] * But this probably won’t amount to more than a speed bump for the administration. [The Bulwark] * Meanwhile, Kavanaugh used this opinion as an...

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Are Gen Z Attorneys Jumping Law Firms Too Much? Likely Not

Are Gen Z Attorneys Jumping Law Firms Too Much? Likely Not

Gen Z attorneys appear to be staying at the firm they entered the industry with for longer than their predecessors at the tail-end of the Millennial generation.       Gen Z attorneys appear to be staying at the firm they entered the industry with for longer than their...

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Trump Dominated at the Supreme Court This Year. Will It Last?

Trump Dominated at the Supreme Court This Year. Will It Last?

President Donald Trump won case after case at the Supreme Court in his first year back in the White House. But the justices also pushed back against some of his boldest moves and could hand him more defeats in 2026.       President Donald Trump won case after case at...

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Horton & Mendez: Hungry, Humble & Smart

Horton & Mendez: Hungry, Humble & Smart By Bob Friedman “Trials are emphasized within our practice,” said Nicholas Mendez, an attorney in Wilmington, NC-based personal injury firm Horton & Mendez. “We want our lawyers to try cases because it benefits their...

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Campbell Law Launches Veterans Legal Clinic

Campbell University School of Law adjunct professor Sebastian Kielmanovich approached Dean J. Rich Leonard a few years ago with an idea for a Veterans Legal Clinic at the law school. Drawing on his military experience with Army administrative law cases, Kielmanovich...

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Congress Pulls the Rug on Intoxicating Hemp

When Congress passed legislation to re-open the government in November, it quietly tucked into the 2026 appropriations package a sweeping redefinition of “hemp” that could vaporize an entire industry segment. The new appropriations bill rewrites federal hemp law to...

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One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Changes in 2026

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law in July 2025. This bill becomes effective in 2026 and beyond. In addition to making permanent many of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) provisions that were set to expire, it added some new deductions and...

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Cranfill Names April Bogard Pinder as First CEO

On November 3, April Bogard Pinder joined Raleigh-based Cranfill Sumner LLP as the firm’s first chief executive officer. Cranfill is the first law firm in the Southeastern United States to appoint a CEO outside of its partnership. Pinder joined Cranfill from U.S. Bank...

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Take The Law Department Compensation Survey!

Take The Law Department Compensation Survey!

We’re updating our compensation information for in-house law departments, and there’s still time to provide your input. If you work in-house as an attorney or a legal operations professional, please take our brief survey and tell us about your compensation.  The...

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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. “Emergency Docket Tops Year’s Highlights at Supreme Court”: Justin Wise...

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ATL Top Outside Counsel Quiz

ATL Top Outside Counsel Quiz

The post ATL Top Outside Counsel Quiz appeared first on Above the Law.Earlier this month, we released our 2025 Outside Counsel Rankings, highlighting the go-to law firms for in-house counsel.In addition to telling us which firms they engage for legal services,...

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Distressed Businesses Should Still Pay Their Lawyers

Distressed Businesses Should Still Pay Their Lawyers

Businesses facing financial problems or other types of challenges usually need to hire lawyers. For instance, companies being sued by disgruntled investors for mismanagement may need to secure counsel, and businesses headed for restructuring might need lawyers to...

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From Apple to Vanguard, 2025 Was a Year of In-House Upheaval

From Apple to Vanguard, 2025 Was a Year of In-House Upheaval

Meta and Microsoft also saw changes at the top of their legal departments, and Berkshire Hathaway hired its first-ever general counsel.       Meta and Microsoft also saw changes at the top of their legal departments, and Berkshire Hathaway hired its first-ever general...

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Top Five Patent Law Decisions of 2025

Top Five Patent Law Decisions of 2025

Armond Wilson partners Monica Arnold and Michelle Armond are back with the latest installment of their year-end column recapping the top patent law decisions from 2025.       Armond Wilson partners Monica Arnold and Michelle Armond are back with the latest installment...

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The Week Before Christmas! — See Also

The Week Before Christmas! — See Also

Boutique Firm Brings The Money!: Rolnick Kramer Sadighi announced bonuses! A Second Bite At Failure: Lindsey Halligan has plans to go to SCOTUS. That’s A Fly Bonus!: Alston & Bird announced bonuses! Behind The Boutique Scenes: Sandra Cohen drops jewels on The...

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