Perkins Coie Considers Paying Partners To Stay: Will retention bonuses prevent them from bleeding out? Top Attorney At Goldman Wants …
This TV Attorney Gets Around
(Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What actor played …
How You Show Up In The Room Matters More Than You Think
As in-house lawyers, we are often called in when there are problems to solve and challenges to overcome. The phone …
The Executive Branch Discovers Judicial Independence, Hates It
The Department of Justice is trying to make its recent spate of high-profile legal losses Congress’s problem. Per Bloomberg Law, …
From Curling To Constitutional Crisis: Team USA Athlete Calls ICE Shootings ‘Wrong’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’m proud to be here to represent Team USA and …
Judge Rules There Was No Reason To Detain Or Deport Grad Student Over A Damn Op-Ed Piece
Some good news for everyone asking if due process still has a heart beat! Rümeysa Öztürk, a grad student at …
OK, We Need To Talk About What These Kathryn Ruemmler/Jeffrey Epstein Emails Really Mean
The relationship between Goldman Sachs’s top lawyer, Kathryn Ruemmler, and the late sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein is no longer something …
Top Biglaw Firm Pumps The Brakes On Early Recruiting In A Rare Win For Law Students
For the first time in years, a Biglaw firm is making a recruiting change that could positively impact law students …
How Perkins Coie Harnessed Data-Driven Insights And Bolstered Client Service
Editor’s note: Second in a series. The Litera Foundation knowledge management platform doesn’t just have customers. It has superfans — law …
Thousands Of Law Students Demand Congress Allow The Constitution To Apply To ICE
The folks who haven’t even passed the bar yet are more committed to defending the Constitution than the corps of …
FAMU Puts ‘Black’ Back In Black History Month After Clearing Up Bad Legal Interpretation
It’s a “B History” miracle! Yesterday, we wrote on about students at Florida A&M University’s College of Law being told …
Merger Mayhem: Perkins Coie ‘Thinking About’ Partner Retention Bonuses Ahead Of Ashurst Tie-Up
Back in November 2025, Perkins Coie announced its plans to combine with Ashurst, a transatlantic tie-up expected to propel the firm into …
Friday Is The Deadline To Vote! Here Are The Current Standings. Vote Now To Pick The 15 Startups That Will Go To Startup Alley At ABA Techshow In March
This Friday, Feb. 13, is the deadline to vote. Your votes determine the 15 legal tech startups that will get to …
Employers Celebrated PBM Reform. The Reality Is More Complicated.
The post Employers Celebrated PBM Reform. The Reality Is More Complicated. appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 02.10.26
* Maxwell refused to answer questions for Congress, but dangles possibility that she would talk if granted clemency. Surely it …
Top Firm Blames AI For Huge Layoff Wave — See Also
Baker McKenzie Plans To Lay Off Hundreds Of People: Little harder to make the “AI won’t take our jobs” argument. …
Clarence Thomas’s Judicial Legacy
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! How many of Clarence Thomas’s former clerks are …
The Decision Trap That Slows Every Product Team
Momentum dies when teams treat every decision like it is irreversible. Why Product Lawyers Need a Better Decision LensIn-house product …
Federal Judge Reminds DHS That Court Orders Are Not Optional
Another day, another federal judge having to explain to the Trump administration that court orders are not optional suggestions. This …
Above The Law Is In The Epstein Files, Let Us Explain…
We’ve talked a lot about the high-powered lawyers and famous legal luminaries who find themselves in the notorious Epstein files. …
Law Students Help Community Members File Their Taxes
Lawyers have a reputation for being bad at math. What better way to fix that reputation than by helping others …
Would You Have Voted For Trump If You’d Seen This Future?
Photographer: Samuel Corum/Sipa/Bloomberg via Getty Images Set your mind back to November 4, 2024, one day before the presidential election. …
HBCU Law School Not Allowed To Use The Word ‘Black’ For Black History Month Event
Last month, the Trump administration tried to minimize Black history by removing plaques honoring people enslaved by George Washington. Not …
Once-Elite DOJ Is Now Desperate For Lawyers, Resorts To ‘Forward This To A Friend’ Recruiting
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I was astonished. I have never seen anything like that. …
Another One (Or 5) Bites The Dust: Cadwalader Litigation Leaders Exit Amid Hogan Lovells Merger Fallout
Cadwalader’s planned merger with Hogan Lovells was supposed to be a stabilizing moment. The kind of Biglaw power move that …
Starbucks Grinds Lawsuit Over Lack Of White Baristas
Starbucks (Photo by David Lat) Pour one out for Missouri prosecutors! A year ago, the state sued Starbucks for failing …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm To Conduct ‘Massive’ Layoff, Leaving Hundreds Jobless Thanks To AI
Talk about how artificial intelligence will someday take lawyers’ jobs continues to be dismissed — but maybe that talk will …
Take Control Of Your Legal News: Add Above The Law To Your Google Preferred Sources
At Above the Law, we know that in the legal world, information isn’t just power; it’s a competitive advantage. But …
5 Ways To Strengthen Your Law Firm’s Economic Resilience
The economy doesn’t move in straight lines, and oftentimes law firms feel every shift. Costs rise, clients hesitate, and financial …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Judge Hid DUI, FTC On Law Firm DEI, Hostile Chambers, SCOTUS NDAs, AZ ABSs Critiqued & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Legal AI Might Be Accurate… And Still Not *Right*
Everyone knows about hallucinations. Well, apparently not everyone, which is why hallucinations provide so much amusement. Lawyers keep putting them …
Why HHS Scrapping Its 340B Rebate Program Is A Win For Providers
The post Why HHS Scrapping Its 340B Rebate Program Is A Win For Providers appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 02.09.26
* Fifth Circuit bucks rest of judiciary, precedent, and basic statutory interpretation to authorizing indefinite detention for anyone suspected of …
DOJ Lawyer Delivers Moment Of Pure Honesty, Promptly Fired — See Generally
DOJ Lawyer Invites Judge To Hold Her In Contempt Just To Get Some Rest: Government attorney called out the challenges …
Guilt By Musical Association — See Also
GOP Wants Investigation Of Justice Jackson Because She Attended The Grammys: Attending because she was nominated for best audio book …
Going For The Gold
Trial lawyer Rich Ruohonen is in Italy with Team USA, hoping to pad the nation’s medal count this year. What …
The Digital Health M&A Wave Is Finally Here
The post The Digital Health M&A Wave Is Finally Here appeared first on Above the Law.
Lawyers Should Circulate Word Versions Of Documents To Be Negotiated
Lawyers typically understand basic technologies that make it easier to practice law and work with adversaries. For instance, many lawyers adopt …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Olympic History?
When the U.S. men’s curling team takes the ice this Wednesday, a Minnesota trial lawyer will have his sights on …
I’ve Taken Steps To Protect My Client’s Documents: But What Happens Post-Production?
You’re getting ready to make a document production to the other side. You’re worried though that the other side may use GenAI …
Former Biglaw Attorney Was Epstein Victim, Drafted Sex Contract
The latest drop of Epstein files contains all manner of disturbing revelations, but few as dark as the correspondence between …
A Bit Of Cultural Whiplash At Paul, Weiss After Firm’s Abrupt Leadership Pivot
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. He can be abrasive and does not have Brad’s diplomatic …
Paul Weiss Partner Wrote Epstein On Sex Laws… But Was Just Passing Along Analysis From Alan Dershowitz
Back in September, Bloomberg flagged an email exchange between Paul Weiss partner Mitchell Webber and Jeffrey Epstein addressing “The question …
Regional Law School Receives $6M Grant To Stay Afloat
The Appalachian School of Law’s ledger forecasted a troubling financial future. As if low enrollment numbers and the Trump administration’s …
Perkins Coie Faces Partner Run As Ashurst Merger Deal Nears
Back in November 2025, Perkins Coie announced its plans to combine with Ashurst, a transatlantic tie-up expected to propel the …
Bessent Blames Bondi For Trump Bribe
(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Scott Bessent has to pretend to believe a lot of nonsense, but Donald …
GOP Wants To Probe Ketanji Brown Jackson For Attending Grammys Because Bad Bunny Was Also There
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson attended the Grammy Awards over the weekend because her memoir, “Lovely One,” was nominated for Best …
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 …
DHS Is Hunting Down Trump Critics. The ‘Free Speech’ Warriors Are Mighty Quiet.
For years, we’ve been subjected to an endless parade of hyperventilating claims about the Biden administration’s supposed “censorship industrial complex.” …
Morning Docket: 02.06.26
* The most popular way to win over this Supreme Court is to quote Scalia. Very originalist to be primarily …
Brad Karp Steps Down As Chair Of Paul Weiss — See Also
Too Much Attention In The Spotlight: He remains a partner at the firm. Did Jones Day Represent Ghislaine Maxwell?: Would …
The Muppet Show Revival Gets The Lawyers Involved
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! In the new revival of The Muppet Show, …
LSC Issues Blueprint For Narrowing The Justice Gap Through Technology Innovation In Civil Legal Services
In 2013, the Legal Services Corporation published the landmark study, Report of The Summit on the Use of Technology to …
Running Your Cases
Most young lawyers don’t lose cases because they don’t know the law. They lose cases because they don’t run the …
Epstein Files Fallout Sparks Leadership Doubts, Possible Partner Exit Fears At Paul, Weiss
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The aftermath will go on for months [because of the …
Accountability In An Age Of Unaccountability
A flurry of stories hit the legal world all at once last week, with the government responding to another ICE …
Charlie Adelson Pushes For Retrial
By now, you’ve all heard of Charlie Adelson, the man accused of taking part in a conspiracy to kill Florida …
Anthropic’s Legal Plug In: Hate to Say We Told You So, But We Told You So
Anthropic announced this week that it will offer a standalone legal GenAI tool that could do such things as document …
Top Goldman Attorney ‘Joked’ About Trading Russians For Money With Jeffrey Epstein
Kathryn Ruemmler (Photo by William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) The relationship between Jeffrey Epstein and Goldman Sachs’s top …
Jones Day Collecting Cash From Ghislaine Maxwell Epstein Files Show
It’s time to give Paul, Weiss a brief respite from the barrage of Epstein revelations. There may well be more …
7 Key Trends In Law Firm Rate Negotiations
Market forces such as rising attorney salaries, persistent inflation, and unrelenting demand in premium practices are giving firms the confidence …
Finance Bros Rejoice: Polo Ralph Lauren’s Quarter-Zip Was Fashion’s Hottest Product Of Q4 2025
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Brad Karp’s Paul, Weiss Reign Ends With An Epstein-File Plot Twist
Brad Karp (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) Brad Karp’s 18-year run atop Paul, Weiss ended yesterday evening with a carefully …
Morning Docket: 02.05.26
* Brad Karp steps down from chief Paul Weiss role he’s held for 18 years. [Above the Law] * New …
Takes One To Know One — See Also
Trump Calls Leonard Leo A Sleazebag: Second time’s the charm! What A Time To Enter: Anthropic enters as legal tech …
With A High Enough LSAT Score All Things (Law School-Related) Are Possible
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! In the movie Legally Blonde, what was Elle …
‘Emergency Jump Teams’ Are DOJ’s New Plan To Paper Over Its Self-Inflicted Crisis
Things aren’t great at the Department of Justice, and rather than get to the root of the issue, they’ve come …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: Defeating Technology Overload
Are you among the many lawyers overwhelmed by a deluge of new technology? Is your firm looking for the best …
Weaponization Czar Ed Martin Sidelined For Weaponizing His Position
“Eagle” Ed Martin, the Trump loyalist that even this Republican Senate found too incompetent to confirm when he sought to …
Law School National Survey Shows Support For ICE Is Melting
Some law schools and law students have been doing their part to push back against ICE. The University of Maine’s …
Nonequity Biglaw Partners Sometimes ‘Feel Like Glorified Associates’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Equity partners report the highest satisfaction across all measures, highlighting …
A Federal Judge’s Name Surfaces In The Epstein Files
What’s in the 3 million pages of the most recent drop of Epstein files is still being sifted through by …
Anthropic Enters Legal Tech, Legal Tech Enters Freefall
It wasn’t 1929 for the legal tech industry, but it wasn’t great either. Thomson Reuters lost around 15 percent of …
Visiting My Old Law School In The Twin Cities To Mourn A Friend And Curse ICE At A Soulless Hockey Game
ice hockey goalkeeper blocking a shot I recently lost a good friend. Men and women I’ve known since we were …
Donald Trump Calls Leonard Leo A ‘Sleazebag’… Again
(Photo by Evan Vucci-Pool/Getty Images) The president took a break from overseeing a domestic occupation, issuing threats to Iran, and …
Is President Trump’s $10B Lawsuit Against The IRS Legitimate Despite Being Both The Plaintiff And The Defendant?
On January 29, 2026, President Donald Trump, along with his sons Donald Jr. and Eric, and the Trump Organization, filed …
Included Health Launches Alternative Plan Design For Employers
The post Included Health Launches Alternative Plan Design For Employers appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 02.04.26
* Nonequity partners growing increasingly dissatisfied just because equity partners have invented a new model to derail their colleagues’ careers …
Brad Karp Ducks Out Of ‘Leadership In Uncertain Times’ Talk — See Also
Maybe He’s Just Leading By Example?: His low profile might have something to do with the Epstein files. Nothing Says …
Supreme Court Scandals Can Actually Get Worse
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What legal thriller begins with the assassination of …
Fired Arkansas Law Dean Gets Wave Of Support From Law Professors
In what has to be one of the most ridiculous reasons to get a job offer rescinded, the University of …
DOJ Lawyer Asks To Be Held In Contempt So She Can Sleep
The situation in Minnesota continues to prove an abject nightmare. The Trump administration continues to ignore and flagrantly undermine judges. …
Brad Karp Bails On Speaking Event In Wake Of Epstein File Revelations
There’s a lot of recent talk about Paul, Weiss’s chair Brad Karp — not much of it flattering right now. …
AI And Expert Witnesses: Not Replacement, But A Strategic Imperative
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s Swift Right Wing Backlash
Sure, unlike some of her colleagues, Jeanine Pirro was actually nominated and confirmed by the Senate to her U.S. Attorney …
Marketing Roundup: A Self-Forged Legal Path, Predicting The Future And Investment Guidance
As part of the Legal Marketing Association’s (LMA’s) partnership with Above the Law, each month we share a roundup of …
The Courts Did Their Job, Will State Bar Finally Do Something About Lindsey Halligan?
Back in December, the Virginia State Bar declined to pursue an ethics probe into the insurance lawyer posing as the …
Jeffrey Epstein: Biglaw Career Counselor?
Kathryn Ruemmler (Photo by William B. Plowman/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) The 3 million pages of materials in the latest …
With Two Weeks Left To Vote, Here Are The Standings For ABA Techshow’s Startup Alley
With just two weeks left to pick the 15 legal tech startups that will get to compete at the 10th-annual Startup …
AI Tools Are A Starting Point — Not A Substitute — For Legal Research
In 2026, generative artificial intelligence (AI) use in law firms is becoming commonplace. Data from the soon-to-be-released 8am 2026 Legal …
So What Does Brad Karp Think About The Latest Epstein File Revelations?
Mr. Karp attended two group dinners in New York City and had a small number of social interactions by email, …
3 Questions For A Litigation Funding Startup Founder (Part I)
It has been a while since we profiled someone working at a litigation funder on these pages, by my count …
The 4 Biotech Companies On Track To IPO This Week Despite The Government Shutdown
The post The 4 Biotech Companies On Track To IPO This Week Despite The Government Shutdown appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 02.03.26
* Clintons agree to congressional testimony about Epstein while the guy who met his wife through Epstein is nowhere to …
Brad Karp Draws Paul Weiss In To The Epstein Universe — See Also
That “Once In A Lifetime” Email Will Live On Forever: Karp and Epstein seemed on pretty good terms. Judge Rufe …
Defunct Law School Is Gone, But Not (Necessarily) Forgotten
(Image via Getty) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What was the second law …
Brad Karp’s Fawning Epstein Emails Drags Paul, Weiss Into The Fray
We’ve known for a while that Biglaw firm Paul, Weiss and its chair Brad Karp appear in the Epstein files. …
Will The Government’s Latest ‘Bullying Move’ Scare Off Biglaw?
Any litigation could be very expensive, and it also is not a good look to be sued by the FTC, …
Hiring The Wrong Product Counsel Is A Silent Product Risk
Good products move fast. Great products move fast with the right lawyer at the table. Why Product Teams Need a …
It Just Got A Lot More Expensive For ICE To Wrongfully Detain People
It’s easy to get disheartened watching the Trump administration losing these habeas cases and yet nothing actually changing. The government …
DOJ Attacks Judge, Claims Judicial Immunity For Itself
This weekend Chad Mizelle, the (former?) chief of staff at the Justice Department, invited anyone with a bar card to …
Judge Releases 5-Year-Old, Reminding Us How Bleak Everything Is Right Now
Judge Fred Biery of the Western District of Texas issued an order releasing five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father …
UC Law School San Francisco Scores Another Name Change Win
Law school name changes can be a big deal. Donate to a prestigious school to get the name changed and …
Job Of The Month: Brand New, Ultra Rare Partnership Opportunity
A long-time client has asked Kinney to help identify a private equity/finance attorney to join as a partner in the …
‘That Is A Dangerous Statement’: Federal Judge Eviscerates DOJ Over Slavery Exhibit Takedown
The Trump administration is trying to memory-hole slavery, and a federal judge is running out of patience with their shenanigans. …
Legal Ethics Roundup: ‘Streets Of Minneapolis,’ Boasberg Ethics Complaint Tossed, $4K/Hour Fees, Judge OK Playing Fantasy Football & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Watching Politicians On Television
I’m giving up. I’ve decided there’s no reason to watch a politician on television. Forget Meet the Press or This Week With …
DOJ Begging For AUSAs On Twitter Like They’re Putting Together A Kickball League
As the Department of Justice continues hemorrhaging Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the administration has put out a call for new recruits. …
Is It Time To Change The Independent Dispute Resolution Process Of The No Surprises Act?
The post Is It Time To Change The Independent Dispute Resolution Process Of The No Surprises Act? appeared first on …
Morning Docket: 02.02.26
* Biglaw grapples with Epstein list cameos. [NY Post] * Delaware Supreme Court rewrites settlement to give Elon Musk the …
Whole New Meaning To Judicial Restraint — See Generally
Judge Learns Handcuffing Lawyers Is Frowned Upon: Texas judge charged after allegedly cuffing an attorney mid-hearing. Disbar Them All: Lawyers …
Judge Charged For Handcuffing Attorney — See Also
Didn’t Teach The Lesson You Intended To: Not a smart move from a judge. Nothing Says Fighting The KKK Like …
The Biglaw Firm Working To Overturn One Of Sports’ Biggest Injustices
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Jordan Chiles won a victory at Switzerland’s supreme …
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 …
Epic vs. Health Gorilla: Inside The Battle Over Who Controls Your Medical Records
The post Epic vs. Health Gorilla: Inside The Battle Over Who Controls Your Medical Records appeared first on Above the …
It’s ‘Flood The Zone Friday’ As DOJ Arrests Black Journalists Under KKK Act, Probes Criminal Charges For Minneapolis, And Drops (A Sliver Of) The Epstein Files
This is what happens when flooding the zone meets Friday news dump. Two of DC’s most infamous distraction techniques came …
Economic Resilience For Law Firms Starts With How You Operate Day To Day
Economic conditions are reshaping how law firms operate, plan, and grow. Rising costs, shifting client expectations, and longer decision cycles …
Trump Administration Takes Another Shot At Biglaw Firms
Earlier today the Federal Trade Commission announced they issued “warning letters” to 42 Biglaw firms noting “potential for liability under …
Building A Modern Solo Practice: How AI Is Changing What’s Possible For Lawyers
Getty Images In this episode of “Be That Lawyer,” I spoke with Matthew Fornaro about what it really takes to …
Federal Judge Drops Death Penalty In Luigi Mangione Trial
There’s been a huge development in the Luigi Mangione trial. The man, arrested while eating a succulent American meal, has …
Lawyers Frequently Lie To Their Adversaries
(Image via Getty) As most people within and without the legal profession already know, lawyers need to follow ethical rules …
Trump Sues IRS For $10B Over Leak Of His Glorious Tax Returns
(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Donald Trump’s whizbang libelslander lawyer Alejandro Brito has done it again! This time the president …
On-Demand Webinar: What Winning Expert Testimony Looks Like
Whether you’re cross-examining or putting forth an expert witness, effectively managing their testimony is a difficult task. Experts must garner …
Texas Judge Charged With Unlawful Restraint For Handcuffing Attorney During Hearing
A Texas judge is now on the other side of the bench. Judge Rosie Speedlin Gonzalez has been indicted on …
Want To Know What Keeps Your Clients Up At Night? Spoiler Alert: It’s Cybersecurity And AI
One thing I noticed while practicing law: we tend to focus on reports, data, surveys, and even conferences that are directed solely at legal. Yet there is a …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Fight The Power
As yet another government attorney faces a verbal lashing from a frustrated judge, it seems like a good time to …
Transatlantic Biglaw Merger One Step Closer To Reality
The decisive, overwhelming support from our partnerships reflects a shared passion and commitment to meeting our clients’ desire for a …
The ‘Social Media Addiction’ Narrative May Be More Harmful Than Social Media Itself
This week, a major trial kicked off in Los Angeles in which hundreds of families sued Meta, TikTok, Snap, and …
Morning Docket: 01.30.26
* Trump suing the IRS for $10 billion over leaking of the tax documents that he promised repeatedly he was …
Poor Judgment, Judge — See Also
“Super Drunk” Judge Finds Himself On Other End Of The Gavel: Judge Thomas L. Ludington faces misdemeanor DUI charges. Louisiana’s …
Biglaw Equity Partners Sure Had A Good Year
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a year-end 2025 survey by Wells …
AI Video Tools Depict Lawyers And Judges As Women At Far Lower Rates Than Real Life, New Study Finds
A new study examining bias in AI-generated video reveals that the leading AI video creation tools significantly underrepresent women in …
Second Circuit Judge Accused Of Bullying Her Law Clerks — Again
On December 18, 2025, The Legal Accountability Project (LAP) took a meaningful step toward real judicial accountability, filing our first …
A Guide To Conducting Discovery
Discovery is the part of litigation everyone claims to hate, until they lose a case because of it. Young lawyers …
Top Law School Launches AI Cert Program
Having a JD does a lot of heavy lifting, but if you’re a student who wants to have a little …
Alito Clerk Practicing In Front Of Alito Wants You To Know Alito Is The Greatest!
Louisiana Solicitor General and former Alito clerk Ben Aguiñaga has a new piece exploding the widespread “media smear” of Justice …
2025 Was A ‘Very Good Year’ For Biglaw, And ‘If The Economy Holds Up,’ 2026 Could Be Too
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We were kind of toying with wording at the nine-month …
ICE Dodges Courtroom Showdown, But Federal Judge Isn’t Backing Down
Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz may have called off the immediate showdown with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, but no one should …
Federal Judge Arrested, Accused Of Driving While ‘Super Drunk’
The docket just got personal for one federal judge — because the only thing higher than the federal bench was …
Kindness Begets Kindness — And It’s Free!
(photo via Shutterstock) Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal …
How Much Do In-House Legal Teams Make?
If you work in-house as an attorney or a legal ops professional and haven’t yet taken our law department compensation …
Trump’s Cook Case Looks Cooked
After taking a hacksaw to nearly a century’s worth of congressionally approved independent agencies, the Supreme Court appeared to hit …
Why Solo And Small Firm Lawyers Should Make Voice Their Choice For AI
If you’re as old as I am, you remember when drafting a document meant scribbling illegibly on a yellow legal …
National Guard Deployments To US Cities Cost Almost Half A Billion Dollars, Says CBO
The post National Guard Deployments To US Cities Cost Almost Half A Billion Dollars, Says CBO appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 01.29.26
* Trump accuses Minneapolis mayor of “very serious violation of the law” because the mayor is obeying a Supreme Court …
Grown Adults Fighting Over Twitter — See Also
Harmeet Dhillon and Ed Whelan Go At It: I’m not saying they had nothing better to do with their lives, …
Is It Still Too Early To Declare The Billable Hour Dead?
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the 2026 BigHand Finance Report, which …
What, Exactly, Is ‘Disruption,’ And How Does This Affect Lawyers?
From law firms to in-house legal teams, the rules of value are being rewritten. The question is: Who’s ready to …
Attorney Infamous For Texting ‘I HATE BLACK PEOPLE’ Lands At Stephen Miller–Linked Law Shop, Because Of Course She Did
It’s time for an update on Above the Law’s favorite famous-for-the-wrong-reasons attorney: Crystal Clanton! Clanton is, on paper, exactly the …
Tom Goldstein Called Government’s Bluff And Now Jeffrey Toobin Has To Litigate It
Tom Goldstein’s life was almost a TV show. Now, with his wild trial is in its second week, the drama …
‘Don’t Hide the Ball,’ Judge Puts DOJ’s Lawyers on Blast
2026 is not a great time to be a government lawyer. They’re just getting HAMMERED by judges — over and …
Regional Law School Explores Long-Distance Merger
Law school closures are a sad thing. Even when they have low bar passage rates, seeing them close their doors …
I Legally Carried A Concealed Handgun At A Minnesota Anti-ICE Protest
I had a permit to carry some years ago. I let it expire. In this jurisdiction, they are only good …
Senior DOJ Official And Right-Wing Lawyer Get In Hilariously Bitchy Twitter Slapfight
Harmeet Dhillon ascended to head the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division off a career backing election denialism and fronting Trump’s most …
How Cleary Gottlieb Created A Virtuous Cycle With Tech
Editor’s note: First in a series. The Litera Foundation knowledge management platform doesn’t just have customers. It has innovators — …
The End Of An Era: Stroock Dissolves After Nearly 150 Years
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I am extremely pleased by the outcome of this process, …
FIFA 2026, Politics, And The Law: What Sepp Blatter’s Warning Really Means For The World Cup In America
(Photo by Isabelle Ouvrard/SEPA.Media /Getty Images) Every World Cup arrives with controversy. That is part of the tournament’s DNA. Host …
New Year, New Shingle: Why 2026 Is The Year To Bet On Yourself
Has the thought of starting a law firm ever crossed your mind? There are plenty of reasons for starting your …
What Does Your Paycheck Look Like?
We’re collecting information for our annual law firm compensation report and need your help. If you are a lawyer at …
What Does OpenAI And Anthropic’s Healthcare Push Mean For The Industry?
The post What Does OpenAI And Anthropic’s Healthcare Push Mean For The Industry? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 01.28.26
* Kirkland drama reveals that when the bell rings, private equity clients trump litigation clients. [Financial Times] * Lawyer representing …
Maine Plane Crash Claims Lives — See Also
An Attempted Take-Off Turns Tragic: We send our condolences to their family and friends. Trump Administration Leaves Transportation Regulation Up …
Judge’s Side Hustle’s Pretty Successful
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! In what movie does James Stewart play defense …
Bush-Appointed Federal Judge To ICE: Comply With Court Courts. ICE: You’ve Got Us There!
Federal judges are not known for flying off the handle. Which is why, when a federal judge announces that his …
Torts Professor Who Botched COVID Prediction Suddenly Expert On Birthright Citizenship
Richard Epstein is back and as opinionated as ever. Or maybe, more accurately, “as willing to share his opinion as …
From Comeback Kid To Rainmaker: Why 2026 Can Be Your Best
The other day, my son started his second semester of college. If I am being honest, I was not sure …
Advice From ‘Marty Supreme,’ Getting A Handle On A Fast-Growing Nonlegal Career Path, And Paris Checking In
Neil, here. When I was a teenager growing up in NYC, I frequented a place called the Table Tennis Center …
Think You Are Covered? Better Read Your Cybersecurity Policy — Carefully
“Never assume your organization is fully covered. Cyber insurance policy language is fraught with exclusions, limitations of coverage, and conditions …
Meet The Elite Biglaw Partners Who Bill $4,000 Per Hour
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. If there’s someone out there who bills at a higher …
Trump Admin Plans To Let AI Write Transportation Regulations
Remember the first time you opened a copy of the Federal Register to feast upon eight pages of tiny print …
Firm-Owned Plane Crash Leaves No Survivors; Founder’s Wife, An Attorney, Among Deceased
We have some unfortunate news to report out of the Houston, Texas, legal community, in the wake of a tragic …
Why Firms Can’t Afford To Ignore Working Parents
Ed. note: This article is part of Parental Leave & The Legal Profession, a special series for Above the Law …
Judge Gives Trump’s ‘Of Course I Can Bulldoze The East Wing If I Wanna’ Argument The Side-Eye It Deserves
Last week there was a hearing in the case brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation over the Trump …
From Experimentation To Enablement: The State Of AI For In-House Legal
Legal teams aren’t asking if AI belongs in legal work. They’re deciding how and where it should be operationalized. In …
Legal Tech Leaders Join Other Legal Professionals In Open Letter Supporting The Rule Of Law
A number of leaders from the legal technology community are joining other legal professionals in an open letter supporting the …
Why 31,000 Kaiser Permanente Workers Are Striking — Again
The post Why 31,000 Kaiser Permanente Workers Are Striking — Again appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 01.27.26
* The $4000 billable hour has arrived. [Reuters] * Motorcycle gangs and pending domestic violence charges may be behind the …
They’ve Done Enough — See Also
Trump’s Lawyers Should Be Disbarred: Time for accountability. Mike Johnson Wants To Impeach Judges: Not the best time to signal …
Politics Is A Crapshoot And Biglaw Lobbyists Are Raking It In
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data pulled from Lobbying Disclosure Act …
Preparing The Next Generation Of AI-Literate Lawyers And Leaders
Ed. note: This article first appeared in an ILTA publication. Artificial intelligence is more than the latest new tool to …
A Sad, Pathetic Little Man
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Donald J. Trump begins the public portions of his Cabinet meetings by going around …
George Washington And Georgetown Law Ignore Students And Turn Campuses Into Virtual ICE Recruitment Centers
Last week, we covered Georgetown Law students’ valiant effort to stop ICE from showing up to their career fair. There …
There’s ‘No Vaccine’ For Partner Departures From Cravath, Other Elite Biglaw Firms
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. There is nothing to panic about. It is just that …
The Best Law Schools For Entertainment Law
Representing celebrity clients is likely to catapult your name into the news and turn your business into a household topic …
As Judicial Threats Spike, Mike Johnson Talks About ‘Making An Example’ Of Them
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) The threat environment for federal judges is pretty awful right about now. For …
Disbar Them All: The Only Accountability Left For Trump’s Lawyers
Trump administration lawyers have crossed ethical lines that would sink any other practitioner. They’ve lied to courts repeatedly. They’ve supported …
What If Tariffs Go Away — Or Don’t? How You Can Protect Your Bottom Line With Contract Intelligence
With the Supreme Court potentially poised to invalidate recent tariffs, organizations face a confusing scenario. Having clear visibility into contract …
The Perp Walk Is The Point
Last week the Justice Department threw a giant hissy fit because it wasn’t allowed to tweet out an image of …
Legal Ethics Roundup: GA Justices Want Jan 6 Lawyer Disbarred, Legal Independence Principles From Fed Judges, Crypto Complaint Against DOJ Atty & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
How You Can Streamline Business Operations With AI
At recent trade shows, AI panels have been the most highly attended events — and there’s a good reason why. …
When Best Practices Hold Legal Teams Back
Why In-House Teams Keep Running Into The Same FrictionIn-house lawyers are swimming in best practices. Every vendor offers them. Every …
Lawmakers Grill Health Insurance CEOs: 4 Key Takeaways
The post Lawmakers Grill Health Insurance CEOs: 4 Key Takeaways appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 01.26.26
* Prime suspect in massive jewelry heist takes advantage of ICE and gets himself deported… to escape trial! Get ready …
Firm Finds Itself In Middle Of Fraud Suit — See Generally
Some Clients Can Cost More Than They’re Worth: Biglaw firm named in $735 million lawsuit over deal with troubled client. …
How Did The Beatles Get Involved With This? — See Also
DOJ Drops Hypo About Deporting The Beatles?: Why? To fight the great British Invasion that is Please Please Me, I …
Breaking The Ivy League’s Legal Glass Ceiling
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! The late Barbara Aronstein Black made history as …
Pentagon CTO Offers Industry Free Use Of 400 Patents From Gov’t Labs — For A Start
The post Pentagon CTO Offers Industry Free Use Of 400 Patents From Gov’t Labs — For A Start appeared first …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Law Schools’ Revolving Door
While the culture war cancellation of the University of Arkansas’ incoming law dean made headlines this week, it follows substantial …
Leveraging A Multigenerational Workforce To Build Stronger Law Firm Culture
Getty Images In this session, I sit down with Phil Gafka of LEAP Associates to explore how law firms can …
Lawyers Shouldn’t Perform Favors For Clients And Expect Additional Work
Lawyers and clients often develop years-long relationships during which clients and lawyers cultivate connections that often transcend the traditional attorney-client …
Mr. Worldwide: Artist Prevails In Fierce Battle Over The Copyright Act’s Reclamation Right
Congress, way back when, astutely recognized that an artist entering into an initial contract for an album, song, or story …
Like Lawyers In Pompeii: Is Legal Ignoring The AI Definitional Crisis? (Part V)
“Thinking of AI as only GenAI leads to the adoption of solutions that don’t work when there are practical, non-GenAI …
Judge Shot At Home Still Has ‘Strong Faith’ In Judicial System
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I want the community to know that I have strong …
Biglaw’s Return-To-Office Push Is Showing Up In Law Firm Real Estate Deals
Businessman On Arrow Over Manhattan – New York – Success and Achievement Concept Biglaw isn’t just talking about getting lawyers …
DOJ Tells Court They Could Deport The Beatles Because It Was Called The ‘British Invasion’
In the 1960s, an onslaught of rock bands from the UK found their way into America’s jukeboxes. So many artists …
Trump Sues JP Morgan For ‘Nice Bank You Got There, Be A Shame If Something Happened To It’
The president and his lawyers have emerged from under the bridge and announced the target of the next shakedown trollsuit. …
Biglaw Defamation Fight Escalates As Ex–Baker McKenzie Associate Fires Back With Her Own Lawsuit
Late last year, Biglaw firm Baker McKenzie filed a defamation lawsuit against a former tax associate, Brooke Radford, alleging Radford made repeated allegations …
Drake Still Trying To Squabble Up After Career-Denting Court Loss
Two joke rappers will go down in history for the way they’ve changed rap history: Weird Al Yankovic for his …
‘You Are Not Your Grades’
I give a speech every semester to my 1Ls, and I know other professors do as well. You are not …
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 …
Trump Continues To Use Pop Culture Memes Without Permission, This Time With A 3rd Term Easter Egg
The Trump administration’s penchant for announcing or celebrating its various dumbass policies via pop culture video game memes marches on, …
Morning Docket: 01.23.26
* Federal judge may block Trump’s ballroom. Just because presidents don’t have any legal authority to unilaterally decide to destroy …
Hello? Yes, This Is Me Speaking — See Also
Florida AG Makes Himself A Request He Couldn’t Refuse: Really strange way to honor Martin Luther King Jr. ICE Circulated …
Big Victory For Don Lemon And His Lawyer
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! The Department of Justice’s attempt to indict journalist …
Litera Brings Agentic AI To Mobile With New iOS App For Litera One Platform
Litera today launched an iOS mobile app for Litera One, its AI-enabled legal platform, extending its agentic AI capabilities to …
ICE Can Bust Into Houses Without Warrants Based On Memo So Cool And Legal They Keep It Hidden
Immigration and Customs Enforcement reportedly created an internal memo asserting that its agents can enter people’s homes to make arrests …
Judicial Candidate Learns The Hard Way That Extortion Is Not A Campaign Strategy
“Messy,” in the wild drama sense, is not a typical adjective when describing a judicial election but that’s the exact …
Alienating Our Affections
The Biglaw world continues to watch single-tier partnerships slip away with Sullivan & Cromwell joining the income partner trend. Will …
State AG Asks For Formal Legal Opinion From Himself
Earlier this week, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier dropped an official opinion declaring that he’s decided to void scores of …
Jack Smith Publicly Testifies On Donald Trump’s Revenge Tour Against Lawyers, Public Servants
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. President Trump has sought to seek revenge against career prosecutors, …
Proposed Evidentiary Rule 707: Addressing A Nonexistent Problem Instead Of Real Ones
Back in May 2025, the U.S. Judicial Advisory Committee on Evidence Rules proposed a new draft Rule to the Federal …
The Bigger They Are The More Column Inches They Get
Within our ranks, some attorneys want not only a low profile but no profile in the media, social or otherwise. …
How Young Lawyers Get Trial Experience (And Why It Still Matters)
There is a quiet but growing problem in our profession: too many young lawyers want to be trial lawyers, yet …
A GC’s Guide To The Modern Merger: Mastering Complex Transactions In Uncertain Times
As a recent report by Deloitte notes, today’s dealmakers must “navigate perpetual uncertainty.” The same goes for law departments involved with a …
SCOTUS Skeptical that Truth Social Is Real Life
Yesterday Solicitor General John Sauer tried to convince five Supreme Court justices to let President Trump burn down the Federal …
Congress’ New Healthcare Package: 7 Things To Know
The post Congress’ New Healthcare Package: 7 Things To Know appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 01.22.26
* ICE instructed its agents that they don’t need warrants to bust into houses. These Crim Pro issue spotters are …
There Goes Lindsey Halligan — See Also
Benchslaps Work After All!: No more U.S. Attorney roleplay. Shooter Attacks Judge And His Spouse: The assailant shot them in …
These Supreme Court Justices Got The Money
(Image via Getty) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which two Supreme Court justices …
The War Trump Repeatedly Promised To End In 24 Hours Still Rages A Year Later — And It Won’t End This Year Either
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) On the campaign trail, Donald Trump repeatedly promised that he’d end the war in Ukraine …
Strategies For Stepping Into Your Greatest Personal And Professional Self
A new year means fresh starts, new goals, and new objectives, personally and professionally. As you reflect on the past …
Former Biglaw Partner Calls Out Trump’s ‘Palpable’ ‘Dementia’ And ‘Cognitive Decline’
Former Hogan & Lovells partner turned White House special counsel (in the Trump I regime) Ty Cobb is back on the cable news circuit …
LexisNexis Unveils Oodles Of Legal AI Workflows
This morning, LexisNexis announced the commercial preview of Protégé AI Workflows, the inevitable next shoe to drop in the company’s …
Georgetown Law Students Petition To Keep Their School From Becoming An ICE Recruitment Center
It is plain knowledge that Georgetown Law is great if you’d like to transition your legal career toward working for …
Goldman’s Top Lawyer In The Spotlight Thanks To Epstein Ties
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [I had a professional association with Jeffrey Epstein when] it …
GenAI Courses In Law School: A Good Idea
Legal training has long followed a guild system: law schools teach doctrine, then new lawyers learn to practice by working …
Brutal, Humiliating Benchslap Puts An End To Lindsey Halligan Experiment
Lindsey Halligan has finally done the one thing the Department of Justice steadfastly refused to do for months: acknowledge reality. …
Trump’s Recent Tariff Edicts Seem To Ignore The Supreme Court’s Skepticism
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Last month, I wrote about the Trump tariffs now under review by the Supreme Court. …
Tomorrow: Tales From The Witness Stand — What ‘Winning’ Expert Testimony Looks Like
Whether you’re cross-examining or putting forth an expert witness, effectively managing their testimony is a difficult task. Experts must garner …
Judge And Wife Shot At Home
Tippecanoe County judge Steven P. Meyer and his wife Kimberly were shot in their Indiana home on Sunday. Both are currently …
JPM Deals Recap: Boston Scientific Acquisition, A Mega Round For Parabilis, Enodia Emerges & More
The post JPM Deals Recap: Boston Scientific Acquisition, A Mega Round For Parabilis, Enodia Emerges & More appeared first on …
Morning Docket: 01.21.26
* DOGE took Social Security data apparently in an effort to assist group seeking to overturn election results. [Politico] * …
Good Migration — See Also
Goodbye McGlinchey Stafford, Hello Womble Bond Dickinson!: This firm just got a windfall of great talent! Reagan-Appointed Judge Accuses Trump …
This Law School Has Real New York City Cred
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which law school is the oldest in New …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: Efficiency, AI, And Business Planning For The Solo Practitioner
What are the most effective AI tools for lawyers? With so many options out there, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed …
New York Governor Wants Lawyers To ‘Fight Like Hell’ For The Rule Of Law
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Listen up, lawyers, because this could be a business lead …
Law Students Protest Culture War Dean Firing
When it comes to picking a law school dean the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville had one question that carried …
Willkie Farr Hit With $735 Million Fraud Lawsuit
It’s been an eventful year for Willkie Farr & Gallagher. The firm bent the knee to Donald Trump, pledging $100 …
3 Questions For A Patent Litigator Turned Legal Recruiter (Part II)
Last week, I presented Part I of my written interview with a former patent litigator turned legal recruiter, Khurram Naik. …
Federal Judge Accuses Trump Team Of Conspiring Against The First Amendment, DOJ Shrugs
Reagan-appointed, 84-year-old U.S. District Judge William Young has had just about enough of the Trump administration’s First Amendment nonsense and …
Alexi Fires Back At Fastcase Lawsuit With Counterclaims Alleging Anticompetitive Conduct Following Clio’s $1B Acquisition
Alexi Technologies has filed its answer and counterclaim against Fastcase, vLex, and Clio, accusing the newly merged legal technology giant …
Small Frictions, Big Fixes: What Carl Davidson’s Inbox Struggle Teaches Legal Tech
For all our talk of AI disruption, few legal teams are tackling the true productivity killer: tab switching. Email bloat. …
Biglaw Firm Swoops In As Midsize Firm Collapses, Scooping Up Its Lawyers
Louisiana-based McGlinchey Stafford rang in the new year by announcing it would shut down, leaving many lawyers “scrambling for jobs” …
From Cost Center To Value Engine: Patent Management In The AI Era
How patent work is structured shapes how it is valued. In a recent Tradespace and Above the Law survey, two-thirds …
Less Hours Worked & Fewer Lawyers Needed: Dealing With The New AI Reality
A new Thomson Reuters Report reveals a fundamental disconnect between what law firms believe about AI and what clients may …
Trump’s ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ Aims To Cut Costs, But Details Are Sparse, Execs Say
The post Trump’s ‘Great Healthcare Plan’ Aims To Cut Costs, But Details Are Sparse, Execs Say appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 01.20.26
* ICE refusing to grant detainees access to legal counsel. “Imagine the chaos,” one agent said, describing the bare minimum …
Partnerships, Legal Education, Marriages… Lawyers Were Destroying Everything Last Week — See Generally
Another Biglaw Single-Tier Partnership Falls: The path to upward mobility got a little narrower. Florida And Texas Take Over Legal …
Law Firms Earns Coal Right Before Christmas — See Also
Leave The Trick Or Treating For Halloween: Firm tries to teach the importance of cybersecurity by tricking their associates. Florida …
How Much More Will Clients Pay?
According to the 2026 Thomson Reuters State of the Legal Market Report, by what percentage did law firms boost their …
Adversaries Can Make Great Referral Sources
I have previously written about how lawyers should be respectful to adversaries since they can make good references and provide …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Top Outside Counsel Quiz Results
In the Name That Firm quiz, we provided a selection of comments from in-house attorneys about law firms featured in …
AI Is Killing The Billable Hour. The Real Question Is What Comes Next.
There is growing agreement across the legal industry that artificial intelligence may mark the end of the billable hour. When …
Supreme Court Advocate Compares Using AI In Legal Practice To Working With A ‘Brilliant Associate Who’s Also Schizophrenic’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The technology is there. It’s usable now. You have to …
Florida And Texas Break From ABA On Law School Accreditation (And What Banning Plato Has To Do With It)
Florida has decided that the American Bar Association is just too much. Yesterday, the Florida Supreme Court graciously opened the …
Courts Dropkick DOJ’s Disenfranchisement Database
The Justice Department’s hamfisted effort to seize control of state voter rolls got slapped down hard this week. Twice. The …
Law School Dean Survives Two-Year Search, Falls To One-Week Culture War
After a two-year search, the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville found its new law school dean. Then, a week later, …
Founder Of Prominent Midsize Firm Passes Away
We have some unfortunate news to report out of Washington, D.C., where one of the founding partners of well-known midsize …
The Inevitable Commoditization Of GenAI: What Will It Mean For Legal?
It’s early 2027. Most law firms and in-house legal departments are rapidly moving to OpenAI Legal which launched in the …
Law Firm Sent Out Fake Christmas Vouchers. Staff Want To Ram Coal Up Leadership’s Chimneys.
Phishing attacks represent an ever-increasing threat to law firms. A law firms can find itself staring down massive ransom payments …
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 …
State Department Threatens UK Over Grok Investigation, Because Only The US Is Allowed To Ban Foreign Apps
So let me get this straight. The United States government spent years championing a ban on TikTok, rushed it through the Supreme …
Morning Docket: 01.16.26
* ICE detaining Native Americans and then telling their tribes that they will only release information about the people they’ve …
Lawyer Of The Year Stays In Good Trouble — See Also
Rachel Cohen Keeps Pushing Against Authoritarianism: Somebody has to take these 10-year-old phone thieves to task. Bonus Dollars And A …
No Longer The Baby Among Law Schools
Elon University plans to open a new law school in Charlotte, beginning in 2027. What is the most recent new …
AI Startup AlphaLit Raises $3.2M Seed Round To Screen And Score Smaller Cases And Route Them To Lawyers
Over $55 million worth of meritorious civil claims go unfiled annually, particularly in working-class communities, because over 64% of prospective …
I Didn’t Set Out To Write A Series And Yet It Happened
In 2025, I did not plan to write a year long series on legal careers. I was not mapping themes …
Law School Arms Students With Anti-ICE Hotline To Protect The Community
Law schools can teach you a lot of things that you hope to never use: civil procedure, the rule against …
The Supreme Court’s Favorite Time To Drop Bombshells Is Friday Afternoons
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [P]ublic engagement with the Supreme Court matters, and public engagement …
Former Senator Turned Biglaw Lawyer Sued For Breaking Up Bodyguard’s Marriage
Kyrsten Sinema (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Kyrsten Sinema spent her lone term as a United States Senator as the …
Writing Like A Lawyer Without Sounding Like A Lawyer
Lawyers love to say they “need to work on their writing.” Translation: they’ve read something they wrote, felt that little …
From Billable Hours To 9to5Docs.Com: Why One Tax Lawyer Is Building The Future Of Startup Legal Tech
If you practiced law 10 years ago, the idea of having a “knowledge-based chatbot” to answer client questions at midnight …
Lawyer Of The Year Speaking Truth To Power After Running Into Immigration Shock Troop Commander At Gas Station
Rachel Cohen, the former Skadden associate who spoke out about Trump’s threat to the rule of law — putting together an …
How LexisNexis State Net Uses Gen AI To Tame Gov’t Data
When state legislatures across the U.S. convened in early January, they kicked off a process that will likely produce 200,000 …
Top 25 Biglaw Firm Announces Nonequity Partnership Track, Plus ‘Enhanced’ Bonuses For Associates
Biglaw firms with single partnership tiers are now few and far between, with more big-name firms showing that they’re ready, …
Is It Time To Require Lawyers To Be Competent With GenAI?
“Not all crazy ideas are great, but all great ideas are crazy.” – Mike Posner Since it’s clear that lots …
Sak Global Files For Bankruptcy To Address Its Immense Debt
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Morning Docket: 01.15.26
* Sure it makes the United States and international pariah and has resulted in the president stashing seized oil profits …
Hacked Database To Match Their Hack Opinions — See Also
The Supreme Court’s Online Security Is Trash: Tennessee man accused of hacking SCOTUS 25 times in a two-month span. Former …
Bigger Is Better In Biglaw
Hogan Lovells and Cadwalader describe their upcoming merger as the largest law firm merger in history, creating a firm of …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: How One Firm Stays On Track With Tech
Can technology help create a positive workplace culture? How can a growing law firm leverage the latest tools? Just how …
California To Investigate If xAI Broke The Law With Easily Accessible Porn Deepfakes Of Women And Minors
Twitter, the world’s former public stage turned Stormfront alternative and porn site not long after Elon Musk’s takeover, is facing …
Warning Party To Stop Citing Fake AI Cases Is Not, In Fact, Bias
Phony cases continue to proliferate across the docket. This recent explosion stems from the advent of artificial intelligence tools, with …
Biglaw Lateral Activity Expected To Be ‘On Fire’ In 2026
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We think 2026 is going to be on fire, and …
Minnesota Becoming A Constitutional Law Issue-Spotter
(Photo by Alex Kormann/The Minnesota Star Tribune via Getty Images) With polls showing more Americans now favor abolishing ICE than …
Former Biglaw Partner Officially Charged With Murder In Wife’s Death
(Image via iStock) On October 27, 2024, Caitlin Tracey, 36, the wife of former Duane Morris tax partner Adam P. …
Supreme Court Hacked, Proving Its Cybersecurity Is As Robust As Its Ethical Code
Remember when the Supreme Court was absolutely consumed with figuring out who leaked the Dobbs draft opinion? They assigned the …
What If Tariffs Go Away — Or Don’t? Navigating Uncertainty With Contract Intelligence
With the Supreme Court potentially poised to invalidate recent tariffs, organizations face a confusing scenario: the possibility of some $200B …
Mind The Gap Between What Lawyers Need And Many Vendors’ Focus
Wait, what? Some recent research reveals a gap: 70% of legal tech investment targets vendors who focus on the 40% …
A Ukrainian City Under Assault By The Russian Military Or An American City Besieged By ICE: Which Is Worse?
I was in Ukraine this fall. While I was there, I happened to be in Lviv while it was being …
Epic & Providers Sue Health Gorilla Over Alleged Data Exploitation
The post Epic & Providers Sue Health Gorilla Over Alleged Data Exploitation appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 01.14.26
* Supreme Court heard challenges to laws targeting trans athletes and the argument went about as you’d expect. [Balls and …
Not One Super Bonus, But Two! — See Also
Pillsbury Associates Are Eating This Bonus Season!: You can go back for a 4th plate of cash if you’ve worked …
Am Law 100 Firm Pulls Off Historic Hat Trick
In 2025, what firm made history becoming the first Am Law 100 firm to close three mergers in a single …
Lindsey Halligan Says Her ‘I’m An Illegal Appointment’ T-Shirt Has People Asking A Lot Of Questions Already Answered By Her Shirt
When a federal judge orders the government to explain why it persists in calling someone the United States Attorney after …
The Neuroscience Of Resilient Team Building
Ed. note: This article first appeared in an ILTA publication. Of all the essential qualities that legal teams require, resilience …
New Law School Set To Open Over Ashes Of Past Legal Education Disaster
You’d be forgiven for wondering if Charlotte is cursed. Despite being America’s ninth-largest city, the last time we put a …
Cravath Is No Longer Immune To Partner Poaching
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The lateral partner market has gotten more and more active, …
Like Lawyers In Pompeii: Is Legal Ignoring The Coming AI Financial Crisis? (Part IV)
There’s an adage when trying to unravel a corporate mystery: follow the money. And when you start following the money in connection with the AI …
Disbarred Attorney Defrauded Clients Out Of Over $4.2M
Many people gravitate to law because of the financial opportunity it offers. Unfortunately, the billable hour just isn’t enough for …
Boston Scores Yet Another Biglaw Firm
Regional business continues to boom across the legal profession, with top Biglaw firms launching new offices in some of the …
Adventures In Legal Tech: Master Of The CRM Universe
Does automated intake give you agita? If it does, you’re not alone. Many lawyers fret that automated technology related to …
Tons Of Dough: Biglaw Firm Serves Up A Four-Course Bonus Feast
Fresh from the oven, it’s time for some bonus lovin’! Well, the news isn’t exactly fresh since it happened back …
Voting Is Now Open! Pick The 15 Finalists To Compete At Startup Alley At ABA TECHSHOW 2026 In March
With this post, voting is now officially open! Help pick the 15 legal tech startups that will get to compete …
More Than 1,000 Fashion & Beauty Companies Sue Trump Over Tariffs
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Morning Docket: 01.13.25
* Mark Kelly hires Arnold & Porter to sue Pete Hegseth and the Defense Department for threatening to illegally slash …
Associated With Excellence — See Also
Rachel Cohen Is Above The Law’s Lawyer Of The Year!: What will 2026 bring? No Fraud Behind The Gavel: Judge …
Supreme Court’s Delayed Gratification
According to The New York Times, the Supreme Court’s first opinion in an argued case this term (Bowe v. United …
Visibility Creates Opportunity: How Lawyers Build Trust, Authority, And Growth
Getty Images In this session, I sat down with Colleen Joyce, CEO of Lawyer.com, to talk about how today’s most …
Build Once, Earn Often: Dorna Moini On The New Economics Of Scalable Legal Products
Too many lawyers still see their value as tied to time. More hours. More stress. More inefficiency. What if we …
Will Venezuela Cost Trump The Nobel Peace Prize?
I was shocked that President Donald Trump launched a military attack on Venezuela to kidnap Nicolas Maduro. How could it …
After Failed Merger, This Top Biglaw Firm Is Single And May Still Be Looking
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The firm’s fine, I don’t view this as the firm …
Former Biglaw Associate Who Refused To Capitulate To Trump Wins 2025 Lawyer Of The Year Honors
The competition for 2025 Lawyer of the Year honors was not a close one, not even one little bit. In fact, …
Judge Finds Himself On The Other End Of Gavel After Felony Charge
If you’ve studied for the MPRE, you’ve likely gone over the code of judicial conduct. Some things require a bit …
DOJ Opens Criminal Probe Into Jerome Powell For Crime Of Not Cutting Interest Rates
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell released a highly unusual weekend video message to announce that the Department of Justice served …
CES 2026: The Trends. The Vibe. And Some Final Thoughts.
(Image by Tayfun Cokun – Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Usually after a tech show closes down, I provide my takeaways and …
Legal Ethics Roundup: ‘Rogue Judges’ Senate Hearing, TX Ends ABA Oversight, Judge Charged Over ‘Book Of Grudges,’ Predictions For 2026 & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Kristi Noem Will Defeat ICE Oversight With Creative Accounting
(Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) On January 10, Minnesota Reps. Ilhan Omar, Angie Craig, and Kelly Morrison became …
Relativity’s Case Strategy Tool Goes Live, Promising To Help Lawyers Drowning In Data
Relativity announced today that aiR for Case Strategy has reached general availability, bringing the company’s generative AI case intelligence solution …
Anthropic Follows OpenAI Into Healthcare: How Do Their Platforms Compare?
The post Anthropic Follows OpenAI Into Healthcare: How Do Their Platforms Compare? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 01.12.26
* Trump DOJ opens a criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and the stock market takes expected nosedive. …
The New Year Is A Time For Endings — See Generally
Midsize Law Firm Begins New Year By Closing: Firm’s resolution appears to have been to shed all its offices. Judge …
Government Attacks Abrego Garcia’s Reputation As He Awaits Trial — See Also
Garcia Wants To See Some Consequences When They Violate Court Orders: He’s pushing for sanctions. Too Bad To Punish: Ethics …
A Big Year For Change At Law Schools Around The Country
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Last year, how many American Bar Association-accredited law …
Reed: Congress ‘Would Have To’ Codify Trump’s Defense Industry Stock Buyback Mandates
The post Reed: Congress ‘Would Have To’ Codify Trump’s Defense Industry Stock Buyback Mandates appeared first on Above the Law.
Generative Engine Optimization: How To Make Your Law Firm Visible In AI Answers
Digital marketing is one of those exciting-yet-frustrating fields in which any technique you master is virtually guaranteed to need an …
Lawyers Sometimes Hide Health Issues From Clients
As a finite supply of business exists in the legal industry, practitioners need to compete against each other. Clients consider many …
‘New Racist’ Judge Now Newly Unemployed
Some people really struggle with distinguishing between individual and systemic responsibility when both are at play. For example, as important …
Are We Prepared To Deal With The Coming Wearable Revolution?
The buzz this year at CES isn’t just agentic AI. It’s also wearables and their coming power and use. And …
Biglaw’s Merger Whisperers Have Advised More Than 80% Of The Am Law 100
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Our clients speak to our position in the marketplace: we’ve …
Biglaw’s M&A Party Hit $4.6 Trillion, And Kirkland Still Drank Everyone Else’s Champagne
A new report confirms what M&A associates already knew in their bones: the mergers and acquisitions market wasn’t just hot …
Ethics Authority Won’t Pursue Brendan Carr Charges Because Alleged Misconduct Was Too… Obvious?
Remember when FCC Chair Brendan Carr started publicly fronting that he’d use his authority to punish Disney and ABC because …
Choosing Growth Over Fear: How Lawyers Create Positive Change From The Inside Out
Getty Images In this session, I sat down with Susan Filan to explore how fear influences decisions, momentum, and satisfaction …
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 …
Abrego Garcia Asks For Sanctions As Gov’t Officials Continue To Publicly Attack Him Ahead Of His Trial
Whether the Trump administration likes it or not, the right to a fair trial still exists. And even the person …
Morning Docket: 01.09.26
* M&A lawyers see busy year ahead. [Reuters] * Recent judicial nominees can’t give a straight answer about January 6. …
The Leading Voice In Legal Academia
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Who took the #1 spot in The National …
Irony Died A Long Time Ago — See Also
Judge Ho Attacks Judges With “Overinflated Intelligence”: Stop hitting yourself. Attorney Indicted On 91 Felony Counts: That’s a lot of …
Is This The Year For Critical Ignoring?
Yeah, 2026 is here. Are we happy about that? Now we have the “Donroe Doctrine.” The rumble under our feet …
Jonathan Turley Watches ICE Kill A Woman, Asks Why Democrats Are So Upset
(Photo by Bonnie Cash-Pool/Getty Images) A classic archetype of right-wing media is the ostensible “Democrat” expert who appears like clockwork …
‘BEWARE’: Trump Order Demands Some Defense Firms Halt Paying Dividends, Buying Back Stock
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump issued an executive order today that prohibits defense companies from making share repurchases and paying …
Legal Tech Spending Surges 9.7% As Firms Race To Integrate AI, Says Report On State Of Legal Market
Law firms dramatically accelerated their technology investments in 2025, with spending on tech and knowledge management tools growing 9.7% and …
The Most Searched For Biglaw Firms (2025)
Biglaw firms are ranked in a multitude of ways, from gross revenue to size to quality of life and even …
*Another* U.S. Attorney Disqualified After Failing The ‘Actually Appointed’ Test
Before 2025, fake U.S. attorneys weren’t a thing. But in his second term in office, Donald Trump has been attempting …
Lawyers, Staff Left ‘Scrambling For Jobs’ After Firm Announces Sudden Closure Plans
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [McGlinchey Stafford is a] well-respected firm who hired really …
Judge With Overinflated View Of His Intelligence Blasts Judges For ‘Overinflated View Of Their Intelligence’
“Too many judges think that they’re better than other people,” writes Fifth Circuit Judge James Ho in a new piece …
A World Cup Ticket Isn’t A Souvenir. It’s A Contract Of Adhesion.
FIFA has managed to turn World Cup ticketing into an international spectacle before a single match has even started. In …
Tales From The Witness Stand: What ‘Winning’ Expert Testimony Looks Like
Whether you’re cross-examining or putting forth an expert witness, effectively managing their testimony is a difficult task. Experts must garner …
Attorney Accused Of Stalking And Filming Teenager Indicted On 91 Felony Counts
Former Ohio legal aid attorney Matthew Nicholas Currie, 50, is facing a mountain of felony charges for what prosecutors say …
A New Year, A New You
It’s a new year, which means it can be a new you. Many take on New Year’s Resolutions. Perhaps a …
Business Origination Skills In The Age Of Agentic AI: Is There Anything New Under The Sun?
The skills clients will demand from their lawyers are about to change dramatically. Or are they? The McKinsey Panel At …
Morning Docket: 01.08.26
* “Bulk” of SDNY prosecutors are spending their days reviewing Epstein files. You know, there are discovery tools that can …
ICE Kills Legal Observer In Broad Daylight — See Also
Obviously Wrong, But Probably Not Wrong Enough For Qualified Immunity: Mayor Jacob Frey has since told ICE to leave his …
The Sharp Increase In AI-Related Risk
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to recent analysis by Bloomberg Law, a …
Right-Wing’s Fraud Fever Dreams Will Fade Even As Tim Walz’s Decision To Cede Power Goes Down In History
Fraud is bad. When it takes place, it should be uncovered and prosecuted. That was exactly what was happening before …
Gimme More (Deductions): Britney Spears Challenges The IRS At The US Tax Court
(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) Former pop megastar Britney Spears is now fighting the IRS. Last month, Spears filed a …
ICE Kills A Woman In Minneapolis And Will Probably Get Away With It
This morning, ICE agents shot and killed a woman in Minneapolis. The agents, part of a Minnesota surge designed by …
Abortion Pill Ban Meets Its Constitutional Doom In Wyoming
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. A woman has a fundamental right to make her …
Judge Demands Fake U.S. Attorney Explain Why She’s Still Pretending To Be U.S. Attorney
Lindsey Halligan is an insurance lawyer cosplaying as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. Because she is famously …
Texas Supreme Court Takes On Role As Law School Accreditor
Welp. They’ve done did it. The Texas Supreme Court has officially ended its overt reliance on the ABA to accredit …
Legal Market Is Doing Great, Which Is How You Know You’re All About To Get Laid Off
The Thomson Reuters Institute and Georgetown Law’s Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession released their annual State of the …
CES 2026 And Agentic AI In Legal: It’s Not Going To Happen — Until It Does
Conventional thinking is that agentic AI is thrown around enough to be a cliché. We aren’t sure what it means. We aren’t sure what it does. Whatever it is and …
2026 Prediction Time!
We begin the year by peering into our crystal balls and issuing some predictions for 2026. Who will be fired? …
Midsize Firm Kicks Off The New Year By Announcing Plans To Close Its Doors
As law firms look ahead to 2026, the legal sector’s outlook is one of continued opportunity — but the abrupt …
The 2025 Outside Counsel Rankings: Top Law Firms By Type Of Organization
As we complete the rollout of our 2025 Outside Counsel Rankings, we focus this week on the law firms rated …
Report: Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Costs Jumped In 2024, Outpacing Inflation
Costs for employer-sponsored health insurance surged from 2023 to 2024, rising faster than inflation, according to a new analysis. The …
Morning Docket: 01.07.26
* Judge demands to know why Lindsey Halligan is still listed as “U.S. Attorney” when she is most definitely not …
Third Amendment Jawboning!? — See Also
This Administration Keeps Knocking At The Third Amendment: And at the doors of Hilton, no less! K-9s Are One Thing, …
This Biglaw Firm Makes Equity Partners *Very* Happy Campers (And Rich!)
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to early reports on 2025 Biglaw financials, …
Henry Dicker, Longtime Leader Of ALM’s LegalTech Conferences, Joins Masters LegalAI
Last month, I reported on key hires and a rebranding at The Masters Conference, a legal education and thought leadership …
3 Questions For A Patent Litigator Turned Legal Recruiter (Part I)
Welcome to 2026, with hopes that this coming year will be one of success and contentment for the entirety of …
Bad Service, Lost Clients: What Restaurants Teach Us About Law Firm Client Service
Highwood, Illinois knows how to put on a show. Every year the town hosts a three-day music festival called Nashwood, …
Judge Hannah Dugan Resigns After Obstruction Conviction
Immediately after Trump won the second election, the most popular flavor of cope was to throw up one’s hands and …
Amy Coney Barrett: Life On The Supreme Court Is An ‘Arranged Marriage’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We are nine people who are in an arranged …
Homeland Security & Hilton Introduce Us To Third Amendment Jawboning!
Everyone check your 2026 Bingo cards because we’re not even a week in, and we’ve already got a Third Amendment …
George Conway Thinks The Best Way To Troll Trump Is From Congress
George Conway is betting Manhattan Democrats want his brand of anti-Trump lawyering. Today, the infamous lawyer announced his entry into …
Above The Law’s 2025 Lawyer Of The Year Contest: The Finalists!
Last year was, for better or worse, a big year in legal news. So it should come as no surprise …
An AI Proctor For Remote Depositions: Has Its Time Come?
Opening day at the Media Days at CES brought an unexpected discovery: an AI proctor designed to detect whether someone …
AI And The Future Of Legal Work: Augmentation, Not Automation
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
Police Wonder If AI Bodycam Reports Are Accurate After Model Transforms Officer Into A Frog
We’ve spent the better part of the last two years documenting the parade of attorneys firing off AI-muddled filings. It’s …
Rising Costs & Medicare Advantage Flaws To Drive Healthcare Reform Talks In 2026
The post Rising Costs & Medicare Advantage Flaws To Drive Healthcare Reform Talks In 2026 appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 01.06.26
* Maduro’s legal team anchored by Julian Assange’s lawyer. [NY Law Journal] * Meanwhile, the DOJ just dropped its claims …
You Can Say Whatever You Want When You’re The Chief Justice — See Also
Chief Justice Roberts Invents Thomas Paine Legacy From New Cloth: If only he were here to defend himself. Steven Banks …
‘Old-School’ Judge Tapped For Maduro Case
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! The federal case against Nicolas Maduro and his …
Law Students Make Hail Mary Plea For ABA To Curb Law Firm Recruitment Timelines
Getting a summer associate gig is probably a far cry from what you remember. There used to be some decorum. …
Stop Calling It Legal Support: Karl Seelbach Says Deposition Tech Is Mission-Critical Infrastructure
For all our talk about modernizing legal operations, we still treat some of the most essential systems in our profession …
AI In The Courtroom: Will We Trade The Rule Of Law For Efficiency’s Sake?
What happens when a judge relies on a GenAI tool in formulating their decision on a key issue, particularly one …
Paul, Weiss ‘Betrayed Its Own Values’ When Capitulating To Trump
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I suspect that …
Chief Justice Roberts Explains Why Thomas Paine Would LOVE Presidential Immunity And Troops Patrolling Streets, Actually
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) If there’s one figure in American history who would not stand for any of the …
He Left Paul, Weiss On Principle. Now He’s In Charge Of New York City’s Legal Future.
New York City’s Law Department is about to get a serious (and overdue) reboot. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani …
A Tariff Prediction For 2026
This is the time of year to make predictions. Who am I to buck a trend? I have one very …
ATL Holiday Card Contest: The Winner! (2025)
Nearly 2,000 votes were cast, so it’s fair to say our 2025 holiday card contest was a great success. This …
Job Of The Month: Senior Attorney For Fossil Fuels
Earthjustice seeks a Senior Attorney to join the Fossil Fuels Program. We use the power of the law to challenge …
Is DOJ Trying To Blow The DNC Pipe Bomb Case?
On December 4, 2025, the Justice Department announced that it had finally arrested the one January 6 criminal they care …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Associate Alleges Partner Rape, Rally Ethics For Judge, ND 1st Female Chief Justice & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
150 Aircraft, Cyber Effects, And ‘Overwhelming Force:’ How The Venezuela Operation Unfolded
WASHINGTON — The surprise, complex operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was the result of long-term planning between the …
Morning Docket: 01.05.26
* Refresher on the legal arguments for “killing 80 people to arrest the leader of a sovereign nation for possessing …
Doing Good Work Used To Pay Off — See Also
Trump Rule Made A Lot Of Public Service Work Ineligible For Loan Forgiveness: There goes helping your fellow man. Third …
Best Of ’25: New Trump Rule Declares Most Public Service Work ‘Illegal,’ Ineligible For Loan Forgiveness
The post Best Of ’25: New Trump Rule Declares Most Public Service Work ‘Illegal,’ Ineligible For Loan Forgiveness appeared first …
Year-End Bonuses Are Uncommon At Some Law Firms
Many readers of Above the Law eagerly await news about annual bonuses around the end of the year. Most Biglaw …
CES 2026: The Whole Wide AI World Along With Lots More
(Photo by Artur Widak/Anadolu via Getty Images) I’m on my way to Las Vegas for CES. Just like every year …
Top 20 Biglaw Firm Hands Out Extra-Special Bonuses On New Year’s Eve
Happy New Year! One Biglaw firm recently made sure that almost everyone at the firm was able to ring in …
Morning Docket: 01.02.26
* Elon Musk’s lawyer is a clown. Seriously (though no red nose). [The Independent] * Trump says he’s removing the …
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 …
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 …
7 Predictions For 2026 That Should Come True But Won’t
Who could have predicted what 2025 would bring? As the legal profession kicked off last year, we expected another tour …
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 …
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 …
If You Are Applying To Law School And Want A Few Minutes Of Free Financial Or Career Advice, Email Me
Six years ago, I was hard at work polishing up the manuscript for Your Debt-Free JD (affiliate link). It was a …
Morning Docket: 12.31.25
* Lawyer who battled home owners’ association over his Christmas decorations used his settlement to buy more Christmas decorations. [ABA …
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: …
Trump’s Law Firm Executive Order Appeals Exist To Haunt Biglaw, Make Sure His Threats Never Die
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The district court wrote careful opinions which were relatively …
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 …
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 …
Best Of ’25: Amy Coney Barrett Already Workshopping Her ‘President For Life’ Concurring Opinion
The post Best Of ’25: Amy Coney Barrett Already Workshopping Her ‘President For Life’ Concurring Opinion appeared first on Above …
Five New AI-Powered Business Models For Solos And Smalls In 2026
As the year winds down, the legal profession is flooded with retrospectives: the growing AI adoption rate by solos and …
BriefCatch Raises $6M Series A To Accelerate Acquisitions And Development
BriefCatch, a legal technology company devoted to helping legal professionals improve their legal writing, has raised a $6 million Series …
Morning Docket: 12.30.25
* Another former partner sues Kasowitz alleging unpaid compensation. [NY Law Journal] * The Post Office will no longer postmark …
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: …
A T14 Law Degree Won’t Protect You From The Wrath Of Hans Gruber
The Fox Plaza office building, made famous as the fictional Nakatomi Plaza from ‘Die Hard’ (Photo by AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) Ed. …
From Risk Aversion To Risk Calibration: What Senne Mennes Taught Me About Building Legal Systems That Learn
In my latest “Notes to My (Legal) Self” interview, I sat down with Senne Mennes, co-founder of ClauseBase and former …
The Deepfake Courtroom Problem: A Colorado Blue Ribbon Study Sheds Some Light And Offers A Start To Solutions
It’s the morning of the first day of trial. Your opponent calls her first witness who testifies about a video …
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 …
Morning Docket: 12.29.25
* The Supreme Court told the Trump administration it couldn’t deploy national guard troops to police cities. [One First] * …
Spend The Holiday Weekend By Sharing Compensation Intel — See Also
Working In-House?: Take our law department compensation survey. Working At A Firm?: If you haven’t shared your bonus news with …
What Is HHS Proposing In Its New Rule?
HHS released a new proposed rule this week aimed at rolling back several Biden-era health IT policies and slimming down …
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 …
Lawyers Try To Bench Aileen Cannon From Case, Arguing She’s Been In Trump’s Corner One Too Many Times
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’m sure she’ll take it under consideration and look …
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 …
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 …
Top 3 Firm Spreads Holiday Cheer By Stuffing Associate Stockings With Big Bonuses
Biglaw firms across the country continue to announce bonuses this holiday season. Just before Christmas, one of the most successful …
Google Built Its Empire Scraping The Web. Now It’s Suing To Stop Others From Scraping Google.
Last week, Google filed suit against SerpApi, a scraping company that helps businesses pull data from Google search results. The lawsuit claims …
The Week Before Christmas! — See Also
See Also Boutique Firm Brings The Money!: Rolnick Kramer Sadighi announced bonuses! A Second Bite At Failure: Lindsey Halligan has …
From Sinners To Civil Servants: The Evolution Of Tax Collectors From Jesus’s Time To Today
While Christmas is often associated with exchanging gifts and enjoying a day off, it also commemorates the birth of Jesus …
Merry Christmas: 2025 Was A Record-Breaking Year For Greed
“Greed, for lack of a better word, is good.” So said Michael Douglas’s character Gordon Gekko in the hit 1987 …
Biglaw Firm Hosting ‘Resilience’ Workshops For Tomorrow’s Lawyers So They’ll Be Prepared For Stressful Careers
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We support lawyers of the future with skills-focused, interactive …
Closing Out The Year With Mergers And Attacks On The Rule Of Law
A critical analysis of the best variety of Coca-Cola product gives way to a conversation about law this week. Cadwalader …
Small Firm, Big Checks: Boutique Firm Leaves Market Bonus Rate In The Dust
Time and again this bonus season, boutique firms have done much more than simply match the Cravath/Milbank scale for year-end …
Deloitte’s 2026 Healthcare Outlook: Key Findings On Confidence, Digital Health, AI, And Partnerships
The post Deloitte’s 2026 Healthcare Outlook: Key Findings On Confidence, Digital Health, AI, And Partnerships appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 12.24.25
* Supreme Court blocks Trump effort to send troops into cities. The countdown to the Insurrection Act begins. [CNN] * …
Bonuses Before The Holidays! — See Also
Good Tidings To Everyone At Alston & Bird!: Enjoy the bonus money! Lessons From The Second ABA Report: Read up …
The Operational Signal Legal Leaders Should Pay Attention To In 2026
Across organizations of every size, I am seeing the same operational pattern take shape. Legal teams are carrying more work, …
Meme Stocks And The $10,000 Hourly Rate
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) In April 2020, GameStop (GME) stock sank below $3 a share. By January 2021, retail …
Top Biglaw Firm Emerges As Go-To Counsel For Law Firm Mega Mergers
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The reason why Davis Polk, and other top firms, …
The Day That ChatGPT Died: Lessons For The Rest Of Us
“Cause the players tried to take the fieldThe marching band refused to yieldDo you recall what was revealedThe day the …
Biglaw Firm Spreads Holiday Cheer With A Bonus Announcement
Alston & Bird just handed out Biglaw’s version of a golden ticket: bonuses! The firm has been rolling in the …
Exclusive: Filevine Acquires Pincites, AI-Powered Contract Redlining Company, Strengthening Its Positioning For Corporate Legal And Enhancing Its AI
Legal technology company Filevine has acquired Pincites, an AI-powered contract redlining company, in a deal that moves the company further …
Lessons From The ABA’s Second Report On The Next Phase Of Legal AI
As 2025 draws to a close, one theme has defined the year: Artificial Intelligence (AI). No matter where you looked …
Payers Made A Bold Prior Auth Commitment In 2025. Here’s What To Expect In 2026.
The post Payers Made A Bold Prior Auth Commitment In 2025. Here’s What To Expect In 2026. appeared first on …
Morning Docket: 12.23.25
* JP Morgan committed itself by agreement to pay Charlie Javice’s bills and is very annoyed about having to shell …
Lindsey Halligan Won’t Quit While She’s Behind — See Also
The DOJ Wants To Appeal Comey And James: Fail, fail, fail again. Bonus News: Haynes Boone, Seward & Kissel. Behind …
No Christmas For You!
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! In 1659, Christmas celebrations were banned in what …
Adventures In Legal Tech: What Exactly Is Agentic AI?
Just when you thought you’ve mastered generative AI, it’s time to enter the world of agentic AI. With all of …
Thomson Reuters White Paper: The Future Is Here — It’s Just Not Evenly Distributed
AI here, AI there, AI everywhere. That seems to be the trend. But are we willing to cede good lawyer …
Merger Madness To Continue In 2026 So Some Biglaw Firms Can ‘Survive’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I doubt that Cadwalader will be the last firm …
‘AI Is A Public Health Intervention’: Kara Peterson On Why Access To Law Is A Justice Issue, Not Just A Legal One
When Kara Peterson co-founded descrybe.ai, she wasn’t just launching a legal tech startup. She was applying the logic of public …
Guess Which Biglaw Firm Just Hitched Onto The Bonus Money Train?
Few things brighten up the holiday season like lump sums hitting your bank account. Seward & Kissel is in the …
An Inside Look At The Law Firm’s Law Firm
In this episode of the Jabot podcast, I chat with Sandra Cohen, co-managing partner at Cohen & Buckmann. Sandra shares …
Once A Real Estate Developer …
Imagine you’re a real estate developer. Imagine you’re trying to entice North Korea to come to the negotiating table over …
Lindsey Halligan Resolves To Embarrass Herself At SCOTUS In 2026
On Friday, the Justice Department noticed its intent to appeal in US v. Comey and US v. James. The government …
Biglaw Firm’s Black-Box Bonuses Seem To Be A Market Match
As Biglaw firms jockey to position themselves as compensation leaders — or at least avoid being labeled as laggards — …
New Trump Space Policy Sets 2028 Deadline For Moon Base, Golden Dome Prototype
The post New Trump Space Policy Sets 2028 Deadline For Moon Base, Golden Dome Prototype appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 12.22.25
* The Trump administration broke the Epstein files disclosure statute, but can anyone do anything about it? [The Guardian] * …
Mega Merger Just In Time For The Holidays — See Generally
Cadwalader Joining Up With Hogan Lovells: After a few months of merger chatter, we have a new home for America’s …
Fighting Firm Pays Its Associates Handsomely! — See Also
WilmerHale Is Paying Out Bonus!: Having a backbone pays the bills! Associates At Top 50 Firm Can Make Up To …
The ‘Severe’ Stress Of Leading An In-House Legal Department
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a survey by the Association of …
CMS’ ACCESS Model: A New Push To Rewire Medicare Around Outcomes?
The post CMS’ ACCESS Model: A New Push To Rewire Medicare Around Outcomes? appeared first on Above the Law.
ATL Top Outside Counsel Quiz
Earlier this month, we released our 2025 Outside Counsel Rankings, highlighting the go-to law firms for in-house counsel. In addition …
Anti-Zionism Is Antisemitism With A New Haircut
We were Jews before we were anything else, one Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice remarked at a Democratic Jewish event in …
Biglaw’s New Recruiting Style Is Forcing First-Year Law Students To Make Decisions They’re ‘Not Ready’ For
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It’s putting students in a position to make choices …
More Novice Lawyers Should Volunteer At Legal Aid Clinics
Pro bono matters can be an invaluable experience for rookie lawyers. Depending on the law firm, many new attorneys might …
Avast Ye Mateys! Republicans Introduce Bill To Bring Back Pirates To Fight Drug Cartels
Mike Lee is a United States Senator, a former Supreme Court clerk, and a deeply unserious clown. Lee’s new “Patriots …
The Future Of Legal Services: It May Not Be What We Think
But I am Omus. Emperor of Delta Three. I don’t want to hear any more. I don’t think I even …
Botched No Bill For Tish James Reveals Halligan’s Case Is Bullshit
On Wednesday, Politico was first to report that cosplay US Attorney Lindsey Halligan got no-billed again in her pursuit of …
Top 25 Biglaw Firm Announces Bonuses
You know why you’re here. King & Spalding just hitched onto the bonus train! They’ve been raking in the cash, …
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 …
How Filevine’s New DraftAI Cuts Out Hours Of Writing Work
After years of being a market leader in case management software, Filevine has built a reputation for making lawyers’ jobs …
From Pilot To Playbook: How One Nonprofit Reaped The Benefits Of AI
What happens when a nonprofit embraces AI not for the hype, but for the help? In the latest episode of …
Top 50 Biglaw Firm Offers Associates Bonuses On Top Of Bonuses On Top Of Bonuses, Up To $218K!
Biglaw firms have largely fallen in line with the prevailing market rate (i.e., the Cravath/Milbank scale for year-end and special …
Biglaw Firm Targeted By Trump Delights With Associate Bonuses
This year, WilmerHale ponied up to fight the good fight against the Trumpian Executive Order designed to break the major law firm …
The ‘Koozie’ People Bullied A Wooden Drink Sleeve Product, ‘Woodzie’, Into A Name Change
I’ve said it roughly a zillion times: trademark bullying exists because it works. One of the unfortunate inequities of our system is …
Morning Docket: 12.19.25
* Trump orders looser restrictions on marijuana… immediately after passing harsher new laws on hemp. Certainly no dementia at work …
Firms Merge To Make The 5th Largest Firm By Revenue! — See Also
Hogan Lovells To Merge With Cadwalader: They’ll still be HoLove in our hearts. A Quiet Bonus Announcement: Morgan Lewis announced …
The Biglaw Firm Trying To Figure Out What The Hell Has Gone Wrong With Michigan Football
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Following the firing and arrest of Michigan football …
A Super-Competitive Admissions Cycle At Top Law Schools Will Be ‘Brutal’ For Would-Be Law Students
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. This is looking to be a brutal year for …
Rape Allegation Rocks Major Biglaw Firm
Proceeding under the name Jane Doe, a former associate at DLA Piper has filed suit alleging that Brian Biggs, then …
Man Files Civil Rights Lawsuit After Being Arrested Over A Meme
One of the signs you’ve begun thinking like a lawyer is when you happen upon a news story and reflexively …
ABA Task Force: AI Has Moved From Experiment To Infrastructure For The Legal Profession
Artificial intelligence is no longer an abstract or experimental technology for lawyers – it is rapidly becoming core infrastructure for …
Dershowitz Tells Trump Constitution Is ‘Not Clear’ On Third Term, Continuing Transition From Scholar To MAGA Crank
Alan Dershowitz continues his late-in-life transition from esteemed Harvard Law School scholar to Temu Eli Cash with an upcoming book …
Your 2026 Affirmations
I love those little calendars you put on your desk that have daily affirmations. In my last piece, I discussed …
4 Ways Your Firm Can Build Economic Resilience
Even during boom times, economic challenges may be lurking around the corner. That’s why it’s critical for law firms to …
Cadwalader To Merge With Hogan Lovells, Creating Historic Law Firm Powerhouse
Cadwalader, Wall Street’s oldest firm, has had a rough go of things this year. In the wake of the firm’s …
Boutique Firm Obliterates The Market With Bonuses Up To $355K, With Specials Up To $160K On Top
Boutique firms continue to dominate when it comes to associate compensation this bonus season. Plenty of firms can match Cravath’s year-end …
3 Ways Professional-Grade AI Differs From Consumer Solutions
The integration of AI into legal practice has reached a critical inflection point, and the risks of choosing the wrong …
From Briefs To Blazers: How Jessica Markham Built Jurisdiction Clothing While Running A Law Firm
Jurisdiction isn’t just a legal concept. It’s a destination that exists in the form of an eponymous curated boutique, Jurisdiction …
Holiday Parties: Yay Or Nay?
Is there anything worse than a holiday office party? I can think of nothing less fun than spending several hours …
Step Up: Turning Reflection Into Momentum For The New Year
The turn of a new year always brings a certain energy: an invitation to pause, breathe, and take stock of …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm Offered Market Bonuses Early And Under The Radar
This bonus season has been a mad dash to match the Cravath/Milbank year-end and special bonuses that have become the …
Coalition Of Pharmacy Groups Urges Congress To Enact PBM Reform
The post Coalition Of Pharmacy Groups Urges Congress To Enact PBM Reform appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 12.18.25
* As Trump administration braces for loss in tariff case, it’s time to take stock of how unbelievably bad this …
$770K In Bonuses?! — See Also
Boutique Firm Blows The Market Out Of The Water!: Never a better time to work at Bursor & Fisher! They …
Nick Reiner’s Attorney Is Used To The Spotlight
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Nick Reiner hired what Los Angeles criminal defense …
Boutique Trial Firm Announces Huge Bonuses With A Personal Touch
No one likes another call when they’re already swamped with work, but Hueston Hennigan just gave all of their associates …
Get Ready For U.S. News Law School Rankings To Make No Sense
Once upon a time, the U.S. News & World Report law school rankings served a purpose. Not a particularly noble …
Brand New Biglaw Firm Delights With Associate Bonuses
It was only earlier this year that the Biglaw world got its latest mega firm following the merger of Herbert …
In 2025, Trump’s Justice Department Was Fodder For An Endless Parade Of Legal Blunders And Public Embarrassment
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. They shoot first, they aim later, and even then, …
Biglaw Firm Rewards Extra Work With Above Market Bonuses!
Sometimes extra money comes with extra work. Foley & Lardner is paying their associates handsomely — $25k above market in …
Returning To The Firm After Parental Leave: Why It Feels So Hard — And How To Do It Well
Ed. note: This article is part of Parental Leave & The Legal Profession, a special series for Above the Law …
Elite IP Boutique Is Showering Associates With More Money Than Biglaw
Whoever said bigger is better did not know about elite boutique law firms. While Biglaw might be the standard bearer …
We Could Not Have A Less Christmassy President If Ebenezer Scrooge Sat In The Oval Office
I wish I could write something positive given the time of year. I really do. Normally I’m downright cheerful around …
Small Firm, Big Money: Boutique Firm Hands Out Biglaw Market Bonuses
Here we go again: Yet another boutique law firm is stepping up to the plate to offer its associates Biglaw …
At Least The Robots In The Coming War Against Humans Will Understand War Crimes
If you want 2025 in a nutshell, it doesn’t get much better than a blundering Secretary of Defense bragging that …
Biglaw Firm Shows Appreciation With Huge Bonuses
Traditions matter at law firms, and few are more important than paying your associates a hell of a lot of …
How The One Big Beautiful Bill Act Could Reshape Law Firms
A moment of change and opportunity Across the legal world, a familiar tension is back: clients tightening budgets and firms …
Elite Boutique Cleans Its Plate With Market-Crushing Associate Bonuses
There’s a reason we’ve been referring to the 2025 bonus season as the year of the boutique firm. While Biglaw …
How Artificial Intelligence Is Quickly Changing Case Strategy Development
Law firm litigators are facing a pivotal moment. Caseloads are growing in complexity and volume while client expectations are shifting. …
Top Biglaw Firm Matches Market Bonuses — If Associates Bill Enough
Biglaw bonus season is in full swing and the top firms are shelling out big bucks to show associates just …
Elite Trial Boutique Offers Gigantic Bonuses Of Up To More Than $770K To Associates
Biglaw firms continue to match Cravath’s year-end bonuses and Milbank’s special bonuses, but it’s the boutique firms where associates will really have …
‘What Else Is Going To Change?’: What ACIP’s Hep B Guidance Means For The Future Of Vaccines
The post ‘What Else Is Going To Change?’: What ACIP’s Hep B Guidance Means For The Future Of Vaccines appeared …
Morning Docket: 12.17.25
* Minority law school enrollment declines at most schools. [NY Times] * Harvard morgue manager sentenced to 8 years. This …
Bonuses For The Holidays! — See Also
Susman Godfrey’s Bonuses Punch Above The Market!: They’re doing good work and the money shows! But Wait, There’s More!: Check …
Law Schools Are Increasingly Popular
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data from the Council of the …
Why Lawyers Keep Casting Blind And How A Lawyer Coach Can Help You Hit The Right Water
A few days after a fruitful guided fishing trip with my son, I told the story of our bounty to …
AI Summit 2025: 10 Takeaways And Some Unanswered Questions
I walked into the AI Summit with hard questions about industry maturity, infrastructure challenges, and implementation realities. My previous coverage …
Cadwalader Promotes Big Partner Class Amid Merger Talks
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We’re thrilled to share this news. The past year …
Trump Lawyer Fight Club: Marc Kasowitz Sued By Former Partner Eric Herschmann
Entropy rules the universe, no matter how closely you flirt with authoritarians. Once upon a time, Marc Kasowitz and Eric …
Biglaw Firm Rewards Their Whole Team With Huge Bonuses
Susman Godfrey made their fair share of Above the Law headlines this year for reminding the Trump administration that some …
Holidays Come Early For Top 20 Biglaw Firm
Last year, Goodwin announced its bonus structure in early January. Not that there’s anything necessarily wrong about that — many …
The 2025 Outside Counsel Rankings: Top Law Firms By Industry
Last week, we released our Outside Counsel Rankings, an annual look at the Biglaw firms corporate law departments depend on …
Anatomy Of A Modern Merger: Finding Long-Term Success
Ed. note: Last in a series. You’ve successfully navigated the pre-merger phase. Your deal has closed. Your legal department has …
Boutique Law Firm With Biglaw Cash
One of the most consistent themes of this year’s bonus season is that big bonuses are not just for Biglaw. …
Above The Law’s 2025 Lawyer Of The Year Contest: Nominations Needed
With 2025 nearly in the rearview mirror, we thought it would be a good time to solicit nominations for Above …
Aderant And Harvey Announce Partnership To Bridge The Gap Between Business And Practice Of Law
The post Aderant And Harvey Announce Partnership To Bridge The Gap Between Business And Practice Of Law appeared first on …
Health Experts Warn Of ‘Devastating’ Impact After Senate Rejects ACA Tax Credit Extension
The post Health Experts Warn Of ‘Devastating’ Impact After Senate Rejects ACA Tax Credit Extension appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 12.16.25
* Paul Weiss is in the newly released Epstein files to perfectly round out the firm’s year in the news. …
Huge Bonuses And Lindsey Halligan Humiliation — See Also
Lindsey Halligan (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images) The Losses Keep Coming: A third no-bill and an evidence lockout! Boutique Firms …
The Supreme Court’s Got Game
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What is the unofficial nickname for the U.S. …
Stop Outsourcing By Instinct: Otto Hanson On How Legal Teams Can Turn Contract Review Into A Strategic Asset
If your in-house legal team is still picking outside counsel based on legacy relationships, hunches, or internal reputation, you’re not …
Defending The Indefensible
(Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images) I understand both sides of the argument about blowing up boats allegedly carrying …
AI Email Tools For Legal: A Time Saver Or Emperor Without Clothes?
“These must indeed be splendid clothes! Had I such a suit I might at once…be able to distinguish the wise …
ATL Holiday Card Contest: The Finalists! (2025)
(Image via Getty) Hanukkah is here, Christmas is nearly upon us, and everyone in the legal profession is ready to …
ICE Accidentally Publishes A ‘Watch List’ Of Immigration Lawyers, Which Is Definitely A Normal Thing For The Government To Do
Did you have immigration lawyer watch list on your 2025 authoritarianism BINGO card? If so, congrats! But for everyone else, …
Biglaw’s Latest Transatlantic Merger Will Be Complete Come May 2026
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It’s what we believe our clients want from their …
ACA Health Care Premiums Are Spiking… Is Your Firm Doing Anything About It?
At the end of the month, the enhanced Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that millions of Americans rely on to …
Lindsey Halligan Humiliated In Court. Again.
Lindsey Halligan had another bad week at her pretend job as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. First …
The Missing Piece In Agentic AI: Shape The Habits That Power Real Adoption
Here’s what we know: 80% of legal teams are using generative AI according to ILTA’s 2025 Technology Survey. That’s impressive …
Boutique Firm Brings In A Fresh Breeze Of Bonuses!
Choosing to work at a boutique firm can come with the tradeoff of not making the market rate. Unless, of …
Inside Biglaw’s Most Over-The-Top Holiday Competition
Last year, I covered Seward & Kissel’s annual Ugly Sweater Contest from afar. This year, the firm offered me the …
How Legal Intelligence Is Bringing In A New Era Of Litigation For Plaintiff Firms
For decades, plaintiff-side litigation has relied on a reactive model. A breaking news story. A whistleblower. A walk-in client. A …
Elite Boutique Once Again Wows Associates With Bonuses 175% Above The Market Rate
Biglaw and boutique firms continue to match Cravath’s year-end bonuses and Milbank’s special bonuses, but some firms are offering even more. The latest …
4 Things To Know About The Texas Lawsuit Against Epic
The post 4 Things To Know About The Texas Lawsuit Against Epic appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 12.15.25
* Lawyer demands IRS recognize pets as dependents. [Forbes] * How many laws does Santa Clause break in one night. …
Tracking Biglaw Bonuses And War Crimes — See Generally
Bonus Tracker Season Officially Begins: Clear your calendars, mute your partners, and keep refreshing — the market has opinions and …
Since When Can Presidents Do That? — See Also
President Trump Pardons Election Denier For State Crimes: What part of Federalism is this? See If You Can Catch All …
Do We Actually Believe What Biglaw Leaders Are Saying About Equity Partnership?
(Image via Getty) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the newly released …
Stat(s) Of The Week: New Study Reveals Gender Ambition Gap
Despite equal devotion to their work, there is a “notable ambition gap” between men and women, according to a new …
Lawyers Should Avoid Using Work Computers For Personal Tasks
Lawyers are often expected to spend an inordinate amount of time at work billing hours and completing other work-related tasks. As …
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 …
District Judge Shames ICE For Not Feeding Detainee
Arresting people and putting them under your custody is one of the most serious ways that the state can intervene …
Some Biglaw Firms Are Reportedly Not Matching Special Bonuses, And Associates Are Pissed
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. At the end of the day, everybody just wants …
Trump AI Regulation Order Hallucinates More Fake Law Than Any AI
Donald Trump signed an executive order yesterday purporting to block states from artificial intelligence regulation. Can a president unilaterally invent …
Elon’s Crying Censorship Over An EU Fine That Has Nothing To Do With Censorship
(Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) Elon Musk is now calling for the dissolution of the European Union because it fined …
Trump Pardons MAGA Election Denier For State Crimes Because When You’re A Star, They Let You Do It
Donald Trump is thinking outside the box. He wasn’t elected because of his color-inside-the-laws, paint-by-Constitution thinking. MAGA wants results! Or …
Take Our Law Firm Compensation Survey!
We are hearing lots about bonuses at Biglaw firms (and a few elite boutiques) these days, which is great — …
Brown Rudnick’s Global Life Sciences Practice Group Co-Leaders Outline The Opportunities Defining Today’s Market
Navigating a life sciences market marked by relentless innovation, shifting deal dynamics, and global competitive pressures requires more than technical …
Biglaw Voltron, Assemble! Winston & Strawn And Taylor Wessing Explore Combining Into One Even Bigger Firm
Do we have another mega Biglaw firm on the horizon? According to reporting from Bloomberg Law, Winston & Strawn and …
Firm That Shocked The Market On Salaries Unveils Bonuses With Massive Bumps Up To $240,000
Biglaw bonus season has been largely predictable, with many top firms playing follow the leader when it comes to their …
Morning Docket: 12.12.25
* DOJ flops in third effort to properly indict Tish James. Only two more and the DOJ gets a free …
Rep. Adam Smith Criticizes National Security Strategy, Golden Dome Uncertainty
The post Rep. Adam Smith Criticizes National Security Strategy, Golden Dome Uncertainty appeared first on Above the Law.
So Much Bonus Money! — See Also
Boutiques Are Sharing The Wealth: Perry Law, Pallas Partners, and Ross Aronstam & Moritz! As Are Biglaw Firms!: Freshfields and …
The Seat Of The Legal Industry’s Expansion
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the newly released the 2026 Citi …
Morning At AI Summit: Tech Debt, Cultural Debt, Whack-A-Mole, And The Benefits Of ‘I Don’t Know’
The AI Summit kicked off on December the 10th with some fireside chats with various business leaders about how they …
Incident Response Has Become A Law Firm Survival Skill
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
Law Firm Merger Mania Likely To Continue In 2026
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. When you’re operating in a modest demand growth environment …
Another Elite Litigation Boutique Comes Over The Top Of Biglaw For Year-End Bonuses
We’ve declared 2025 the year of the litigation boutique and the bonuses they’re showering on associates is proof positive the …
Another Boutique Firm Comes In With Above-Market Bonuses
Biglaw has a reputation for paying their associates a lot of money, but boutique firms are consistently handing out bonuses …
Top 15 Global Biglaw Firm Unveils Its Year-End Bonus Scale
Biglaw’s bonus season is moving right on schedule, with firms steadily matching the now-prevailing scales. Cravath once again set the …
New Lawsuit Seeks To Find Out What Exactly Is Up With Capitulating Biglaw Firms’ Deals With Trump
One of the most important legal stories of this year — hell, probably this decade — is the craven capitulation …
Latham Honored As ‘Pro Bono Innovator,’ Without Mentioning That ‘$125 Million Trump Extortion’ Thing
Every year, Bloomberg Law honors select law firms as Pro Bono Innovators. This year, the publication profiled Latham & Watkins …
Top 25 Biglaw Firm Promises Happy Holidays For Associates With Bonus Cheer
The winter holidays are just around the corner, but Biglaw firms still have ample time to give their associates the …
My Chatbot For Young Lawyers: ‘Ask Frank’
I recently created a chatbot (based on my e-books, which are free on my LinkedIn profile, and 10 years of …
Boutique Firm Joins The Bonus Stampede At Full Market Rate
Boutique law firms continue to show the market what they’re made of when it comes to their financial prowess, by …
Don’t Forget: Deadline Is Nearing To Apply For The Startup Alley Competition At ABA Techshow
A reminder to all legal tech startups: The deadline is approaching to apply for a spot in the 10th annual …
Mark Cuban: Employers Are Unknowingly Profiting From Sick Workers’ Drug Costs
The post Mark Cuban: Employers Are Unknowingly Profiting From Sick Workers’ Drug Costs appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 12.11.25
* Citi preaches positive outlook for law firms next year. In fairness, bankruptcy work still counts as demand. [Yahoo Finance] …
$300K Bonuses?! — See Also
These Firms Are Really Giving Back To Their Associates!: Great time to work at Boies Schiller or Kellogg Hansen! Another …
Letitia James’s Biglaw Hire
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to recent reports, New York Attorney General …
Professor Files Federal Lawsuit After Charlie Kirk Comment Retaliation
There’s been a recent wave of First Amendment cases coming out of red state public universities. The University of Florida …
The DOJ Might Want To Stop Insulting Judges On Social Media
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The Justice Department should not be criticizing the judges …
Pentagon Unveils New GenAI Platform, It Immediately Starts Flagging Pete Hegseth’s War Crimes
Earlier this week, the Defense Department announced its new generative AI tool — GenAi.mil — to deliver the benefits of …
Elite Firm Delights Associates With Bonuses Up To $300,000
Fresh off announcing a round of especially generous special bonuses, Kellogg Hansen is back with a round of truly unbelievable …
LexisNexis Protégé Announces Glow-Up As It Hopes To Be One-Stop Legal AI Shop
Less than two months after commercially launching Protégé General AI, LexisNexis is back with a next-generation update. The company unveiled …
Judge Emil Bove’s MAGA Rally Field Trip Sparks Judicial Misconduct Complaint
Emil Bove’s confirmation to the Third Circuit was already a Category 5 ethics disaster, what with the whole alleged “let’s …
This Is Why We Have Bar Exams
Kim Kardashian is trying to enter the legal profession without a law school education. The bar exam is a deeply …
$300,000 Bonuses For Junior Associates? Bonuses 8x The Market Rate? This Biglaw Firm’s Spin On Bonuses Brings In A LOT Of Cash
Bonus time is exciting in Biglaw, in that there’s a lot of money headed to associates’ bank accounts. But it …
Sure, Swift Kicks To The Sternum For All Tech CEOs, But How About An AI Robot That Can Clean The Damn John?
Are we in an AI bubble? Are we not in an AI bubble? Round and round the blabbering goes, with …
Boutique That Broke Away From Capitulating Biglaw Firm Hands Out Bonuses That Really Pack A Punch
Dunn Isaacson Rhee has had one heck of a year — less than a year, actually. The boutique was founded …
Trump’s Liberation Day Tariffs Are On Shaky Legal Ground As They Appear To Be A Stealth Consumption Tax
(Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) President Donald Trump’s signature tariffs are being scrutinized by the Supreme Court after …
Trump Admin Should ‘Go Farther’ On Rewrite Of Acquisition Regulations: Industry Org
The post Trump Admin Should ‘Go Farther’ On Rewrite Of Acquisition Regulations: Industry Org appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 12.10.25
* Sullivan & Cromwell argues that Trump’s state criminal charges — over behavior he undertook when he wasn’t president — …
The Boutique Money Is Beautiful — See Also
Kellogg Hansen Comes In Over The Market!: Big money from a small firm! Boutique Money Is Bigger In Texas: Check …
Being A Lawyer Is Super Popular Right Now
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the ABA’s latest Profile of the …
5 Year-End Tax Moves That Could Save Lawyers Thousands In Retirement
We’re in early December, which means you have a few weeks left to make meaningful adjustments to your 2025 tax …
Big Bonuses Aren’t Just For Biglaw
More proof that boutique law firms can play with the Big(law) boys when it comes to associate bonuses! Today, Texas-based …
Are Judicial Clerkships A Hazard, Or Is There A Clerkship for Everybody?
Soon after I launched The Legal Accountability Project (LAP), I met with a Washington University in St. Louis School of …
Merged No More: Global Biglaw Firm Set To Split Up Come Spring 2026
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. This development reflects the different strategic horizons of our …
Sotomayor Had Trump Administration On The Ropes And Let ‘Em Off The Hook
The oral argument in Trump v. Slaughter lived up to the hype. Not so much like a sporting event, but …
AI Summit 2025: Hard Questions Or More Hype?
This week, the 10th annual AI Summit kicks off at the cavernous Javits Center in New York City. The promoters …
White Supremacist’s Return To Law School Put On Pause
In a surprising turn of events, class will not be in session for Preston Damsky! For now, at least. To …
This Elite Boutique Is Handing Out Special Bonuses That Would Make Biglaw Blush
Another day, another elite law boutique that’s offering bonuses to their associates that blow the prevailing market bonuses at Biglaw …
Job Of The Month: Real Estate Associate To Partner Opportunity
Getty Images Kinney Recruiting is working closely with a nationally renowned Boutique in Chicago on a search for an experienced …
The 2025 Outside Counsel Rankings: The Top Law Firms According To In-House Counsel
We are pleased to release our eighth annual ranking of the Top Outside Counsel, featuring the law firms that clients …
Don’t Be A Grinch: Submit Your Law Firm’s Holiday Card For Our 17th Annual Contest
The post Don’t Be A Grinch: Submit Your Law Firm’s Holiday Card For Our 17th Annual Contest appeared first on …
Film Studios, News Media, And Even Competitor LexisNexis Among The 9 Amicus Briefs Supporting Thomson Reuters’ Copyright Case Against ROSS
The long-running copyright litigation between Thomson Reuters and ROSS Intelligence is now pending in the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals …
Adam Smith Details NDAA Deal, Blasts Pentagon Secrecy At Reagan National Defense Forum
The post Adam Smith Details NDAA Deal, Blasts Pentagon Secrecy At Reagan National Defense Forum appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 12.09.25
* There are officially more lawyers than ever. [Law.com] * Supreme Court describes a century of precedent as a “dried …
First They Stood Up, Now You Have To Come In — See Also
Jenner & Block Expects Associates In 4 Days A Week: The change is set for March 1st, 2026. Harvard Law …
Golden Globe-Nominated Lawyer Has Had Quite The Career
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Today, the Golden Globes announced nominees in the …
Empowering Administrative Professionals To Drive Technology Adoption
Getty Images Ed. note: This article first appeared in an ILTA publication. When law firms discuss technology adoption, the spotlight …
Like Lawyers In Pompeii: Is Legal Ignoring The Coming AI Trust Crisis? (Part III)
Picture this: A senior partner at a major firm now spends her evenings personally checking every citation in briefs drafted …
Stop Outsourcing By Instinct: How Basha Rubin Says Legal Can Turn Vendor Selection Into A Strategic Asset
In-house legal teams spend tens, sometimes hundreds, of millions annually on outside counsel. And yet, far too often, the selection …
Trump Wants To Regulate AI On A National Basis — Because What Could Go Wrong There?
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. There must be only One Rulebook if we are …
Harvard Law Professor Arrested By ICE Following Shooting Incident
Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, was arrested earlier this year following a shooting incident in front of Temple …
Alina Habba Quits Job She Never Legally Held
Alina Habba announced today that she is “stepping down” from her position as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of …
Biglaw’s Worst Enemy Isn’t AI, It’s Clients Using AI to Stop Paying Them
Corporate law departments have embraced their inner-DIY urge. Thankfully, instead of attempting to gut their kitchens after binging HGTV, these …
Sabrina Carpenter Wins Musical Feud With The White House, They Move On To Her Comedy Career
Last week, the White House decided to release a Juno-backed musical montage of ICE arresting people on Twitter. Having none …
A Vigilante Military
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Call me a skeptic from the start: If you wanted to keep criminals from bringing cocaine …
DOJ Locked Out Of Comey Evidence It Never Should Have Had
Sometimes, the wheels of justice turn slowly. Sometimes they move at warp speed. This is one of the latter, thanks …
First This Firm Defeated Trump’s Executive Order — Now It’s Ordering Lawyers To Spend More Time At The Office
Who would have thought that in 2025, Biglaw firms would be forced onto the front lines in a battle for …
Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase Oversight Of PBMs
The post Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase Oversight Of PBMs appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 12.08.25
* Inside the Bernstein Litowitz drama following Musk case. [Financial Times] * Supreme Court set to hear argument on executing …
Your Honor, May The Record Reflect… Dicks v. Kuntz — See Generally
Serious Case, Extremely Not-Serious Caption: Get ready to giggle like you’re 12-years old again. “Shrug” Is Not Really The Response …
We Notice If You Notice — See Also
White-Collar Crime Matters If You Disrespect Trump: It’s a very clear “We go after our political enemies” message. The Art …
The Biglaw Power Behind The Netflix/Warner Brothers Deal
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which Biglaw firm was counsel for Netflix in …
With ACA Subsidies Set To Expire And The Open Enrollment Window Closing, Members Of Congress Brainstorm Alternatives
The post With ACA Subsidies Set To Expire And The Open Enrollment Window Closing, Members Of Congress Brainstorm Alternatives appeared …
Micro-Video Funnels: How To Drive Consults From 15-Second Clips
Short-form videos at varying lengths have been popularized across a variety of digital surfaces over the past few years. The …
Like Lawyers In Pompeii: Is Legal Ignoring The Coming AI Crisis? (Part II)
We read about it every day. A lawyer uses a large language model (LLM) to do some research. They copy …
Stat(s) Of The Week: The Firm That Salvaged Biglaw’s Rep
Last month, Forbes released its second annual ranking of America’s Best Companies. Five hundred businesses are on the list. Just …
Neil Gorsuch Writes Children’s Book Celebrating ‘Heroes Of 1776’ Ahead Of 250th Anniversary Of Declaration Of Independence
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I just wanted to share with children some stories …
Todd Blanche To White-Collar Lawyers: Criticize Trump Administration And We’ll ‘Notice’
Todd Blanche, Deputy Attorney General and longtime Trump loyalist, dropped a rhetorical anvil on the white-collar bar this week at a …
The New York Times Sues Pete Hegseth And DoD For Right To Report The News
The Founders envisioned a strong press as a foundational part of our burgeoning democracy. A strong press makes it easier …
The Art Of The Attorney Exit Email
One of the small rituals of law firm life is that attorneys frequently send exit emails to the colleagues they …
DOJ Adds Another No Bill To Its Trophy Case
Donald Trump’s Ragin’ Revenge Tour bombed in yet another venue yesterday, as a grand jury in Norfolk no-billed his effort …
The Hidden Costs Of ‘Good Enough’ Legal Case Management
Legacy legal systems offer a deceptive sense of security, with familiar workflows, known interfaces, and no immediate disruption. But beneath …
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 …
Our Founders Would Abhor What The USPTO Is Doing With The Patent System
Last week I wrote about how the US Patent and Trademark Office is pushing a rule change that would effectively neuter the …
Morning Docket: 12.05.25
* Supreme Court majority — without justification — allows Texas to gerrymander its maps. Now the work begins for the …
Keeping Out The Kardashians — See Also
Defending The Bar Exam Points To An Unexpected Icon: You can acknowledge the bar exam sucks AND that Kim Kardashian …
Lawyers Will Now Have To Pinky Swear Not To Be Jerks
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Beginning in 2026, which state will become the …
The Post-Thanksgiving Turkey Trot: Who’s The Biggest Turkey?
The standard definition of “turkey” is a fowl eaten on Thanksgiving Day. But there’s another, slang, definition: In AI speak, a …
Fastcase Files Lawsuit Against Alexi Over Alleged Data Misuse And Trademark Infringement
Legal research technology company Fastcase, which is now owned by Clio, has filed a federal lawsuit against AI-powered legal research …
From Business Plan To Cornerstone Prompt: Narrowing The Gap Between Idea And Implementation When Starting A Law Firm
For decades, conventional wisdom was that a business plan was a necessary prerequisite to launching a law firm. Trouble was, …
The Best Online Law School Programs In America (2026)
Would-be lawyers continue to seek flexible pathways into the study of law, and many law schools have finally entered the …
Trump Administration’s Cease And Desist Playlist Gains Another Star
Sabrina Carpenter is known for many things, namely her catchy coffee themed tunes and SNL-worthy humor. And while Sabrina rubbed …
Biglaw Bonus Train Keeps Chugging Along As Top 50 Firm Gets On Board To Drop Cash For Associates
Compensation news continues to spread across the Biglaw landscape, and associates couldn’t be happier. From Am Law 200 firms to …
Super Busy? You’ll Get A Bonus Worthy Of A ‘Superstar’ At This Biglaw Firm
Bonus news is still coming in at Biglaw firms. The latest firm to announce a market match on associate bonuses …
Actually, Kim Kardashian Is The Best Argument FOR The Bar Exam
In The Washington Post, NYU adjunct professor Max Raskin advances the entirely defensible claim that the bar exam is a …
The Lawyer’s Guide To The Holidays
Thanksgiving is in the rearview, and the December holidays are upon us. Consider this your holiday lawyer’s guide. In no particular order, …
In Addition To Year-End Bonuses, This Biglaw Firm Is Offering Associates ‘Super Bonuses’ Of Up To $200K
Biglaw firms are busy matching the prevailing market rate for bonuses, but at some firms, matching the market scale set …
The Courtroom Tech Maze No One Asked For
Technological advancements have occurred at unprecedented rates over the past decade, and the release of generative AI has only accelerated …
J.P. Morgan Eyeing Both Defense Startups And Legacy Firms For $10B Investment Push: Execs
WASHINGTON — As part of a new initiative aimed at bolstering national security, JPMorganChase has pledged to invest $10 billion …
Morning Docket: 12.04.25
* Should lawyers take a civility oath to cut down on bad behavior? Please stop laughing. [Reuters] * Republicans launch …
Messy Law School Breakups Aren’t Just For Students — See Also
Law Professor Files Title IX Complaint Mid Divorce: The school is ready for the court battle. Today’s Bonus Announcement!: McKool …
Law School’s Link To Modern Law Of War
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln commissioned Francis …
FTC Blames High Law School Costs On ABA Accreditation
There are many reasons that law schools cost a shit ton of money to attend. Books are expensive and inflation …
Dems Call Out Shady Handling Of Jack Smith Subpoena
Chairman Jordan has denied Special Counsel Jack Smith’s offer to speak publicly to the whole Congress and the whole country …
College Quarterback Asks Trump For Executive Order Expanding Playoffs, In Case You’re Wondering About The Quality Of Civics Education
Vanderbilt fancies itself the “Harvard of the South,” but perhaps we’ve let the institution skate on that epithet for a …
Another Biglaw Firm Takes the Texas Plunge
Fennemore Craig is officially packing its boots and heading to Texas. The Am Law 200 firm announced a merger with …
A Bad Week For Trump’s Fake U.S. Attorneys
While most of us celebrated Thanksgiving, some of Trump’s phony U.S. Attorneys were the real turkeys. First, a conservative leaning …
The (Economic, Rhetorical, And Physical) Beatings Will Continue Until The Presidential Approval Rating Improves!
(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) It is difficult for today’s youth to believe, but the snarky T-shirt is a relatively …
Top Law School Accused Of ‘Sham’ Title IX Investigation In Wake Of Professors’ Divorce
Buckle up, the allegations in this lawsuit against the University of Southern California are wild. USC Gould School of Law …
Higher Drug Prices, No Tariffs: U.K. Trade Pact Shows How Trump Is Coaxing Countries To Pay More For Meds
The post Higher Drug Prices, No Tariffs: U.K. Trade Pact Shows How Trump Is Coaxing Countries To Pay More For …
This Firm Is Keeping It ‘Kool’ With Supersized Associate Bonuses
Some firms enjoy keeping it cool with associates by offering bonuses on top of bonuses to flex their financial prowess. …
Morning Docket: 12.03.25
* Elite law firms are doing all the heavy lifting among the Am Law 50. [American Lawyer] * Trump administration …
Legal Gatekeepers Leave Gate Open For Lindsey Halligan — See Also
Virginia Is For Responsibility Abdicators: Virginia State Bar throws their hands up instead of holding Lindsey Halligan responsible. They’re Digging …
A Law School Good Enough For Batman
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What law school did Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, …
$3,000-An-Hour Lawyer Skirts The ‘You Can’t Be Your Own Client’s Witness’ Rule
Alex Spiro (Photo by Marlena Sloss/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Funny thing about being a lawyer and testifying on your client’s …
Why Lawyers Need To Rethink Podcasts As A Strategic Growth Strategy
In my 22 years as an entrepreneur, I have done just about everything possible to generate business. I have run …
Are Elite Firms ‘Buying The Demand’ From Top 50 Firms Through High-Profile Lateral Moves?
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The highest-profit firms are using their wallets and their …
State Makes Failed Attempt To Protect Workers Since Trump’s NLRB Won’t
New York watched the federal government give up on labor relations law and tried to do something about it. The …
Clio Reveals Leadership Roles For Former vLex Executives Following $1 Billion Acquisition
Following the completion of its historic $1 billion acquisition of vLex last month, Clio has announced the leadership positions for …
Alabama Lawyer Accused Of Trying To Murder Her Husband Three Times With Fentanyl
Well, here’s a sentence you never want to read about someone who took an oath to uphold the law: An …
Biglaw Appellate Attorney Falls To His Death While Mountain Climbing
We have some unfortunate news to report out of the Washington, D.C. legal community, where an appellate attorney at King …
Biglaw Firm Gives Associates The Best Thing To Mull Over: Bonuses!
As we roll over into December, the thanks giving (small t) continues with bonus announcements. We’re passing on some great …
Virginia State Bar Whistles Past Lindsey Halligan Ethics Complaint Claiming It’s Not Their Job
In case anyone was wondering whether state bars would step up to hold anyone accountable if the Trump administration sends …
The All-In-One Legal Tech Solution That Will Let You Cancel All Those Other Subscriptions
When law firms talk about technology, the word “ease” doesn’t always come up. But Elisabeth Alonzi, Senior Solutions Consultant at …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm Hands Out Associate Bonuses — With Even More Money For Top Performers
The week after Thanksgiving is known for being kind of a drag, but nothing lightens the mood more than Biglaw …
3 Questions For An IP Marketing Professional (Part II)
Back in August, I presented Part I of my written interview with a law firm marketing professional, Jonathan Blotner. In …
What Is Needed To Rebuild Trust In U.S. Healthcare?
The post What Is Needed To Rebuild Trust In U.S. Healthcare? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 12.02.25
* Meta learns that you can’t just block your former friend’s deposition testimony. [Law360] * DOJ considering new Comey indictment …
Dicks And Kuntz! Read All About It! — See Also
Collision Sends Two Families To Court: Serious case, but you’ve gotta admit the names are funny. Tell Us About Your …
Maybe That Whole ‘Vetting’ Thing Is Actually A Pretty Big Deal
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! How many nominations has Donald Trump withdrawn this …
Designing For The Rulebook: How AI Compliance Can Drive Smarter Innovation
Whenever new AI laws are introduced, the reaction in many companies is predictable: frustration, concern, and a scramble to adjust. …
White Supremacist Law Student Reinstated To University of Florida
Sending a White Supremacist back to class is a strange way to start the month but hey, it is Florida. …
Whose Name Should Come First When Biglaw Firms Merge? It’s Not Always The ‘Dominant Firm’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. People in the U.K. may continue to refer to …
Why Are Conservatives Trying To Dig Up William O. Douglas’s Bones In 2025?!?
While you spent the weekend working through your leftover turkey, the conservative legal movement embraced a new passion project: digging …
Above The Law’s 17th Annual Holiday Card Contest
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! With Biglaw bonus season already well underway — thanks to Cravath and …
When Dicks Sues Kuntz, The Legal Headlines Basically Write Themselves
Sometimes the legal universe gifts us a moment of pure, uncut joy… the kind of cosmic alignment where the docket …
The Dangers Of Unrestrained Partisanship
Partisans can make everything partisan. For example, who causes a standoff? Both sides. It takes two to stand off. If either …
Like Lawyers In Pompeii: Is Legal Ignoring The Coming AI Infrastructure Crisis? (Part I)
As I was drafting this piece, Cloudflare experienced an outage that froze the AI tools I needed for background information. …
AI-Driven Insights, All-In-One Functionality, Peerless Flexibility: Why More Legal Teams Are Choosing Legisway
Corporate legal departments are under immense pressure to deliver more value with fewer resources. The expectation to ‘do more with …
11th Circuit Bounces Trump’s RICO Trollsuit
Eight days. That’s how long it took the Eleventh Circuit to dropkick Donald Trump’s bid to resuscitate his RICO trollsuit …
Top 30 Biglaw Firm Shares The Wealth Through Bonuses
Biglaw associates sure are stuffed after Thanksgiving last week, and now that it’s bonus season, their bank accounts will be …
Biglaw Firm Caps Off Wild Year With Fat Special Bonuses
2025 will likely go down as one of the most memorable in Perkins Coie’s 112-year history. Obvi, the firm was …
CVS Health Exec: We Need A Better Definition Of What Good Looks Like In Behavioral Health
It’s evident that there is still a challenge with access to mental health support. There’s a provider shortage, and the …
Morning Docket: 12.01.25
* Judge suspended after being charged with the unlawful arrest of delivery driver leaving packages in the courthouse. [ABA Journal] …
LOLSuit To Cost Trump Dearly — See Generally
Eleventh Circuit Won’t Save Trump And Habba From Sanctions: The American presidency goes from “a million points of light” to …
Check The Scorecard! — See Also
Did Your Firm Announce Bonuses Yet?: We made it easy for you to catch up on (or rush) the compensation! …
Lawyer’s Permanent Mark On Your Thanksgiving Dinner
What lawyer first came up with the concept of canned cranberry sauce? Hint: It was part of an effort to …
Senator And Wife Sued For Over $5M In Unpaid Taxes And Agree To Pay Hours Later
Sen. Jim Justice of West Virginia and his wife, Cathy, reached an agreement with the I.R.S. to pay over $5 …
The ‘Dealmaker’ President Has The Worst Negotiation Skills I’ve Ever Seen In Person, In Public, Or Professionally
When I was in law school, negotiation was not a required class (it now is). Still, the reputation of our …
Jami McKeon To Step Down, Retire After Guiding Morgan Lewis Through One Of Biglaw’s Most Unpredictable Periods
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. When institutionally and governmentally and globally there’s kind of …
Trump And Habba Must Pay Million Dollar Stupid Tax, Court Confirms
Just in time for Thanksgiving, the Eleventh Circuit finally weighed in on Donald Trump’s appeal that hoped to set aside …
Dallas Attorney Missing On Appalachian Trail As Formal Search Winds Down
The search for missing Dallas attorney Charles Hosch enters a heartbreaking new phase. The longtime cybersecurity lawyer, a partner at …
Magic Circle Firm Pulls A Bonus Out Of Its Hat For Associates
Abracadabra! Biglaw bonus announcements are magically appearing in associates’ inboxes left and right, and the latest firm to unveil a …
Bonus Season Begins In Earnest
Bonus season is underway, and Biglaw firms are lining up to reward associates for a year’s worth of effort. The …
Top Biglaw Firm Connects Their Associates With Bonus Money
There’s a high-priority email associates are looking for this time of year — the one with a bonus announcement. Thankfully, …
Associate Compensation Scorecard: Biglaw’s 2025 Bonus Blitz
Since we broke the news of the market bonus scale for associates at large law firms in the United States …
As US, Ukraine Hammer Out Peace Deal, Security Guarantees Take Center Stage: Analysts
WASHINGTON — While multiple reports emerged Tuesday that Ukraine and the US have a tentative agreement on a way to …
Morning Docket: 11.26.25
* Lower court judges face escalating threats, so they will receive NO additional security. But Congress will increase Supreme Court …
Keep The Bonus News Coming! — See Also
The Latest Bonus Matches: Tis the season to be thankful at Weil and Holwell Shuster! Your Time Is Up: Statute …
Elite Boutique Firm Serves Associates A Generous Helping Of Bonus Bucks
Thanksgiving is nearly upon us, and this holiday season, Biglaw associates’ bank accounts are being stuffed like turkeys thanks to …
Law Professor Offers Pitch Perfect Response To Trump’s Latest Insult
Donald Trump recently pointed at Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey during a press gaggle aboard Air Force One and snarled, “Quiet. …
For This, I Am Still Grateful
As this year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting once again, but this time, the reflection feels heavier, …
Thomson Reuters Tells Appeals Court: ROSS’s Copying Was ‘Theft, Not Innovation’
In a redacted brief filed Nov. 19 with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Thomson Reuters urged the court …
Washington Post Analysis Shows We Are Talking Too Much And Getting Questionable Advice From LLMs — And It May All Be Discoverable
The jury is still out on how much and how soon GenAI will impact the legal profession, as I pointed …
Marc Elias: Capitulating To Trump Isn’t Strategy — It’s Surrender
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The attacks that Donald Trump has leveled against me …
CLE Webinar – Anatomy Of A Modern IP Department: The Data Behind A Shift In Strategy
Something is changing inside IP departments. And for the first time, we have the data to prove it. Above the …
Top 50 Biglaw Firm Rings In The Holiday By Announcing Bonuses!
There’s a lot of money to go around at successful firms and Weil, Gotshal & Manges is no exception! According …
How Bad Is It To Spit At Law Enforcement? Very Bad, It Turns Out.
Sean Charles Dunn, a paralegal at the Department of Justice, got acquitted in early November for throwing a Subway sandwich …
Is The Comey Case Barred By The Statute Of Limitations? It’s Complicated! (But Also Yes.)
Yesterday, Judge Cameron McGowan Currie tossed the Trump administration’s slapdash effort to criminally prosecute former FBI Director James Comey, noting …
Lawmakers Introduce Multiple Bills Aimed At Medicare Advantage Reform
A group of 13 Democratic House Representatives introduced a package of eight bills last week that would crack down on …
Morning Docket: 11.25.25
* Department of Justice make another attempt to unseal Epstein grand jury records, knowing that the courts will say no, …
Milbank Finally Answers! — See Also
The Answer To If Milbank Will Top the Scale Is!: Nah. They’re paying out market bonuses. It Pays To Work …
The Revolutionary Background Of A Law School
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which American law school was the only one …
Healthcare Organizations Slam CDC For Changing Website With Misleading Vaccine Claims
The post Healthcare Organizations Slam CDC For Changing Website With Misleading Vaccine Claims appeared first on Above the Law.
Legal Ethics Roundup: ‘Judicial Burn’ Dissent, High-Stakes Poker Player Lawyer Risks It All, AI-Faked Evidence, DOJ Misconduct & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Biglaw Firm Shortens Summer Associate Program In Effort To Make Life Less ‘Stressful’ For Law Students
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The status quo is over. We can’t continue to …
Former Biglaw Partner Calls Out Useless Congress And The ‘Evil’ President
Ty Cobb Former Hogan & Lovells partner turned White House attorney Ty Cobb is back to calling out Donald Trump. Sure, the …
Biglaw Firm Uses Simple Trick To Make Associates Happy For The Holidays
Simpson Thacher is about to give their employees a reason to be thankful. After grossing $2,896,282,000 in 2024, the Biglaw …
Milbank Breaks Their Silence On Year-End Bonuses
Cravath may have been the first in Biglaw to announce their year-end bonuses, but they’re not the only compensation heavies! …
Lindsey Halligan Manages To Lose Two Cases At Once, Which Is Honestly Impressive
Lindsey Halligan (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images) Well, well, well if it isn’t the logical and natural consequences of this …
ICE Using ChatGPT To Write Use-Of-Force Reports, As Fascism Meets Laziness
Sure, becoming an ICE agent sounds fun, but in between all the tear-gassing of clergy and shooting pepper balls at …
Bridging The Gap: Why In-House Counsel Must Be Fluent In Both AI And The Law
When it comes to artificial intelligence, I have heard more than one lawyer say, “I don’t need to know how …
It’s Not A Big Deal; Everyone Does It
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Set your mind back to 2011. Things are not going well in Iraq. A bunch of …
DOJ: We Can’t Send Abrego To Costa Rica. Costa Rica: ¡Falso!
On Thursday, Judge Paula Xinis held a hearing on Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s habeas corpus petition. The occasion was a reunion …
Vinson & Elkins Announces Texas-Sized Bonuses For Associates
They say that everything’s bigger in Texas, but when it comes time for Biglaw bonus season, it’s the match that …
Covington Shows Up to Bonus Season — And Yes, They Brought Their Checkbook
Hold on to your timekeepers: Covington & Burling just officially joined the “yes, we’ll match bonuses” club. It’s been under …
Transatlantic Biglaw Behemoth Announces Bonuses For Associates And Counsel
Bonus season is here, and slowly but surely, Biglaw firms are lining up to announce their own variants of the …
Morning Docket: 11.24.25
* Effort to go after those who investigated Trump crimes getting funneled into Aileen Cannon’s courtroom. [NY Times] * Agriculture …
Biglaw Bonus Season Arrives! — See Generally
Cravath Starts Bonus Season, Everyone Begin The Freakout: The firm kicked off the year-end festivities and peers began the scramble …
Top Biglaw Firm Matches Market Bonus Scale While Praising Associates
One by one, Biglaw firms continue to fall in line to match what’s now been recognized as the market bonus …
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 …
DOJ Charges Law Student In ‘Trump Whore’ Kidnapping Hoax
One of the keys to surviving law school is getting really good at time management skills. If you can squeeze …
This Is Not The Announcement You Were Looking For — See Also
Biglaw Firm Announces In-Person Requirements Instead Of Bonuses: Learn how to read the room, Reed Smith. Paul, Weiss Rewards Employees …
No Wonder The Courtroom Scenes Are A Classic
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! The director of which 1990s classic legal movie …
All That Biglaw Bonus Money With Nowhere To Spend It
Associates associate time of year with two things: getting paid a lot of money and finally having the time to …
Who Will Pay If ACA Tax Credits Lapse?
The post Who Will Pay If ACA Tax Credits Lapse? appeared first on Above the Law.
Law Students Can Sometimes ‘Buy’ Good Grades
Grades in law school are extremely important since they are the most critical factor when law graduates search for jobs …
Veteran Sports Law Attorneys Are Hitting Biglaw Compensation Home Runs Right Now
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. There are a few very desirable people with these …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Midsize Market Gains
Corporate counsel are increasingly looking beyond Biglaw to handle some of their matters, according to a recent Above the Law …
Biglaw Firm Announces Bonus Dollars Will Hit Associates’ Wallets Before The Year Is Over!
Another Biglaw firm has joined the bonus train, and this time it’s Skadden! The top tier law firm reported $3,669,042,000 …
Lawyering With Empathy
In this episode, I chat with Farid Yaghoubtil, founding partner of DTLA Law Group. Discover Farid’s journey from fleeing Iran …
Ken Paxton’s Tylenol Lawsuit Is Off To A Terrible Start
Ken Paxton’s bullshit lawsuit against the makers of Tylenol, built on Trump and RFK Jr.’s bullshit press conference in which they pretended …
Just In CASE You Were Wondering, This Biglaw Firm Is Also Matching
White & Case has announced it’s matching the market on both year-end and special bonuses for its US associates and …
Davis Polk Weighs In On Associate Bonus Madness
Historically, there are only a handful of Biglaw firms willing to stick their necks out and raise associate compensation, whether …
Baker Botts Brings Bonuses
Bonus “szn” is officially in full swing. Just days after Cravath kicked things off, setting an annual bonus mark and …
Top 50 Biglaw Firm Announces Increased In-Office Attendance Mandate Instead Of Bonuses
As Biglaw bonuses continue to be announced with much fanfare from associates, some firms are hoping to slip their less-than …
Proskauer Rose Boards The Bonus Train
‘Tis the season for Biglaw bonus announcements, and Proskauer Rose has entered the chat. The firm announced its 2025 year-end …
Law Firm That Started Summer Bonus Trend Announces Year-End Bonuses
Pay attention, everyone, because we’ve got some very exciting bonus news from the very first firm to announce summer bonuses …
Paul, Weiss Comes Correct On Associate Bonuses
It’s been a challenging year for firm leaders at Paul, Weiss. The firm was targeting by Donald Trump with an …
Morning Docket: 11.21.25
* Elon Musk ends his lawsuit against Wachtell. Wachtell stresses that no settlement was involved. [Reuters] * Lawyer who turned …
There Goes The Market Scale! — See Also
Boutique Firm Goes Above And Beyond The Bonus Scale: Wilkinson Stekloff is giving out so much money! Biglaw Firms Are …
The Peculiar Taste Of A Supreme Court Justice
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! The late Justice John Paul Stevens was known …
Function Health Hits $2.5B Valuation With $298M Series B
The post Function Health Hits $2.5B Valuation With $298M Series B appeared first on Above the Law.
Law Firm 2.0: A Trillion-Dollar Market Begins To Move
Last week, several reports indicated that McDermott Will & Schulte is considering restructuring its firm to accept a potential private …
Judge Jerry Smith’s Soros-Fueled Tantrum Is The Wildest Thing You’ll Read This Week
Judge Jerry Smith has a flare for off-the-hook opinions. He once dissented by writing a fake majority opinion — styled …
Top Biglaw Firm Closes Out Year With Special Bonuses
There’s good news for the associates working at Hogan Lovells — you’re in for a lot of money! Hogan Lovells, …
Does Our Profession Have A Gender?
Do you think that the legal profession is too feminine? No, this is not a trick question. I am interested …
Building Your Brand: Everything You Do Builds It Up Or Drags It Down
Whether we appreciate it or not, each of us has a personal brand, and everything we do affects it. It’s …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm Announces Bonuses For Associates — Offering Extra Cash For Big Billers
Bonuses, bonuses, and more bonuses! Yet another Biglaw firm has stepped into the 2025 bonus arena, rolling out its year-end …
Milbank Holds Its Fire In 2025 Bonus Wars, Sparking Speculation Of A Compensation Power Move
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. If any firm is going to raise Cravath, it’s …
Tradespace Acquires Paragon, A Patent Drafting Startup Founded By Computer Science Students, To Round Out Its End-To-End IP Platform
Tradespace, the San Francisco-based AI-powered intellectual property management platform, has acquired Paragon, an AI patent-drafting startup founded by three Princeton …
International Firm’s Former London Managing Partner Facing Sexual Harassment Investigation
The spotlight is on Jeffrey Bronheim, the former London managing partner of Cohen & Gresser, who is now under investigation …
Elite Boutique Announces Associate Bonuses That Completely Blow The Market Scale Out Of The Water
Biglaw bonus season is in full swing, with firms stepping in left and right to match Cravath’s year-end bonuses and …
Morning Docket: 11.20.25
* “If you kill this witness, the case will be dismissed,” advised attorney. Man, these MPRE hypos are getting super …
So Many Bonuses! — See Also
New Megafirm Announces Bonuses: McDermott Will & Schulte’s bonuses are above the Cravath scale for some! More Money For Associates!: …
Remember When Federal Judges *Weren’t* A Political Hot Potato?
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to analysis by Dr. Adam Feldman, across …
Biglaw Is On Track To Have Either A ‘Pretty Good’ Or ‘Great’ Year
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We talk about cautious optimism going into the fourth …
Judge Pushed To Retire Over Halloween Showmanship
Halloween, much like MLK Day, has reached the special status of being a holiday you know someone is going to …
Lindsey Halligan Officially More Stupid Than You Imagined
Lindsey Halligan, the insurance lawyer elevated to run the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, has managed …
Another Biglaw Bonus Match — And Extra Cash For The Associates Keeping The Lights On
Well, well, well — look who just slid into bonus season with their checkbook open. Dechert has officially matched the …
Maybe The Legal Industry Has Just Lost All Sense Of Shame
Biglaw recruiting director out after racist rant goes public. A squabble between lawyers and their former firm presents important lessons …
It Is Not Only Alright To Shame, And Ultimately Ostracize, Your MAGA Relatives, It Is Your Patriotic Duty As An American
I agree with Ezra Klein on a lot. Heck, I even recommended his latest book. However, he recently made a …
Brand New Biglaw Megafirm Announces Bonuses, Offering Associates Top Dollar For Hard Work
Bonus news is being announced left and right, and Biglaw firms are busy stuffing their associates’ bank accounts like the …
Economic Resilience In Action – Helping Law Firms Thrive In 2025 And Beyond
When it comes to today’s economy, are you feeling cautious? Optimistic? Cautiously optimistic? Perhaps you’re struggling to determine the most …
This Top Biglaw Firm Is Offering Associates A Full Cravath Match — With Premium Bonuses On Top Of Special Bonuses
Bonus season is off to a great start, with Cravath leading the Biglaw pack in the annual follow-the-leader of compensation …
Congress Should Establish, Fund New Quantum Tech Initiative To Beat China: Panel
The post Congress Should Establish, Fund New Quantum Tech Initiative To Beat China: Panel appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 11.19.25
* Meta survives social media antitrust action because TikTok exists. Which it doesn’t legally, but the administration has refused to …
Parental Leave 101 For Managers
Ed. note: This article is part of Parental Leave & The Legal Profession, a special series for Above the Law …
Bonus Season Has Begun! — See Also
Cravath Is Spreading Some Holiday Cheer!: Nothing brightens the spirit like some green! And They Aren’t The Only Ones!: McKool …
Bonus News Drops As Firm Engages In Merger Talks
Cadwalader hasn’t enjoyed the smoothest 2025. Key partners defected, the firm announced a snap leadership shakeup, and finally admitted they’re …
Cravath’s Unusual Lease Condition
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! In the 80s when Cravath moved from Wall …
Paul Hastings Is First Biglaw To Match Cravath’s Generous Bonus Scale
Cravath announced its year-end bonus scale — complete with Milbank’s special bonuses — just a few hours ago, and we’ve …
Associates Get A Kool Special Thanksgiving Bonus
Break out the stretchy pants and gratitude journals, because McKool Smith, the Texas-based complex trial firm that’s been handing out …
ABA Diversity And Inclusion Standard Looks Like It’s On Its Last Legs
The American Bar Association has come under fire for requiring schools to put some effort into making sure that their …
Cravath Starts Biglaw’s Bonus Season With Year-End And Special Bonuses!
Bonus season has officially begun. Cravath, the firm that’s the standard bearer for Biglaw associate compensation, has kicked off the …
Perkins Coie’s Leader Says Trump’s Executive Order Had Nothing To Do With Its Merger Decision
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. At this moment, both …
Court’s Latest Order In Elon Musk Case Includes Pretty Glaring Hallucination
(Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) Elon Musk gets himself involved in a lot of entertaining court fights. Sometimes he botches …
The Best Law Schools For Family Law (2025)
Family law programs play a crucial role in law school, giving students the knowledge and practical skills they need to …
Former MAGA Judge Josh Kindred Finally Gets The Disbarment He So Richly Deserves
Remember former Trump-appointed District Court Judge Joshua Kindred? The federal judge who managed to flame out of his lifetime gig …
Bonus Season Reminder: Where To Read And How To Contact Above The Law
Bonus season is imminent, with the first announcement expected to be released any day now, and whether you’re new to …
3 Questions For A Law School Admissions Expert (Part II)
(Image via Getty) Last week, I presented the first part of my written interview with Ethan Madore, 7Sage’s coordinator of …
From ‘Who Luck’ To ‘Who’s Here?’: The TLTF Summit Continues To Excel, Even As It Expands
God forbid a disaster had befallen Austin, Texas, last week, because it could have set back the evolution of legal …
Why Shared Savings Still Isn’t A Viable Business Model For Hospitals
The post Why Shared Savings Still Isn’t A Viable Business Model For Hospitals appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 11.18.25
* Biglaw knows they won’t get people back in the office. But the more days they ask for, the more …
Another Day, Another Merger — See Also
Ashurst Merges With Perkins Coie: Together they have $2.58B in gross revenue! Relating To A Kardashian: Failing the bar sucks. …
The Key To Biglaw’s Good Year? Raising Billable Rates
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group Nine-Month …
Keeping Pace: How In-House Counsel Can Stay Ahead Of Rapidly Changing AI Laws
The speed of AI development gets most of the headlines, but the law is running a race of its own. …
The Grace To Dabble: Two Biglaw Firms Look To An AI-First Future
Lots of questions swirl around the use of AI by lawyers in general and young lawyers in particular. The questions …
‘DoorDash Girl’ Hit With Felony Charges For Sharing Video Of Naked, Passed-Out Man On Social Media
I would imagine that if you polled most people on whether it was okay to record an unconscious naked person …
Four-Day Attendance Mandates Meet Reality: Partners Hope Associates Show Up, But Aren’t Holding Their Breath
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I continue to believe that firms requesting four days …
DOJ’s ‘Profound’ Missteps Get The Judicial Roast Treatment And Comey Defense Gets Grand Jury Access
Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick just dropped a legal mic on prosecutors in the James Comey case. In a blistering 24-page …
15 Years Of Above The Law
(Photo via Getty Images) Fifteen years ago this week, David Lat, who then ran Above the Law, asked me, a veteran big-firm …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Judge Resigns In Protest, More AI Sanctions, Bar Complaint Against Halligan, SCOTUS Ethics Code Turns 2 & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Harvey Crosses The Pond To UK Law Schools
Where do you go once you successfully infiltrate the T14? Wherever you want to! After establishing themselves as the go-to …
5 Fast Wins Legal Tech Delivers
Law firms that embrace professional business platforms like 8am are reclaiming time, reducing risk, and delivering standout client experiences. Our friends …
Lindsey Halligan’s Math Ain’t Mathin’
On Friday afternoon, cosplay US Attorney Lindsey Halligan defended her A-plus prosecuting chops. “There are no missing minutes, contrary to …
Kim Kardashian Ugly Cries Over Bar Prep And It’s The Most Relatable She’s Ever Been
Kim Kardashian is back on her “I’m-going-to-be-a-lawyer-dammit” grind, and this time she’s giving the world exactly what the California Bar …
The Next Transatlantic Biglaw Heavyweight: Ashurst Ties The Knot With Perkins Coie
When we said that Biglaw had merger fever and that it was contagious, we really weren’t kidding. Two more large …
When The Law Bends: What The Narcotics Boat Debate Misses
The post When The Law Bends: What The Narcotics Boat Debate Misses appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 11.17.25
* Ashurst and Perkins Coie agree to merger. [Financial Times] * Law firms who pushed back against Trump bullying win …
Smile, You’re On ‘Instant Karma Camera’ — See Generally
Racist Rant Costs Biglaw Recruiting Director Their Job: Hard to sell diversity when you’re caught on video proving why it’s …
Capitalizing On The Dead — See Also
Lawyers Try To Get Away With Serving Motions To A Deceased Lawyer: Thankfully, the judge stepped in. Judge Orders Handover …
Podcast Guesting Strategies That Move The Needle For Lawyers
Partners in the largest law firms may have dedicated public relations staff who can take on the work of developing …
Lawyers Have A Harder Time Taking Vacation Than Other Professionals
I just finished a 10-day vacation through Central Europe, and it was great to get away and enjoy some time …
Keep Cool And CLE On: Handling Hiccups Like A Pro
Getty Images Ed. note: Latest in a series. Read the prior installment here. As we continue our journey through “Lights, …
Future-Proofing Your Law Firm Marketing With AI And Smarter Digital Strategy
In this episode of the “Be That Lawyer” podcast, I sit down with Eric Ritter, CEO of Digital Neighbor, to …
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 …
Did You Really Think Attorney’s Admitted ‘Nazi Streak’ Would End His Political Career?!?!
If you thought the racist text scandal surrounding MAGA attorney Paul Ingrassia meant we’d get a break from hearing about …
Man Who Heckled Paul Weiss Chair Turns Out To Be A Lawyer With A Warning For The Profession’s Future
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. When the executive branch puts their fingers on the …
Lawyers Marching In Defense Of Democracy Tomorrow Since Supreme Court Doesn’t Seem To Care
Last week, a lawyer attending the New York Bar Foundation gala spoke up to heckle Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp …
BBC Tells Trump To Sod Off … Politely
Britain’s national broadcaster will not be cutting a check to America’s president, thankyouverymuch. Auntie Beeb has closed the cupboard and …
Everyone’s Law School Journey Is Unique
In this episode, I chat with Victoria Inoyo, director of advising at Juris Education. Dive into the world of law …
The Rainmaker: Roberta Kaplan On Unlocking The Creative Edge That Defines Top Litigators
Ed. note: The Rainmaker is a new Above the Law series highlighting attorneys who have built distinguished practices by excelling …
Judge Orders OpenAI To Give Lawyers 20 Million Private Chats, Thinks ‘Anonymization’ Can Keep Them Private
A federal magistrate judge just ordered that the private ChatGPT conversations of 20 million users be handed over to the …
Why Your Practice Is Burning Money And How You Can Do Better
If your firm is not collecting earned revenue, growth will slow, cash flow will tighten, and profitability will suffer. Fortunately, …
Hey, Maybe Don’t Serve Motions On Dead Opposing Counsel
This case began as a straightforward personal injury car accident lawsuit. Plaintiffs were allegedly rear-ended by an 18-wheeler operated on …
The 340B Program’s New Rebate Pilot Won’t Fix Its Problems
The post The 340B Program’s New Rebate Pilot Won’t Fix Its Problems appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 11.14.25
* Who was the Paul Weiss heckler? Find out here! [Bloomberg Law News] * Neil Gorsuch is really trying to …
Racial Slur Costs Biglaw Job — See Also
Oh No, The Consequences Of My Own Actions!: Holland & Knight were quick to sever the recruiting director’s relationship with …
The Disco Study: A Watershed Moment Or Just More Of The Same?
A new Disco study suggests that despite all the hoopla over AI, we have a ways to go before it …
Biglaw’s Got Merger Fever — And It’s Contagious
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Almost every firm outside the top 20 by PEP …
Personal Marketing Plans: How To Make Your Own Rain
If you work at a firm, your salary, autonomy, and title are tied to your ability to bring in clients …
Video of Racist Rant Costs Biglaw Recruiting Director Their Job, Because, Yeah
Meet Danielle Peck, the (now former) Legal Recruiting Director at Biglaw firm Holland & Knight. She’s about to learn that …
Justice Breyer Wants You To Believe We Can Make It Out Of This Mess
It feels borderline therapeutic these days to be in a room with someone who still believes the Supreme Court can …
OpenAI Dealt Copyright Loss In German Music Case
There have been myriad global responses to the intellectual IP scrape and combine known general as AI. Artists of all …
Lindsey Halligan’s Day In Court
On Thursday, Donald Trump’s insurance lawyer, Lindsey Halligan, will defend her right to lead the US Attorney’s Office in the …
Solo And Small Firm Practice In The AI Agent Age
On its face, Amazon’s recent lawsuit to block Perplexity’s AI agents from shopping on Amazon’s site seems like just another …
Anatomy Of A Modern Merger: The Post-Closing To-Do List
Getty Images Editor’s note: Second in a three-part series. Read the first installment here. You’ve gathered reliable company data. You’ve …
Harbor Acquires Legal Tech Training Firm Encoretech In First Deal Since BayPine Investment
Harbor, the Chicago-based legal technology and consulting firm, continues its string of recent acquisitions with the addition of Encoretech, a …
Who Will Lead On Military AI, The Government Or Industry?
The post Who Will Lead On Military AI, The Government Or Industry? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 11.13.25
* To keep the government’s extrajudicial boat killing policy running full steam ahead, the DOJ prepares an opinion to absolve …
Laterals Don’t Usually Come With Escort Accusations — See Also
Former Partner Accused Of Calling Dominatrix On Company Time: And that’s just the tip of the iceberg! Judge Panel Lets …
This Supreme Court Justice Is Busy Cultivating His Potential Judicial Heir
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which Supreme Court justice has the most former …
If The DOJ Fails Another Time, They Win A Free Sandwich
The news that Kirkland had to teach its lawyers how to stop being mean to the private equity industry is …
Trump Judges ‘Dominate’ Biden Judges In Performance Says Study Confusing Narcissism With Merit
“Our short answer is that Trump judges continue to dominate the Biden judges,” write professors Stephen Choi and Mitu Gulati …
A Dominatrix, Cyberstalking, And Sour Grapes: Lawsuit(s) Against Biglaw Partner By Former Firm Is Quite The Journey
Last week, a lawsuit against Blank Rome finance partner James Cretella was filed by his former firm, Otterbourg P.C., for …
Students With Disabilities Feel Unsupported By Their Law Schools
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Law students with disabilities do so much on their …
The Best Law Schools For Criminal Law (2025)
Criminal law in America stands at the heart of the justice system, offering law students a front-row seat to the …
Court Gives LSU Greenlight To Investigate Law Professor For Bad-Mouthing Our Supreme Leader
Fealty doesn’t mean much without proof. Maybe that’s why LSU is spending all the time and money to “investigate” and …
20 Nonfiction Book Recommendations, Most Written By Women, For Holiday Gifts And The Year Ahead
Every year I come out with a list, in no particular order, of the best nonfiction books I’ve read in …
Why Lawyers Lose Money: The Psychology Behind Pricing, Value, And Client Loyalty
My father was an amazing lawyer. Everyone knew that when Larry the lawyer walked into a room, he was the …
Bouncing Back From Bar Exam Failure: How Kim Kardashian And Others Can Succeed On Their Next Attempt
(Image via Getty) As you may have heard, Kim Kardashian failed the California bar exam. She took a very unusual …
Hegseth’s Big Acquisition Plans And Just So Many Drones
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a long, surprisingly uncontroversial speech to industry on Friday detailing how he’d like to …
Morning Docket: 11.12.25
* Trump claims he has an obligation to sue the BBC for showing an edited version of his January 6 …
Does This Count As A ‘Meeting Of The Minds’ Problem? — See Also
Kim K’s Psychic Promised That She’d Pass The Bar: She better get a spiritual refund! First They Came For The …
Former Judicial Clerks: Creating Legacies For Generations
Legacy Matters Among a president’s most enduring legacies are the federal judges they appoint—particularly Supreme Court justices. This permanence stems from life …
Kim Kardashian Failed Bar After Psychics PROMISED She’d Pass
When I took the bar exam, a friend of mine started drinking coffee brewed with caffeinated water. For his sake, …
Mind The Gap: Why In-House Counsel Often Don’t See The Innovation They Want From Law Firms
Another week, another study demonstrating the gap between what in-house legal professionals want from their outside law firms and what …
The Transgender Boogeyman
Those seeking to consolidate power often make it a sport to pick on a small group of people, claiming that …
The Office Strikes Back: More Top Law Firms Embrace A Four-Day Attendance Mandate
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The pendulum is absolutely swinging back toward the majority …
Funding For SDA’s Next Missile Tracking Contracts Diverted To Troop Payments: Sources
The post Funding For SDA’s Next Missile Tracking Contracts Diverted To Troop Payments: Sources appeared first on Above the Law.
Clio Completes Historic $1 Billion vLex Acquisition, Announces $500 Million Series G At $5 Billion Valuation, Plus Exclusive Interview With CEO And CFO
Legal technology company Clio has completed its $1 billion acquisition of vLex, marking the conclusion of the largest deal in …
Morning Docket: 11.11.25
* Supreme Court to hear major mail- in ballot election case. What could possibly go wrong? [Law.com] * Donald Trump …
Can’t Spell Paul Weiss Without Donald Trump — See Also
Heckler Tells It Like It Is At The New York Bar Foundation Gala: Tough crowd, earned criticism. Remember The Paper …
Biglaw As An Effective Gateway To The NFL
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Former National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue passed …
Why Identity Politics Should Dictate The Democratic Presidential Nominee In 2028
I wrote a while back that, given the choice, I’d vote for a stinking turd for president rather than Donald Trump. …
Davis Polk Commits To Pro Bono Work With $25k Stipend For 1Ls
As you were applying for summer gigs, there was probably a point where you asked yourself if you want to …
Kathy Griffin Only Wants ‘Trumper Lawyers’ On Her Legal Team
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I don’t want a fellow, as they would say, libtard, …
Reagan Judge Quits To Lead The #Resistance
Yesterday, Judge Mark L. Wolf penned an open letter in the pages of The Atlantic announcing his retirement. The Reagan …
Law Schools Are Lying To Students About Judicial Clerkships
(Image via Getty) Law school career services offices have historically been clerkship gatekeepers and facilitators — hoarding information, providing incomplete …
First Rule Of Being A ‘Petty-Ass Bitch’ Lawyer Is You Do Not Go On Instagram And Talk About Being A ‘Petty-Ass Bitch’ Lawyer
America has no shortage of attorneys who are, in fact, petty-ass bitches. Most of them don’t talk about it on …
ATL’s Legally Themed Halloween Costume Contest: The Winner (2025)
You came, you saw, you voted, and one submission stole the show in this year’s legally themed Halloween costume contest. …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Federal Alaska Judge Disbarred, Detainees’ Rights To Talk To Lawyers, The Ethics Of ‘AI Slop’ In Court Pleadings & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Heckler Asks ‘For Trump?’ As Paul Weiss Describes Pro Bono Work At Gala Dinner
The New York Bar Foundation gala typically boasts a country club vibe with golf claps, rubber chicken, and everyone pretending …
The AI Playbook For Contracting: What In-House Legal Teams Need To Know
WebinarDate: November 19, 2025Time: 1 p.m. ET Today’s in-house legal teams must be a strategic value driver, not just a …
Locking In Trust: Key Terms For Strong AI Vendor Contracts
AI innovation often depends on partnerships. Whether it is a cloud provider offering infrastructure, a niche developer supplying a specialized …
Kim Kardashian Turns Failing The Bar Exam Into An Inspiring Comeback Story
(Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) The results of the California bar exam are in, and after …
Debunked Podcast: The Drug Price Debate, AI In Healthcare Companies Face Consolidation But How Much?
The post Debunked Podcast: The Drug Price Debate, AI In Healthcare Companies Face Consolidation But How Much? appeared first on …
Morning Docket: 11.10.25
* Donald Trump pardons Giuliani and other Big Lie ringleaders. [Reuters] * Judge Wolf is resigning so he can explain, …
Politeness Matters, Even In Biglaw — See Generally
Kirkland Lawyers Sent To Etiquette School: Feedback suggests they don’t play well with others.. DOJ Warns Judge That They’re Not …
The Founders Would Have Wanted The Children To Starve — See Also
Trump Defends Not Feeding Children Because Of Separation Of Powers: Joe Biden is also blamed for some reason. FedSoc Pushes …
SCOTUS Clerkships Really Are The Ultimate Resume Booster
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to analysis by Dr. Adam Feldman of …
Democracy Has A Mass Incarceration Problem
On this episode of The Jabot, I am joined by Yale Law’s Judith Resnik. Discover how historical detention practices challenge …
Stat(s) Of The Week: ‘Slop Bowls’ Feel The Squeeze
Despite occasional high-profile exceptions, more Biglaw firms are mandating in-person work, with three members of the Am Law 50 recently …
Are Lawyers More Likely To Litigate Claims As Pro Se Plaintiffs?
Litigation can be an extremely complex process for individuals unaccustomed to the practices and procedures of pursuing claims in court. …
An Inside Look At The Hill During A Historic Government Shutdown
The post An Inside Look At The Hill During A Historic Government Shutdown appeared first on Above the Law.
Why Systems, Simplicity, And Relationships Still Win In Modern Law Practice
Getty Images Lawyers often think advertising will fuel their practice growth, but referral relationships consistently prove more powerful. If you’re …
Conservative Warning To Judges: Get On Board With Trump’s Agenda Or Get Impeached
The Federalist Society’s annual lawyers meeting is going on in Washington D.C., and yesterday there was a panel on Judicial …
First-Year Student At Elite Law School Is Making Better-Than-Biglaw Money Posting Adult Content Online
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Everyone here is really respectful and fantastic. I haven’t …
Prosecutorial Error: ‘AI Hallucinations’ Are Popping Up In Criminal Cases
When it comes to public defense, it seems like the only news is bad news. We are seeing nationwide shortages …
CLOC Restructures Board, Expanding To 16 Members And Adding Legal Tech Vendors For First Time
The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium (CLOC) today announced a major expansion and restructuring of its board of directors, expanding it …
Trump Defends Sacred Right To Starve Kids For Separation Of Powers
On Halloween, President Trump announced that, if ordered to by a court, “it will BE MY HONOR” to fund SNAP …
Get A Grip: Focusing On Risks Instead Of Benefits Is Making AI Way Too Hard
In case anyone hasn’t been listening carefully, Comment 8 to Model Rule 1.1 requires lawyers to understand not just the risks of …
The Unsolved Murder Of A Promising Law School Grad Still Puzzles Investigators
More than three decades after a young law school graduate was found murdered in his home, his brutal 1990 killing …
Anatomy Of A Modern IP Department: The Data Behind A Shift In Strategy
Something is changing inside IP departments. And for the first time, we have the data to prove it. Above the …
Trump Cybersecurity Policy Is Indistinguishable From A Foreign Attack
Last year almost a dozen major U.S. ISPs were the victim of a massive, historic intrusion by Chinese hackers who managed to …
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 …
Morning Docket: 11.07.25
* Having nothing better to do with their time, GOP Senators want an investigation into judges for criticizing the Supreme …
Time To Talk Mergers — See Also
For Cadwalader, That Is: They could be tying up with Alston & Bird. We Have Another Surrender On The Board: …
Everyone’s Favorite Harvard Law Student On Broadway
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Who originated the role of Elle Woods when …
If AI Isn’t Perfect, Should Lawyers Be?
As a former senior in-house counsel, I knew that outside counsel could be slow on the uptake. For years and …
Everlaw Announces General Availability Of AI Deep Dive, As Well As Major Pricing Changes, At Annual Summit
AJ Shankar, CEO and founder of e-discovery company Everlaw, used the company’s annual Everlaw Summit in San Francisco to announce …
Judge Calls Trump’s Border Commander A Lying Liar
U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino, head of the Trump administration’s military presence in Chicago, “Operation Midway Blitz,” is in …
Can Our Attention Spans Get Any Shorter? How To Communicate In Our Nanosecond World
We’ve all heard the chatter about our dwindling attention spans. But do we truly grasp the extent of this issue? …
Trump’s Tariffs Seem To Be ‘Dead On Arrival At SCOTUS’
(Image created by ChatGPT) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The hearing was a bloodbath …
In-House Attorney Blames Firing On DEI, Jury Disagrees
DEI has been an easy scapegoat for poor government management, unexpected boat-bridge collisions, and unwanted orders to clean out your …
Comey Prosecution Gets The Benchslap Treatment, Because Of Course
The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is deeply problematic. Career prosecutors didn’t want to touch it with a 10-foot pole …
The 15 Most Expensive Law Schools (2024-2025)
We all know that a legal education can land the average law school graduate in up to six figures of …
Simpson Thacher Becomes Latest Surrender Firm To Join Up With Trump’s International House Of Tariffs
Back in August, the New York Times reported that Kirkland and Paul Weiss (along with Skadden) — firms who had …
When The Bottom Drops Out: What To Do When Your Practice Dries Up
What would you do if your law practice suddenly lost all of its clients and you had to start over …
Cadwalader Reportedly Enters Merger Talks With Top 50 Biglaw Firm
With a mass exodus afoot and growing questions about its long-term strategy and growth trajectory, rumors of Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft’s …
US Slams ‘Discriminatory’ Draft EU Space Law As Imperiling NATO Cooperation
The post US Slams ‘Discriminatory’ Draft EU Space Law As Imperiling NATO Cooperation appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 11.06.25
* In an unexpected twist, Laken Riley Act becomes the grounds for judges to release immigrants detained by ICE. [Courthouse …
Three Is All You Need — See Also
Biglaw Firm Just Asks For 3 Days In Person: Good reason to prefer Arnold & Porter over the competition! Elsewhere, …
Making New York History
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Yesterday, Zohran Mamdani won the NYC mayoral election …
Partners Want Associates In The Office — But Not Themselves
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Everything I’ve heard is that it’s still quite a …
Former FTC Commissioner Lina Khan Joins Zohran Mamdani’s Transition Team
One of the few criticisms of Zohran Mamdani’s run for mayor that actually had merit was that he had little …
Expert Sues Jan. 6 Lawyers For Attaching Her Publicly Filed Report Without Paying $30K
Buckle up, because we’ve got a new entry in the “no, you can’t file copyright claims over something you put …
DOJ Gives Judge Heads Up They Have Zero Plan To Actually Listen To Him
The Department of Justice has come up with a fairly unique litigation strategy in the paper-thin case against New York …
A Riot By Any Other Name…
We talk about the DOJ lawyers suspended by the White House for calling January 6 a riot in a sentencing …
Top Biglaw Firm Opts For Three-Day Office Mandate In A Four-Day World
As law firms race to tighten their in-office policies, most are now pushing for four days a week — though …
The Elephant In The Room For Legal AI Remains Elephantine Document Sets
“The dirty secret,” a veteran eDiscovery consultant told me, “is that AI still can’t actually handle these massive document sets.” …
Curious About Document Automation? This Checklist Will Set You Up For Success
Integrating document automation into your business is a strategic move that can significantly enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and allow your …
Top 50 Biglaw Firm Increases Its Office Attendance Requirement To Four Days — Just For Junior Associates
The push to bring associates back into the office four days a week is accelerating at lightning speed, leaving firms …
Other Law Schools Could Learn A Thing Or Two About Fundraising From My Alma Mater’s Annual Giving Campaign
As I write this, it is Tommie Give Day, the cleverly branded annual day of scholarship fundraising for the University …
Pentagon Policy Shop Stonewalling Congress, Republican Senators Say
WASHINGTON — In a rare moment of public intraparty frustration, Republican senators today blasted a top Defense Department official for …
Morning Docket: 11.05.25
* It’s tariffs day at the Supreme Court! While some wonder if the liberal justices will find themselves awkwardly embracing …
Aimless And Considering Law School? — See Also
The Daily Show Open Has A Career Suggestion: And we follow it up with a couple disclaimers. ChatGPT Is No …
Care For A Beer With That Ballot?
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which was the last state to lift the …
Judge Resigns From Bench Over Traffic Tickets
What is the most you’ve paid for a traffic ticket? Getting a traffic ticket in New York usually sets folks …
Kim Kardashian Was ‘Channeling’ Her Own Divorce Lawyer In Her New TV Role
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Yes. The inspiration was Laura Wasser, who is a …
Are Kirkland Deal Lawyers THE Biggest Assh*les Or What?
Kirkland & Ellis — the world’s richest law firm — has received some harsh and pretty public feedback. According to …
‘I Could Smell The Onions And Mustard,’ The Harrowing Testimony Of The Border Patrol Sandwich Victim
Before the Portland inflatable frog, there was the D.C. Sandwich Guy. Sean Dunn, a Department of Justice paralegal, became a …
3 Questions For A Law School Admissions Expert (Part I)
(Image via Getty) If you know someone who’s applied to law school in the past 10 years, it’s likely you’ve …
Kim Kardashian Learns The Hard Way ChatGPT Is Not A Great Law School Study Tool
Kim Kardashian’s effort to become a real life lawyer just like her dad has provided a steady stream of content …
From AI To DEI: How Davis Wright Tremaine’s Managing Partner Is Steering The Firm Through Change
Leading a law firm during a time of rapid technological change and heightened political and cultural tension requires balancing innovation …
John Stewart Throws Light Jab At 30-Somethings Thinking About Law School
I unironically believe that keeping abreast of The Onion and The Daily Show are some of the best ways to …
ATL’s Legally Themed Halloween Costume Contest: The Finalists (2025)
Just before Halloween, we asked our readers to submit their legally themed costumes to us for our annual contest. We …
When The Robotic Gavel Falls: AI In Our Courts And The Lawyer’s Imperative
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
Pfizer Lawsuits Allege Novo Nordisk’s Bid To Buy Obesity Biotech Metsera Is Anticompetitive, Illegal
The post Pfizer Lawsuits Allege Novo Nordisk’s Bid To Buy Obesity Biotech Metsera Is Anticompetitive, Illegal appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket:11.04.25
* Eleventh Circuit benchslaps Aileen Cannon for refusing to release Jack Smith’s full report. [MSNBC] * It’s a good time …
Prepare For Another Day At The Office — See Also
Prepare For Change, Goodwin Associates: The firm will expect to see you Monday-Thursday in person starting next year. So Much …
When You Pick Your Law School At 13…
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Stephen Baccus is the youngest person ever to …
Niti Nadarajah On ‘Assume Less, Ask More’ In Contract Drafting And Negotiation
When Niti Nadarajah says “assume less, ask more,” she is talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion. But for in-house lawyers, …
Biglaw Firm Getting Even Bigger With Newly Announced Midwest Merger
Cozen O’Connor is growing in Minneapolis! Today, the Philadelphia-based firm, ranked 77th on the 2025 Am Law 100 based on …
New York AG Continues To Do Her Job To Protect The Election While Getting Hauled Into Court On Baseless Charges
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Our right to vote is the foundation of our …
Seventh Circuit Loosens Oversight On Border Patrol With Predictably Terrible Results
U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis isn’t pleased with U.S. Border Patrol commander Gregory Bovino. Bovino heads the Trump administration’s …
Florida Still Stumbling Through Trying To Replace ABA Accreditation
Texas and Florida have been Things 1 and 2 when it comes to following through with Trump administration edicts on …
Might The Supreme Court Save Trump’s Economic Chestnuts?
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Believe it or not, President Donald Trump is in serious trouble. Whether his unfavorability ratings …
New Report On AI Use In-House Spells Trouble For Outside Lawyers
“The customer’s perception is your reality.” — Kate Zabriskie To paraphrase what’s often been said about getting outside lawyers to …
Justin Baldoni Blows Deadline To Save $400 Million Blake Lively Lawsuit, Proving Silence Isn’t Always Golden
Everyone misses a deadline now and then. Usually, it’s something like “not canceling your Hulu account before the automatic renewal” …
Another Day, Another Fake MAGA Prosecutor
On Friday, the Trump Justice Department got a very unwelcome treat from Judge Lorna Schofield. No, not a Bit-O-Honey! It …
Legal Ethics Roundup: DC Opinion On Pro Bono Deals, Judge’s Wife Blamed For ‘Politically Charged’ Halloween Decor, DOJ Settlement Ethics & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
New Year’s Forecast For This Top 20 Biglaw Firm? Four Days In The Office, Rain Or Shine
More and more Biglaw firms are mandating that associates work from the office four days each week. The holiday decorations …
Government Shutdown Delaying Contracts, But No Major Financial Impact Yet, Defense CEOs Say
The post Government Shutdown Delaying Contracts, But No Major Financial Impact Yet, Defense CEOs Say appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 11.03.25
* Government shutdown comes for bar exams. [ABA Journal] * Kash Patel fires FBI’s aviation director after media caught Kash …
Lawyers Read Riot Act For Calling January 6 A ‘Riot’ — See Generally
White House Cracks Down On DOJ Lawyers Calling January 6 A ‘Riot’: Two suspended for declining to refer to it …
More Courts Should Ask Litigants To Provide Proposed Orders
(Image via Getty) Many practicing lawyers know all too well that courts are often overburdened with busy dockets and insufficient …
MAGA Includes Stopping Public Interest Lawyers From Helping Others — See Also
Trump’s New Rule Declares Totally Above Board Work ‘Illegal’: Representing people in immigration cases could cost you your student loan …
Weil Gotshal Partner Caught In Spyware Scandal
Weil Gotshal partner Gerhard Schmidt, co-managing partner of the Biglaw firm’s German offices and a private equity and mergers & …
Chief Justice Roberts Used To Make Fun Of Law Reviews Before FedSoc Started Turning Them Into Constitutional Fan Fiction
Pick up a copy of any law review that you see, and the first article is likely to be, you …
Why Most Law Firm Marketing Fails And What Smart Lawyers Do Instead
Getty Images Too many lawyers are sold on the idea that a shiny website and a few SEO tweaks will …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Right Place, Wrong Time
As more people use AI-powered searches to get a quick handle on the latest news, it’s worth considering how reliable …
Law Students Are Forming AI Student Groups Nationwide
“Make sure you join a study group!” is great one size fits all advice that 1Ls hear all the time. …
Beyond The Familiar: Modernizing Your IP Team For Maximum Impact
Traditional in-house IP functions often rely on ingrained, inertia-driven systems and legacy processes. Inventors hit frequent bottlenecks, stifling innovation and …
New Trump Rule Declares Most Public Service Work ‘Illegal,’ Ineligible For Loan Forgiveness
If you weren’t already super psyched for the Big Beautiful Bill borrowing caps making law school unaffordable for many, get …
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 …
Comey Files Motions To Dismiss For MA’AM DO YOU EVEN LAW?
Getting disqualified as US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia is the best thing that could happen to Lindsey …
AI That Works In The Real World: Lessons From A Legal Ops Playbook
When legal headlines talk about AI, it’s usually all hype or all fear. Either we’re replacing lawyers with robots or …
Email Sequences That Will Still Work For Law Firms In 2026
I hate to say it, but it’s true: Marketing professionals love to give “one-size-fits-all” advice. We spend so much of …
The Kavanaugh Stop’s Legacy: 50 Days, 170+ Detained Citizens, Zero Answers
It was just last month that Brett Kavanaugh gave his explanation for why it was perfectly okay for Homeland Security goons …
California Signs PBM Law: As Federal PBM Regulation Lags, The States Step Up
The post California Signs PBM Law: As Federal PBM Regulation Lags, The States Step Up appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 10.31.25
* Judge Nichols heaps praise on DOJ lawyers suspended for acknowledging the January 6 riot. [Reuters] * Next big executive …
Biglaw Firm Adds Another Day To In-Person Requirement — See Also
Nothing Says Happy New Year Like Attendance Mandates: Cooley is starting the new year off with stricter rules! Former Biglaw …
Kirkland’s Litigation Business Is White Hot
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to reporting by Roy Strom, after hiring …
Happy Halloween To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
If You Don’t Win On The Race Track, Maybe You’ll Have More Luck In The Courtroom
(Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images) Mr Massa argues that, but for the FIA’s handling of the crash, he would have …
Law Firms Prepare To Automate Themselves Out Of Their Own Business Model
Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, every year, someone will predict the demise of the billable hour, and every year …
Aderant Acquires Virtual Pricing Director To Advance AI-Powered Legal Pricing
Legal business management company Aderant today announced it has acquired Virtual Pricing Director (VPD), the London-based company that created the …
Former Biglaw Partner To Face Charges He Killed His Wife
On October 27th, 2024 the wife of former Duane Morris tax partner Adam P. Beckerink, Caitlin Tracey, was found dead …
Florida Lawsuit Will Determine If Law School Student Tweeting ‘Jews Must Be Abolished’ Is An Expellable Offense
This administration has hit pretty hard against schools found lacking in their fight against antisemitism. Threats about losing accreditation, snatching …
Legal Business Development As A Team Sport
People assume that because I have a Michael Jordan jersey on my wall, I’m a huge Chicago sports fan. When …
Being Proactive: How To Advance Your Cases
Whether you are on the plaintiff or defense side, you have an obligation continually to advance your case. I’m surprised …
This Is The Citizen Kane Of ‘Police Officer Going To Zoom Court Hearing Without Pants’ Clips
Overrated: How are we still seeing AI hallucinated cases? It’s a tragic reflection of the justice system’s tech incompetence! Underrated: …
The Real Revolution In AI: What Model Context Protocol Means For Legal Ops
Looking to maximize the benefits of AI and related technologies in your law department? Join us for this webinar presented …
Are Lawyers Next On AI’s Chopping Block?
This week, Amazon announced plans to lay off 14,000 employees by the year’s end. News reports indicate that’s only the …
Top Biglaw Firm Will Require Associates To Spend Four Days In The Office Come 2026
It’s becoming more and more obvious that Biglaw firms want associates to be stationed behind their desks. One by one, …
How The Expiration Of ACA Tax Credits Will Impact Commercial Insurance, Per A Cigna Exec
The post How The Expiration Of ACA Tax Credits Will Impact Commercial Insurance, Per A Cigna Exec appeared first on …
Morning Docket: 10.30.25
* Investigation suggests Kash Patel used FBI jet to go on a date. [New Republic] * The other half of …
Why Did A Cell Phone Company Help Pay For The White House Ballroom? — See Also
We Asked T-Mobile Some Follow Up Questions: See if their answers are up to par. Nice Experiment While It Lasted: …
Donald Trump’s Winning Supreme Court Record
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to an analysis by Court Accountability of …
AFAs Are Great — But They Won’t Stop AI Disruption
There is a great hue and cry these days heralding the replacement of the billable hour model with alternative fee …
Playing The Blame Game Over The Biglaw Trump Deals
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Earlier this week, Fabio Bertoni, General Counsel at the New Yorker, took to the …
Trump Wants Front-Row Seat At Supreme Court Tariff Showdown
‘Hey, while I’m here, remember who appointed you!’ (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our …
Trump DOJ Has HAD It With Prosecutors Who Think Showing Up At Barack Obama’s House With Guns And A Machete Is Some Kind Of ‘Crime’
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) The Department of Justice placed two federal prosecutors on administrative leave after filing a sentencing …
Dispatches From The Collapse Of The Rule Of Law
Catching up with the slice of the conservative legal movement who have stared into the moral abyss of the Trump …
Election Law Experts Calmly Describe End Of Democracy
Will we actually have Midterm elections next year? That was the question posed to three veteran conservative election law experts …
Red States Join Lawsuit To Fight End Of Food Assistance Programs
(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) Remember that thing where Red state residents were lambasting Obamacare because it was …
Law Schools Must Navigate The Surge Of Applicants And Look For Red Flags In A Politically Charged Era
A few weeks ago, it was reported that more than 76,000 people have applied to law school. A number of …
Time To Share The Wealth: Biglaw Faces Associate Demand For Special Bonuses In 2025
With Halloween nearly upon us, that means bonus season is right around the corner. In years past, Biglaw firms were …
A Monthly Checklist For Upping Your Cash Flow
To maintain a financially healthy law firm, you must keep the work coming in the door while effectively collecting the …
I Asked My Cellphone Service Provider T-Mobile What The Deal Was With Its Donation To Trump’s White House East Wing Demolition
(Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) For several months, President Donald Trump has been talking about the massive gaudy …
Zombie Planes And Other Pentagon Ghost Stories
The post Zombie Planes And Other Pentagon Ghost Stories appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.29.25
* Meet the superstar team who have to convince the Supreme Court that the word “tariffs” does not appear in …
What Do You Mean 3 or 7 Years? — See Also
DOJ Attorneys Casually Assume Third Trump Term At Oral Argument: That’s plainly unconstitutional. Did They Outsource Editing Too?: Embarrassed Biglaw …
Everybody In Biglaw Wants Litigators
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to reporting by Bloomberg Law, which four …
Vals AI’s Latest Benchmark Finds Legal And General AI Now Outperform Lawyers In Legal Research Accuracy
A new benchmark study released by Vals AI suggests that both legal-specific and general large language models are now capable …
Justice By Coin Toss: Leading Litigator Lands Major SCOTUS Argument Based On Heads Or Tails
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. After a few days of discussion between the parties, …
Law School Runs Mock Trial Before Jury Of AI Chatbots As Dystopian Nightmare Accelerates
Sci-Fi Author: In my book, I invented the Torment Nexus as a cautionary tale.Tech Company: At long last, we have …
Federal Judge Doing The Most To Make Sure ICE Doesn’t Ruin Halloween
Last we checked in with U.S. District Court Judge Sara Ellis, she didn’t seem pleased with U.S. Border Patrol commander …
‘Deadly Mischief’ Goes All In On Donna Adelson’s Role In Dan Markel Murder
Many articles have been written detailing the murder-for-hire conspiracy that took the life of Florida State law professor Dan Markel …
The Most Important Election No One’s Talking About
Imagine an election whose outcome doesn’t just determine the next two years, but the next decade. One where not just …
SDNY Judge Tells Biglaw Lawyers ‘Costumes Optional’ For Friday Hearing
On Friday morning, lawyers from Weil Gotshal and Steptoe, facing off in WarnerMedia Network Sales v. DISH Network L.L.C., will …
Biglaw Firm ‘Profoundly Embarrassed’ After Submitting Court Filing Riddled With AI Hallucinations
We’ve all heard the hype about artificial intelligence’s capabilities to do the heavy lifting in the legal world, but a …
Women Are Quitting. WTF Is Happening?
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
DOJ Attorney Handwaves The 22nd Amendment During Oral Argument
Being suspicious of kings isn’t just the motivation for trendy protests, it is a value that goes to the heart …
Phony Bank Account Change Requests: A Growing Threat For Healthcare Finance Leaders
The post Phony Bank Account Change Requests: A Growing Threat For Healthcare Finance Leaders appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.28.25
* Kirkland provides communications training for lawyers after earning reputation as uncooperative. Weird, because the firm was super cooperative when …
A Lawyer Who Serves The People — See Also
Furloughed IRS Attorney Sets Up Hot Dog Stand: The menu is amazing. The DOJ Got Caught Lying To The 9th …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Judges Critique Lawyer Lies, CA Won’t Expunge Discipline, AG Attacks On ESG As Ethics Violations, AI Keeps Hallucinating Legal Opinions & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
The First Few Weeks Of The Supreme Court’s Current Term
Photo by Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States via Getty Images Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily …
New Era Begins As Recently Merged Biglaw Firm Ushers In Massive Partner Class
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. These new partners embody the bold thinking, client focus, …
Border Patrol Commander’s Got Some ‘Splaining To Do
Donald Trump’s military takeover of blue cities continues, though several federal judges are attempting to put a few speed bumps …
Virginia Attorney General Gets Green Light To Sue TikTok
TikTok, the alleged national security risk and dancing app, isn’t just getting attacked at the federal level. Most of the …
Edmund Fitzgerald May Sink Police Misconduct Settlement Made In 2025
Superior, they said, never gives up her dead when the gales of November come early, but apparently it does give …
Biglaw Firm Signs Deal, Proving Clio’s Enterprise Play Already Has Legs
They hurt my fee fees. BakerHostetler just announced a “strategic three-year partnership” with vLex to integrate the company’s Vincent AI …
Furloughed IRS Lawyer Opens Hot Dog Cart, Finally Starts Serving The Public
Thanks to the ongoing government shutdown, Washington has no shortage of overeducated professionals living in existential crisis. Few are embracing …
Vinaya Ganesan On ‘More For Less’ As A Contracting Strategy
Vinaya Ganesan, general counsel for Europe at First Source Solutions, has closed more than a billion dollars’ worth of deals …
Will Ninth Circuit Care That DOJ Lied Its Face Off In Oregon Invasion Case?
(Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) If there’s one lesson of the Trump era, it’s that the …
Trump Floods The Zone, Swamping This Story
Donald Trump and his critics were busy this week. In response to the “No Kings” rallies, Trump posted a video, …
7 HLTH Announcements You Don’t Want To Miss
The post 7 HLTH Announcements You Don’t Want To Miss appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.27.25
* More confirmation that Biglaw cowardice goes beyond the firms that made deals. [Washington Post] * Biglaw lawyer discusses exit …
Racking Up The Ls — See Generally
Jeanine Pirro Secures Lifetime Achievement In Losing: After departing the Fox bubble, Jeanine learns the real world has less tolerance …
Who Needs Reality TV When You Have Baker McKenzie? — See Also
That’s A Lot Of Workplace Drama: Baker McKenzie’s defamation lawsuit against a former employee is messy. District Judges Are Holding …
Even Supreme Court Justices Need A Caffeine Hit
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily Trivia Question of the Day feature. Which justice was responsible for the addition of Starbucks coffee in …
Nothing Says ‘We’re The Good Guys Here!’ Like Arresting A Protestor For Playing Music
It is easy to laud the importance of our Constitution when there is no crisis. Constitutional advocacy really matters when …
My Experience With Fake Jury Duty Fine Scammers
As detailed in a previous article, lawyers are often the target of scams since attorneys sometimes hold significant sums of …
The Legal Marketing Tactics That Work In 2025
Getty Images In a market flooded with digital noise and half-baked strategies, legal marketing expert Chris Dreyer stands out by …
Nail Your CLE: Engaging Your Audience Like A Pro
Getty Images Ed. note: Latest in a series. Read the prior installment here. As we dive deeper into our series …
What Some Of Legal Tech’s Smartest Observers Had To About AI At Inspire
One of the panels assembled by NetDocuments at its Inspire Conference focused on AI’s broader implications for legal practice. The …
District Judges Fight To Save The Rule Of Law While DOJ And Supreme Court Snicker
If democracy survives, it’ll be because a handful of sleep-deprived federal judges refused to let it die on their watch. …
Merger Momentum Builds At Cadwalader As The Firm’s Woes Deepen
Cadwalader has taken hit after hit after hit in recent times, with sweeping lateral moves affecting one of the firm’s …
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 …
ATL’s 16th Annual Legally Themed Halloween Costume Contest
Halloween is always a terrific time for members of the legal community — especially law students — who are able …
Biglaw Lawsuit Against Former Associate Is Actually Messy As Hell
Last month, Biglaw firm Baker McKenzie filed a defamation lawsuit against a former tax associate, Brooke Radford, alleging Radford made repeated allegations on …
Halligan’s Signal Messages Enter The Courtroom Chat
New York Attorney General Letitia James was arraigned this morning in Norfolk on charges of mortgage fraud. This should have …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Working In Plain Sight
According to a recent study by BCG Attorney Search, the four-day mandate for office attendance is becoming the norm in …
Before Advocating To Repeal Section 230, It Helps To First Understand How It Works
Brian Reed’s “Question Everything” podcast built its reputation on careful journalism that explores moral complexity within the journalism field. It’s …
Is Optum Real For Real?
The post Is Optum Real For Real? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.24.25
* Elon Musk loses effort to claim he relied on attorney advice in Twitter investor case. Funny how famously leaking …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Here’s A Guide To Help You Make Sense Of Clio’s New Line Up Of Products And Features
In delivering his keynote at the 2025 ClioCon in Boston last week, CEO Jack Newton described the litany of new …
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 …
Why Are So Many Lawyer Entrepreneurs Successful? Overcoming The Double Whammy
Image courtesy of Barbri. Lawyers make terrific founders. Some might say it is counterintuitive. Aren’t lawyers rigid in their thinking? …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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.
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 …
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. …
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 …
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 …
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 …
The Trump Gold Card: A New $1 Million Pathway To A U.S. Green Card
In September 2025, the Trump administration unveiled a bold and controversial proposal to create a new pathway to U.S. permanent …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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, …
‘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 …
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. …
In-House Counsel Fired After Racist Rant Goes Viral
I get that emotions run high at sporting events, I really do. Even at a baseball game, admittedly the most …
Partnership Seeks To Marry Internal Firm Knowledge With Extensive Legal Database
Thomson Reuters announced this morning that it’s partnering with DeepJudge, a Swiss-founded startup created by ex-Google AI researchers, to bring …
EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon Clamps Down On Military Interactions With Congress
The post EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon Clamps Down On Military Interactions With Congress appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.22.25
* Trump wants the taxpayers to pay him $230 million to compensate him for the federal criminal investigations he endured …
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 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 …
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. …
Watch Your Words
As fall Fridays go, the one last week was pretty eventful, at least for patent types. While I will let …
Alina Habba’s Questionable Designation As U.S. Attorney Seems To Stump Even Her Lawyer
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Well, I …
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 …
Ninth Circuit Confirms Trump Can Send SEAL Team 6 To Assassinate Dancing Inflatable Frogs
(Photo by Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) In Trump v. United States, the conservative majority of the Supreme …
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 …
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 …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm Doubles Down On All-Equity Partnership
Biglaw firms with single partnership tiers are now few and far between, with more big-name firms showing that they’re ready, …
Consumer AI Versus Professional-Grade AI In The Practice Of Law
For some time now, legal publications like Above the Law have been sharing a steady drip of instances where AI …
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 …
In-House Professionals: How Much Money Do You Make?
We’re updating our compensation information for in-house law departments and asking for your help. If you work in-house as an …
Ex-Cano Health CEO On Trial Amid $72M Fraud Claims
The post Ex-Cano Health CEO On Trial Amid $72M Fraud Claims appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.21.25
* Divided Ninth Circuit panel greenlights Trump’s military occupation plan for Portland. [CNN] * …And the Circuit might well revisit …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Things At The DOJ Are Just As Lawless As You Feared
Department of Justice From all accounts, Bari Weiss — the newly installed head of CBS News — won’t rest until …
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 …
Lasting Peace In Israel Is As Certain As Canada Becoming The 51st State
Think about the wars that Israel has had with its neighbors. The first war was in 1948, when Israel came …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Contract KPIs As A Path To Clarity And Measurable Success
In-house counsel often pride themselves on being strategic business partners, yet many cannot answer basic questions about their own contract …
Dr. Oz Says The Medicaid Program Is Complicit In ‘Legalized Money Laundering’
The post Dr. Oz Says The Medicaid Program Is Complicit In ‘Legalized Money Laundering’ appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.20.25
* Federal judiciary begins shuttering some operations as funds dry up. [National Law Journal] * George Santos has sentence commuted. …
Contempt Is Such A Strong, If Entirely Accurate, Word — See Generally
Ed. Note: See generally is our quick review of the big stories from last week. So whether you missed it …
The Papertrail Always Comes Back — See Also
Get A Load Of John Bolton’s Emails: Dude talked about everything. Not All Work Is Created Equal: Does your firm …
The Legacy Of This Long Gone Law School
(Image via Getty) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What was the second law …
Another Major Strike At Kaiser Permanente: What’s At Stake This Time
The post Another Major Strike At Kaiser Permanente: What’s At Stake This Time appeared first on Above the Law.
Stat(s) Of The Week: GenAI And The Billable Hour
As with many things AI, a new study shows big changes on the horizon, with incremental movement in the current …
How Law Firms Track And Convert Without Third-Party Cookies
Third-party cookies have dominated digital advertising for decades. Developed initially to help protect the privacy and anonymity of web browsing …
Clio’s Metamorphosis: From Practice Management To A Comprehensive AI And Law Practice Provider
The 13th annual Clio user conference kicked off this week with the traditional opening keynote by Jack Newton, Clio CEO. …
Tough Times Make A Buyer’s Market For Law Schools
Few things bump up law application numbers like a volatile political environment and how absurdly difficult it is to get …
Getting Paid What You Deserve While Running A Law Practice
Getty Images For many lawyers, billing is the most uncomfortable part of the job. You do great work, solve complex …
This Biglaw Partner Charges $3K An Hour For A Reason
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The simple reason why lawyers like Alex Spiro can …
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 …
4 Takeaways From ClioCon 2025 For Solos And Small Firms
For years, Clio has used its annual conference to signal where the legal industry is headed and this year was …
The Most Innovative Law Schools (2025)
Innovation in legal education isn’t just a buzzword, it’s fast becoming a benchmark. With rapid shifts in technology, including the …
John Bolton Plays Stupid Games, Wins Stupid Prizes
For a smart guy, John Bolton is kind of an idiot. If the indictment that dropped yesterday is correct, he …
Clio Unveils Plan To Become An Everything App For Lawyers
“That was a lot,” muttered someone behind me as we shuffled, along with 2,700 other attendees, out of the Hynes …
Some Law Firms Punish Associates With Tough Assignments
Most law firms typically have vast portfolios of work that keep associates and staff busy. This can include matters that extend …
Nonprofit Beefs Up Staff To Take The Legal Fight To Trump
The Trump II reign has been characterized by repeated attacks on the rule of law and blatant power grabs. And Biglaw has …
Trump Sued Again For Illegally Destroying The Digital Equity Act (And A Bunch Of Useful Programs That Helped His Own Supporters)
Back in May we noted how Trump illegally declared he was unilaterally destroying the $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, lying repeatedly that the …
Morning Docket: 10.17.25
* The government doesn’t keep track of its “Kavanaugh stops.” Pro Publica decided to do it for them. [Pro Publica] …
Show Us The Money! — See Also
Ever Wondered How Much Small And Midsize Practitioners Make?: We wonder too! Let us know so we can share. Coverage …
Thanks So Much To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
Get Ready For A Super Competitive Law School Application Season
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data from the Law School Admissions …
The High Cost Of Not Watching Your Wallet: A Tax Cautionary Tale
Just before the 2024 tax return filing deadline, someone reached out to me because he was facing a very large …
San Francisco DA Warns National Guard They Can’t Beat On People And Get Away With It
Our likely-not-heaven-bound Supreme Leader has been trying to lay down the framework he needs to invoke the Insurrection Act and …
As Typepad Shuts Down, LexBlog Launches Rescue Operation To Save Nearly 600,000 Legal Blog Posts
When blogging platform Typepad announced in August that it would shut down on Sept. 30, 2025, it threatened to erase …
Acclaimed Civil Litigator Earns Unlikely Spot On Criminal Defense Ranking
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. While I don’t practice criminal (only civil) law, I …
Overcoming Your Fear Of Spiders, Snakes, And Public Speaking
For years, I dreaded public speaking. Not just speaking in front of large audiences, but also in front of small …
SCOTUSblog Founder Headed To Trial
Earlier this year, SCOTUSblog co-founder and veteran Supreme Court litigator Tom Goldstein was arrested on a 22-count indictment alleging tax crimes and …
How To Plan Your Parental Leave Without Tanking Your Career
Ed. note: This article is part of Parental Leave & The Legal Profession, a special series for Above the Law …
How Much Do Lawyers In Small And Midsize Practices Make?
Every year, Above the Law surveys solo practitioners and small firm lawyers about their compensation for an annual compensation report. …
The Law Schools That Provide The ‘Best Value’ For Students (2025)
There are many ways to rank law schools, but the way that the National Jurist’s preLaw Magazine does it is …
When Harvey Talks Competition, Legal Tech Better Listen
The competition for law firm customers for legal specific AI tools is, to say the least, intense. Virtually every legal …
Defense Trade Press Statement On Media Restrictions At The Pentagon
The post Defense Trade Press Statement On Media Restrictions At The Pentagon appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.16.25
* Law school applications up 33 percent. Or “nearly half” as some lawyers would say. [Reuters] * Supreme Court’s voting …
Adios, Tokyo — See Also
O’Melveny & Myers Winds Down Their Tokyo Office: The news comes after almost 40 years of operation. Downplaying Or Propagandizing?: …
This Law Review Is Older Than Dirt
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What is the current name of the oldest …
GOP Operative/Lawyer Out Of A Job After Offensive And Racist Messages Revealed
Yesterday, Politico released a bombshell expose on a young Republican group Telegram chat with wildly offensive rhetoric. It’s being referred …
California Attorney Pleads Guilty For Role In $912M Ponzi Scheme
Rule of thumb: you should never represent your client in a way that will make you need a lawyer down …
Has AI Managed To Make Lawyers Even Dumber?
Philosopher Paul Virilio wrote of the integral accident — with technological advancement there comes a corresponding new accident. Planes beget …
You Can’t Put The First Amendment To Bed
The First Amendment does not have a bedtime of 10:00 p.m. The burden is on the government to prove that …
Donna Adelson Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murder Of Her Law Professor Ex-Son-In-Law
Dan Markel was a law professor who taught Criminal Law at Florida State. His life was cut short on June …
Trump Is Right: Ban Gender In College Admissions
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
TV Legal Analyst Begins Sanewashing Trump Declaring Martial Law
Sending the military to engage in domestic law enforcement operations is, to be clear, not something the White House just …
Streamline To Scale: Transforming Law Firm Workflows For Maximum Impact
Attorneys juggle deadlines, compliance, client demands, and a mountain of admin work, often without clear systems to support them. Growth, …
On Campus Hiring Is Broken, And This Isn’t Helping
Some law firms are handing out recruiting entertainment budgets to law students. While we don’t fault law students some sweet …
US Taxpayers Bail Out Argentina’s Bank As Trump’s Tariffs Help It Steal American Farmers’ Largest Market
Between multiple extrajudicial killings of everyone aboard several alleged Venezuelan drug boats, a supposed peace deal in the Middle East, …
Top Biglaw Firm Says Sayonara To Its Tokyo Office
Biglaw firms are closing their offices in China left and right, but could those closures expand to offices in other …
As Insurers Drop GLP-1 Coverage, Advocates Search For A Hero In Obesity
The post As Insurers Drop GLP-1 Coverage, Advocates Search For A Hero In Obesity appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.15.25
* Supreme Court refuses to bail out Alex Jones. [NPR] * Musk’s effort to skim $56 billion off his meme …
From Client Experience To Client Intelligence: Case Status CEO Andy Seavers On Becoming A ‘Future Firm’
Recently, the legal technology company Case Status held its inaugural Client Experience Summit in Charleston, S.C., a conference devoted to exploring how AI, data …
You Really Should Just Stick To ‘Your Honor’ — See Also
Attorney Closes Zoom Call By Calling Judge A “F****** C***”: If you thought that was bad, wait until you hear …
Impeachment Isn’t The End Of A Supreme Court Justice’s Career
(Photo by Staci Zaretsky) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Who was the only …
From Client Experience To Client Intelligence: Case Status CEO Andy Seavers On Becoming A ‘Future Firm’
The post From Client Experience To Client Intelligence: Case Status CEO Andy Seavers On Becoming A ‘Future Firm’ appeared first …
Turns Out, You Shouldn’t Call The Judge A ‘F*cking C*nt’
This tale of attorney discipline is one part tech failure and one part petty misogyny, and none of it is a …
Former Justice Anthony Kennedy Voices Concerns Over A More ‘Confrontational’ Supreme Court
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy (Image via Getty) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’m actually …
Reveal Reveals New CEO As Founder Moves Into Board Chair Role
Reveal founder Wendell Jisa is stepping upstairs to Chairman after nearly two decades turning a bootstrapped idea into an AI-fueled …
FASORP Drops University Of Michigan Scare Tactics
FASORP is a group that takes itself very seriously — which is why it tickles my soul to know that …
Why Waiting For A Crisis To Involve Legal Will Cost You Millions
When Tara Trantham talks about the cost of delay, she is not speaking in hypotheticals. As the chief legal officer …
Teaching Law In A Red State
Dear Colleagues, We at University Administration are now prepared to issue our Academic Freedom guidelines for your classes. As you know …
The Tish James Indictment Looks Like Country-Fried BS
Last week, Lindsey Halligan, the acting/interim/special/imaginary US Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia indicted New York Attorney General Letitia …
RelativityFest’s Biggest Announcement Will Hit Hardest Far Outside The Conference Hall
RelativityFest kicked off last week with a song and dance number — well, a keynote followed by a song and …
Legal Ethics Roundup: AG James Indicted, Golden Gate Law Returns, No Discipline For Law Firm Trump Pro Bono Deals & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Can AI Solve Fashion’s Excess Inventory Problems?
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Morning Docket: 10.14.25
* Barack Obama weighs in on capitulating law firms. [The Hill] * A look at the lawyers giving up big …
Magically Disappearing Partners — See Generally
Who? Never Heard Of ‘Em: Kirkland decides not to name the new partners. Disappearing Lawyers The Old Fashioned Way: Cadwalader …
The DOJ Isn’t Getting Their Way — See Also
If You Fail Once, Try Failing A Second Time: Good luck getting a local statute to bind the federal judiciary! …
The Biglaw ‘Perk’ That Really Isn’t One
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the most recent ALM midlevel associate …
Another Legal Norm Shattered
Delaware is a special place, a special bar, and this nomination is norm shattering. —Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) on the …
A Masterclass On Building A Business Development System That Works
Getty Images Nancy Fox doesn’t just preach strategy, she lives it. With decades of experience coaching professionals through recessions, tech …
Why Healthcare Leaders Are Worried About The New H-1B Visa Fee
The post Why Healthcare Leaders Are Worried About The New H-1B Visa Fee appeared first on Above the Law.
Exclusive: Biglaw Firms Farming Out Law School Recruitment Efforts To Current Law Students
Biglaw’s recruitment of law students is well and truly broken. That’s not a shock — in 2018, when NALP announced …
From Startup To $2 Billion: EvenUp Is Transforming Personal Injury Practice
A recent legal tech funding announcement got my attention. EvenUp, which provides several AI tools for personal injury (PI) plaintiffs’ …
Kendrick Really Is What The Culture Feeling: Drake Lost The Rap Battle AND The Court Battle
In the span of the last year, Aubrey “Drake” Graham has been dunked on more than anyone who has had …
The Biglaw Firms Leading The Charge On Generative AI In Litigation
As generative artificial intelligence continues to reshape the practice of law, firms are finding themselves at very different points on …
After Getting No-Billed, DOJ Tries Presenting Case To Local Grand Jury. Court Not Amused.
The DOJ got benchslapped again last night by federal Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui. The beatdown came in the case of …
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 …
Strategies For Negotiating Rate Increases With Clients
Inflation is a fact of life, and the price of doing business generally increases from one year to another. Lawyers, like …
Calling All Biglaw Associates: 2025 Bonus Season Awaits
If you’re a Biglaw associate in the fall of 2025, two things are probably true: (i) you’re billing your life …
Trump Admits: ‘We Took The Freedom Of Speech Away’
In what may be the most accidentally honest moment of his presidency, Donald Trump just admitted what we’ve been documenting …
Morning Docket: 10.10.25
* Drake loses suit over Kendrick diss. [Law360] * Capitulating firms dodge NY ethics complaint. [Bloomberg Law News] * Illinois …
Thanks So Much To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
New Merger Alert! — See Also
Welcome To The Fold, FBT Gibbons!: They are set to go live on January 1st, 2026. Crime May Actually Pay: …
Kim Kardashian Is Going To Be A Lawyer
(Photo by Mike Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of …
Exclusive: Passle Launches Intelligence Map To Visualize Cross-Selling Activity Within A Law Firm
Passle, a technology company that develops thought leadership and cross-selling tools for law firms, has unveiled a new visualization tool …
Letitia James Becomes Second Trump Political Enemy To Be Indicted
Two separate career prosecutors did not believe there was enough evidence to support mortgage fraud charges against New York Attorney …
From Biglaw To In-House At The House Of Mouse
(Photo by Olga Thompson/Walt Disney World Resort via Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the …
Scammers Walked Away With Nearly A Half Million Of Sullivan & Cromwell’s Dollars
New York Attorney General Letitia James is cracking down on a series of fraudulent entities trying to impersonate one of …
Oregon Public Defense Commission Thinks You Can Argue A Murder Case In The Time It Takes To Watch The First Season Of ‘Game Of Thrones’
(Photo via New Jersey Criminal Law Resource) The state of public defense has been dire in Oregon. Overworked and understaffed …
That 70s Show: Why Your 70s Might Be The Perfect Time To Start A Law Firm
The Wall Street Journal recently ran a story that might surprise those who view entrepreneurship as a young person’s game. …
Relativity Offers Key AI Products At No Extra Charge — But That’s Not The Most Important Thing
The 12th annual Relativity Fest kicked off this week in Chicago before over 1,800 attendees. Lots of announcements, the most …
The Forgotten Art Of Brainstorming: How To 10x Creativity In Group Settings
Many lawyers have a lone wolf approach to their cases. Even when they lead a team, they often make decisions …
How Filevine Helps In-House Legal Teams Manage Every Matter With Confidence
Most in-house legal teams know the feeling: inboxes overflowing with attachments, redlines lost in endless email chains, and that nagging …
Corporate And Litigation Powerhouses Tie The Knot In Biglaw’s Latest Merger
Another week, another law firm merger. Because apparently no one in Biglaw wants to stay regional anymore, in yet another …
When Will AI Be Your Opposing Counsel?
Most lawyers have fretted from time to time about the encroachment of artificial intelligence on the work that they do. …
Small Business Fund Used By DoD Teeters On The Edge
The post Small Business Fund Used By DoD Teeters On The Edge appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.09.25
* Woman who defrauded JP Morgan used her indemnification clause to make JP Morgan pay almost as much in legal …
World’s Richest Law Firm Is Hush Hush About Their New Partners — See Also
Kirkland Opts Out Of Announcing Their New Partners: Is it because they are too ashamed after partners lateral out? Would …
Biglaw’s Litigation Growth Strategy
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which top Biglaw firm made a mass investment …
New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Skirts Jail Time Over Investigation Interference
We’re no stranger to covering Supreme Court power couples. Few relationships have been cuter than Scalia and Ginsburg or Thomas …
Law Professor Catches Deloitte Using Made-Up AI Hallucinations In Government Report
The Australian government paid consultants Deloitte 440,000 Australian dollars ($290,000) for a report on the use of automated penalties in Australia’s …
Kamala Harris Gets Really Real — And Really Profane — About The Trump Administration
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [T]here is so much about this moment that is …
Williams & Connolly Hit By Foreign Hackers
One of the biggest consequences of success is the target that magically appears on your back. Running a firm involves …
U.S. Politics Drives Law School ‘Application Boom’
Thanks to our fractured political landscape, thousands upon thousands of college graduates have been inspired to go to law school. Per …
DOJ’s Persecution Of James Comey Hits Trump-Appointed Snag
The indictment of former FBI Director James Comey is deeply problematic. Something about how career prosecutors refused to bring the charges …
Russia’s Unjustified Bombardment Of Lviv Was Wild From The Ground And Pointless Strategically
If you are a keen observer of Above the Law’s pages, you might have noticed that my column was absent …
Is This The Beginning Of The End For The Bar Exam?
For a long time, the bar exam seemed like the nasty habit that the legal profession just couldn’t quit. But …
3 Ways Lawyers Are Finding New Efficiencies With AI
More and more lawyers are using artificial intelligence to save time and improve their workflow, and individuals are outpacing their …
Kirkland Refuses To Publicly Announce Its New Partners, Marking A Shift From Swagger To Silence
Kirkland & Ellis is recognized as one of the nation’s greatest law firms. Not only does the firm offer a …
How Are Healthcare Leaders Tackling Automation Bias?
The post How Are Healthcare Leaders Tackling Automation Bias? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.08.25
* Attorney General Pam Bondi spent the day on Capitol Hill making snide remarks and trying to deflect from her …
Mind Your Cell Phones — See Also
Immigration Attorney Gets His Phone Nabbed By ICE: He successfully got a TRO, but the damage may have already been …
AI As A Law Firm Revenue Stream
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a recent Axiom survey of over 600 …
Senator Wants To Know How All These Fake Cites Ended Up In These Judicial Opinions
Senator Chuck Grassley, who is a mere five years younger than sliced bread, has taken it upon himself to delve …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: Mastering Practice Management At Your Firm
If you’ve never utilized a practice management system, you’re probably feeling pretty disorganized, especially if your firm is expanding. But …
This Elite Firm Won’t Be Joining Biglaw’s China Exodus
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. China is going to be a very relevant trade …
No Current Evidence South Carolina Judge’s Home Deliberately Set On Fire
When a judge who was already receiving death threats had her home go up in flames a day after a …
Samuel Alito Hurls Digs At Originalists Not As Extreme As He Is
Never let it be said that Samuel Alito rests on his laurels. Apparently a far-right majority on the Supreme Court …
The AI Arbitrator Is Here: What’s Next?
When the American Arbitration Association (AAA) recently announced that it would be launching an AI-powered arbitrator in November, it raised the question of the future role of AI in litigation. Indeed, …
In Praise Of Smaller Legal Tech Conferences: Lessons From Case Status’s Client Experience Summit
For the second time in a month, I attended a first-time conference. And, once again, the inaugural conference exceeded my …
The Best Law Schools For Business Law (2025)
Business law today sits at the intersection of shifting political and regulatory forces, as governments worldwide respond to evolving issues …
Immigration Attorney Critical Of ICE Receives Temporary Restraining Order Preventing Search Of His Phone
Last week, attorney Andrew Lattarulo was on his way home from Aruba when his iPhone 15 Pro Max was seized …
Relativity Continues Investing In Justice, While Biglaw Keeps Cowering
As Relativity gears up for RelativityFest, the Coachella of people who love chain-of-custody logs, the company also celebrates an anniversary …
FDA Pilot Program Creates New Path For Faster Regulatory Review Of Generic Drugs
The post FDA Pilot Program Creates New Path For Faster Regulatory Review Of Generic Drugs appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 10.07.25
* Trump tells reporters he’s considering pardons for all his convicted sex criminal friends. [Reuters] * Supreme Court’s conversion therapy …
This Biglaw Firm Is Bleeding Talent — See Also
See Also One Firm’s Loss Is Another Firm’s Gain: The defecting attorneys set sail for Orrick. Visiting Professor At Harvard …
The Start Of The Supreme Court’s First Monday In October Madness
(Photo by Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States via Getty Images) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily …
Why Minh Merchant Drafted The Earnings Script Herself And What Every In-House Lawyer Can Learn From It
When Minh Merchant stepped into her first general counsel role, she did not just take a seat at the table. …
Another Career Prosecutor Prepares To Be Fired For Refusing To Seek Charges Against Letitia James
Donald Trump is determined to prosecute his political enemies. It was less than a month ago that U.S. Attorney for …
Democracy On The Docket As Supreme Court Kicks Off Momentous Term
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I think that this is teed up to potentially …
Judge’s Home Happens To Burn Down Day After Stephen Miller Claims Democrat Judges Shield ‘Terrorists’
Since at least the Bush administration, designating someone or something as a terrorist or terrorism has been our equivalent of …
Harvard Law School Professor Arrested Following Shooting Incident
Carlos Portugal Gouvêa, a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, was arrested last week following a shooting incident in front …
Capitulating To Trump Seems To Be A Sore Subject For Lawyers At Firms That Capitulated To Trump
It’s been a little over six months since Donald Trump fired off a retaliatory executive order threatening to shut down …
Cyber, Slider. We Got Insurance, Right?
Now here’s a good one. With all the publicity about lawyers not checking cites, it’s good to be reminded that …
This Judicial Complaint Could Have Been An Email
The Justice Department lied in a judicial misconduct complaint against Chief Judge James Boasberg of the US District Court for …
Cadwalader’s Mass Exodus Continues: Nearly 40 Lawyers Jump To Top 50 Biglaw Firm In Practice Group Raid
The hits keep coming for Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft. Reports of a mass lateral defection from the firm’s collateralized loan …
Was Trump Right When He Took These Actions?
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) President Donald Trump wants to own the libs. And the libs fall for it — …
Legal Ethics Roundup: SCOTUS Opens Term With Legal Ethics Argument, New Judicial Anti-Bias Rule & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
How Healthcare Leaders Are Reacting To The Government Shutdown
The post How Healthcare Leaders Are Reacting To The Government Shutdown appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.06.25
* Administration officials thought they could get around court order blocking federal deployment of the Oregon National Guard by using …
State Ditches Bar Exam As Only Way To Become Lawyer — See Generally
State Previews Future Without The Bar Exam: Utah unveils a new, alternate pathway to licensure focused on practical experience. Storied …
Biglaw Money Is Talking — See Also
Blue Cheese: Biglaw lawyers and staff are sending their money to overwhelmingly Democrat causes. Nevermind The Child Porn Allegations: Federal …
Superstar Litigator To Represent Kim Kardashian In Major Defamation Battle
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Kim Kardashian and …
Lights, Camera, CLE: Prepare For Your Best Presentation Yet
Getty Images Welcome to the spotlight! As we kick off Part 3 of our series, “Lights, Camera, CLE,” we’re shifting …
How Proactivity And Communication Shape Growth In Law And Business
Getty Images In this episode, of the “Be That Lawyer” podcast, host Steve Fretzin and entrepreneur Steve Haddadin dive into …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Population Boom Among In-House Counsel
According to a new report from the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), the number of in-house counsel in the United …
Debunked: A Look At H-1B Visas In Healthcare, M&A Deals For Bitcoin & More
The post Debunked: A Look At H-1B Visas In Healthcare, M&A Deals For Bitcoin & More appeared first on Above …
AI SEO For Law Firms: Website Changes For 2026
To understand what your law firm website needs to change to remain relevant and visible in 2026, it helps to …
LEX Summit: An Almost Perfect Conference
The Filevine User Conference took place September 29th through October 2nd in Salt Lake City. I was interested in the …
Federal Judge Rules On Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ Album Cover Case
(Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) Sometimes millions of people buying a picture of a naked baby is just art. Called …
Judge’s Opinion Taking Trump To Task Shockingly Frank
It’s a sign of the times that a federal judge would write an opinion like this. Judge Young is committing …
A Shingle-Hanging Checklist For The Modern Lawyer
Has the thought of starting a law firm ever crossed your mind? There are plenty of reasons for starting your …
Arrested Man Learns ChatGPT Isn’t His Lawyer So Much As It’s Evidence
Police just added a new weapon to their arsenal: incredibly stupid people being way too comfortable confessing their secrets to …
Democrats Cash In As Biglaw Lawyers & Staff Open Their Checkbooks
Lawyers and law firm staff members continue to be among the top political campaign donors, but which party is taking …
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 …
Courts Should Make It Easier To Fix E-Filing Errors
Most courts these days offer electronic filing systems by which attorneys can file and view litigation papers through the internet. This …
Stanford Study: ‘AI’ Generated ‘Workslop’ Actually Making Productivity Worse
Automation undeniably has some useful applications. But the folks hyping modern “AI” have not only dramatically overstated its capabilities, many of …
Morning Docket: 10.03.25
* At Trump administration’s request, federal judge recuses himself in Oregon National Guard deployment challenge based on his wife’s public …
If You Thought Rowdy Students Were Bad, Imagine Being Forced To Be A Mom — See Also
Justice Thomas Explains That He Jumped Ship From Comfy Teaching Gig Because The Dobbs Backlash Amounted To “Unpleasantness”: He taught …
Thanks To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
Tough Crowd At Marquette Law School
Learning the law is hard enough without having a rule of law crisis happening around you. Unsurprisingly, being the figurehead …
Exclusive: Altorney Launches MARC; Gen AI-Powered System Automates First-Pass Review, Targeting Major Savings In E-Discovery
The legal technology company Altorney today announced the general availability of MARC, a generative AI-powered document review system designed to …
Justice That Said Abortion Is Unconstitutional Fails To Carry Semester To Term
(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Prepare the world’s tiniest violin, my friends. At a recent Catholic University Law School event, …
Work The Workflows: Creating And Relying On Flowcharts, Decision Trees, Processes, And To-Do Lists For Your Cases
Maybe it’s my OCD, or being a nerd (I know, shocking), or being a control freak (did I mention my …
Harvey Snags Even More Seats In The T14!
If you thought it was hard to get in to a T14 as a student, imagine the uphill battle you’d …
From AI Tools To AI Orchestration: How Law Firms Can Take The Next Steps
When it comes to artificial intelligence, law firms that take an early implementation lead are positioning themselves for compounding advantages …
From Fly-By-Night To Looking Fly: Starting A Law Firm On The Fly In 2025
In today’s volatile political climate, many lawyers are finding themselves forced to start a firm on the fly — either …
Lawyers Without The Bar Exam: Utah Announces Alternate Licensing Path, And The Sky Still Isn’t Falling
The bar exam is less of a test of legal competence and more of a Scantron-centric hazing ritual. A three-year …
How Will Generative AI Impact Legal Work?
It’s nearly impossible to avoid the effects of generative artificial intelligence (AI). No matter what your role entails or what …
Law Firms Shy Away From Challenging Trump On ABA’s Behalf
That whole “A Republic, if you can keep it” thing was pretty prescient. We’re currently in the “big if true” …
Space Force Declares ATLAS Space Domain Awareness Software ‘Operational’
The post Space Force Declares ATLAS Space Domain Awareness Software ‘Operational’ appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 10.02.25
* Federal judiciary can stay open until October 17 amid shutdown. After that? Have you guys ever seen The Purge? …
Salaries Above The Cravath Scale! — See Also
Big Money Over At Brithem LLP!: They expect to have at least 20 attorneys by 2026. MMMaking America Great Again: …
Climbing Back To The High Of Law Firm Merger Mania
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a report from Fairfax Associates, in …
Judge Calls Out Trump Appointee For Cosplaying As Federal Prosecutor
America’s official Spirit Halloween pop-up has taken over the Department of Justice, and the most popular costume is “fake U.S. …
Filevine Takes On Legal Research Giants And Enhances Its Deposition Tools
This week, I’m at the Filevine User LEX Summit in Salt Lake City. Two announcements were particularly significant for the …
Amy Coney Barrett Wants You To Know That She’s Not The Supreme Court’s Next ‘Swing Justice’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. A swing justice — that makes it sound like you …
Filling In The Void Caused By Biglaw’s Cowardice
Donald Trump’s war on Biglaw, through unconstitutional Executive Orders designed to break major law firms unless they bend a knee to Trump, has already had a tremendous …
Elite Biglaw Firm Increases Office Attendance Mandate For Attorneys Around The Globe
Biglaw firms want their attorneys to have more of a physical presence in the office, and attendance mandates continue to …
Reagan Judge Compares Trump Administration Tactics To Ku Klux Klan
Known firebrand leftist Ronald Reagan stacked the courts with woke activist judges who keep blocking Donald Trump’s glorious agenda! First, …
Trump Makes Big Claim About A $500M Harvard Settlement
The battle between Harvard and the Trump administration may soon be coming to an end. Our great leader recently announced …
All The Cool Kids Are Passing The Bar, All The Cooley Kids… Not As Much
Perennially embattled Cooley Law School once again called out by the ABA over sagging bar passage rates. The school has …
Another Boutique Firm Emerges — And This One Is Paying Above The Cravath Scale
(Image via Getty) The exodus of Biglaw heavyweights into the boutique arena rolls on, with Brown Rudnick’s top litigators leading …
Forced Resignations And A Government Shutdown: Will This Lead To Efficiency Or Bureaucratic Chaos?
(Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) Last night at 12:01 a.m., the federal government shut down due to a …
Pfizer Reaches Deal On Most-Favored Nation Drug Pricing; Other Pharmas Expected To Follow
The post Pfizer Reaches Deal On Most-Favored Nation Drug Pricing; Other Pharmas Expected To Follow appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 10.01.25
* Hackers with links to China target U.S. law firms. [Law.com International] * Another Trump acting U.S. Attorney determined to …
The Force Of Law With None Of The Explanation — See Also
Lower Courts Pushed To Conform Their Rulings With Shadow Dockets: They have the majority, but actual cases would take too …
Working On Behalf Of Jeffrey Epstein Can Make You Millions
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! How much did Alan Dershowitz admit he was …
Pentagon Readies Contingency Plans For Government Shutdown
The post Pentagon Readies Contingency Plans For Government Shutdown appeared first on Above the Law.
Summer Associates Really Expected Better From Biglaw Firms That Capitulated To Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. If the [Biglaw] firms had just stuck together no …
DLA Piper Sued Over Alleged Pregnancy Bias
When it comes to work-life balance, some firms do a good job of recognizing that their employees are also people. …
Donald Trump Demands Microsoft Fire In-House Counsel Because His Petty Need For Revenge Knows No Bounds
Remember was it was an anathema to conservative values to interfere with business? Oh, my kingdom for the halcyon days …
When Ransomware Meets AI: The Next Frontier Of Cyber Extortion
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
The Rainmaker: What 20 Years In Supreme Court Practice Have Taught Me
Ed. note: The Rainmaker is a new Above the Law series highlighting attorneys who have built distinguished practices by excelling …
Supreme Court’s Shadow Docket Scam Collides With Reality
The shadow docket used to be the sleepy part of the Court’s work. The ramifications for the individual litigants were …
How Innovative Legal Teams Are Turning AI From Promise To Practice
In recent years, AI has moved beyond speculation in the legal industry. What used to be hypothetical is now very …
Finders, Minders, And Grinders: Why Every Lawyer Needs To Be A Finder
One of my favorite movies of all time is The Rainmaker, starring Matt Damon and Jon Voight. Most people don’t …
The Best Biglaw Firms, Ranked By Summer Associates (2025)
The summer of 2025 was pretty exciting for summer associates — after all, summer programs are now back to the …
Legal Aid Organizations Embrace AI At Twice The Rate Of Other Lawyers, New Study Reveals
A study examining artificial intelligence adoption in legal aid organizations has revealed that these resource-constrained nonprofits are embracing AI technology …
Morning Docket: 09.30.25
* DLA Piper must face pregnancy bias case. [Reuters] * Google will give Trump $24.5 million for having kicked him …
Caldwalder Announcement: Stability Or Concern? — See Also
They Just Appointed A Co-Managing Partner: They aren’t interested in mergers. For now. Don’t Mess With Texas: They want to …
Summer Associates Are Really Living The Good Life
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to ALM’s 2025 Summer Associate survey, how …
James Comey Taps Small Law To Defend Him Against Witch Hunt
You can’t overstate the importance of the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. Despite the weak protests of the …
‘Not The America Envisioned By Our Constitution’: Trump’s Weaponization Of The Justice Department Will Bend The Rule Of Law Until It Breaks
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. These are not ordinary times. The indictment of former …
TikTok Fails To Win Donna Adelson A New Trial
After the 2014 murder of law professor Dan Markel, gunned down by a pair of hitmen, suspicions quickly fell upon …
Enhancing Efficiency, Strategy, And Case Outcomes With AI
Ed. note: This article first appeared in an ILTA publication. For more, visit our ILTA on ATL channel here. The legal industry, …
Tyler Quillin On Why Speaking ‘Eighth Grade’ Can Transform Your Contracting
When I first heard Tyler Quillin, principal corporate counsel at Microsoft, say that he asks engineers to “explain it to …
Texas Plans To Cut Law School Accreditation Ties With The ABA
The Lone Star State is tired of the ABA dunking on their low bar passage rates and wants their Supreme …
Does Tylenol Give Mass Tort Defense Lawyers A Headache?
It’s like there’s a worm in my brain, eating away at my sanity. (Image via Getty) For most of the …
You Can Walk Away From Biglaw And Have The Career Of Your Dreams
In this episode, I chat with Marc Brown, a dynamic attorney and Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks franchise owner. Marc opens up …
Wall Street’s Oldest Biglaw Firm Appoints Co-Managing Partner Amid Mass Exits And Merger Rumors
Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, long viewed as a stalwart of Wall Street law firms, now seems to be scrambling to …
Redline Directly In Email? Yes, This Sleek Document Comparison Software Has Figured It Out
It’s closing in on midnight, and instead of watching that movie you planned, you’re toggling between three windows on your …
SCOTUS Blessed ‘Kavanaugh Stops.’ Will They Also Give Thumbs Up To ‘Roberts Residencies?’
On September 8, the Supreme Court effectively legalized racial profiling. Naturally, they did it on the shadow docket, in a …
Legal Ethics Roundup: AZ Adds Tech Duty For Judges, TX Drops ABA, Sanctions for Protecting Immigration Client, $24,400 Fine For AI Misuse, Ethics Of A Weaponized DOJ, Barrett On Recusals & More
Happy Monday! I stayed up way too late this weekend making history with 112,000+ other people at the largest ticketed concert ever …
Inside The VA And ONC’s Vision For A More Connected Healthcare System
The post Inside The VA And ONC’s Vision For A More Connected Healthcare System appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.29.25
* Supreme Court considers letting Ghislaine Maxwell off the hook. [MSNBC] * Oregon sues Trump administration over troop deployment. Suit …
The Point Of Law School Is To Actually Pass The Bar Exam — See Generally
Cooley Law Has Real Trouble Getting Its Graduates To Pass The Bar Exam: And the ABA has a real issue …
Kimmel Is Back! — See Also
Sinclair & Nexstar Have Backed Down On Kimmel: But they planned to replace him with new programming. Clarence Thomas Doesn’t …
These Are Not The Metaphors You’re Looking For
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! A panel of Florida judges recently cautioned trial …
The Truth About Medical Debt And Credit Reporting: Three Things To Know
The post The Truth About Medical Debt And Credit Reporting: Three Things To Know appeared first on Above the Law.
An Entrepreneur’s Roadmap To A Profitable Business
Getty Images In this episode of the “Be That Lawyer” podcast, host Steve Fretzin and Ral West, an author and …
From Firefights To Fixed Fees: Strategic Pricing In High-Stakes Legal Work
Litigation: the last stronghold of hourly billing. On this episode of the UpLevel View podcast, hosts Steph Corey and Ken …
The Lawhive Acquisition: The Shape Of Things To Come
Last week, a legal tech company Lawhive reportedly purchased a UK law firm lock, stock, and barrel. According to a story about the acquisition, the law firm, Woodstock, specializes in property …
Clarence Thomas Tells Us How He Really Feels About ‘Totally Stupid’ Precedent
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Well if I find it doesn’t make any sense …
Trump Indicts Comey For Torpedoing Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential Campaign
In 2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein produced a letter purporting to fire FBI Director James Comey for being too …
From Casebooks To Chatbots: Another Law School Makes AI Certification Mandatory For Students
High-profile artificial intelligence screwups are now occurring on an almost weekly basis, proving that even experienced attorneys need more training …
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 …
How Personal Injury Lawyers Are Leveraging AI
Are personal injury lawyers truly taking advantage of the tools available to them? Our friends at 8am surveyed 325 PI …
Courts Should Avoid Handwritten Orders
State and federal courts have adopted a number of technological advances in recent years that make it much easier to …
The Right-Wing Zealots At Sinclair & Nexstar Push Their Luck, Refuse To Put Jimmy Kimmel Back On The Air
The flood of outrage at the Disney/FCC cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel ultimately forced the company to retreat and put Kimmel back on …
Morning Docket: 09.26.25
* James Comey indicted in effort to criminalize hurting Trump’s feelings. [CNN] * Comey is hiring Pat Fitzgerald, the former …
Did Kirkland Culturally Abandon Their Hong Kong Office? — See Also
Kirkland Doesn’t See The Issue: The 11 partners that jumped ship may feel otherwise. Trump’s Tylenol Theories Are Emboldening Plaintiffs: …
Thanks To Our Amazing ATL Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
First Articles Of Impeachment Of The Second Trump Term
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Mich.) announced today she’s introducing articles of …
DOJ Asks U.S. Attorneys To Invent Sham Reasons To Prosecute George Soros
Who says lawyers have to sacrifice their creative side! While many attorneys find the daily grind of practicing law keeps …
Lowering Of The Bar?
The assassination of Charlie Kirk — shocking, disgraceful, horrid, any number of adjectives fit here. Whether you agreed with his …
BigHand’s Pricing And Budgeting Survey: A Wake-Up Call And An Opportunity
Another week, another interesting BigHand survey. This time the BigHand team tackled pricing and budgeting issues. The bottom line: every …
Huge Law School Classes Could Mean Huge Employment Woes In the Future
(Image via Getty) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The unknown here is how quickly …
Wanna Join The Legal Fight Against The Trump Administration? Best Break Up With Biglaw
Since the start of the Trump II reign, and the attack on the rule of law that coincided with that, …
Families Are Relying On Trump’s Batshit Tylenol Diagnosis To Revive Dismissed Cases
Tylenol is a well-known pain reliever. It isn’t particularly strong — it’s effectiveness is probably one step above spit, but …
Write A Filing For This Futuristic AI-Refugee Case Hypo And Win $10,000
In 2047, Ahmad Hakim and his family are climate refugees fleeing the Levantine Consolidation Zone after Ahmad refused to place …
Things Aren’t Cool At Cooley — See Also
They’re Back In The Hot Seat: They’re on probation because of their low bar exam scores. Kamala Harris Calls Out …
Can’t Sleep? You’re Not Alone!
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Bloomberg Law’s 2024 Attorney Well-Being Report, …
So Long, Farewell, Elon Musk: After 7 Long Years As A Tesla Shareholder, I’ve Liquidated My Position
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) It was May of 2018. “Avengers: Infinity War” was in theaters. …
Former SCOTUS Justice Anthony Kennedy Rejects ‘Swing Vote’ Label In New Memoir
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The cases swung, not me. — Former Supreme Court …
‘We’re All Jimmy Kimmel’ Could Hit A Little Closer To Home Than You Think
The Jimmy Kimmel suspension and return has felt more rapturous than the alleged Rapture was. And as understandable as it …
Lawmakers Ask Paul Weiss And Kirkland To Explain Why Trump Work Isn’t Totally Illegal
When Donald Trump issued an executive order that could compromise the firm’s ability to do business, Paul Weiss waved away …
Gotta Deport ‘Em All? How Should Nintendo Respond To Immigrant-Hunting Social Media Post From DHS?
Last Monday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) posted a one-minute video on X (formerly Twitter) and other social media …
ABA Puts Troubled Law School On Probation Over Its Bar Exam Passage Rates
Passing the bar exam is the ultimate rite of passage for would-be attorneys, but for one law school, bar exam …
Anatomy Of A Modern Merger: A Step-By-Step Guide For GCs
Editor’s note: First in a three-part series. Although the deals market has shown a modest rebound in early 2025, a …
Kamala Harris Calls Out CEOs For Not Fighting Against Donald Trump. There’s Just One Glaring Issue With That…
Kamala Harris is hawking her new book, 107 Days, and so, she sat down with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC last …
Nothin’ Says Lovin’ Like A Benchslap
Perkins Coie cut ties with an attorney over Charlie Kirk comments on social media. The remarks were measured and reasonable, …
How Tariffs Impacted Designers Leading Up To New York Fashion Week
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Morning Docket: 09.24.25
* Court blocks arbitrary, capricious, and retaliatory grant cuts until Supreme Court can shadow docket them back. [Bloomberg Law News] …
So Much For Work/Life Balance — See Also
The Associates At These Firms Are Putting The Hours In: Is your firm on the list? No Drinking On The …
A Pretty Profitable Place To Be An Equity Partner
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by ALM, which Biglaw …
AAA Readies November Launch Of AI-Powered Arbitrator For Construction Disputes
For an established dispute-resolution organization that is turning 100 next year, the American Arbitration Association seems to be doing everything …
LSU Reaches Settlement With Former Law Dean
Law school dean changes usually occasion a LinkedIn update, but the change in command at LSU was a little more …
Approaches To Drive AI Adoption In Biglaw
My first experience with technology adoption for a law firm was probably in 1993. I was attending a partner meeting …
Dear ChatGPT: Words Matter
I recently was working on a blog post on how various stresses placed on lawyers could result in unchecked citations. The title of the post was Billable …
Former Chair Of Top 15 Biglaw Firm Passes Away
(Image via Getty) We have some incredibly unfortunate news to report out of New York, where the former chair of …
Judge Accused Of Showing Up To Courthouse Drunk, Sexually Harassing Colleagues
(Image via iStock) Earlier this month, the Michigan state Judicial Tenure Commission filed an eight count ethics complaint (available in …
3 IP Lessons From The 2025 LF Dealmakers Forum
Longtime readers of this column know that I have often shared insights from both the LF Dealmakers Forum and the …
Donald Trump Desperately Wants To Prosecute His ‘Enemies’
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Donald Trump’s not content …
Webinar – Plugging The Profit Leaks: How Your Firm Can Stop Burning Money
If your firm is not collecting earned revenue, growth will slow, cash flow will tighten, and profitability will suffer. Fortunately, …
The Biglaw Firms Where Associates Are Working The Longest Hours (2025)
If you’ve ever wondered why Biglaw associates lament their lack of work-life balance, it could be because they’re regularly working …
Agentic AI Could Push Healthcare Into A Legal Gray Area, Attorney Says
The post Agentic AI Could Push Healthcare Into A Legal Gray Area, Attorney Says appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.23.25
* Elena Kagan points out that the Supreme Court majority just used a glorified TRO to functionally reverse a century …
Boutiques Are Where The Big Bucks Are! — See Also
That’s A Lot Of Money!: Great time to work for AZA! The Call Is Coming From The Formerly Inside The …
A Lot Of People Are Challenging Trump’s Executive Orders
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to analysis by Empirical SCOTUS’s Adam Feldman, …
Contract Literacy Is The Missing Link In AI Readiness, Says Linsey Krolik
If your legal team is exploring how to use generative AI in practice, and let’s be honest, most are at …
Top Biglaw Firm Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Former Associate After She Made Sexual Assault Allegations
Last week, mega Biglaw firm Baker McKenzie filed a lawsuit against a former associate in the Superior Court of the …
The Biggest Line Of Credit In Biglaw
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It is like having an overdraft line of credit. …
So Much For The FCC Getting Rid Of Jimmy Kimmel!
The recent Jimmy Kimmel suspension was more than just a crash course in jawboning; it was the banana in the …
Seriously Though, Did Tom Homan Keep The $50,000 The FBI Gave Him?
Over the weekend, it came out that Tom Homan, one of the senior architects of the Trump administration’s immigration policy, …
Top 50 Biglaw Firm Shuts Down An Office In China
Biglaw firms continue to shutter their offices in China like it’s going out of style. Today, we have news on …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Judicial Threats, DA Willis Out Over Romance, TN Joins Accreditor Scrutiny, New AI Bluebook Rule & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Former Trump White House Lawyer Sees Chilling Putin Parallel
Ty Cobb Seems like everyone’s got an opinion about the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel by ABC following the comedian’s comments …
So, My Trump-Supporting Friends, Did You Believe … ?
(Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) On Thursday, Heather Cox Richardson’s “Letters from an American” had two interesting tidbits. First: In 2020, …
Chrometa: Turning Time Into Billable Value For Modern Lawyers
For law firms and solo practitioners alike, the most precious professional resource is time. Yet in practice, it is also …
Trump Will Jail His Enemies If He Has To Burn Down The DOJ To Do IT
The Justice Department was the scene of an ecstatic orgy of corruption this weekend. Again. On Friday, Erik Siebert, the …
Boutique Firm Boosts Salaries Beyond Biglaw Market Scale For Certain Class Years
Big money isn’t just for Biglaw — boutique law firms are continuing to get in on the compensation action, and …
What’s Top Of Mind For 3 Healthcare Execs On Deploying AI
The post What’s Top Of Mind For 3 Healthcare Execs On Deploying AI appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.22.25
* Border czar Tom Homan recorded taking $50K from undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen based on Homan claiming he …
Biglaw Partner Makes Judge Big Mad — See Generally
Unchecked Entitlement? From A Lawyer? No!: Judge benchslaps partner over actions that “candidly saddened and shocked the court.” Jimmy Kimmel …
Reality TV Star Jokes Charlie Kirk May Think Differently About Hate Speech After Getting Shot — See Also
And He Got Away With It, Too!: How did this comment not cost him his job? Law Professor Punished Due …
The Sky-High Revenue For The Biggest Global Law Firms
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by ALM, of the …
AI In Healthcare: Investors’ Green And Red Flags Among Startups
The post AI In Healthcare: Investors’ Green And Red Flags Among Startups appeared first on Above the Law.
Why CLEs Matter To You: Staying Sharp And Sharing Smarts
Getty Ed note: Latest in a series. Read the prior installment here. As we progress through our series on the strategic value …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Law Firm Cliches
“Leading” is the leading word in law firm-produced business announcements in the U.S. and U.K., according to a new study, …
Shouting Matches Are Common At Some Law Firms
Law firms can be unpleasant places to work since office politics and bad personalities can create a toxic culture. Sometimes, law …
Federal Prosecutor Removed From Office For Not Pressing Charges Against Trump’s Political Enemies
New York Attorney General Leitita James is a thorn in Donald Trump’s side. James was behind the civil fraud case …
Law Professor Suspended Over Charlie Kirk Post
(Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images) Law professor Felicia Branch was suspended by the University of Arkansas Little Rock William H. …
This Law School Is Offering Guaranteed Scholarships To All Incoming Students Thanks To New Student Loan Caps
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The PLEDGE Scholarship is more than a financial award. …
Trump Complaint Against NYT Gets Benchslapped Into Oblivion
The president suffered a minor setback this morning in his defamation suit against the New York Times. Judge Steven Merryday …
It’s A Small (Language Model) World After All
At this year’s ILTACON, between the open bars and the marketing bingo cards, I picked up on a murmur running …
Associates’ Dissatisfaction With Firm Tech: What We Have Here Is A Failure To Communicate
The American Lawyer survey of midlevel associates at large law firms recently came out and it’s got some sad findings. The survey revealed several …
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 …
Stop Saying The Supreme Court’s ‘Twitter Files’ Decision And The Kimmel Suspension Are The Same
Few Onion headlines have better captured this moment in history like, “Area Man Passionate Defender Of What He Imagines Constitution …
The Global 200: The Richest Law Firms In The World (2025)
Law.com International recently published its latest edition of the Global 200, a ranking of the world’s 200 largest law firms …
Can AI Really Predict If You’re Going To Win Your Case?
In this episode of The Jabot Podcast, I chat with Sarah Johansson, the Legal Product Lead at Theo AI, about …
Former Reality TV Star Faces No Consequences After Making Joke About Charlie Kirk’s Death
The widespread work mantra has been that you have the right to remain silent — anything you say against Charlie …
California Lawmakers Pass A Bill That Would Ban Use of Face Masks By Law Enforcement
(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) It’s probably too much to ask, but I hope California law enforcement agencies will …
Morning Docket: 09.19.25
* Craving another law firm ranking? Of course you are! The Global 200 is here. [Law.com International] * Trump-appointed judge …
First They Came For Colbert… — See Also
Jimmy Kimmel’s Show “Indefinitely Suspended” After Mild Trump Joke: We may have to actually legalize comedy soon. Trump Wants To …
Thanks So Much To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
Law Firms Around The World Had A Profitable 2024
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by ALM, how much …
Trump Asks Supreme Court To Pretend It Didn’t Just Tell Him He Can’t Fire The Fed
(Photographer: Samuel Corum/Bloomberg) Donald Trump has never been big on the word “no.” Courts have taken judicial notice of this …
Improv For Lawyers: How Taking Improv Classes Can Make You A Better Attorney
In 2013, I took two improv classes back-to-back. For 16 weeks, I learned the basics of improv and participated in …
Dissents Don’t Skip Leg Day: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Was Always Eager To Hit The Gym
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [W]e made it and there’s still time for me …
Dylann Roof’s Judge Arrested On Child Porn Charges And Denied Bond
It is usually a sad day when judges find themselves on the other side of the gavel, but this one …
‘Anti-Woke’ Startup Suing Biglaw Firm Because Why The Hell Not
Bankrupt “anti-woke” financial technology startup GloriFi is shooting their shot against Biglaw. Via trustee Scott M. Seidel, they filed a complaint …
The 5 Biggest Retirement Planning Mistakes Lawyers Make (And How To Fix Them)
I’ve been thinking a lot about retirement planning lately, especially as I work with more legal professionals. There’s something fascinating …
The Biglaw Firms That Strike Fear In The Hearts Of Opposing Counsel (2026)
If you’re working in-house and dealing with bet-the-company litigation, you want the very best litigators in the world to be …
Bridging The Gap Between Law School And On-The-Job Training
Law schools have talked about the “practice-ready lawyer” for years. An aspirational goal that flits into recruiting materials on gossamer …
Trump Demands RICO For Protestors
Last Tuesday, Donald Trump sauntered into Joe’s Seafood in occupied Washington, DC, presumably to order the chain’s $83 filet mignon …
Starting A Law Firm: A Radical Act
After a seven-year hiatus, I’m thrilled to return as a columnist for Above the Law, covering the solo/small firm beat. …
A New Wrinkle In AI Hallucination Cases: Lawyers Dinged For Failing To Detect Opponent’s Fake Citations
A new decision from the California Court of Appeals adds an intriguing dimension to the growing body of AI hallucination …
We’re In The Cancelling Talk Shows Phase Of Free Speech Crackdowns
This is going to be one of those moments where future generations will ask how we didn’t see the writing …
Inside Duke’s Approach To Building And Buying AI Tools
The post Inside Duke’s Approach To Building And Buying AI Tools appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.18.25
* Rudy Giuliani owes lawyers roughly $1.3 million. [NY Times] * Late night host Jimmy Kimmel pulled off the air …
Attorney Charged For Cyberstalking Partner And Associate — See Also
One Hell Of A Paper Trail: The attorney’s social media posts are chilling. These Are The Top 200 Lawyers!: See …
Rudy Giuliani On The Hook For $1.36 Million In Legal Fees
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Today, New York County Supreme Court Justice Arthur …
Todd Blanche Decides Heckling Donald Trump Is Organized Crime Now
Donald Trump has a certain instinct for organized crime. It’s how his own former lawyer described Trump’s business management. So …
Biglaw Firms Can ‘Get Into Trouble’ If They Don’t Have Social Media Policies For Lawyers
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. You can comment on things as long as they’re …
Reset Your CLOCs… Legal Ops Organization Welcomes New President
The Corporate Legal Operations Consortium, the plucky book club that transformed into an industry guild of in-house efficiency experts, announced …
Biglaw Firm Accused Of Raiding Employee Retirement Funds
Biglaw firm Husch Blackwell — a firm with $707,800,000 gross revenue last year, making it #78 on the Am Law …
A Tale Of Two Supreme Court Book Tours
Amy Coney Barrett and Sonia Sotomayor are both hitting the talk shows and it’s highlighting how awkward the nation’s relationship …
The 4th TikTok Delay Is The Charm!
In January, TikTok’s “vulnerabilities” were designated as a major national security concern. A widely used app owned by a foreign …
Forbes Unveils 2025 List Of America’s Top 200 Lawyers
Forbes recently rolled out its second-annual list of America’s top lawyers, and as you might expect, it’s packed with familiar …
An Analysis Of The ‘No Tax On Tips’ Law: Who Will Benefit From This?
During the 2024 election campaign, both presidential candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris proposed excluding tips from income taxes. I …
Kirkland Doing Work For Conservative Think Tank… Got To Cover That $125 Million In Payola Somehow!
After the Notorious Nine Biglaw firms traded their principles to curry favor with the Trump administration, the question on everyone’s …
Attorney Charged With Cyberstalking Biglaw Partner And Associate
Texas attorney Fangzhou Chen, aka Amber Chen, was charged in federal court with cyberstalking and transmitting threatening communications. Chen allegedly …
I’m So Old I Remember A Time When People Would Occasionally Get Fired For Being Bad At Their Jobs
Remember Al Franken? He was a distinguished United States senator. He is funny. He is charming. No one else in …
House Intel Committee Props Up FY26 Funding For NRO Commercial Imagery Buys
The post House Intel Committee Props Up FY26 Funding For NRO Commercial Imagery Buys appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.17.25
* Utah seeking death penalty in Charlie Kirk case. [Courthouse News Service] * Legislators raise concerns over the proposal to …
A Promise Made, A Promise Kept — See Also
Biglaw Partner Gets Ear Pierced In Courtroom After Saving Claire’s From Bankruptcy: Fancy lawyering, fancier jewelry! Trump Sues NYT For …
Chief Justice John Roberts Given Stark Warning: Rule Of Law At A ‘Category 6 Code Red, Six Alarm Fire’
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! At the biannual meeting of the Judicial Conference, …
What No One Tells You About Running A Law Firm (Part I)
Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership …
There’s No Absolution For Biglaw Firms Suing The Administration After Bending A Knee To Trump
Above the Law has spent a lot of time and digital ink decrying the cowardly decision of nine Biglaw firms …
Paul, Weiss Is Having A Great Year, Despite Making A Deal With Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We successfully resolved our dispute with the Trump Administration …
Justice Sotomayor Thinks To Herself ‘That Law School Failed’ When She Sees These Politicians With Law Degrees
“Every time I listen to a lawyer-trained representative saying we should criminalize free speech in some way,” Justice Sotomayor told …
Luigi Mangione’s Terrorism Charges Recently Dismissed
Shortly after healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed by a hooded figure in broad daylight, Luigi Mangione was accused of …
Trump Sues NYT For Tortious Journalisming. Again.
Last night, Donald Trump filed yet another media trollsuit. As usual, he took full advantage of the ad damnum clause …
Biglaw Partner Gets His Ear Pierced During Court Hearing To Celebrate Saving Claire’s From Bankruptcy
Getting your ears pierced at Claire’s is almost a rite of passage for adults of a certain vintage. Your mother …
Rule By Lawsuit: Inside 2025’s Executive-Order Wars
Bursting an “EO” Myth? Two weeks into the new term, a Seattle courtroom offered the year’s defining image of presidential …
How Litera Is Turning Lawyers Into Legends
At ILTACON 2025, Litera had a lofty goal: turning lawyers into legends. On the heels of five new product announcements …
Fear, Loathing, And Perfectionism In Biglaw
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
Lawyering In The Age Of AI: Why Artificial Intelligence Might Make Lawyers More Human
We’ve all lost count of the times we’ve received an email, policy, or memo from a lawyer so “well written” …
Industry Groups Warn CMS’ 2026 Fee Schedule Could Undermine Value-Based Care
Healthcare groups are reacting to CMS’ proposed 2026 Physician Fee Schedule mainly with concern, arguing that it needs significant revisions …
Morning Docket: 09.16.25
* D.C. Circuit blocks attempt to fire Federal Reserve governor. [NBC News] * Trump files $15 billion lawsuit against the …
Biglaw Firm Fires Employee Over Charlie Kirk Post — See Also
Feelings Matter More Than Facts To The Right: Can you point out where the associate said anything inaccurate in the …
It Really Pays To Be At The Top Of The Legal Department
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Corporate Counsel and ALM Intelligence’s 2025 …
Biglaw Firm’s Active Shooter ‘False Alarm’ Highlights The Scary Reality Of 2025
Last week, employees at Debevoise & Plimpton’s New York office had a terrifying experience that is far too common in …
Midlevel Biglaw Associates Are Really Concerned About Donald Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. President Trump lol. — An anonymous Am Law 100 …
Maureen Comey Tries To 86 47’s Firing Her
Possibly the dumbest news cycle of the year involved former FBI Director James Comey being branded as a political terrorist …
Biglaw Partner Benchslapped Over Unchecked ‘Entitlement’
If I had to wager a guess, I’d say Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman partner Mark Krotoski is still smarting over the …
Perkins Coie Fires Lawyer Over This Charlie Kirk Post
If an attorney chooses to publicly air controversial opinions, they can expect to get fired. Law firms are a business …
Data-Driven Law Firm Resource Allocation: An Idea Whose Time Has Come
BigHand, a legal tech software provider, recently released a Survey and Report entitled Navigating the Million Dollar Problem, Resource management …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Bullying Ban, Upsolve Overturned, Lawyers Denied In ‘Alligator Alcatraz,’ Limits On DC Judges, Hallucination Sanctions & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Fox And Friends Talking Head Blurted Out The Grants Pass v. Johnson End Game
We may no longer be on the cusp of civil war because the main Charlie Kirk shooting suspect was “demographically …
AI Governance Starts With Contract Governance, Says Christine Uri
Generative AI might be the shiny new object in legal departments right now, but Christine Uri wants in-house counsel to …
Trump Pot, Meet Trump Kettle
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Axios reported back in 2019, even before President Donald Trump had finished his first term in …
What’s Next For Walgreens Following Its Private Equity Sale?
The post What’s Next For Walgreens Following Its Private Equity Sale? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.15.25
* Lawyer accused of hallucinated cites in case about getting law license back. [ABA Journal] * FTC sees collapse of …
Amy Coney Barrett Sure Gets Around — See Generally
Amy Coney Barrett Immediately Starts Hedging On Dictatorship Fanfic: Justice Barrett shut down Trump’s third term talk… until Fox asked …
Founding Partner Passes — See Also
Greenberg Traurig’s Larry Hoffman Has Passed Away: We extend our condolences to his family, friends, and the firm. A Picture …
These Supreme Court Justices Are Money
(Image via Getty) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which two Supreme Court justices …
Debunked Podcast: Turmoil At The CDC, Epic’s AI Strategy
The post Debunked Podcast: Turmoil At The CDC, Epic’s AI Strategy appeared first on Above the Law.
How Intentional Networking Can Grow Your Legal Practice
In this episode, host Steve Fretzin and lawyer coach Phyllis Sisenwine discuss the art of building a legal practice through …
Midlevel Biglaw Associates No Longer Respect Firms That Made Deals With Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The lack of backbone. — An anonymous Am Law …
Attorneys Should Take Long Times Off Between Jobs
When aspiring lawyers are in college and law school, they typically have substantial time off from their studies. Indeed, students …
Debrief: What It’s REALLY Like To Open Your Own Firm
Tune in to the latest Jabot episode as I chat with Margot Hoppin, co-founder of Hoppin Grinsell. Discover the challenges …
Training Young Lawyers In The Age Of AI: A Riddle Wrapped In A Mystery Inside An Enigma
Winston Churchill once said about Russia: It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. I’m starting to …
Founding Partner Of Top 20 Biglaw Firm Passes Away
We have some incredibly unfortunate news to report out of Florida, where one of the founding partners of Am Law …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Cause Or Coincidence?
In his Bloomberg column this week, David Lat explores whether making or refusing to make deals with Trump has affected …
The Cities Where Associates Get The Biggest Bang For Their Buck… In Pictures
Yeah, you can’t afford this one. Nine years ago, many Biglaw firms with offices in smaller markets took the bold …
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 …
Activists Are Using AI To ‘Identify’ ICE Officers And That’s Definitely Not Good News
I know it’s never great to blame the victim, but this all could have been avoided if ICE officers hadn’t …
Morning Docket: 09.12.25
* “Firms that aren’t willing or able to compete with the highest-paying players are instead competing on flexibility.” Which is, …
Being Predictable Can Be Scary — See Also
Justice Barrett Shares Concerns About Lawyers Using AI To Prep For Oral Argument: Can’t blame the software for predicting obvious …
Thanks To Our Outstanding Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
Miami’s Best In Biglaw
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the latest ALM Midlevel Associate Survey, …
The Secret To Longevity In Client Relationships
Are you struggling to bring order to the chaos of a litigation practice and build long-term client relationships? Adam Hersh, …
Do You REALLY Want To Be A Judge?
Decades ago, when I was a baby lawyer, I thought that I wanted to be a judge. Judges ran courtrooms, …
Biglaw Not ‘Awful’ According To Some Midlevel Associates
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I thought it would be awful, and it’s mostly …
Go In-House Sooner: The Money Is Worth It
Too often, my colleagues in law firms push back on going in-house because they want to stay longer to make …
The Best Law Schools For Human Rights Law (2025)
At a time when hard-won discrimination protections in the U.S. are being steadily eroded, we’ve never needed the passion and …
Thriving As A Small Law Firm Is All About Tiny Adjustments
It’s a new day at 8am. That’s true generally, but in this case, we’re talking about tech provider we used …
Kanye West To Testify About His Private School — Prepare For A Legendary Deposition
Kanye West goes by many titles: producer, artist, and founder of Donda Academy. Named after his late mother, the now …
Scary! Amy Coney Barrett’s (Not So) Deep Thoughts On AI
(Photo by Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images) Amy Coney Barrett’s appearance-palooza in support of her new $2 million book just keeps on …
Plugging The Profit Leaks: How Your Firm Can Stop Burning Money
If your firm is not collecting earned revenue, growth will slow, cash flow will tighten, and profitability will suffer. Fortunately, …
Kash Patel Makes FBI Great Again By Getting It Sued
Yesterday, three former high-ranking FBI officials sued the agency’s director Kash Patel for wrongful termination and retaliation. Brian Driscoll, Jr., …
Four Legal Tech Companies Make The Forbes Cloud 100 And Two Others Are Rising Stars
Forbes is out this week with its 10th annual Cloud 100 list, tracking the top companies in cloud computing, and …
Learning To Be A Grandmaster: What Chess Teaches Us About Lawyering
Poor chess players only think ahead one or two moves. Good chess players think ahead five or six moves. …
Judge Advances Particle Health’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against Epic
The post Judge Advances Particle Health’s Antitrust Lawsuit Against Epic appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.11.25
* Trump administration appeals stay in bid to fire Federal Reserve governor in prelude to Supreme Court showdown. [Reuters] * …
Steven Colbert Does A Great Sotomayor Impersonation — See Also
Stephen Colbert Acts As Justice Sotomayor’s Anger Translator: “This just sounds like racial profiling with extra steps.” Making Social Media …
Biglaw Partner Pay Isn’t Always Great
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to SurePoint’s recent Partner Satisfaction Survey, what …
Midlevel Biglaw Associates *Really* Don’t Want To Go To The Office
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. People don’t want to come into the office. Let …
Another Legal Tech Company Heads To The NHL
Last year, Clio joined the hockey world as a jersey sponsor for the Vancouver Canucks. They’re no longer alone among …
American Federation Of Teachers Start Class Action Over Blocked Student Loan Forgiveness
“Go into public service to pay off your student loans,” they said. So you did — you took a job …
Goodbye To A Blogging Pioneer: Reflecting On The TaxProf Blog’s Legacy In A Changing Internet Era And Its Influence On One Tax Attorney
Twenty-one years ago, the internet looked vastly different. Social media sites like Facebook and Twitter did not yet exist. Only …
The Best Law Schools For Health Law (2025)
It’s certainly a wild time to work in public health, but if you’re entering law school with dreams of working …
Justice Sotomayor Lets Stephen Colbert Say What She Can’t
The Supreme Court’s emperor has no clothes, and it takes a late-night comedian to point it out. Sitting across from …
MAGA Attorney Getting Slammed For Bonkers Social Media Post
Earlier this week, the Trump administration attorney in charge of pardons, Ed Martin, decided for reasons that remain unclear to …
10 Practical AI Use Cases For Lawyers: Research, Writing & Law Firm Management
Tech-savvy lawyers understand the importance of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools for law firms. AI offers significant benefits, including unmatched …
The Fundamental Dishonesty Of The Supreme Court
Federal judges have had to deal with more and more threats from conservatives whipped up by the Trump administration rhetoric …
Tax The Rich, Levy Wealth, Pay Our Debt: Smash Elon Musk’s Ridiculous $1 Trillion Tesla Pay Package
(Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) Elon Musk is already the best-paid CEO in the world. He is also the richest …
Why A U.S. Judge Paused Several Provisions Of The Marketplace Rule
The post Why A U.S. Judge Paused Several Provisions Of The Marketplace Rule appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.10.25
* Judge blocks effort to fire Fed governor Lisa Cook, noting that pre-role misconduct — in this case, a mere …
Depends On What Your Definition Of ‘Can’t’ Means — See Also
Fox News Asks Amy Coney Barret If The 22nd Amendment Is Vague: It isn’t. For now. E-Bike Accident Claims Biglaw …
The Best Biglaw Firm In Chicago
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the latest ALM Midlevel Associate Survey, …
Texas Holds A Litigation Funding Conference Flush In 2026
One of my little joys this past summer was a brown sugar cold foam cold brew from Starbucks, most often …
Law Firms And The Cloud: Is Your Data As Safe As You Think?
The legal industry has been in full embrace mode when it comes to cloud computing. Data from the American Bar …
NYU Creates New Chief Legal Officer Role
Left to their own devices, universities probably just double down on the trend of being real estate hedge funds with …
Midlevel Associates Are Thankful To Work At Biglaw Firms That Decided To Fight Trump’s Executive Orders
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Thank you for fighting back against the executive order. …
Amy Coney Barrett Already Workshopping Her ‘President For Life’ Concurring Opinion
Appearing on Fox News to continue the publicity blitz for her “studiously bland” memoir, Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm To Remain A Single-Tier Partnership — For Now
Biglaw firms with single partnership tiers are now few and far between, with more big-name firms showing that they’re ready, …
Judge On Board With Wild Trump Legal Theories Confirmed To The Federal Bench
A lifetime appointment to the federal bench is a helluva thank you gift! Judge Ed Artau of Florida’s Fourth District …
Biglaw Partner Who Co-Chaired National Practice Group Killed In Tragic E-Bike Accident
We have some sad news to report out of the Los Angeles legal community, where an accomplished partner who co-chaired …
How 8am LawPay Takes The Sting Out Of Legal Billing
It’s no secret that collections and billing can be a dreaded ritual at many law firms. So can maintaining the …
Why Did This First-Time Conference Feel Like Déjà Vu All Over Again? My Thoughts On 8am’s Kaleidoscope
Attending the inaugural Kaleidoscope conference in Austin last week, I couldn’t shake a strange feeling: I’d been here before. That …
Once Again, The Media Gets Snookered
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
Healthcare Experts Slam Florida’s Plan To End Vaccine Mandates
The post Healthcare Experts Slam Florida’s Plan To End Vaccine Mandates appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.09.25
* Supreme Court authorizes Trump administration to begin racially profiling Latinos — and anyone authorities think looks Latino — in …
Y’all Work Like This? — See Also
Midlevels Are Dealing With Crappy Technology: Some say the laptops are “borderline unusable.” Tariff Case Headed To SCOTUS: Scott Bessent …
Trump’s Increasingly Young Millennial Judicial Picks
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! So far, who is the youngest pick for …
Vendor Contracts: The Forgotten Goldmine Of Legal Ops, According To Navin Mahavijiyan
If you work in-house and you’re not treating your vendor contracts like strategic assets, you’re overlooking one of the most …
Everything Everywhere All At Once (Trump Edition)
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Think for a minute about coercion. If another country changes its trade policies in a …
Humphrey’s Executor Executed In Broad Shadow Docket Slaying
Are you there, Donald? It’s me, John. (Photo by Jabin Botsford – Pool/Getty Images) Exercising tremendous restraint, Chief Justice Roberts …
Gavin Newsom Rips JD ‘Couch Boy’ Vance And His ‘Chuck E. Cheese’ Law Degree To Shreds
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. COUCH BOY, I’M NOT MIMICKING DOZY DON. I’M MOCKING …
Explaining AI: Tech Vendors Are From Mars, Lawyers Are From Venus… Or Vice Versa
(Photo by ChatGPT) The biggest argument I’ve gotten into lately — in the legal tech space anyway — is over …
‘Becoming Thurgood’: The Supreme Court Justice Who Redefined Civil Rights
Thurgood Marshall in front of the Supreme Court in 1958 (Credit: Library of Congress) Before the actor who played Black …
Megan Thee Stallion’s Legal Team Mixes Music With Civil Procedure
Civil procedure: that weird off-shoot of the Constitution that has burned the words “traditional notions of fair play and substantial …
Midlevel Biglaw Associates Can’t Believe How Terrible The Technology Is At Their Firms
The American Lawyer recently revealed its 2025 midlevel survey, which showed us that midlevels are frustrated because they crave training and mentorship …
Trump Cabinet Amping Up The Pressure On The Supreme Court
After a recent appellate decision declared Trump’s sweeping tariff regime unconstitutional, the administration is appealing the decision to the Supreme …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Discipline For Judge’s Shooting Threats, AI-Tainted Briefs, Smith Faces Ethics Complaint Over Indictments & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
What Did Lawmakers Discuss At The House Hearing On Health AI?
The post What Did Lawmakers Discuss At The House Hearing On Health AI? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.08.25
* Are lawyers at heightened risk of developing a gambling addiction? I’ve got 2 bills on “no,” who wants in …
Federal Judges Getting Tired Of John Roberts Throwing Them Under The Bus — See Generally
Federal Judges Finally Say What Everyone’s Been Yelling At Their Screens: Trial judges share concern that SCOTUS is more interested …
Fed Courts Have Had It With SCOTUS — See Also
Maybe They Do Police Their Own: A judge called the ramp up in shadow docket usage “inexcusable.” Verdict Reached In …
This Is How Non-Equity Partners Make The Most Of Their Client Relationships
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to SurePoint’s recent Partner Satisfaction Survey, what …
Embracing Transparency, FDA Will Make All Future Drug Rejection Letters Public
The post Embracing Transparency, FDA Will Make All Future Drug Rejection Letters Public appeared first on Above the Law.
Leveraging CLEs For Networking And Client Development
Getty Images Ed note: Latest in a series. Read the prior installment here. As we continue our journey into the …
Lawyers Should Never Go Down Without A Fight
Lawyers often need to represent clients that do not have too many defenses for the crimes charged or the civil …
NetDocuments Judge Analytics App: Mining For Gold
NetDocuments recently announced the Judge Analytics App, an addition to 18 other apps in its ndMax Studio. The new App …
No Bills Are Only The Beginning Of Jeanine Pirro’s F-Ups
Judge Jeanine Pirro (Photo by MIKE THEILER/AFP/Getty Images) Going to war with the magistrate judges is a weird move for …
Midlevel Associates Are ‘Ashamed’ To Work At Firms That Made Deals With Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The firm’s choices to dismantle its DEI recruiting initiatives …
Stop Random Acts Of Marketing And Start Getting Clients
Getty Images In this episode of “Be That Lawyer,” I spoke with legal marketing strategist and entrepreneur Viktoria Altman about …
How AI Should Replace My In-House Law Job
There’s understandable concern that AI is replacing in-house legal jobs. Whether it’s increasing layoffs, reducing headcount, or shifting resources and …
Jury Reaches Verdict In Donna Adelson Trial
For years now, prosecutors have been fighting to bring Dan Markel’s killers to justice. Katharine Magbanua received a life sentence …
Midlevel Biglaw Associates Crave Mentorship In A Post-Pandemic World
Making it to midlevel in Biglaw isn’t easy, especially when the vast majority of what you know is pandemic and …
Lawyers Need A Panel To Explain Texting Because We’re Still One Notification Away From An Ethics Apocalypse
Got that morning coffee… time to discuss my plea deal! Here at Kaleidoscope, the newly minted 8am’s inaugural conference, lawyers …
In A Bold Move, Federal Judges Are Calling Out The Supreme Court’s Bullsh*t
Photo by Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States via Getty Images There’s a pretty clear hierarchy in …
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 …
Judge Mehta’s Google Antitrust Remedies: Threading The Needle Between Overkill And Underkill
Last summer, when Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had violated antitrust laws through its search distribution agreements, I was …
Morning Docket: 09.05.25
* Man who wishes we had a new term for attempted rape wishes we had new term for “shadow docket.” …
Milbank Has Been Matched! — See Also
Law Firm Matches Milbank And Raises Salaries: Bet you wish you worked here! Court Cracks Down On Military Police Takeover: …
Thanks So Much To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
Non-Equity Partnership Isn’t A Fast Track To The Equity Tier
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to SurePoint’s recent Partner Satisfaction Survey, what …
Federal Judiciary Says ‘F.U.’ To Public Defender In A Win For … Justice?
The federal judiciary cannot “self-police” workplace conduct. In no other workplace are employees entrusted with sole authority to judge their …
Law School Applications Soar Once Again Thanks To Donald Trump
‘I’ll see you in court!’ (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote …
Solving The Formula To Become A Rainmaker
My wife and I have become increasingly skeptical about television. I’m guessing you have too. We’re all on the same …
Guy Who Helped Orchestrate Some of Biglaw’s Pro Bono Payola Deals Offers Tone Deaf Defense Of Them
For lawyers, the Trump II era has been defined by the existential crisis facing the profession. Donald Trump has gone …
Harvard Just Defrosted Trump’s Multibillion-Dollar Funding Freeze
The ongoing lesson with these Trump institutional strong-arms seems to be that if you can survive the initial pressure, you’ll …
8am And Kaleidoscope Revealed Along With Some New Stuff: The Witt Keynote
Like many of you, I sort of wondered about the new name for AffiniPay’s set of companies, 8am, as I …
It’s Your Career: Assume Responsibility For It
No one is coming to save you. No one other than you is responsible for your career. Not your supervisor. …
Court Smacks Down Trump’s Roving Military Police Force
On Tuesday, Judge Charles Breyer ordered the Trump administration to quit violating the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA). The court found …
Law Department Professionals: How Does Your Patent Management Stack Up?
Does your organization see intellectual property as a key value driver? How is your patent portfolio integrated into business strategy? …
At Its Inaugural Kaleidoscope Conference, 8am’s CPO Announces AI Tools, Platform Integration, And More
Two weeks after the company formerly known as AffiniPay unveiled its rebranding as 8am, it convened its inaugural Kaleidoscope customer …
What One Investor Believes Is The Key To Healthcare AI Success
The post What One Investor Believes Is The Key To Healthcare AI Success appeared first on Above the Law.
Summer Surprise: This Firm Just Matched Milbank’s Bonuses — And Raised Salaries
Summer bonuses have been anything but predictable this year. Milbank kicked things off in early August, announcing that it would …
Morning Docket: 09.04.25
* Federal judges blame Supreme Court’s shadow docket reversals with no explanation for undermining the lower courts and fostering false …
Milbank Makes Money Moves! — See Also
They’ve Announced Bonuses!: Where the hell is everyone else’s announcements? Former Partner Pleads No Contest To Domestic Abuse Charges: Adam …
The Death Knell Of The Voting Rights Act
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! This Term, the Supreme Court appears poised to …
America’s Assault On Real History Comes For The Staff Of The Charles Lindbergh House And Museum
Two years ago, I was tired. I was burned out. I was disillusioned with the civil litigation system. Those of …
Law Firm Leases Are Going Up, Up, Up Thanks To ‘Very Office-Centric’ Attendance Mandates
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It is impossible to know if this pace will …
The 5 Levers Legal Leaders Can’t Afford To Ignore
Getty Images Leading a corporate legal team today is equal parts challenge and opportunity. Budgets are tighter, regulations are multiplying, …
DOJ Has Egg On Its Face
The Department of Justice is having a rough time getting those trumped up charges (pun intended) from the fed’s takeover …
The Cities Where Law Firm Associates Can Get The Biggest Bang For Their Buck
Thanks to Biglaw’s bountiful compensation, the legal profession has long been known for its flashy salaries, but even with their …
Amy Coney Barrett’s Fetish For Phony Reluctance
Amy Coney Barrett has written a book. She’s the latest in a long line of Supreme Court justices supplementing their …
Law School Taken Over By Cockroaches, In Case Student Debt Wasn’t Scary Enough
If a law school had to descend into a Kafkaesque experience, you’d expect The Trial or Before the Law, not …
And That’s Why We Lost The Election!
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
Milbank Moves On Summer Bonuses While Biglaw Firms Stall On Matching
Today is September 3. Labor Day has come and gone. It’s been nearly a full month since Milbank announced that …
Cardi B Beats $24M Assault Lawsuit
Grammy Award-winning artist Cardi B has a new trophy-worthy achievement under her belt — she beat the case! Some background …
Travis Kelce’s And Taylor Swift’s Wedding Could Result In A Higher Tax Bill Due To The Marriage Penalty
(Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images) Last week, everyone (except perhaps the residents of North Sentinel Island) learned that Travis Kelce …
Former Biglaw Partner Pleads No Contest To Domestic Abuse Charges Against Dead Wife
Former Duane Morris partner Adam P. Beckerink pleaded no contest to charges he abused his late wife, Caitlin Tracey, and …
4 Notable Health Tech Funding Announcements In August
The post 4 Notable Health Tech Funding Announcements In August appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 09.03.25
* Google avoids having to spin off Chrome. [Law360] * Lawyers using time saved by AI for… more work. [Legal …
1878 Is The New 2025 — See Also
The Trump Administration Is 140 Years Too Late: Can’t use the U.S. Military to execute domestic law, buddy. The Law …
Shining The Spotlight On Jurist’s Pre-Supreme Court Work
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! An upcoming movie premiering at the Toronto Film …
From Burnout To Career Joy: How A 5-Minute Daily Practice Can Help You Recover From Career Burnout
An interview with Samorn Selim, author of “Career Unicorns 90-Day 5-Minute Gratitude Journal: An Easy & Proven Way To Cultivate …
AI Exclusions Are Creeping Into Insurance — But Cyber Policies Aren’t The Issue (Yet)
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
Biglaw Firm’s Anti-Union Words For ‘Risk Tolerant’ Employers Raises Eye Brows
Biglaw firm Littler Mendelson has a reputation for being among the top Labor & Employment practices. Indeed, they’ve repeatedly taken …
Amy Coney Barrett Forced To Discuss Destroying Constitutional Precedent During Family Trip
(Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Dobbs did not top …
Kaleidoscope 2025: Short Sessions, Expert Panelists, And Lots To Talk About
(Photo via 8am) As one of my partners used to say, if I had more time, I’d have written a …
Dershowitz Learns That Being Wrong On Television Isn’t The Same As Being Defamed
As last week careened into Labor Day weekend, Alan Dershowitz received some bad news from the Eleventh Circuit, who affirmed …
The Pro Mid-Market 50: Ranking The Top Law Firms Just Outside The Am Law 200 (2025)
We know how Biglaw fared in 2024, but what about the law firms that fall just outside of the Am …
Law School Tuition Bubble Eases Because No One Wants To Go A Half Million In Debt For A LinkedIn Badge
A decade ago, it seemed like law school tuition would follow Bitcoin straight to the moon. We all warned that …
Rudy Giuliani Released From Hospital After Car Crash
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York and priest doxxer, was rear-ended this Saturday on a highway. Last night, Rudy …
Kim Kardashian Is Waiting On Her Bar Exam Results
Back in May, we learned that Kim Kardashian had finally graduated from “law school,” perhaps better known as the California …
Posse Comitatus This, B*tch
Today, Judge Charles Breyer issued an injunction barring Donald Trump from his takeover of Los Angles, holding the deployment of …
Ssense Files For Bankruptcy Protection As Lender Tries To Force A Sale
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Morning Docket: 09.02.25
* To bolster death penalty bid in Luigi Mangione case, prosecutors are arguing that the United Healthcare shooting, normalized gun …
Molotov Hoagie Avoids Indictment — See Generally
Not All Heroes Wear Capes… Not All Grinders Or Subs Either: Department of Justice fails to secure indictment for sandwich …
Harvey Goes To Law School — See Also
Harvey AI Partners With Law Schools: Notre Dame, UCLA, NYU and Stanford are early adopters. Here’s Your 1L Primer: Prepare …
Alina Habba Breaks New Jersey Court System
Alina Habba cares deeply about the rule of law. She just cares about her career more. Yesterday, the New York …
Federal Court Protecting Mail-In Ballots
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which federal circuit court recently ruled that 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 …
A Judge Approved Blue Cross Blue Shield’s $2.8B Settlement. Why Some Providers Are Opting Out.
The post A Judge Approved Blue Cross Blue Shield’s $2.8B Settlement. Why Some Providers Are Opting Out. appeared first on …
Bar Exam Scores Are Up!
The cost of living isn’t the only thing up this year! The bar exam — one of our industry’s time-honored …
Client Entertainment Expenses Are Worth The Cost
Law firms often spend substantial sums of money on business development in the belief that this will pay off with …
Dog Days Of Summer Best Spent Away From Your Biglaw Office
With so many firms moving towards a full return to the office, those firms that offer flexibility and remote working …
Harvey Begins Law School Program To Get Students Hooked
Legal technology, like dealing drugs, thrives on getting kids hooked on the free sample. At least that’s what hundreds of …
7 Essential Skills Every 1L Must Develop ASAP
The post 7 Essential Skills Every 1L Must Develop ASAP appeared first on Above the Law.
Trump Admin Goes Full McCarthy, Will Decide Whether Migrants Are Pro-USA Enough To Stay Here
This was pretty much inevitable. While the Trump’s band of bigots struggled mightily to expel brown people from this country, …
Morning Docket: 08.29.25
* Trump takes a chainsaw to a bunch of federal unions. [Bloomberg Law] * Bar exam scores are sky high. …
Lawyer Derails Questioning To Ask About Wigs — See Also
How Many Scalps Do You Have?: Attorney asks Cardi B about her hair in between assault allegations. Biglaw Firm Sues …
Even Antonin Scalia Would Think Donald Trump’s Latest Power Grab Is Tyrannical
Yes, if I were king, I would not allow people to go about burning the American flag. However, we have …
Insights On AI And Its Impact On Legal, Part Two
In a previous article I explored how Ethan Mollick’s insights from Co-Intelligence: Living and Working With AI about how the …
Thanks To Our Advertisers!
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: 8am™ AffiniPay 8am™ CasePeer 8am™ LawPay …
…Of Course This Prominent Attorney Is Repping The Beleaguered CDC Head
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which lawyer is representing Centers for Disease Control …
Amy Wax’s Lawsuit Flew Too Close To The Sun, Melts In Shimmering Ball Of Disaster
Amy Wax It’s official: Amy Wax’s lawsuit against the University of Pennsylvania just got laughed out of court. The Penn …
Intel Drops Funding HBCU Legal Pipeline
More diversity crackdown news. Intel, known mostly for their chip production, awarded North Carolina Central University law school a $5M …
Personal Injury Lawyers Lead The Way On AI Adoption
Technology adoption in the legal profession has always been a mixed bag. Historically, lawyers have been receptive to some innovations, …
European Commission Approval Gives Blood Cancer Patients A New Cell Therapy Option
The post European Commission Approval Gives Blood Cancer Patients A New Cell Therapy Option appeared first on Above the Law.
Biglaw Firm Files Lawsuit Against Former Partner Over $1.5 Million Client Fee
Last week AmLaw 100 firm Polsinelli filed a federal lawsuit against a former partner Louis Mastriani. At issue is a …
Every Case May Go to Trial: Act Accordingly
It’s often said that 1% of civil cases, if that, go to trial. Because so few cases go to trial, …
GOP Election Official Charged After Putting Cocaine & MDMA In Children’s Ice Cream
Move over Rocky Road! There’s a new flavor out there that will have kids absolutely bouncing off the walls this …
Everlaw Expands AI Capabilities with Deep Dive Tool and Achieves FedRAMP Certification For Its AI
As I continue to play catch up on some of the news announced during ILTACON, the e-discovery company Everlaw made …
Dumbass Attorney Baffled By Haircare During High Profile Case
Legally Blonde is the movie that taught a generation that blonde women can do anything, even think real nice like. …
DOJ Trollsuit Against Maryland Judges Gets Benchslapped Into Oblivion
With Calvinball the order of the day at One First Street, it’s a relief to the see the Justice Department’s …
Morning Docket: 08.28.25
* Chicago prepares for potential troop deployment. Chicagoans might want to familiarize themselves with how grand juries work before the …
‘Remarkable Failure’ By U.S. Attorney’s Office — See Also
They Can’t Even Prosecute A Sandwich!: Grand jurors weren’t too keen on imprisoning a man for throwing lunch. Employees Get …
It’s A Good Time To Be A Biglaw Equity Partner
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data from the Wells Fargo Legal …
Prosecution Fails Third Attempt At FBI ‘Assault’ Case
What’s with all of these soft ass assault charges? Before headlines were focused on an errant Subway sandwich hitting an …
Can Congress Pass A FY26 Defense Budget This Year? Here Are 12 Key Issues For Lawmakers.
The post Can Congress Pass A FY26 Defense Budget This Year? Here Are 12 Key Issues For Lawmakers. appeared first …
Jonathan Turley Challenges Justice Jackson To Calvinball In Most Embarrassing Display Yet
Justice Jackson recently called out the conservative majority of the Supreme Court specifically — and GOP jurisprudence generally — as …
Just How Big A Problem Is Padding Your Billable Hours?
What happened here [an Irwin Mitchell senior associate getting caught misrepresenting billable hours, who was ultimately banned from the profession …
Insights On AI And Its Impact On Legal, Part One
I recently finished reading Ethan Mollick‘s excellent book on artificial intelligence, entitled Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. He does …
Amazon Hit With Class Action Suit Over Stealth Leasing Videos
Finally, a reason to prefer vinyl or Bluetooth over streaming services that doesn’t make you sound like a Hipster or …
ChatGPT Suicide Suit: How Can The Law Assign Liability For AI Tragedy?
The parents of a 16-year-old boy who died by suicide filed the first wrongful death suit against OpenAI. According to …
2400 Reasons To Brush Up That Resume
Be prepared to be on the clock a lot longer at King & Spalding, where the firm has introduced a …
Lawyer Gives Employees The Afternoon Off After Taylor Swift And Travis Kelce Engagement
Tiffany Monroe is going viral for all the right reasons. The Chief People & Culture Officer at the tax preparation …
Integrity, Intelligence, Incorruptibility: You Might Call It Old-Fashioned, I Just Call It Above The Law
I started writing for Above the Law in 2018. Almost immediately I began to get intensely pressured about the contents …
DOJ Fails To Indict D.C. Sandwich Thrower, Fate Of Ham Sandwich Still Unknown
It’s a long standing joke that the standard of proof for a grand jury (where only the government has an …
Morning Docket: 08.27.25
* Parents sue OpenAI after chatbot encouraged son in his suicide efforts. [CNN] * Wisconsin judge charged with obstructing an …
Not The Help He Was Looking For — See Also
Former Biglaw Associate Detained By Cops, FBI: He recently asked for Trump’s help with a workplace racial discrimination dispute. Federal …
Trump Steps On Texas v. Johnson, Tries To Make Flag Burning A Criminal Offense
After closely reading the Constitution, the Supreme Court informed us that the speech the First Amendment protects comes in many …
Biglaw’s Best In Energy Law
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the most recent Vault Practice Area …
Without Clear Strategy, CMS’ $50B Rural Hospital Fund Risks Falling Short
The post Without Clear Strategy, CMS’ $50B Rural Hospital Fund Risks Falling Short appeared first on Above the Law.
Donald Trump’s ‘Flimsiest’ Attempt To Circumvent The Constitution
The Fed was designed to operate insulated from political pressure so that it can make tough decisions based on data …
Trump Attempt To SUE ALL THE JUDGES Crumbles As Trump Judge Calls Suit Fundamentally Stupid
(Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) As the Trump administration prepares to wrongfully deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia for the second …
Extreme Work Quotas: Wrong On Multiple Grounds In Today’s World
According to a recent Above the Law article by Kathryn Rubino, an AmLaw 100 firm recently announced that it expected …
ABA Warns Public About Scammers Posing As Immigration Lawyers
Taking advantage of people asking for help with immigration issues is low. Unfortunately, that isn’t enough to stop people from …
Former Trump White House Attorney Preaches ‘Justifiable Paranoia’ For Critics Of The President
Last week, the Trump administration broke irony when it raided the home and office of John Bolton, former national security …
Former Biglaw Associate Who Accused Partner Of Racial Slur Detained By D.C. Cops, FBI
A few weeks ago, former fifth-year associate went on LinkedIn and accused Covington of racial harassment. Now, he appears in …
Senator Asks Chief Justice To Give A Damn About Cybersecurity
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) There are many words and phrases that could be used to describe the federal case …
LexisNexis: Every Lawyer Will Have A Personalized AI Assistant
Even though ILTACON ended more than a week ago now, I am still digging out from the deluge of briefings …
Federal Judge Slams The ‘Lawlessness’ Of Trump’s D.C. Takeover
Federal magistrate judge Zia M. Faruqui is not happy about Donald Trump’s authoritarian takeover of Washington D.C. — and the …
Can Donald Trump Legally Fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook?
No. (There is a second page to this) Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of …
Morning Docket: 08.26.25
* After Supreme Court conservatives invented a whole new legal standard to prevent Trump from firing Federal Reserve governors, Trump …
Be There For Your Baby’s Birth Or Do Paperwork — See Also
Never Too Young For Aggressive Negotiations: Quinn Emanuel, Kirkland and Young Conaway play dirty. They’ve Arrested Abrego Garcia Again: He …
Biglaw Firm Representing Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Kilmar Abrego Garcia Photo by: Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of …
Skadden Advises Intel On Trump Deal, Because What Are A Few Obvious Conflicts Among Friends?
(Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) Intel just agreed to give the federal government a roughly 10 percent ownership …
Donald Trump Goes On The Attack Over Blue Slips
The “blue slip” tradition, requiring home state senator approval for judicial nominees, is back in the news. If the tradition …
The Biglaw Firm Bucking The Return To Office Trend
This [Husch Blackwell’s fully virtual office, The Link] is working. We figured it out. And I think that people who …
ABA Invites Schools To Accept Law School Applicants Without Requiring LSAT Scores
No test, no problem! The LSAT has been the staple box to tick off if you want to get in …
U.S. Appeals Court Denies Pauline Newman’s Bid To Challenge Suspension
(Photo by Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Pauline Newman’s saga of keeping her enemies closer continues. Despite proving …
How Litera Is Building Deeper Lawyer-Client Relationships
Litera CEO Avaneesh Marwaha It’s long been a mantra in legal tech: “Streamline the mundane tasks so lawyers can better …
Regulatory Shift Paves Way For AI-Driven Heart Disease Diagnosis
The post Regulatory Shift Paves Way For AI-Driven Heart Disease Diagnosis appeared first on Above the Law.
What If Inflation Is The Big Issue In 2026?
Is it possible that inflation will be the big issue in 2026? Inflation was certainly a big issue in 2024, …
Abrego Garcia Being Wrongfully Deported AGAIN Because Trump Admin Too Scared To Go To Court
(Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) The Trump administration’s haphazard deportation scheme sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia to an El …
Of Course Trump Is Appealing His Final Biglaw Executive Order Loss
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Donald Trump’s efforts to defend the executive orders targeting Biglaw firms that have earned his ire are …
Lawyers Hold Newborn For Ransom In Scheduling Dispute
In the grand tradition of turning every shred of human decency into a bargaining chip, a motion in a bankruptcy …
7 Questions In-House Counsel Must Ask Before Launching An AI Product
Launching an AI product without a rigorous in-house review is like sending a driverless car onto the highway without checking …
Morning Docket: 08.25.25
* Federal government takes roughly 10 percent stake in Intel with Skadden’s help. Wonder if Skadden did it pro bono… …
No Matter How Biglaw Firm Spins It, 2400 Is A Lot Of Hours — See Generally
King & Spalding Wants Associates To Account for 2,400 Hours: You only need 1,950 billable hours so, um that’s a …
Where The Hell Are Bonuses? — See Also
“Special” Bonuses Lose Their Spark The Longer You Wait: Where is the money?! Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Salary …
The Best Summer Associate Program
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the latest Vault ranking, which Biglaw …
Could Small Cash Prizes Motivate People To Be Healthier? Investors Say Yes
The post Could Small Cash Prizes Motivate People To Be Healthier? Investors Say Yes appeared first on Above the Law.
Elon Musk Settles $500M Lawsuit Over Withholding Former Employee Severance Package Money
One of the strangest things about appointing Elon Musk as the head of government spending efficiency is that he’s largely …
Elite Biglaw Firm Makes Waves With $3.7B Revenue In First Year Post-Merger
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. In our first year as a merged firm, we …
Former Trump Judge Recommended For Disbarment
Just over a year ago, former Trump-appointed federal judge Joshua Kindred suddenly resigned from the District of Alaska bench, only four …
Trump Administration Suddenly Understands Laws Protecting Classified Documents Now That It Can Be Used Against His Political Enemies
Early this morning, FBI director Kash Patel cheekily posted on social media “NO ONE is above the law…@FBI agents on …
Supreme Court Just ‘Calvinball Jurisprudence With A Twist,’ Writes Justice Jackson
“Sooner or later, all our games turn into Calvinball,” Calvin once said of textualism and originalism. Actually, he was talking …
Leveraging CLEs To Build Your Professional Reputation
Getty Images As we transition into the second part of our series, “The Strategic Value of Presenting a CLE,” we …
The Waiting Game: Associates Left Hanging (Yet Again) On Special Bonuses
Today is August 22. It’s been two full business weeks since Milbank announced that it would be handing out special …
Modern Legal Workflows – How Human Should They Be? A Discussion With 3 Law Firms
Getty Images AI is entering legal workflows with a sense of inevitability. To borrow from Hemingway, imagine a conversation in …
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 …
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Salary Increases
Most law firms have systems in place when it comes to salary and bonus determinations. In many instances, law firms evaluate …
ICE Goes Full Hegseth: Adds Random Person To Group Chat Discussing Ongoing Manhunt
The Trump administration has been described as many things, none of them good. What no one will ever accuse it …
Morning Docket: 08.22.25
* Judge rules that Florida must abandon publicity stunt prison known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” [Washington Post] * In Only Fans …
Sellout Firms Are Doing Commerce Department Work — See Also
Paul Weiss & Kirkland Are Working To Stay On Trump’s Good Side: Commerce work is on the more neutral end …
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Newsletters Send Tips Biglaw Midsize Small Firms In-House Counsel Bonuses AI Legal Beat Legal Technology Podcasts The Jabot Newsletters Search …
The Top White Collar Practice In Biglaw
(Image via Getty) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the latest Vault …
Biglaw Firms Better Be Prepared To Open Their Wallets To Pay For AI
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The bottom line is that it is coming. There …
Active Shooter At Villanova As University Urges People To Stay Away From Law School
According to news reports, there’s an active shooter situation at Villanova University. The Radnor Township Police Department are on the …
Alina Habba Can’t Pretend To Be U.S. Attorney Anymore
Alina Habba’s tenure as the not-really-U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey reached another predictable milestone today as Judge …
Prosecutor SHOCKED That Being A Lawyer Does Not Stop Cops From Arresting Her In Embarrassing Viral Video
Body cam footage of arrest of Assistant Attorney General Devon Hogan Flanagan provided by Newport Police Department Last week, Rhode …
Trump Declares Victory As Court Slashes $465M Penalty, Leaves Fraud Label Intact
The good news for Donald Trump is that a New York appellate nixed the nearly half-billion dollar disgorgement judgment the …
A Secret Weapon For Young Lawyers To Look Like Rainmakers Before They Have An Umbrella
A few years ago, a programmer went viral — in was 2020, so maybe not the best phrasing — after …
Legal Community Mourns Loss Of Frank Caprio, ‘Nicest Judge In The World’
Judges have gone viral for a litany of reasons: yelling at an elderly man for neglecting his weeds, enslaving children …
In-House Leaders Say Lawyers At These Biglaw Firms Are Client Service ‘All-Stars’ (2025)
Which Biglaw attorneys are most beloved by general counsel for their superior client service? Thanks to a brand new ranking, …
Paul Weiss & Kirkland Doing Free Trump Commerce Department Work As Part Of ‘Please Don’t Hurt Us, Daddy’ Deals
‘This is such surprising news,’ said nobody. Ever since the Surrendergate Nine capitulated to the Trump administration, pledging nearly a …
Turn Contract Friction To Flow
In many organizations, a simple contract request can spiral into scattered emails, Slack and Teams messages, and confusion about ownership. …
Thomson Reuters CEO: Legal Profession Faces ‘Biggest Disruption In Its History’ From AI
Thomson Reuters President and CEO Steve Hasker believes the legal profession is experiencing “the biggest disruption … in its history” …
Let The Liar Lie: Embracing The Obstinate Witness
The Obstinate Witness Every trial lawyer encounters them – the witness who refuses to agree with even the most obvious point. Show them …
More Than 100 Organizations Back Bill To Expand Patient Access To Clinical Trials
A group of 131 healthcare organizations sent a letter on Monday to U.S. House Representatives supporting the recent introduction of …
Morning Docket: 08.21.25
* This Eric Adams ally corruption story has everything: snacks, questionable lawyering, and a wad of cash. [The CITY] * …
Ed Martin Isn’t Too Proud To Beg — See Also
Martin Is Begging Tish James To Resign: He also pleaded with her to not release the letter to the public. …
Of Course A Lawyer Invented That!
New York Law School graduate Chester Carlson chose to focus on patent work after spending time working as a research …
Agentic AI Is The ‘Fetch’ Of Legal Tech And We Need To Stop Trying To Make It Happen
(Photo by ChatGPT) Supposedly, the word of the year in technology is “agentic.” By the end of the year it’ll …
Corporate Clients Aren’t Just Going To Forget About The Biglaw Firms That Made Deals With Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’m definitely talking to general counsel who are using …
Slain Judge Allegedly Involved In ‘Nasty And Sickening’ Sex Party Ring
Mickey Stines Why did Sheriff Mickey Stines shoot Judge Kevin D. Mullins? That’s the question dominating Letcher County, Kentucky, since …
The Sandwich Is Mightier Than The Sword
Skills That Set Firms Apart Legal expertise alone isn’t enough. Today’s most successful firms invest in developing the skills that …
Disgraced Cryptocurrency Mastermind’s Guilty Plea To Fraud Could Give Victims Tax Relief
Last week, Do Kwon, a man who a few years ago was one of the most famous names in the …
Eric André Racial Profiling Suit Against Clayton County Revived
You know that part where you get off a plane and a couple of officers immediately ask you which drugs …
Ed Martin Case Against Tish James So Bad, He’s Begging Her To Pretty Please Resign So It Looks Like He’s Done Something
Ed Martin expected to be the U.S. Attorney in D.C. in this administration. Unfortunately, even the Republican-controlled Senate found the …
Why Law Firms Are Moving Beyond The Billable Hour
There’s long been speculation that the billable hour’s demise is just around the corner. But with generative AI and rapid …
The Best Law Schools For Public Service (2025)
(Image via Getty) Let’s face it: tens of thousands of students enroll in law school every year, each with a …
I Haven’t Been To The Grocery Store In Weeks Thanks To My Inflation-Proof Urban Tariff Garden
During both World Wars, patriotic Americans were encouraged to plant War Gardens in order to help households save money, become …
Hospital Margins Grow, Yet Bad Debt & Expenses Continue To Climb
The post Hospital Margins Grow, Yet Bad Debt & Expenses Continue To Climb appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 08.20.25
* Clients diversifying outside counsel options after Biglaw Surrendergate. [American Lawyer] * Ed Martin has taken the fact that even …
What’s The Office Policy? It Depends — See Also
Four Days For Some: DLA Piper’s corporate associates will have to spend an extra day at the office. Make America …
Is This The Next Supreme Court Great Dissenter?
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which justice wrote the most dissents (10) in …
How The One Big Beautiful Bill Changes Retirement Planning For Lawyers
This sweeping legislation, which passed along largely partisan lines amid significant political controversy over its $3.4 trillion price tag and …
Fifth Circuit Takes Sledgehammer To Labor Rights
So long labor rights, we hardly knew ye. Today the Fifth Circuit issued a decision neutering the National Labor Relations …
Amy Coney Barrett Thinks ‘Collegiality’ Keeps The Legal Profession From Being ‘Bleak’
(Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Law is a profession …
AffiniPay Decides It’s *Time* For A Name Change
Joining the hall of famous rebrands somewhere between Meta and the Artist Formerly Known as Prince, AffiniPay announced this morning …
Will AI Really Move The Needle On The Billable Hour?
Last year, I wrote an article about whether AI signals the end of the billable hour. In that article, I asked …
Former MAGA Attorney Goes Scorched Earth With Corruption Allegations In Antitrust Division
Roger Alford is a law professor at Notre Dame, and a veteran of the Trump I administration where he was …
You Need To Maintain Relationships Throughout Your Legal Career To Succeed
Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership …
Dispatches From The AI Bubble: ILTACON 2025
The International Legal Technology Association conference is, as always, the big one on the legal tech calendar. It’s the Davos …
Elite Law Schools Are Offering Classes On Responsible AI Use
Convenience and laziness go hand in hand like great power and responsibility. We’ve seen the consequences of lazy lawyers and …
3 Questions For A Law Firm Marketing Professional (Part I)
Just because you know somebody, doesn’t mean you appreciate exactly what it is they do for a living. Take our …
Top Biglaw Firm Increases Its Office Attendance Mandate To Four Days — But Only For Corporate Associates
Biglaw firms continue to mandate that attorneys have a physical presence in the office, and in recent times, those mandates …
Mining For DOGE: Defense Budget Docs Show $11B In ‘Efficiencies,’ But What Are They?
The post Mining For DOGE: Defense Budget Docs Show $11B In ‘Efficiencies,’ But What Are They? appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 08.19.25
* DLA Piper bringing everyone back to the office 4 days a week, leaving attorneys an extra day of the …
Show Up Or Pay For It — See Also
Do Your Time Or Do A Fine: Biglaw firms are penalizing attorneys for not showing face. Trump’s D.C. Police Takeover …
Breaking Down Who’s On Top At The Supreme Court
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Supreme Court data collected by Jake …
Is Donald Trump Anointed By God?
Many evangelical Christians insist that God anointed Donald Trump to save America. It’s a little hard to write — let alone believe …
Corporate Clients Are Pushing Back Even More On Biglaw’s High Rates
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’m definitely taking more work in-house and having law …
China’s Hacking Operation Apparently Came For The LSAT
First they came for our nuclear secrets, and I did not speak out — because I did not have nuclear …
Biglaw Firm Adds Onerous Billable Target That Has Everyone Freaking Out
Associates at King & Spalding recently received an update to firm policy that is worrying folks. The firm told associates …
Trump Admin Beats Hasty Retreat On DC Police Order
“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and …
Leading By Example Is The Key To Creating Top Lawyer Rainmakers
While we all know the expression “monkey see, monkey do,” it doesn’t quite hit the mark for me as I …
The California Bar Is At A Crossroads
(Image via Getty) Some strong “will they, won’t they” tension may make for great rom-com foundation, but the dynamic is …
Biglaw Firms Continue To Depend On Attendance Mandates, And Lawyers Who Don’t Abide Are Getting Punished
While Biglaw firms continue to usher attorneys back to the office in the wake of the pandemic, hybrid work policies …
Flo Nicolas On Why Contracts Aren’t Just Legal Tools, They’re Business Signals
Ask most legal or business leaders what’s buried inside their contracts, and the answers are usually vague. Someone in legal …
Why Employers Predict A 10% Increase In Healthcare Costs For 2026
The post Why Employers Predict A 10% Increase In Healthcare Costs For 2026 appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 08.18.25
* Article highlights efforts surrendering firms have taken against Trump administration, which certainly seems like the sort of publicity those …
The Hoagie Heard Round The World — See Generally
One If By Land, Two If By Subway: DOJ fires lawyer who tossed sandwich at federal officer and this administration …
It Was The Best Of Times, It Was The Worst Of Times — See Also
Staff Layoffs And Retention Bonuses: Pick a struggle, Willkie. Washington D.C. Pushes Back Against Militarizing The Police Force: Remember when …
The Law Firms Picking Up The Most Legal Talent From The Biden Administration
(Photo by JIM WATSON and SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of …
Trump’s Push For U.S. Drug Manufacturing Expands To Pharma Ingredients With New Executive Order
The post Trump’s Push For U.S. Drug Manufacturing Expands To Pharma Ingredients With New Executive Order appeared first on Above …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Midsize Firms Gain Ground
The legal industry had an “unexpectedly prosperous” second quarter, as an uptick in countercyclical practices like litigation offset a slowdown …
Teaching How To ‘Think Like a Lawyer’ Revisited
I recently wrote a piece bemoaning the lack of critical thinking skills among younger lawyers in the age of GenAI …
Washington DC Pushes Back Against President’s Attempt At Military Takeover
The motto “Taxation Without Representation” could soon have a whole new meaning. If it were up to Trump, Washinton D.C. …
Biglaw’s Gonna Be Golden With 11% Revenue Growth In First Half Of 2025
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We can expect to see an improved demand environment …
Clients Often Shouldn’t Use Multiple Law Firms For One Matter
Sometimes, it is absolutely necessary for clients to use multiple law firms for a single matter. For instance, if a client …
What Today’s Rainmakers Know About Client Loyalty And Personal Value
Getty Images In this episode of “Be That Lawyer,” I sat down with researcher and strategist Matt Dixon to explore …
You Have To See This Dystopian Hype Video Of Viral D.C. Sandwich Thrower’s Arrest
Weapon or lunch?? Earlier this week, felony charges for assaulting a federal officer with a Subway sandwich were filed against Sean …
Willkie Conducts Staff Layoffs While Dangling Retention Bonuses To Stem Lawyer Exodus
In the wake of Willkie Farr’s $100 pro bono payola deal with Donald Trump, lawyers have been fleeing the firm’s …
Another Round Of February California Bar Takers Got Their Grades Flipped
While this is not the first time in legal history that bar takers received failing grades and swore that they …
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 …
Trump Threatens Bayh‑Dole March‑In To Punish Harvard—After Refusing It For COVID
For years we’ve talked about the serious problems of the Bayh-Dole Act, which encouraged universities to patent every damn idea that …
Morning Docket: 08.15.25
* Which firms are stockpiling fleeing government lawyers? [National Law Journal] * Report suggests Russian hackers were inside PACER for …
Fast Food & Fast Former DOJ Employee Arrests — See Also
Alleged D.C. Sandwich Thrower Arrested: No Happy Meals where he’s going. Hunter Biden Responds To Threat Of Billion-Dollar Suit: Short, …
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Newsletters Send Tips Biglaw Midsize Small Firms In-House Counsel Bonuses AI Legal Beat Legal Technology Podcasts The Jabot Newsletters Search …
Biglaw Billing Rates Take Another Leap
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Thomson Reuters’ latest Law Firm Financial …
Want To Be A Successful Legal Tech Startup? Just Do One Thing
In one of my many meetings this week at ILTA’s super conference, I bumped into Alex Babin, whose company I …
New York’s ‘Clock Should Stop Act’ Could Ensure Safety Measures For Future Bar Exams
In the wake of the lackluster health emergency protocol the New York Board of Law Examiners displayed last month, readers, …
Hunter Biden Shares Choice Words With Lawyer Threatening Billion-Dollar Defamation Suit For Melania Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. F*ck that. That’s not going to happen. — Hunter …
Viral D.C. Sandwich Thrower ID’d As One Of The DOJ’s Own
The latest bit of ridiculous news in our nation’s turn toward authoritarianism is the felony charges levied against the D.C. …
Aderant Signs Deal To Acquire Legal Tech Assets Of HerculesAI, Including Its AI Platform For Billing Compliance
In an in-depth piece I wrote about HerculesAI last February, I noted that the past year had been a big …
Legal Chaos Calls For Excellent Client Service: New Ranking Names 55 Client Service Trailblazers
In an era where the legal landscape seems to shift by the hour — buffeted by economic uncertainty, regulatory upheaval, …
AI & GenAI In The Courts: Practical Takeaways From Recent eDiscovery Orders
Courts appear to be embracing AI and GenAI technologies for eDiscovery workflows, but with clear expectations around transparency and defensibility. …
Filling The Box: The Rules For Jury Selection
The key to jury selection is deselecting jurors who are harmful to your case and selecting favorable jurors. Each side …
Politician Calls On New York Bar To Reform ‘Disorganized, Delayed’ Emergency Response
Above the Law may have been one of the first to talk about the New York bar exam’s atrocious response …
Florida’s New Stem Cell Law: What It Signals For Physicians, Patients, And The Future Of Regenerative Medicine
The post Florida’s New Stem Cell Law: What It Signals For Physicians, Patients, And The Future Of Regenerative Medicine appeared …
Morning Docket: 08.14.25
* Diligent journalism students devote a lot of words to “some law students are losers and join FedSoc to feel …
Today At ILTACON: Key Takeaways And The Annual General Meeting
This morning, we kick off the final day of ILTACON 2025 at 9 a.m. in Potomac A/B with a Keynote …
Will Obergefell Fall Soon? — See Also
Republicans Have Been Gunning For Obergefell For Years Now: Will SCOTUS finally shoot it down? Looking For A List Of …
What Will A Jury Do When The Law Isn’t Fair?
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a new survey of jury-eligible adults …
Law Firms Are Still Looking To Diversify Their Workforce
There’s no question that running DEI programs at law firms has become more difficult after SFFA v. Harvard and mounting …
It Is Absolutely Time To Panic About Marriage Equality
Kim Davis (Photo by Ty Wright/Getty) Turns out Kim Davis’s 15 minutes of fame aren’t over yet. You probably thought …
Biglaw Firms May Be ‘Getting Anxious’ About Lagging Collections
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. If the collection lag persists or deepens, then I …
Drake’s Lawyers Are Making Accusations And Probing For Proof Afterward
Some Above the Law stories require a certain level of objectivity, balance, and finesse to be done well. This is …
Front-End Loading Cases Just Got Easier: Everlaw’s Deep Dive Tool
One of the key things I learned from a number of mentors in the mass tort defense league was the …
Missing: Biglaw’s Summer Bonus Matches
Milbank delighted with special summer bonuses, ranging from $6-25 thousand, for associates. And that’s great for them! But where are all …
The Am Law A-List: Ranking The Most Elite Law Firms In America (2025)
Another day, another ranking for lawyers to ogle in a search for meaning as they attempt to get through the …
In-House Professionals: Help Us Benchmark Your Pay
We’re updating our compensation information for in-house law departments and asking for your help. Above the Law has tracked corporate …
Attorneys’ Fees Awarded In Civil Litigation Generally Should Be Paid By The Lawyer But Usually The Client Gets Screwed
It does not happen very often in the American legal system, but occasionally in a lawsuit, one side is ordered …
DOJ: UHG, Amedisys Must Divest 164 Locations For Acquisition To Proceed
The post DOJ: UHG, Amedisys Must Divest 164 Locations For Acquisition To Proceed appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 08.13.25
* Elon Musk threatens to sue Apple because OpenAI somehow performs better than his model that calls itself “MechaHitler.” [CNBC] …
Today At ILTACON: A Sustainable Future For The Legal Industry
Wednesday at ILTACON 2025 kicks off at 9 a.m. in Potomac A/B with Reena SenGupta’s powerful Keynote session, Helping the …
Swimming In Money! — See Also
This Law Firm Just Announced Bonuses: Is it yours? Read and find out! The ABA Strikes Back Against The Trump …
The Excellent Results From Specializing In Litigation
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the most recent Vault ranking, which …
UChicago Law Offers AI Course On Tenant Rights
Have you ever sat in court because of a property dispute and wanted to yell out “@Grok, is this true?” …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: Tackling Case Management Inertia
Many small law firms have relied on the same case management system for years. It’s where all of their data …
Some Law Firms ‘Can’t Afford’ Not To Match Milbank’s Summer Bonuses
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. There’s a new pecking order at the top of …
ABA Strikes Back At Trump, Condemning His Attacks On Lawyers And The Rule Of Law
Yesterday, and the American Bar Association amped up their beef with President Donald Trump, adopting a resolution condemning his attempts …
Solving The Justice Delay Problem With AI
Justice too long delayed is justice denied. — Dr. Martin Luther King It’s axiomatic that if a litigant has to …
Splash! Another Law Firm Dives Into The Summer Bonus Pool
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy — for law firm associates on the receiving end of bonuses, that is. In …
Take The Break, Keep The Lead: Recharge Without Losing Ground
In a profession that never sleeps, taking a break can feel like a luxury. But in reality, it’s a necessity. …
Webinar On AI In The Courts: What Judges Are Using, How It Works, And Why Lawyers Need To Adapt
Rapid advances in generative AI are reshaping the professional world, and this trend appears only to be accelerating. A new …
LexisNexis Launches Protégé General AI, Expanding The Agentic Capabilities Of Its AI Assistant To General AI Models Such As GPT-5
LexisNexis Legal & Professional today introduced Protégé General AI, expanding its artificial intelligence platform to include secure access to multiple …
Stop Blaming Career Women For The Falling Fertility Rate
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
BioNTech To Pay CureVac, GSK $740M Plus Royalties To Settle mRNA Patent Disputes
The post BioNTech To Pay CureVac, GSK $740M Plus Royalties To Settle mRNA Patent Disputes appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 08.12.25
* Taft and Morris Manning announced merger. [Law360] * Unqualified judge’s husband putting his groomsman in charge of enforcing white …
Today At ILTACON: The Launch Of ‘Lessons In Leadership’
Almost 4,500 of the brightest stars in the legal tech galaxy gathered in National Harbor, Maryland, yesterday to kick off …
Did You Hear About The New Merger? — See Also
Morris Manning Plans To Merge With Taft: The new firm’s gross revenue will be worth nearly a billion! Things Seem …
The Most Conservative Students In Law School
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Trivia Question of the Day! According to the Princeton Review’s 2025 Best Law …
The Best Online Master Of Studies In Law Programs (2025)
Wouldn’t it be nice to obtain some helpful legal knowledge, without having to shell out six figures to get a …
Biglaw’s Waiting For ‘A Second Shoe To Drop’ Before Matching Milbank’s Summer Bonuses
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Corporate, from a lateral associate standpoint, is so-so, unless …
Politicians Who Decline To Fix What Ails Us
If you asked me to name one thing that seems politically feasible and would help fix what ails America, I’d …
Department Of Commerce Threatens Harvard’s IP Rights To Gain Leverage In Negotiations
Harvard has been dealt a rough hand by the Trump administration. Not only are billions of dollars of federal funding …
Maryam Salehijam On Why Contracting Is The Hidden Bottleneck And How ALSPs, Legal Ops, And Tech Can Actually Fix It
In-house legal teams are under pressure like never before. Budgets are tight. Headcount is frozen. Business partners expect faster turnaround. …
Litera’s Adam Ryan Shares Big ILTACON Plans
Adam Ryan On the heels of five new product announcements this summer, Litera is poised to make a major splash …
Another Day, Another Merger: Biglaw Firm Scoops Up Midsize Firm Gutted By Departures
In an effort to expand their footprints across the United States, Biglaw firms have been raiding midsize firms in the …
Second Quarter Delivered Eerie Calm For Law Firms Waiting For Tariff Economy Slump
In its latest Law Firm Financial Index, Thomson Reuters compares the legal market to the eye of a storm. Perhaps. …
Will The Arkansas PBM Law Survive A Judge’s Rejection?
The post Will The Arkansas PBM Law Survive A Judge’s Rejection? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 08.11.25
* Lawyer shifts career to OnlyFans content. [NY Post] * Trial over Trump’s use of military for domestic policing begins. …
Welcome To ILTACON 2025! A Day Of Insights And Entertainment
Registration opens at 7 this morning in the Convention Center Foyer. Make sure to bring a valid, government-issued form of …
Money, Money, Money — See Generally
BONUS TIME!: Milbank opens up the Biglaw summer bonus season. Will anyone follow? Now You See Them…: Todd Blanche’s Library …
The Dollar Signs Are Heading Your Way! — See Also
If You Work At Hueston Hennigan, That Is!: They just dropped summer bonuses. The DOJ Is Leaking Lawyers: Who will …
Controversial New Federal Judge’s Biglaw Roots
Emil Bove (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Recent …
Debunked Episode 18: Unpacking MAHA, Nutrition On A Regional And Global Scale
The post Debunked Episode 18: Unpacking MAHA, Nutrition On A Regional And Global Scale appeared first on Above the Law.
Miss Your First Bite At Getting Paid To Take The Bar? Don’t Miss Out This Time!
No one in their reasonable mind would like to take the bar exam — not only is the test so …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Meeting In The Middle
Law firms and in-house counsel are light years apart on the role of the billable hour, but the two groups …
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 …
Geared for Growth: Four Strategies To Maximize Your AI Investments
Ed. note: This article first appeared in an ILTA publication. For more, visit our ILTA on ATL channel here. It has been …
The Blickstein COO Study Reflects Continued Lawyer Hubris, Arrogance, Independence — And Dread
The new Blickstein Group COO Study demonstrates continued lawyer hubris, arrogance, and independence that impairs job satisfaction — and profitability. …
PACER Gets Pwned: Hackers Breach Dinosaur Filing System
Someone hacked the federal courts’ beloved filing platform. Once a humble slush fund for courts to finance office renovations, PACER …
Bonuses Are A Nice Little Treat For Law Firm Associates
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Corporate and particularly M&A has been a little softer …
Legal Research Curriculum Adds New Lesson
The next generation of lawyers will approach the same old problems in very different ways. At its heart, the profession …
Ken Paxton Waves His Bits Around Rural Illinois In Bizarre Attempt To Scare Democratic Legislators Back To Texas
Ken Paxton Yesterday, Texas Attorney General (and 2026 Republican Senatorial hopeful!) Ken Paxton asked an Illinois state trial court to …
Reassigning Judicial Law Clerks Is A Band-Aid Over A Bullet Hole
At least 106 federal law clerks were mistreated by judges in 2023, according to the judiciary’s own workplace climate survey, …
Law School Admission Council Accused Of Running A $30 Million ‘Pay-To-Play’ Racket
Most people think of the Law School Admission Council as the nerds who write the LSAT. The folks that had …
Partner At Top Biglaw Firm Reportedly Dies By Suicide
(Image via Getty) We have some tragic news to report from China, where an accomplished Biglaw partner is suspected to …
Regional Differences In Practicing Law
Many attorneys practice law in multiple states, since clients often like to use the same lawyers to handle as many …
The ‘Slide Into Her DMs’ Rule Of Service For Civ Pro Buffs
Bruna Lírio (Photo by Rachpoot/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images) Move over Mailbox Rule, there’s a new theory of service out there. The plaintiffs …
DOJ Has Lost So Many Lawyers It Might Not Have Enough Left To Help Trump Destroy America
First, the Trump administration gutted the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division, probably because it was too concerned about protecting constitutional rights. Whoever still remained …
Elite Law Firm Wows Associates With Market-Beating Summer Bonuses
After months of speculation amid an uncertain economy, it looks like it’s going to be a hot bonus summer after …
Morning Docket: 08.08.25
* Tariffs starting to drag down client earnings. [Bloomberg Law News] * Reed Smith putting a cheerful face on massive …
We’re In Summer Bonus Season! — See Also
Check Out Milbank’s Bonuses!: Maybe the good PR will overshadow their bending backward for Trump! Lessons To Learn From The …
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Biglaw Firm Has Deep Roots In Beantown
(Photo by Paul Marotta/Getty Images) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! The name partner …
Duane Morris On The Hook To Fight Nonequity Partner Suit
(Image via Getty) When we last covered Meagan Garland’s discrimination suit against Duane Morris, the focus was on where the …
Elite, A Financial Management Platform For Larger Firms, Has Been Acquired By Francisco Partners
Hot off the presses is news that Francisco Partners, a major global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology …
Pricing Strategy For Complex Legal Work: A Legal Ops Approach To Predictability
Getty Images For years, complex legal work such as bet-the-company litigation, M&A, and regulatory investigations was considered too unpredictable to …
Former Biglaw Associate Who Became Public Defender After His Firm Caved To Trump Has No Regrets
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It is going to be impossible both in the …
Legal Tech Consolidation: AI Is Driving A Wave Of Partnerships And Acquisitions
If you’ve been paying attention to legal tech announcements lately, you’ve probably noticed a pattern: the legal tech industry is …
Private Equity Partners Left Out Of Biglaw’s Lateral Move Mania
Biglaw partners are on the move! That’s the message the industry’s received from data crunchers, but not everyone is included …
Which Law Firms Do You Turn To For Outside Counsel?
If you are an in-house lawyer and haven’t yet taken our Outside Counsel Survey, there’s still time to weigh in. We …
5 Crucial Lessons From The Bar Exam’s Near Deadly Failure
As the bar exam itself fades into the rearview mirror, New York’s confused handling of a genuine medical emergency shouldn’t. …
Milbank Issues Summer Bonuses
(Image via Getty) After boutique firm Vartabedian Hester & Haynes offered summer bonuses and midsized firm Otterbourg joined the fun, …
Become A Legal Legend With Litera At ILTACON 2025
To become a legal legend, talent isn’t enough. Lawyers need the right tools, the right support, and the right technology. …
The Law Schools That Are The Best For State Clerkships (2025)
If you’re a law student who’s interested in a clerkship, but you’ve missed the boat on landing a coveted position …
Reading The Room: Improving Your Communication Skills
We lawyers love to talk. But listening? Not so much. Yet active listening and paying close attention go a long …
RFK Jr. Cancels $500M In mRNA R&D Contracts As HHS Turns Focus To Older, Slower Vaccine Technologies
The post RFK Jr. Cancels $500M In mRNA R&D Contracts As HHS Turns Focus To Older, Slower Vaccine Technologies appeared …
Morning Docket: 08.07.25
* DOJ seeking sanctions against lawyer for taking immigration pro bono case. [Politico] * To Elon Musk’s chagrin, appellate court …
Will Somebody Habeas Corpus Habeas Corpus? — See Also
A Vital Part Of The Constitution Was Just Deleted From The Congress Website: Very convenient! Surely isn’t a cause for …
The Home(s) Of The Supreme Court
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Which three U.S. cities have played home to …
Thomson Reuters New Pricing Model: A Step Towards Simplicity In The Unnecessarily Complicated Legal Tech World
Along with yesterday’s announcement of new AI features, Thomson Reuters quietly mentioned a revised commercial model that purportedly will allow …
Non-AI Businesses Now Use Artificial Intelligence To Charge Customers For Minor Or Made-Up Damage
Once upon a time, I was on the way to a major sporting event with a good friend of mine …
The Law Schools That Are The Best For Federal Clerkships (2025)
Do you like prestige? Of course you do. Is there really a law student who doesn’t? That being said, if …
Jake Paul Hires Biglaw Superstar Alex Spiro For Legal Knockout Punch
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’ve been retained by Mr. Paul to pursue legal …
Suing White Supremacists Considered Biglaw Brave In 2025
Paul, Weiss is representing Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in a lawsuit against the Hudson Valley Proud Boys and their …
Top Biglaw Firm Poaches 40+ Lawyers From Competitor In Latest Group Lateral Move
Group lateral moves are still all the rage in Biglaw, and Crowell & Moring ought to know — the Am …
P. Diddy Taps On Trump Administration For Pardon Request
The Onion presents itself as America’s Finest News Source. Speaking frankly, that tongue-in-cheek moniker has a lot going for it. …
The Bar Exam Death Drive Becomes Dangerously Literal
A woman went into cardiac arrest during the New York bar exam. Thankfully, the administrators responded swiftly. JUST KIDDING! They …
Free Attorney Time Tracking Template For Smarter Billing
Time is money—especially for law firms. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or part of a larger firm, keeping detailed records …
Congress Just Deleted Habeas Corpus From The Constitution On Its Website
Pop quiz: how many sections does Article I of the Constitution have? If you choose to look it up on …
Is It A Good Idea To Accept Equity In A Company Instead Of Cash In Exchange For Legal Services?
Every once in a while, you may meet a client that wants to start a business. Like most startups, they …
What Do Digital Health Leaders Think Of Trump’s New AI Action Plan?
The post What Do Digital Health Leaders Think Of Trump’s New AI Action Plan? appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 08.06.25
* Trump administration officials meeting with VP to develop “unified” strategy for dealing with Epstein evidence. [CNN] * House committee …
Former Covington Associate Accuses Partner Of Racial Discrimination — See Also
Newsletters Send Tips Biglaw Midsize Small Firms In-House Counsel Bonuses AI Legal Beat Legal Technology Podcasts The Jabot Newsletters Search …
Biglaw’s Retreat On Immigration Cases
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to analysis by Reuter, during the surge …
3 (IP) Takeaways From The Lex Machina 2025 Litigation Damages Report
Now that we have crossed the halfway point of 2025, it is as good a time as any to take …
The Best Law Schools For Nontraditional Students (2025)
Not all law students are fresh out of their undergraduate studies. Some have already enjoyed successful careers before deciding to …
‘It’s Just A Matter Of Time’: Waiting For Trump’s Constitutional Crisis
(Illustration via ChatGPT) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Mark my words. Trump will defy …
Hawaii Opens Public Defender Program To Out-Of-State Lawyers
Are you committed to providing legal counsel to those in need? Are you okay with the risk of unexpected tsunami …
Welcome To Biglaw: Brand New Megafirm Officially Makes Its Debut
It’s the first full week of August, and for the Biglaw community, that means that a new competitor has officially …
Former Biglaw Associate Alleges Partner Used Racial Slur
Late last night, a former associate took to LinkedIn to accuse a Covington partner of calling him a racial slur. …
Florida AG Declares War On Law Firms Over DEI
Oh, Florida. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier just made the latest move to make his state the MAGA-ist of them …
Is Your Business Development Evolving Or Just Repeating Itself?
There’s something I’ve been seeing a lot lately, and it’s too important to ignore. Too many lawyers are out there …
Cyber Insurance Premiums Are Soaring — And So Are Your Risks
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
Is Justice Roberts A Dolt? Pam Bondi Seems To Think So.
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
Celebrity Hair Colorist And Brand Ambassador Arrested On Allegations Of Sexual Misconduct With A Minor
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Morning Docket: 08.05.25
* Sotomayor expresses support for court reform in overlooked audio. [Fix the Court] * DOJ opening investigations into Obama officials …
Bar Takers Spot Issues With Examiners’ Account Of Heart Attack Response — See Also
They’d Have Gotten Away With It Too, If Not For Those Pesky Eye Witnesses: Their media response looks more like …
Biglaw Partner Moves Are Hotter Than Ever
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by Decipher Investigative Intelligence, …
Getting To The Delicious Center Of Alan Dershowitz And PierogiGate
(Photo by Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) At this point, we need to consider the possibility that complaining about Martha’s Vineyard is …
Student Sue School For Using AI To Snoop Through Their Emails
Should the principal of a public school be able to go into a student’s locker and open their sealed letters …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Celebrating Two Years With Top 15 (Again!) Headlines Of The Week, Shoutouts, A New Puppy & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Biglaw May Soon See More Associate Deferrals
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [I’m] not shocked that there are deferrals happening [and] …
Litigating The President’s Ability To Impose Tariffs
(Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Look at the remarkable uses to which President Donald Trump has put his …
Bar Applicants Call B.S. On Examiner’s Account Of Test-Taker Suffering Cardiac Arrest
Good news: the woman who collapsed during the New York bar exam at Hofstra reportedly survived. That’s worth saying up …
Meet Me At ILTACON: Aiden, Intelligent Automation For IT Teams
Major conferences like ILTACON spotlight the transformative tools that are making waves in industry. But sometimes these tools can advance …
The Law Schools With The Most Diverse Faculty (2025)
If you’re considering applying to law school, one of the things you may want to consider in your search is …
Trump Launches Jack Smith Investigation… And That’s Probably Going To Backfire
The over-the-top bullying of the Trump II reign continues. Over the weekend it was revealed the Office of Special Counsel …
Rethinking Legal Drafting: A More Integrated, Intelligent Future
Across the globe, legal professionals are under increasing pressure to deliver high-quality work faster—without sacrificing accuracy or compliance. But for …
Disparate Ninth Circuit Takes On The Birthright Citizenship Order
In State of Washington, et al. v. Trump, et al., the Ninth Circuit reviewed the constitutionality of Executive Order No. 14160, issued by President …
New AMA Report Highlights Lack Of Competition In PBM Market
The post New AMA Report Highlights Lack Of Competition In PBM Market appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 08.04.25
* Supreme Court prepares to strike down the rest of the Voting Rights Act. [Reuters] * Welcome McDermott Will & …
Biglaw Leader Says There Were Almost No Merger-Related Departures Ahead Of Two Elite Firms Becoming One
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We really have had no departures that were related …
Alan Dershowitz Suing Pierogi Stand For Aggravated ‘No One Likes Me On Martha’s Vineyard’
The summer would not be complete without Alan Dershowitz’s annual whining that no one on Martha’s Vineyard likes him ever …
Diddy ‘Freakoff’ Case Takes Unexpected Constitutional Turn
Diddy is known as a rapper, producer, and CEO of Bad Boy Records. But those aren’t the only enterprises Diddy …
You Don’t Need To Be A Prompt Whisperer To Start Using AI
Whenever I attend presentations on using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in law practices, the presenters always emphasize the value of …
The Best Law Schools For Minority Students (2025)
Despite the fact that we’re now living in a time where diversity, equity, and inclusion are looked upon as dirty …
Me And You In The Box: How To Interrogate A Witness
I don’t cross-examine witnesses. I interrogate them. Let me show you how. To interrogate a witness in deposition or at …
Performative Judicial Complaint? Meet Freedom Of Information Act.
On Monday, July 28, Attorney General Bondi’s Chief of Staff Chad Mizelle hand-delivered an ethics complaint to the US Court …
Litera Launches Everything, Everywhere, More Or Less All At Once In Run-Up To ILTACON
Litera’s effort to dominate the whole workflow continues with multiple announcements dropping in advance of the the International Legal Technology …
Meet Your New Team: Intuit QuickBooks Unveils The Power Of AI Agents For Business Growth
Running a business is hard work — but what if you had a team of experts by your side 24/7, …
Law Firm One-Ups The Competition With Even Bigger Summer Bonuses
When it comes to law firm compensation, all it takes is one firm to start a movement. From salary increases …
Meet Us At ILTACON: Traveling Coaches And LegalMind+
Traveling Coaches’ impact in the world and for its clients is all about helping others thrive. Since 1995, the company …
The Law Schools With The Best Professors (2025)
If you’re considering applying to law school, you obviously want to attend the best one you’re able to get into, …
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 …
Trump Administration Says It’s Going To Start Locking Up Homeless People
‘I won’t let people forget either!’ (Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) We’ve finally got a Stalin to call …
Morning Docket: 08.01.25
* Kavanaugh tells judges that the Supreme Court can’t explain shadow docket opinions because it might suggest to lower courts …
Heart Attack During The Bar Exam — See Also
News NY Bar Taker Suffers Apparent Heart Attack During Bar Exam: The surrounding test takers were expected to continue on …
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ABA Law School Accreditation Days May Be Numbered
The Trump administration has it out for the ABA. They’ve been taken off the job of vetting judiciary nominees and …
Recurring Themes In Bob Ambrogi’s 30 Years Of Legal Tech Reporting
[Note: This year marks the 30th in which I’ve been tracking the development of legal tech — or at least …
Gimme An ‘A’! Gimme An ‘I’! What Does That Spell?
By the time this is published, the July bar exam will be history. Remember my admonition to not discuss your …
Where Do Your Teachers Rank? — See Also
There’s A Survey Of The Law Schools With The Best Teachers: Does your school make the top? It might surprise …
Historic Job And Salary Numbers For Law School Grads
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Trivia Question of the Day! According to the National Association for Law Placement …
Is It OK To Take A Long Vacation And Then Quit?
As a first-year Biglaw associate, the shop at which I worked had a generous vacation policy. They gave all attorneys four …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Tech Tops The Charts
This week, Corporate Counsel released its 2025 General Counsel Compensation Report, featuring pay for legal chiefs at Fortune 1000 companies. …
SAVE Won’t Be Saving You From The Compound Interest On Your Law School Loans Anymore
Student loan debt is one of the worst souvenirs a law school graduate can take on as a reminder of …
Patrick Byrne And Hunter Biden Bring The Crazy To California Courtroom
Patrick Byrne, the Overstock.com weirdo who backed Trump’s “Stop the Steal” effort in 2020, outcrazied a federal judge in California …
More Than Words: Contracts Are Instructions For Success — Not A Game Of Gotcha
Jeffery Kruse made an important point in Olga Mack’s recent Above the Law interview that struck a chord with me: contracts are …
Building Resilience And Business Through Optimism And Action
In this episode of “Be That Lawyer,” I sat down with entrepreneur, speaker, and growth-minded leader David Schnurman. We explored …
Federal Judge Discloses Death Threats, Harassment Amid Toxic Rhetoric From Trump Administration
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’ve been on the …
Why You Shouldn’t Use AI To Write Your Executive (Legal) Resume Or LinkedIn Profile
As someone who writes executive resumes on a weekly basis and coaches in-house counsel on the executive job search process, …
Bonus Season Is Here!
This Boutique Firm Is Kicking Off Summer Bonuses?: Has your firm? Why not?! Suing Coldplay For Defamation Is The Last …
The Staggering Salary At The Top Of The General Counsel Game
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the 2025 General Counsel Report, which …
Tying Health Care To Employment Cuts Productivity, Harms The Economy, And Makes Workers Miserable
I’ve been listening to the audio book version of “Careless People” by Sarah Wynn-Williams. If you haven’t read it, you …
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Are Heading For The Exits Thanks To Political Creep Into Government Work
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [P]eople [in the New Jersey office] are concerned about …
Andrew Yang Says AI Is Replacing Biglaw Associates, Which Is Great News For Malpractice Lawyers
Andrew Yang hasn’t had a lot of success at the polls, but the former Davis Polk associate turned tech entrepreneur …
Hallucinations Here, Hallucinations There, Hallucinations Everywhere: Why Do Lawyers Keep Doing It?
The story is all too familiar by now. A lawyer uses ChatGPT to draft a brief, gets back a polished …
Lawyers Getting Really High On AI Hallucinations
It was a very bad week for lawyers and hallucinations. A federal judge had to withdraw an opinion with fake …
Face Of Infidelity Wants To Sue Coldplay Because He Got Caught In Public
For everyone who thought getting caught cheating with the head of HR at a Coldplay concert was the whitest thing …
Summer Bonuses Are Finally Here
The dog days of summer are nearly upon us, but there’s nothing that’ll make law firm associates perk up quicker …
Why Would Trump Stop Bullying Judges When It’s So Effective?
(Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Between May 2024 and March 2025, threats against judges increased a staggering 327%, according to …
Bar Exam Evacuated As Tsunami Arrives
The bar exam is stressful enough before throwing in a natural disaster. Yet that’s the reality in Hawai’i, where examinees …
The Best Law Schools For Women (2025)
Women are continuing to break barriers in the legal profession each day, and law school enrollment is no different. For …
Why Several Insurers Are Cutting/Withdrawing Their Earnings Guidance
The post Why Several Insurers Are Cutting/Withdrawing Their Earnings Guidance appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.30.25
* After another whistleblower emerged Republicans quickly confirmed Emil Bove before having to listen to the audio tapes that might …
Know What’s Going On In The Classroom! — See Also
Which Law Schools Offer The Best Classroom Experience?: Read this list to find out! Gotta Know Which Battles To Fight: …
When Lincoln Said ‘No’ To SCOTUS… And How It Relates To Biglaw
The Trump administration infamously doesn’t understand how habeas corpus works, but when cornered are quick to point to Abraham Lincoln …
U.S. Appeals Court Renews Judge Pauline Newman’s Suspension
Pauline Newman is still fighting to be able to do her job. It’s pretty simple: Article III-appointed judges are to …
Biglaw AI Apocalypse Brews As One Fake Case Turns Into Litany Of False Cites
After confessing the firm submitted a post-trial motion citing a non-existent case helpfully supplied by ChatGPT, Goldberg Segalla cut ties …
The Incredible Shrinking Circuit Court
Is the Tenth Circuit about to get smaller? That’s what the U.S. Judicial Conference wants — in a new report, they’ve …
Biglaw Firm Encourages Remote Work After Fatal Office Shooting
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. While we are relieved to confirm all of our …
Harvard Law Graduate Is Helping Trump Attack Her Alma Mater
There are many ways to pay homage and give back to the schools that brought you up. There’s the obvious …
From Courtroom To Canvas: Quinn Emanuel Gets Creative, Debuts Arts Foundation With Ambitious Mission
Quinn Emanuel is one of the most successful law firms in the world, and it brings in millions upon millions …
Former Biglaw Partner Publicly Fighting With A Computer Program Which Is Totally Not Crazy Person Behavior
Cleta Mitchell (image from the old Foley & Lardner site) Former Foley & Lardner partner Cleta Mitchell is engaged in …
AI In The Courts: What Judges Are Using, How It Works, And Why Lawyers Need To Adapt
Rapid advances in generative AI are reshaping the professional world, and this trend appears only to be accelerating. A new …
The Art Of Melania
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty) Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to …
The Law Schools That Give Students The Best Classroom Experience (2025)
(Image via Getty) If you’re considering applying to law school, one of the things you may want to consider in …
The Horror Of This Year’s Bar Exam!
Everyone loves a good bar exam horror story. This week, tens of thousands of people will sit for the July …
Bipartisan Bill Seeks To Establish Parity Between MA & Traditional Medicare Payments
The post Bipartisan Bill Seeks To Establish Parity Between MA & Traditional Medicare Payments appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.29.25
* New whistleblower report about Emil Bove, though honestly if the first one didn’t stop him, there’s not really any …
Do You Know The Most Exclusive Law Schools? — See Also
See How Your Memory Compares To The Truth: These law schools are the hardest to currently get into. Pay The …
Partnership Is Not The Gold Mine You Might Think It Is
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the latest Partner Satisfaction Survey, powered …
Elena Kagan Praises Artificial Intelligence Now That She Works With So Little Human Intelligence
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Chatting with the Ninth Circuit judicial conference last week, Justice Elena Kagan complimented Anthropic’s proprietary …
Indiana University Professors Stuck With Vague ‘Thought Diversity’ Law That Controls Their Classrooms
Thought diversity usually gets brought up on this site as a gag example of the diversity that really matters. For …
Sororities Are Apparently Better At Vetting People Than Biglaw Firms
The talk of Biglaw — well, besides the Biglaw Biter — is partner David Kreisler’s super short tenure at Mayer …
New York Biglaw Firms Keep Growing, While Midsize Firms Stay The Same
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. If Q2 is any indication of what midsized firms …
Colorado Law School Dean Reappointed Amid Mass Faculty Disapproval
A paltry 27 percent of eligible faculty favored reappointing Dean Lolita Buckner Inniss. Meanwhile, some 90 percent of student group …
Massive Slash In Milbank’s Hourly Rate — For Cities Fighting Trump
Neal Katyal (Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Milbank partner Neal Katyal is working on behalf of New …
Hanson Bridgett’s Managing Partner Shares Her Thoughts On Leading A Law Firm Through Challenging Times
Over the course of the past several years, law firm leaders have too often found themselves dealing with difficult situations …
Trump, Obama, And Treason
Over the years, Donald Trump has accused Barrack Obama of many things. Trump accused Obama of not having been born …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Unethical Hiding Of ICE Lawyer Names In Public Hearings, 50-State Survey Of Judicial Disclosures, DOJ Appeals Jenner EO Block, Judge Scraps Opinion With Fake Cites & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
The Law Schools That Are The Toughest To Get Into (2025)
How can you measure a law school’s worth, aside from the employment statistics of its graduates? Another telling sign of …
Over 200 Organizations Call On DEA To Continue Remote Prescribing Of Controlled Substances
Following the Senate’s recent confirmation of Terry Cole as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than 200 organizations …
Morning Docket: 07.28.25
* Jake Tapper holds the line on actual facts of the Epstein prosecution. [Huffington Post] * New York is for …
So Many Ways For Law Students To Make Bad Decisions — See Generally
Ranking For The Sake Of Ranking: The Princeton Review found a plethora of ways to rank law schools other than …
A&O Shearman’s Incoming Associate Class Gets Ready For Epic Bar Trip — See Also
Waiting Is The Hardest Part: A&O Shearman incoming associates won’t start job until January 2026. I’m Not Even Sure What …
Lawyers Already Numb To Inflation
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the 2025 Legal Risk Index Report …
The Revolution Will Be Card Cataloged: Dispatches From The Law Librarian Frontlines
Librarians don’t come across as folks who storm the Bastille. But when the 118th annual meeting of the American Association …
Lawyers Shouldn’t Refer Some Matters To Other Attorneys
Since lawyers usually cannot handle all of the matters that cross their desks, attorney referrals are a huge part of …
An ‘Army’ Of Lawyers From Small Firms Are Ready To Wage War Against Trump’s Bad Legal Policies
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I don’t know if the administration knew how many …
Alina Habba Is So Back, Baby
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) The president’s personal lawyer Alina Habba is once again the acting US Attorney for New …
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 …
The 100 Largest Law Firms In New York (2024)
There are many different and exciting ways to rank law firms. How prestigious are they? How much money are they …
Lawyer Turned Novelist Pens The Perfect Summer Read
In this episode of The Jabot, I interview attorney and author Audrey Ingram, who shares her compelling transition from a law …
Major Biglaw Firm Delays Start Date For Some Incoming Associates
A&O Shearman is one of the nine Biglaw firms that kissed Donald Trump’s ring, inking a deal (over the pleas …
Law Schools With The Most Competitive Students v. Law Schools With The Best Quality Of Life (2025)
Are you searching for a law school where you can actually have a social life? Of course you are! But …
Supreme Court To Lower Courts: Ignore Actual Binding Precedent, Follow Our Unexplained Shadow Docket Vibes Instead
(Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg) The Supreme Court’s shadow docket has become a lawless mess. The justices are issuing extremely consequential rulings with …
Coalition Of 28 Organizations Urge Congress To Extend ACA Enhanced Tax Credits
The post Coalition Of 28 Organizations Urge Congress To Extend ACA Enhanced Tax Credits appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.25.25
* Trump withdraws Habba’s nomination so he can avoid statute the prevents nominee from serving as Acting U.S. Attorney… even …
It Was The Left Of Times, It Was The Right Of Times — See Also
See Also Wonder Which Law Schools Have The Strongest Political Skew?: Make your guesses then read this list! $200M Is …
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A Look At The ‘Volatility’ Of The Partnership Ranks
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the latest Partner Satisfaction Survey, powered …
Court Kicks Lawyers Off Case After Finding Fake AI Cases In Filings
Back in May, Butler Snow received a particularly irate order to show cause. The firm represented the Alabama Department of …
Can You Make Biglaw Money At A Plaintiffs Firm?
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. What we understand is that the firms that are …
Former Biglaw Partner Disbarred After Pleading Guilty To Attempting To Sext A Minor
In 2023, Daniel Waxman was a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, leading their torts practice in the New York …
Trump Administration Strong-arms ~$200M Out Of Columbia During His Worst Time To Ever Hustle Someone Out Of Millions
Let’s be honest — this is one of those stories where I’m going to tell you to not fall for …
The Client Service A-Team: Ranking The Biglaw Superheroes Of Client Service (2025)
Which Biglaw firms are most beloved by general counsel for their superior client service? In 2024, with few rough waters …
Let’s Grab Coffee: How Investing $1,000 A Year In Yourself Will Supercharge Your Career
Your career is yours. It’s not your firm’s. It’s not your boss’s. It’s yours. And because it’s yours, it’s your …
Federal Judge Pulls Opinion With Fake Quotes And YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!
Ready to cross another milestone on the legal profession’s march into slop? Too bad! Because we’re already here. We’ve had …
LegalOn Closes $50M Series E, Partners With OpenAI To Develop Advanced AI Agents
LegalOn Technologies, a global company that provides AI-driven software for contract review and matter management, has closed a $50 million …
The Law Schools With The Most Conservative And Liberal Students (2025)
The country has never been more divided politically, and whether they’re strongly in favor of President Trump’s policies or adamantly …
Why Some Lawyers Succeed And Others Don’t: It’s Not What You Think
From time to time, I come up with what I call “FRETZINISMS.” These are unique quotes that pop into my …
The Myth Of All-American Drugs And What Trump’s Tariffs Miss About Pharma Supply Chains
The post The Myth Of All-American Drugs And What Trump’s Tariffs Miss About Pharma Supply Chains appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 07.24.25
* Ninth Circuit able to read the plain text of the 14th Amendment, which is news in 2025. [Reuters] * …
An Opportunity To Chew The Cud — See Also
Some Well-Meaning Advice For The Biglaw Biter: There are some personality quirks you leave at the office door. It Isn’t …
Lawyers Hit Turning Point On AI
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the 2025 Legal Risk Index Report …
Some Great — If Obvious — Advice For The Biglaw Biter
So… everyone’s been talking about the Biglaw Biter. Not exclusively in Biglaw circles, or even just within the legal profession, …
Clorox’s Multi-Million Dollar Lawsuit Reveals Embarrassing Security Protocol
When most people think of hacking, they probably think of some Matrix-like montage of all-black suits, otherworldy tech savvy, and …
Trump DOJ’s Keystone Kops Fire Alina Habba Replacement Without Realizing That Has Nothing To Do With It
(Photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson – Pool/Getty Images) In one of the more stupid episodes in an already stupid run …
Ex-Biglaw Associate Wants You To Know His Former Firm Was Trying To Keep Its Trumpiness On The DL
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Actually, speaking as a former employee, none of this …
Partner Who Wrote About AI Ethics, Fired For Citing Fake AI Cases
Most of the time, when a lawyer unwittingly cites a bunch of fake cases spit out by artificial intelligence, it’s …
Wisconsin Institute For Law And Liberty Wins Right To Not Support Minorities
Enough of that! Were you one of the attorneys barred in Wisconsin losing sleep because pennies on the dollar of …
Biglaw Return-To-Office Drive Opens Door To Passive-Aggressive Hostage Negotiation Over Bonuses
Partners have reportedly taken a break from the million-dollar summer homes their associates toil to make possible to let the …
Building A Successful CLE: Leveraging Your Program For Career Advancement
Getty Images Ed. note: This is the fifth post in a series. In our last article, we focused on crafting a …
Life On Another Planet: Moving From A Law Firm To A Nonlegal Job In Corporate America
When lawyers who have never worked in business transition to a nonlegal job, they may feel as if they have …
The Best Law Schools In America For Career Prospects (2025)
The Princeton Review recently released its annual law school ranking, covering the best 168 law schools in the country (but …
‘I Don’t Even Draw, Bro’ Is A Really Weird Defense When ‘It Was Locker Room Talk’ Was Right There All Along
If you have been online at all over the course of the past several weeks, you know a little something …
6 Health Systems That Faced Worker Strikes This Month
The post 6 Health Systems That Faced Worker Strikes This Month appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.23.25
* Pam Bondi fires Alina Habba’s replacement from her First Assistant job apparently because she doesn’t understand that her appointment …
Is Shutting Up Part Of The Job? — See Also
Davis Polk Associate Fired For Posting His Private Opinions In His Spare Time: Should the response be “Good on him” …
Wait — How *Do* You Make Equity Partner??
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the latest Partner Satisfaction Survey, powered …
Exacting Nexus Standard
The data is frightening. The average age of folks in the U.S. diagnosed with colorectal cancer has dropped in the …
Remote And On-Demand Bar Exams Could Be On The Way
I know what you’re thinking: great idea with a terrible track record. Experimental bar exams have left a bad taste …
Judge Judy’s Latest TV Show Literally Puts ‘Justice On Trial’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [A]ll I really want people to do is think …
Top Biglaw Firm To Open An Office In Silicon Valley
Biglaw firms continue to open their doors in cities where business is booming, and the latest firm to do so …
Selling Without The Sleaze: What Lawyers Need To Know About Modern Business Development
Getty Images Let’s face it, most lawyers hate the word “sales.” But if you’re growing a law practice, you are …
T14 Law School Actually Wants You To Use AI In The Application Process
The widespread use of AI has hit higher ed hard. First the teachers complained about students using ChatGPT on their …
Biglaw Surrender Firms Hoping Trump Just Forgets About Them
Remember when nine major law firms bowed to Trump’s demands, agreeing to vaguely worded pro bono commitments to avoid retaliatory …
Trump Won’t Give Up On His Biglaw Executive Orders Until He Gets In Front Of The Supreme Court
Donald Trump’s dogged pursuit of executive orders that target Biglaw firms that displease him continues. Yes, four different district court …
GenAI And Critical Thinking: The Problem Is The Problem
In our enthusiasm to adopt and use GenAI, are we ignoring a critical problem: what are the tools doing to …
Who Rules The Courts? An ATL Infographic
It’s Shark Week, which means it’s time to dive into our data for another undersea infographic. This year, our depiction …
Was That Davis Polk Associate Asking For It?
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
Why Providers Aren’t Happy With CMS’ Outpatient Medicare Physician Payment Proposal
The post Why Providers Aren’t Happy With CMS’ Outpatient Medicare Physician Payment Proposal appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.22.25
* DOJ trying to unseal Epstein grand jury records knowing those won’t add anything but hoping it sounds official enough …
More Money, More Law Clerks! — See Also
Latham & Watkins Is Bumping Up Their Clerk Compensation: Check out the new numbers here! Shon Hopwood Convicted In Domestic …
This Biglaw Firm Is Adding To Its Office Space In A Big Way
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to market research by commercial real estate …
Reading Trump’s Mind: The Epstein Files
What was Donald Trump thinking about the Jeffrey Epstein files? Maybe this: It’s the middle of 2024, and the Epstein …
Biglaw Associates Are Having A Moment When It Comes To Quitting During Trump’s Reign
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. This is not normal. It’s very unusual to see …
Whither The Law Librarian?
I’m attending the American Association of Law Librarians (AALL) Conference this week in Portland, Oregon. It’s one of my favorite …
Prominent Georgetown Law Professor Convicted In Domestic Violence Case
Shon Hopwood is a name that is often celebrated within the legal profession as a case of true criminal reform. In …
Nothing Beats A Break From Billables Quite Like Hiking
What’s in a Biglaw name? A lot, actually. Mix up your K names and you could end up working for …
Another Biglaw Firm That Capitulated To Donald Trump Loses A Litigation Partner To A Firm That Decidedly Did *Not*
A&O Shearman’s securities litigation practice is a little lighter. As of today, New York-based partner Agnès Dunogué has moved firms, …
Notorious P-Grabber Sues WSJ For Suggesting He Drew Boobs
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) On Friday, a federal judge in New York dismissed Donald Trump’s copyright suit against Bob …
Judge Trolls Lawyer Over Flowery Excuses For AI Hallucinations
Last week, we wrote about yet another lawyer filing a brief riddled with AI hallucinations. But to spice up the …
No. 2 Biglaw Firm In America Increases Its Bonuses — For Law Clerks!
One of the many benefits of having a federal clerkship is the extra bonus you’ll receive if you decide to …
Take Our Law Department Compensation Survey!
Above the Law has tracked corporate counsel pay for many years in our annual In-House Compensation Report. This year, for …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Ex-DOJ Ethics Lawyer Speaks Out, Associate Fired for Trump Critique, Judge Visas Stripped, AI & ‘Snitch’ Rule & More
Thank you for being here. Welcome to what captivates, haunts, inspires, and surprises me every week in the world of …
Why HHS’ Notice On Federal Public Benefits Harms Both Lawfully Present And Undocumented Immigrants
Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it is restricting undocumented immigrants’ access to …
Morning Docket: 07.21.25
* Trump slaps Rupert Murdoch with $10B suit. Or more accurately “SLAPPs.” [CNBC] * Ohio considers dropping requirement that lawyers …
Firm Wants Lawyers To Defend Their Office Time — See Generally
* Funny You Should Ask…: Kirkland wants to hear from associates about how faithfully they’re following the office policy. * …
Alina Habba To Let The Screen Door Hit Her On Her Way Out Of U.S. Attorney Job (OR MAYBE NOT!)
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Famed parking garage lawyer Alina Habba spent her tenure as the quasi-U.S. Attorney …
Is AI Behind These In-House Microsoft Layoffs? — See Also
This Could Be Some Serious Disruption: A recruiting partner thinks that adopting AI could lessen the need for junior attorneys. …
If You Want To See A *Really* Evil Judge In Action…
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! What Disney film features a judge as the …
Despite Progress, Healthcare Cybersecurity Is Still Falling Short
The post Despite Progress, Healthcare Cybersecurity Is Still Falling Short appeared first on Above the Law.
Winning vs. Beating: The Lawyer’s Dilemma In Business And Beyond
In the heat of an argument — whether it’s a tense negotiation or a spirited debate among colleagues — lawyers …
Alina Habba To Let The Screen Door Hit Her On Her Way Out Of U.S. Attorney Job (OR MAYBE NOT!)
(Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Famed parking garage lawyer Alina Habba spent her tenure as the quasi-U.S. Attorney …
Biglaw Partners Alarmed By Zohran Mamdani’s Proposed Tax Increases
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. If you’re a New York lawyer, between federal, state …
Florida Judge Suspended For Donating To Biden And Harris Campaigns
Being a federal judge has its perks. You get to lash out against a group of students who ask you …
Law Professor On Why It’s More Important Than Ever To Confront Racism
Join host me as I sit down with Columbia Law School’s Susan Sturm to discuss her compelling new book, What …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: Getting Organized On Intake
Many firms lack a formal client intake system, and many make matters worse by trying to manage intake with spreadsheets, …
More Law Firms Should Allow Remote August Policies
Most lawyers would agree that August is a pretty slow time for the legal profession. Along with the end of …
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 …
Microsoft Layoffs Hit In-House Counsel – Is AI Disruption To Blame?
Talk about how artificial intelligence will someday take lawyers’ jobs has long been dismissed as much ado about nothing — …
How One 1990s Browser Decision Created Big Tech’s Data Monopolies (And How We Might Finally Fix It)
There’s a fundamental architectural flaw in how the internet works that most people have never heard of, but it explains …
Morning Docket: 07.18.25
* Wall Street Journal found a Trump birthday message for his buddy Jeffrey Epstein. [WSJ] * In response, Bondi will …
So Much For The Disclaimer — See Also
Biglaw Associate Fired Despite “These Views Are My Own” Disclaimer: Davis Polk won’t even let associates speak their minds on …
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We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom BARBRI Brightflag CobbleStone …
There’s No Shame In Lateraling Early In Your Legal Career
(Image via Shutterstock) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a recent survey …
What Will Antitrust Look Like Under Trump 2.0?
If you step back far enough, you might be able to see some compatibility between a Trump presidency and strong …
The Bar Exam, The Biter, And Borderless Acts Of Kindness
It’s time for my annual (or semi-annual, if you have to take the February bar for whatever reason) rant about …
These Notorious Nine Biglaw Firms Will Never Be Able To Escape The Stench Of Their Trump Deals
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [The fact that this topic has remained in the …
Saying The Quiet Part Loud: Some Potential Hard AI Truths For Legal
A recent Wall Street Journal headline caught my eye. The gist of the article, entitled CEOs Start Saying the Quiet …
Homeland Security Keeps Violating Copyright Law Like It’s Due Process Or Something
(Photo by Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images) It seems deporting people into El Salvadoran slave labor isn’t the only decision …
Biglaw Firm Allegedly Fires Associate Over Anti-Trump Op-Eds
It’s not you. It’s me. Biglaw partners and associates — and perhaps clients, too — continue to flee firms that …
Quantifying The Cost Of Retirement: It’s More In Your Control Than You Think
Does this sound familiar? Another late night at the office. It’s 9 p.m. and you’re staring at another stack of …
Government Attorneys Now On Board With The Whole Secret Police Thing
Masked ICE agents are only the start of the assault on government transparency. Now, government attorneys that are arguing to …
U.S. State Courts Cautiously Approach AI Despite Efficiency Promises And Staffing Crises
A new survey of state courts reveals a striking paradox in the American judicial system: Even though courts face severe …
New Bipartisan Bill From Rep. Carter Aims To Crack Down On PBMs
The post New Bipartisan Bill From Rep. Carter Aims To Crack Down On PBMs appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.17.25
* DOJ fires Epstein and Diddy prosecutor. So… did Trump go to some freak offs? It also happens to be …
There’s A New Firm On The Block! — See Also
$125M Cowardice Begets New Law Firm: Guess which firm these founding members came from! Alan Dershowitz’s Much To Do About …
This Biglaw Firm Offers Top Salary For Starting Associates
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by the National Law …
To Tip Your Tour Guide? The Epitome Of Tipping Culture. Being Forced To Tip A QR Code In Advance? Hell Itself.
“Tip creep” has been a pervasive issue in American culture for some time now. Many businesses, faced with rising costs …
ICE Attorney Hates His Job But Cannot Quit Until His Student Loans Are Forgiven
As soon as Donald Trump took office, he made it loud and clear that he was going to go bigly …
Over 90 Former DOJ Lawyers Sign Letter Opposing Emil Bove Nomination… Oh, Wait, Sorry That’s *900*
(Photo by Angela Weiss – Pool/Getty Images) Dating back to his first term, Donald Trump’s judicial nominations included nominees who …
Controversy Over Judge’s Secret Romance Heads To Trial
The romance between Texas bankruptcy judge David R. Jones and Biglaw partner Elizabeth Freeman has birthed some intense controversy that remains ongoing. See, …
With Compensation Soaring, Lateral Partner Vetting Is Really Heating Up
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Compensation has skyrocketed, and [firms are] just trying to …
Who Knew Biting Other Lawyers Was Frowned Upon?
Biglaw summer associate let go after biting upwards of 15 people at the firm. Now that sounds crazy, but that’s …
Alan Dershowitz Reprises Role As Captain Underpants
You have the right to remain silent, Alan Dershowitz. No one is making you run to the Wall Street Journal …
NY Prosecutor Who Pulled Rank Over A Traffic Stop Gets Reprimanded, Plans To Retire
Speed limits are kind of like the 15 drink per day limit on the Carnival Cruise line. Is it annoying? …
Biglaw Bigshots Leave To Form Their Own Firm… You Have Nine Guesses Which Firm They’re Leaving
Like proper Jerry Bruckheimer action stars, David Esseks and Eugene Ingoglia just walked out of A&O Shearman leaving explosions in …
Financial Resilience: What It Means And How You Can Achieve It
Late-paying clients. Rising costs. Economic uncertainty. We all know the inherent risks in the business of law. But if you …
The 100 Largest Law Firms In Florida (2024)
There are many different and exciting ways to rank law firms. How prestigious are they? How much money are they …
How Do You Love Above The Law? Let Us Count The Ways.
Take the ATL Audience Survey and share your thoughts. Above the Law is conducting an audience survey. We want to …
Gut Instinct In The Age Of AI: Do We Need To Rethink What Young Lawyers Need To Learn?
When I was a young lawyer, I spent hours in dark dusty warehouses paging through documents, looking for something relevant …
Anthropic, Google, And xAI Win $200M Each From Pentagon AI Chief For ‘Agentic AI’
The post Anthropic, Google, And xAI Win $200M Each From Pentagon AI Chief For ‘Agentic AI’ appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 07.16.25
* Epstein video had 3 minutes cut out of it but no one was smart enough to realize the metadata …
Second Time’s The Curse — See Also
Top 100 Firm Hit With Their Second Malpractice Claim This Year: They’re scoring big in a contest you don’t want …
Donald Trump’s Second Shot At Remaking The Federal Judiciary Has Officially Begun
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Yesterday, the Senate approved the first judicial nominee …
Judge Reprimanded After Dismissive Treatment Of DAs
While judges should get a lot of leeway when it comes to their courtrooms, there should also be limits. Things …
Professor Discusses Equitable Relief, Bombarded With Replies Complaining About DEI
Last night, the Supreme Court authorized the Trump administration to dismantle the Education Department, using the shadow docket to block …
Creating Judicial Accountability Where Before There Was None
Aspiring law clerks are applying and interviewing for clerkships right now. Before The Legal Accountability Project (LAP) launched our nationwide …
Federal Judges Give Big Ol’ Nope To New York U.S. Attorney Pick
As of today, John Sarcone III is out of a job. The former regional administrator for the US General Services Administration …
Am Law 100 Firm Hit With Second Malpractice Claim This Year… With Three, They Get A Free Sandwich!
No matter what becomes of these claims, it’s been a rough year for Akerman LLP. It’s only July and the …
Obama Calls Out Biglaw Firms That Capitulated To Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [They] set aside the law [not because they were] …
First-Year Biglaw Associate Killed In Hit-And-Run Crash
(Image via Getty) We have more sad news to report from California, where a young associate from a top Biglaw …
Thief Steals Unreleased Beyoncé Music In Atlanta
Tragedy has struck one of the most successful female singers of all time. Beyoncé Knowles, known for Ring The Alarm …
Inside The Minds Working At US Midsize Law Firms: 2025 Priorities Revealed
2025 US Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report How does your law firm compare? In our third edition of our US …
The Impact Of GenAI On In-House And Outside Counsel Relationships: Its Use Is Only Going To Grow
A new study from LexisNexis confirms what many have suspected: in-house counsel are increasingly relying on GenAI tools and large …
GLP-1s, Personalization, And Big Pharma Power Plays: What’s Really At Stake In The Eli Lilly Lawsuit
The mounting conversations around compounded GLP-1 medications aren’t just about science or safety. Rather, lawsuits and corporate power plays have …
Morning Docket: 07.15.25
* Supreme Court allows Trump to move forward with plan to eliminate the Department of Education. Why? Well, that might …
Revenge Ages Well — See Also
This Former Legal Secretary’s “I Quit!” Is Still Worth Talking About: If you bring your home life to work, your …
Biggest Biglaw Partner Raid Of The Year
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by Am Law, which …
You Have To Read This Epic Tale Of Biglaw Revenge
This week, Slate is featuring ruminations on the nature of revenge. And as our country is increasingly run by the …
Kirkland Asks Associates Suspicious Question That Has Folks Wondering
Big changes rarely happen quickly at Biglaw firms. Even before the rank-and-file associates catch wind of anything, there’s usually much …
States Sue Trump For Money Congress Already Allotted To Public Education
Harvard isn’t the only school worried that the Trump administration will screw over their funding. Public schools get their fair …
This Biglaw Firm’s Chair Is Trying To Steer Clear Of Trump’s Wrath
(Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [The Trump administration] seems …
Lawyer Cites AI Hallucinations, Responds With Pretentious Meditation On Nature Of Being
It’s a day that ends in “y” so we have another story about a lawyer filing fake citations with a …
Thinking Differently About AI: Lawyers Need To Stop Using AI Like A Glorified Admin
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see …
Promising Young Midsize Firm Associate Dies In Texas Floods
We have more tragic news to report from Texas, where a young associate from a midsize firm recently passed away …
Admit It: Trump’s Done A Few Things Right
(Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) As regular readers of this column know, I’m no fan of Donald Trump’s. But …
Legal Ethics Roundup: The Ethics Of DOJ Firings, Jackson On The State Of Our Democracy, Wasteful SCOTUS Paper Filings, AI SCOTUS Arg & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Judge Orders ICE Goons To Stop Racial Profiling And Start Following The Constitution
The Supreme Court is perfectly willing to let the Trump administration break the law, but trial judges are not. And …
Hospital M&A Has Hit The Brakes — But Activity Could Pick Up In The Second Half Of 2025
The post Hospital M&A Has Hit The Brakes — But Activity Could Pick Up In The Second Half Of 2025 …
Morning Docket: 07.14.25
* More states adopt NextGen bar exam instead of more rational alternative of not having a bar exam. [Law.com] * …
Summer Associate Really Wanted To Sink Her Teeth Into The Work — See Generally
Summer Associate Really Bit Off More Than She Could Chew: A summer associate decided to make a lasting impression — …
Keep Your Mouth To Yourself — See Also
You Can Only Bite Your Colleagues So Many Times: Summer associate fired for repeatedly biting her co-workers. Not making this …
Want To Be A Biglaw Equity Partner? It’ll Cost Ya!
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a survey by Am Law, the …
Merck Breathes Life Into Its Respiratory Prospects With $10B Deal To Buy Verona Pharma
The post Merck Breathes Life Into Its Respiratory Prospects With $10B Deal To Buy Verona Pharma appeared first on Above …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Legal Marketing In The AI Age
For most legal marketing professionals, the AI era has seen growing budgets, according to a new report by the Legal …
Building A Firm That’s Better Than Biglaw
Join me with guests Laurice Rutledge Lambert and Jennifer Whitton, founders of Aligned Health Law. Discover their unique journey from …
Starting A Law Firm Can Have Negative Career Consequences
Many people start their own law firms because they want to enjoy the freedom and flexibility afforded by self-employment. Indeed, …
America Is In Trouble And It’s Keeping This Supreme Court Justice Up At Night
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I would say the …
Hindsight Makes It Easy To See The California Bar Made Too Many Changes Too Quickly
One of the worst things about how bad the February 2025 California Bar exam went was that nobody was even …
Beyond The Billable Hour: How Scope-Based Pricing is Reshaping Legal Support
As legal departments push for more value from their outside counsel relationships, many are considering the use of flat-fee access …
MAGA Desperate To Prove Superman Isn’t An Immigrant But The Law Is Clear
There’s a new Superman movie out this week and it’s proving to be the right-wing’s kryptonite. In the lead up …
The Top 150 Under 150: Vault Ranks The Best Small, Boutique, And Midsize Firms (2026)
It used to be the case that if you left Biglaw for a small, boutique, or midsize firm, you had …
Summer Associate’s Naughty Toddler Impression Gets Her Bounced From Biglaw
Vampire or Biglaw summer associate? You be the judge. This is a story you’re really going to chew on for …
How Consistency Builds Business Growth And Brand Visibility
Getty Images You’ve probably heard the saying “consistency is key” — but in legal marketing, it’s more than a cliché. …
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 …
Someone Spliced Elle Woods Into A Few Good Men And It Should Not Be As Funny As It Is
Some actual genius out there spliced together Elle Woods grilling the witness about perm maintenance with Col. Jessup finally admitting …
Litigious Company Demands Removal Of A Tweet Linking To An Article About How Litigious They Are
It’s not every day you watch a company faceplant so theatrically in public, but Cloud Innovation’s latest stunt deserves a …
Morning Docket: 07.11.25
* Justice Jackson says “state of our democracy” keeps her up at night. Girl, same. [NY Times] * Litigation finance …
Another Day, Another Firm Bumping Up The In-Person Quota — See Also
This Time It’s Duane Morris: Which Biglaw firm will be the next to hop on the trend? Never A Bad …
Thanks So Much To Our Awesome Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom BARBRI Brightflag CobbleStone …
Biglaw Firm Dominating ‘Mega’ Bankruptcy Cases
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by LexisNexis, which Biglaw …
State AG Angry That AI Doesn’t Love Trump More, Will Waste Taxpayer Money Until It Does!
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) If you were under the impression that the Attorney General of Missouri had a duty …
Biglaw Firm’s Leader Seems To Shrug Off Partner Departures, Including That Of Former Name Partner
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Sure, we’ve experienced some attrition. All law firms do. …
Building A Successful CLE: Consider An Ethics Component
Getty Images Ed. note: This is the fourth post in a series. In our previous articles, we’ve explored how to …
Harvard Scrubs Mentions Of Undergrad Services For Women And Minorities From Their Website
The Trump administration has been going out of their way to give Harvard a hard time. They’ve withheld billions in …
AI Strategy Reality Check: Are You Prioritizing Platform Over Performance?
At UpLevel Ops, we take a vendor-agnostic approach, adapting to the tools our clients already use rather than steering them …
Vault Rankings: Top Midsize Law Firms By Regional Prestige (2026)
Vault recently published the 2026 edition of all manner of its closely watched rankings for the country’s law firms, including …
Trump Administration Bones The Johnson Amendment
In 2017, a newly elected President Trump promised faith leaders to remove a once-critical barrier in the separation of church …
On LawNext: How LexisNexis And Harvey Are Partnering To Reshape Legal AI, With LexisNexis CEO Sean Fitzpatrick
When legal research giant LexisNexis and legal AI giant Harvey announced a strategic alliance last month, legal tech commentator Richard …
Demand Letter’s Threatened Legal Remedies ‘F#*!ing Stupid,’ Responds Lawyer
For most lawyers, responding to a cease and desist letter is an exercise in draft after draft of incremental editing …
The Trend Continues: Another Biglaw Firm Ups Its In-Office Requirement
It’s wild what a difference five years makes. In, say, 2019 (notably pre-Covid), if you said the new Biglaw trend …
Samsung Deepens Healthcare Bet With Xealth Acquisition
The post Samsung Deepens Healthcare Bet With Xealth Acquisition appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.10.25
* Supreme Court keeps ban on Florida’s immigration law. Which seems like a win until you realize they’re just trying …
Gotta Bump Those Attendance Numbers Up — See Also
Biglaw Firm Adopts Four-Day, In-Person Mandate: At least you get to stay home on Fridays! Not Saying You Did Anything …
When Being A Judge Isn’t A Big Enough Accomplishment…
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! In what movie does James Stewart play defense …
Freshfields Claims They ‘Met’ Diversity Goals After Scrubbing DEI Information From Their Site
Funny thing about promises of transparency: people will notice gaps in the record. Freshfields talked a big game on their …
Midsize Texas Law Firm Mourns Loss Of CGO’s Daughter To Raging Floodwaters At Camp Mystic
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The Gray Reed family is shocked and saddened by …
The Hallucinations Are Winning
Has the era of the midsize firm come to an end? Probably not, but with increasing nationalization and the financial …
Forget It Ketanji, It’s Chinatown
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) At the end of Chinatown, as our protagonist watches the bad guys win, he’s pulled …
Judge Demands Explanation After El Salvador Dropkicks Trump Lies About CECOT Detainees
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Trump’s rendition cases are starting to bleed into each other. On Monday, plaintiffs in the …
Biglaw Firm Dragged Into Case Accusing Client Of Whitewashing Sketchy Investments
NSO Group builds spyware that authoritarian regimes love. After Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was assassinated in the Saudi consulate, …
Top Biglaw Firm Increases Office Attendance Demands For Attorneys
Businesswoman buried at the office It’s pretty hot out this summer, and Biglaw firms think they’ve got the perfect solution …
The Law Firm’s Guide To Trust Accounting And Three-Way Reconciliation
Managing client funds is one of the most critical responsibilities a law firm faces. Mismanaging trust accounts can lead to …
ABA President Says They Aren’t ‘Retreating’ From Diversity Promises. Does He Know What The ABA Has Been Up To?
Great lawyers have an intimate relationship with words. They know how words feel. They know what words mean. As do …
Vault ‘Quality Of Life’ Rankings: The Best Midsize Law Firms To Work For (2026)
Vault recently published the 2026 edition of all manner of its closely watched rankings for the largest law firms in …
I’ve Been To Vietnam: Trust Me, No Trade Deal Will Cause The Vietnamese To Buy Countless American SUVs
Ho Chi Minh City (or “Saigon” as many of the locals still call it) has its own rhythms. Walkable in …
Digital Health Funding In H1 2025: Market Stabilizes, AI Dominates And Exits Return
The post Digital Health Funding In H1 2025: Market Stabilizes, AI Dominates And Exits Return appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 07.09.25
* Musk demanded his Grok AI be less liberal and it started calling itself MechaHitler. Reminder, Elon is suing Media …
Texas Flood Hits Home — See Also
Flash Flood Hits Camp Mystic: We send our condolences to the impacted families. Meryl Governski Joins Boutique Firm: Who will …
Those Biglaw Deals With Trump Are Looking Worse And Worse
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Above …
Simpson Thacher Associate Quit Biglaw After Firm Capitulated To Trump. Now He’s Running For Congress.
Taylor Wettach Nine Biglaw firms showed their belly to Trump and signed deals with the administration promising a combined $940 …
Mike Lindell Lawyers Earn Pillow-Soft Sanction After Letting AI Do The Thinking
(Photo by JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) Given Mike “MyPillow” Lindell’s history of claims about the 2020 election, it’s a …
You Can Replace Supreme Court Lawyers With AI Now. Honestly, That Tracks.
(Photo by ChatGPT) No one ever took DoNotPay up on its offer to pay $1 million to anyone willing to …
The Biglaw Firms Where Lawyers Did The Most Pro Bono Work (2024)
The height of summer is nearly upon us, but law students have their future careers on their minds. With so …
3 Questions For Another Court Access Crusader (Part II)
Last week, I presented Part I of my written interview with a product manager and researcher at Free Law Project …
New Elite Boutique Law Firm Picks Up More Talent From Biglaw Cowards
Karen Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jessica Phillips, and Jeannie Rhee made headlines when they left Paul, Weiss. Their (now former) Biglaw …
Biglaw Pro Bono Work Once Reached A ‘Hair On Fire’ Level Of Stress Thanks To Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The landscape has definitely changed…We’ve always been somewhat risk …
Is Legal Ready For An AI Diagnostic Orchestrator?
Last week, Microsoft announced an AI Diagnostic Orchestrator tool for the diagnosis of complex cases that often require several specialists …
Twin Daughters Of Texas Biglaw Couple Among Victims Of Camp Mystic Flood
We have some devastatingly tragic news to report out of the Texas legal community, where the twin daughters of a …
Let The Robots Do The Sh*t Work: How Legal AI Is Delivering Real Value
The Reality Check: AI Isn’t Magic, and That’s a Good Thing Legal AI promises transformation. But if you ask most …
Another Great Zero-Trust Resource – NIST Provides Updated Guidance
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
Debunked Episode 17: Is Big Pharma Prepared For Impact Of Trump Administration’s Health Policies?
The post Debunked Episode 17: Is Big Pharma Prepared For Impact Of Trump Administration’s Health Policies? appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 07.08.25
* Judge tells people to stop calling staff and “cracking open Moore’s Federal Practice.” Just like everyone keeps on their …
Check The Funny Papers — See Also
Doonesbury Can’t Take Biglaw Serious: Wait until you hear their solution to the Pro Bono Payola problem! About That Epstein …
M&A Is Bouncing Back Big Time
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by Bloomberg Law, what …
Pam Bondi And The Case Of The Missing Epstein Client List (That She Assured Us Was ‘On My Desk’)
Back in February, the Attorney General of the United States Pam Bondi gleefully told Fox News that she had Jeffrey …
Some Biglaw Lateral Hires Really Aren’t That Great
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Growth through laterals and even groups, net of retirements …
Latham Loses Appellate Litigator To Biglaw Firm Actually Willing To Defend The Rule Of Law
It’s not surprising that Jenner & Block is adding to its appellate practice. The firm is well known for its …
Colin Levy Says Contracts Are Data — So Why Aren’t Legal Teams Listening?
Most in-house legal teams talk about contracts in terms of risk. They focus on fallbacks, approval workflows, and redlines. Rarely …
Lululemon Sues Costco For IP Infringement, Accidentally Starts Wave Of Free Costco Publicity
Any Costco member knows that the store offers more than a $1.50 hotdog and soda special and rotisserie chickens. They …
Legal Ethics Roundup: TEDLaw Launch, Beautiful Bill Impact, Trump Appeals EO Loss, Fed Judge = Public Official Defamation, Judge Salas – Rule of Law & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Eliminating ‘Waste, Fraud, And Abuse’ In Government
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) Politicians like the idea of eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse. It’s …
Will Associates See Bigger Salaries, Bonuses In 2025?
It’s been about two years since Biglaw’s last salary increase, and that surely means associates are due for another one …
Meet Me At ILTACON: Opus 2 And AI Workbench
Opus 2, named ILTA Solution Provider of the Year, is excited to share its latest innovations at ILTACON 2025. These …
Spineless Biglaw Firms Featured In Sunday Funny Pages
Sunday morning comics were a staple of my childhood. Garfield complaining about Monday, Calvin confronting the existential challenges of youth, …
How Microsoft Is Sparking Innovation In Rural Hospitals
The post How Microsoft Is Sparking Innovation In Rural Hospitals appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 07.07.25
* Judge accused of using position to advance family cheesesteak business. Good story to share if you’re wit’ an ethics …
The Artificial Intelligence Legal Catastrophe Inches Closer To Reality — See Generally
AI Makes Up Cases, Court Says ‘Sure, Why Not’: Judge signed off on party’s proposed order. Apparently didn’t bother to …
How You Disagree Matters Too, Breyer — See Also
Former Supreme Court Justice Pretends Sham Legal Theory Is Used In Good Faith: You can advocate for pragmatism without pretending …
Wishing A Happy Independence Day To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom BARBRI Brightflag CobbleStone …
This Law School Has Quite A Bit Of Influence On The Supreme Court
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by Jake S. Truscott …
Healthcare Moves: A Monthly Summary Of Hires, Exits, And Layoffs
The post Healthcare Moves: A Monthly Summary Of Hires, Exits, And Layoffs appeared first on Above the Law.
Red, White, And Definitely Blue
One of the many secrets (or maybe not-so secret depending upon whom you talk to) is the issue of enforcing …
Lawyers Should Help Other Lawyers Start Their Own Practices
When I first started my own law practice over six years ago, several attorneys were instrumental in helping me launch …
Building A Successful CLE: Enhancing Audience Engagement With Interactivity
Getty Images Ed. note: This is the third post in a series. In our journey to create a compelling CLE, …
Morning Docket: 07.03.25
* Deal market boom creates M&A lateral feeding frenzy. [Bloomberg Law News] * Abrego Garcia lawyers detail beatings and torture …
Alex Spiro, Biglaw’s $3K-Per-Hour Man, Has His Sights Set On Something Bigger Than The Law
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I aim to do things outside of the law — and I will …
Justice Breyer Dismantles Originalism Like It Deserves Respect. It Doesn’t.
(Photo by Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Justice Stephen Breyer may no longer sit on the Supreme Court, …
A Look At How The Law Fails Patients
Tune into The Jabot Podcast for a must-listen episode with Anna Kirkland, a professor at the University of Michigan. Discover …
Biglaw Firm Helps Everyone Celebrate Independence Day By Hosting Sensory Friendly Fireworks Display
Biglaw firms are known for housing their offices in prime real estate offerings, with beautiful views of cityscapes that span …
Practice Management Platform Introduces AI Tool To Streamline Support
Legal technology has a way of missing the vast middle of the legal market. Biglaw has the resources to build …
Winning In A Crowded Market By Putting Clients First
Getty Images If you’re still playing catch-up with your competitors, you’ve already lost. In today’s saturated legal landscape, the firms …
SCOTUS Pretends Pride Is Porn In Bigot Parents Case
According to six Supreme Court justices, this is pornography. In fact, the very existence of LGBTQ+ people is somehow so …
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 …
From Surviving To Thriving
Why Ongoing Coaching Matters For In-House Lawyers You’ve made the transition in-house — maybe recently, or maybe years ago. You’ve …
TN Govt. Saves School Children From Smut Like Magic Tree House, Calvin & Hobbes, & A Light In The Attic
Book bans are all the rage these days, as you likely well know. Far too many people, and folks in government …
Prepare For More Days In The Office — See Also
Another Firm Adopts The Four-Day, In-Office Model: Enjoy three days while you can. A&O Shearman is changing it come September. …
This Justice Basically *IS* The Supreme Court
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Supreme Court data collected by Jake …
AI Won’t Replace Lawyers — But It Will Give Them More Work (And The Tools To Handle It)
With the rapid development of Gen AI and AI tools, there is also the ongoing hand-wringing over what these tools …
Law360 Using AI Bias Detector To Make Sure Stories Don’t Accidentally Tell The Truth
The biggest story in journalism right now is that CBS News agreed to give Donald Trump $16 million in a …
New Jersey Senators Say Alina Habba Has ‘Degraded’ The U.S. Attorney’s Office
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The people of New Jersey deserve a US Attorney …
Supreme Court A Hot Mess
(Photographer: Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg) Taking a sledgehammer where a chisel — or better yet nothing — would do, the Supreme Court …
Diddy Did…Some Of It
Since Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September of last year, headlines have been flooded with RICO charges, accusations of …
The Law Schools Where Starting Salaries For Graduates Exceed Their Student Debt (2025)
In today’s world, the vast majority of students attending law school have been saddled with seemingly insurmountable six-figure debt loads. …
Major Biglaw Firm Ups Their In-Office Requirement For Attorneys
The momentum for a four-day, in-office mandate is picking up steam in Biglaw. Just this week, A&O Shearman announced that, …
The Big Beautiful Bill Will Limit Federal Student Loans, Hoping To Fix A Big Ugly $1.7T Mess
Recently, the Senate passed their version of “The One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which among other things would limit the …
How Your Firm Can Have Efficiency *And* Compliance With AI-Powered Legal Tools
When it comes to adopting generative artificial intelligence, lawyers are faced with competing incentives. On the one hand, clients are …
BARBRI Wants You To Know They’re Not Just For Bar Exams Anymore
Play free-association with an attorney and the word “BARBRI” likely draws a Pavlovian wince and a bad joke about the …
Be A Finance Bro, Not A Finance Baby: Wall Street Will Be Fine If Zohran Mamdani Becomes NYC’s Mayor
(Photo by Chris Hondros/Getty Images) I remember an argument I had 10 years ago with an ancient fossil of a …
Iran May Go After US Defense Firms With Cyber Attacks, Warn Pentagon, Homeland Security
The post Iran May Go After US Defense Firms With Cyber Attacks, Warn Pentagon, Homeland Security appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 07.02.25
* Latham passes Kirkland in M&A leader role. [Bloomberg Law News] * Diddy jury reaches partial verdict… still hammering out …
Faked It Till They Made It — See Also
Trial Court Judge Ruled On AI-Hallucinated Law: Was only a matter of time. He Doesn’t Know When To Quit: The …
2025 Is A Good Year For A Biglaw Merger
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a new report from Fairfax Associates, …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: Beyond Document Assembly
It’s no secret that lawyers who juggle too many documents face problems with inefficiency and increased risk of making mistakes. …
StatPack Extended OT ’24
The enclosed report represents the culmination of a ten-month effort to provide summary statistics and corresponding analysis for the Supreme …
This Law Firm Partner Will Never Stop ‘Clowning Around’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It is common to think that good lawyers stand …
Despite Series Of Losses, Trump Is Trying, Again, To Defend His Biglaw Executive Orders
Donald Trump has nothing but losses when it comes to defending his Executive Orders targeting Biglaw firms. A series of …
Universal Music Group Pushes To Dismiss Drake’s Desperate Attempt To Save Face From Lyrical Beatdown
Rap lyrics are treated differently than other genres when it comes to facing legal consequences. Even when things are stated …
Trump’s Lawyers Go To Iowa To Learn How To CivPro
(Photo by Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images) Donald Trump’s lawyer Edward “Sideshow Bob” Paltzik is gonna learn him some civil procedure if …
The Top Biglaw Firms In California (2026)
California has a certain kind of easy-going vibe that’ll make you appreciate that business casual lifestyle. Depending on where your …
Trial Court Decides Case Based On AI-Hallucinated Caselaw
Every time a lawyer cites a fake case spit out by generative AI, an angel gets its wings. When the …
How You Can Transform Your Inefficient Intake Process
While innovation has revolutionized many aspects of legal practice, intake has largely eluded the attention of developers. Instead, many law …
The Curse Of Sameness: Why Your Elevator Pitch Isn’t Working
I’m sitting in a Zoom room with a group of lawyers. We’re going around sharing our infomercials, or as some …
A Conversation With CEO Jack Newton On Clio’s Acquisition Of vLex
Landmark news broke this morning that law practice management company Clio has signed a definitive agreement to acquire the AI and legal …
It Had To Happen: Clio Acquires vLex
In a somewhat unexpected announcement, Clio, the giant practice management software company, has acquired vLex, the legal research and AI …
Morning Docket: 07.01.25
* Trump administration appeals Perkins Coie loss. [Law360] * Harvard Law School appoints new dean. [Law.com] * Trump drops lawsuit …
Loss Can Drive Merging — See Also
60-Lawyer Exodus Starts Merger Talk: Move ’em while you still can! Contempt Of Public: Chief Justice Roberts really doesn’t like …
A Footnote (4) To History
The Supreme Court just extended strict scrutiny protection to parents lodging religious objections to public school lessons. This tiered approach …
Trump Administration Places Thumb On Negotiation Scale, Decides Harvard Didn’t Do Enough To Fight Antisemitism
Harvard has been fighting against the Trump administration on multiple fronts. Not only has the government frozen billions of dollars …
You’re Selling Legal Tech All Wrong: Chad Aboud’s Playbook For Getting Buy-In
If you’ve ever tried to implement legal tech in-house and felt like you were dragging your company uphill, through demos, …
Biglaw Firm Made A Big Mistake By Signing This Deal With Trump
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. They made a calculated …
Does Trump In Fact Deserve The Nobel Peace Prize?
Last week, before the United States started bombing Iran, I speculated about whether we would actually drop bombs and, if so, …
John Roberts Wants America To Understand That He Does Not Care
Chief Justice John Roberts famously holds the public in utter contempt. He spends his annual report ignoring the critical issues …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Chesebro Disbarred, 40.8% Tax On Lawyers & Lit Funders, DOJ Whistleblower Calls Out Bove & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Biglaw Firm Enters Merger Talks After Losing Nearly 60 Lawyers To Competitors In Mass Lateral Moves
Biglaw firms are trying to expand their presence in the Southeast, specifically Atlanta and Charlotte, and that’s causing some local …
Work/Life Balance Doesn’t Have To Be A Myth For Lawyers
On the latest episode of the Jabot Podcast, I welcome attorney Laura Cowan, author of “Lifestyle Lawyer Revolution.” Discover why …
The Top Biglaw Firms In Boston (2026)
Boston is brimming with business opportunities, which is just one of the reasons that Biglaw firms are flocking there to …
How Healthcare Leaders Are Responding To The Supreme Court’s Preventive Care Ruling
The Supreme Court has issued its long-anticipated ruling in Braidwood Management v. Becerra, affirming the constitutionality of the Affordable Care …
Trump Is 0-4 Defending His Biglaw Executive Orders
It’s not just hyperbole. From jump, commentators called President Donald Trump’s efforts to target Biglaw firms with Executive Orders unconstitutional. …
Morning Docket: 06.30.25
* Susman Godfrey successfully defeats the Trump executive order aimed at the firm. [Law360] * Meanwhile, Mark Zaid’s case against …
Sotomayor Paints Path For The Resistance — See Generally
Just Because You Lost The Battle, It Doesn’t Mean You’ve Lost The War: Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent shows there is …
Trump Thinks Reporting The Truth Is A Punishable Offense — See Also
Accurate News Coverage Of Unilateral Iran Strike Angers Trump: He wants the Press to apologize. First Amendment, who? So Long …
Sure, NOW Nationwide Injunctions Are A Problem
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! When was the first universal injunction issued in …
At The NATO Summit At The Hague, Ukraine Takes A Backseat
The post At The NATO Summit At The Hague, Ukraine Takes A Backseat appeared first on Above the Law.
Are Lawyers More Likely To Suffer Health Problems?
Most lawyers can attest that being an attorney is a stressful occupation due to the conflict and human drama that …
Mary Meeker’s Trends In AI Report: A Must Read For Lawyers And Legal Professionals
Mary Meeker’s recent “Trends in Artificial Intelligence” report didn’t get much legal tech fanfare but it should. It contains insights …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Perennial Favorites
Although there’s been some movement near the top of the latest ATL law school rankings, a few institutions have been …
‘Democracy Is At Risk’: Retired SCOTUS Justice Anthony Kennedy Expresses Grave Concerns Over ‘Tone Of Our Political Discourse’
Justice Anthony M. Kennedy (Image via Getty) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We should …
The Top Biglaw Firms In Chicago (2026)
(Image via Getty) Chicago is brimming with business opportunities for Biglaw firms, and it’s proving to be quite attractive for …
Department Of Justice Investigates School With Majority White Faculty For Racial Hiring Bias
According to internal data, the University of California’s faculty is 54.9% White and 22.2% Asian. Skews a little whiter than …
Supreme Court Declares Open Season On Public Education
Writing separately in the transgender care case, Sam Alito injected the weird non-sequitur that “[t]he Court has also suggested that …
Supreme Court Unpersons Nationwide Injunctions, Babies, Rule Of Law
Today, the Supreme Court discovered that district court judges have no power to issue nationwide injunctions. It’s a brand new …
‘Elite’ Biglaw Merger Approved, Poised To Become $2 Billion Firm
The votes are in, and it’s officially time to say hello to what could be a new Am Law Top …
3 Powerhouse Women At The Heart Of Evolving Florida Condo Law
In this episode, I chat with Marnie Dale Ragan, Ariella Gutman, and Kara Olesky of Haber Law. They share insights …
MAGA Attorney Threatens To Sue Journalists Over ‘Unpatriotic’ Reporting; Gets The Exact Response He Deserves
President Donald Trump doesn’t like anyone asking too many questions about the Iran strikes he unilaterally authorized. In fact, when …
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 …
Two Judges, Same District, Opposite Conclusions: The Messy Reality Of AI Training Copyright Cases
Within days of each other, two federal judges in the same district reached completely opposite conclusions about AI training on …
Morning Docket: 06.27.25
* McDermott & Schulte approve merger. [Law360] * Looming deadline in Perkins Coie case may signal if the DOJ sees …
Milbank Rediscovers How To Stand Up For Itself — See Also
Milbank Fights Back Against Trump Order: Better late than never! Emil Bove III Speaks At Judicial Confirmation: He doesn’t have …
A Big Thanks To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom BARBRI Brightflag CobbleStone …
Threats Against Federal Judges Are Reaching Epic Proportions
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data from the US Marshals Service, …
Conservative Judges Are Refusing To Retire, Denying Trump The Chance To Further Besmirch The Courts
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. [It’s] not surprising that a conservative judge who values …
Law School Dean Shrugs Off Trump Judge Giving Top Grade To ‘Constitution Is For White People’ Paper
Earlier this week, the New York Times reported that University of Florida law professor — Trump-appointed federal judge, by the …
What VCs Have Learned About Health Tech In The Public Markets
The post What VCs Have Learned About Health Tech In The Public Markets appeared first on Above the Law.
ProfitSolv, Parent To Multiple Law Practice Management Platforms, Secures ‘Substantial’ Strategic Investment
ProfitSolv, the parent company to a group of practice management and payments products for legal, accounting and professional services firms, …
Milbank’s Spine Makes A Reappearance
The nine Biglaw firms that capitulated to the threats of Donald Trump and agreed to provide hundred of millions in …
What Harvey Got That The Rest Of Us Missed
There’s been some big news in legal tech circles recently. Harvey, a broad-based AI provider to law firms across practice areas and workflows, …
What The Latest Data Reveals About Legal Professionals’ AI Perspectives
One of my favorite pastimes in recent months has been reading newly released reports on legal professionals’ use of generative …
Vault Ranks The Best Summer Associate Programs (2026)
Summer associate programs are still underway at Biglaw firms across the country, but soon, for those who haven’t already been …
We Know What Biglaw Is, Solos Are Self-Explanatory, But What Exactly Is A Midsize Law Firm?
If you’re in Biglaw, you probably know it. Oppressive hours? Ridiculously high pay and correspondingly ludicrous hourly rates? Soul-crushing work …
The AI Strategy Potluck: Law Firms Showing Up Empty-Handed, Hungry, And Weirdly Proud Of It
Everyone’s talking about AI in legal — for better or worse — and lawyers are mostly using some mix of …
If Not The Billable Hour, Then What?
Picking your pricing model isn’t just business savvy; it’s client-smart. Each pricing structure has its perks and quirks, however, so …
How Much Do Law School Rankings Matter?
Last week, Above the Law announced its 2025 ranking of the Top 50 Law Schools based on the criteria that …
Emil Bove’s ‘I’m Not A Henchman’ T-Shirt Has People Asking Questions At Judicial Confirmation Hearing
Ed. note: Please welcome Liz Dye back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “Law and …
Morning Docket: 06.26.25
* Judges are delaying retirement under Trump II — and it’s not just the liberals! [Bloomberg Law] * Another Trump …
Mind Your Gum, Please — See Also
Federal Judge Takes Court Room Littering Seriously: Bet they won’t treat the table underside as a gum receptacle again. Make …
The Biggest Partner Compensation Gap In Biglaw
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by American Lawyer, which …
Karen Read Post-Trial Arguments Get Saucy
For him to attempt to supplant his personal views for that of the jury is a desperate attempt to save …
G-III Apparel Group Files $250 Million Lawsuit Against PVH Corp., Clothing Rental Company CaaStle Files For Bankruptcy
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Trump Administration Goes Full Sovereign Citizen And Sues ALL THE JUDGES!
Garbage… like this complaint. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Somewhere in the Department of Justice, a light flickered and someone …
Sullivan & Cromwell Co-Chair Pays A Visit To Second Circuit To Affirm His Loyalty To Trump
Sullivan & Cromwell co-chair Bob Giuffra is working his way up the MAGA hierarchy. Yesterday, he was spotted by Business …
Yale Law Library Aquarium Set To Sleep With The Fishes
Part of learning to love your law school is learning about the little idiosyncrasies that separates it from every other …
Lawyers Hate Marketing But This Might Make Them Hate It Less
Lawyers are some of the worst marketers on Earth. Not because they’re dumb, but because the skillset that makes a …
2025 Legal Industry Report: State Of Immigration
The U.S. immigration system is undergoing rapid transformation, notes James Pittman, a former immigration lawyer and co-founder of Docketwise. A …
The U.S. Is Minting A Thousand New Millionaires A Day: They’d Make Better Allies Than Antagonists
Contrary to popular opinion, the economy was good in 2024. The latest evidence of that is a new study from …
Chewed Gum Under Courthouse Table Becomes Federal Case Because Of Course It Does
When I first skimmed this order from Judge T. Kent Wetherell II, I thought it said “Things would have been …
Introducing The 2025 Legal Marketing Decision-Makers Survey!
Getty Images In early 2025, the Legal Marketing Association and Above the Law set out to provide benchmarking insights CMOs …
You Catch More Judges With ‘Honey’ Than With Vinegar
Except those judges aren’t going to like it when you catch them. Like the poor lawyer here who called a …
Vault ‘Quality Of Life’ Rankings: The Best Law Firms To Work For In America (2026)
Last week, Vault released the 2025 edition of its closely watched law firm rankings, proving that money — in the form …
Morning Docket: 06.25.25
* DOJ files suit in the District of Maryland against every judge in the District of Maryland. CHECKMATE! [Bloomberg Law …
What’s The Bonus For A Third-Year Biglaw Assassin? — See Also
Biglaw Partner Thought He Was Running The Continental From John Wick: In fairness, Biglaw would be a lot more interesting …
This State Is In Desperate Need Of Legal Assistance
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to a recent study by Spartacus Law Firm, …
3 Questions For Another Court Access Crusader (Part I)
Last fall, this readership and I were fortunate to hear from the head of the Free Law Project (FLP), Michael …
It’s Time To Reconsider Technological Competency And The Value Of Legal Services
Last week, the Puerto Rico Supreme Court came out with a much more realistic and impactful definition of a lawyer’s …
Kirkland’s Nonequity Partners Are Such ‘Hot Sh*t’ That Almost All Other Biglaw Firms Have Been Driven To Copy Their Partnership Model
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. They’ve done a perfect job of it. You have …
Biglaw Partner Makes A Mistake, Decides To Respond With Humility And Humor
Typos happen. That is just a fact of our increasingly digital life. We write so much — on social media, …
Amy Wax Loses Bid To Enjoin Sanctions
Amy Wax Amy Wax continues to drape herself in high-minded concepts like the “First Amendment” and “academic freedom” as she …
Doug Emhoff Heads To Top Law School To Serve As Visiting Professor
Doug Emhoff (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) Doug Emhoff, America’s first ever Second Gentleman, returned to Biglaw after …
Onboard Your Clients Like A Boss: The Modern Approach For Firm Sales And Onboarding
In law, first impressions aren’t just important, they’re everything. Onboarding a new client isn’t a back-office chore; it’s your first …
The Top Biglaw Firms In Washington, DC (2026)
Life as a DC lawyer may be tough right now due to the whims and fancies of the current administration, …
Sotomayor Outlawyers Supreme Court Majority In Shadow Docket Deportation Ruling
(Photo by Jacquelyn Martin-Pool/Getty Images) For those keeping score in the high-stakes game of Constitutional Calvinball, that is DVD v. …
Puerto Rico Allows Non-Lawyer Ownership Of Law Firms
I wrote yesterday about the Puerto Rico Supreme Court’s adoption of the duty of technology competence, done as part of …
The MFN Executive Order: A Global Reset For U.S. Pharma
The post The MFN Executive Order: A Global Reset For U.S. Pharma appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 06.24.25
* Supreme Court greenlights deportations to third countries without an opportunity to argue that maybe it violates their rights to …
Staff Layoffs And AI Penalties — See Also
Trump-Fighting Firm Lays Off Staff: Best of luck to the former Perkins Coie staffers. Using AI Has Its Consequences: Life …
The Cities With All The Lawyers
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the most recent National Law Journal …
Biglaw Firms That Capitulated To Trump Reveal Deep Divide Between Corporate Lawyers And Litigators
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Corporate lawyers in many …
It’s A Really Weird Time To Have One Of The Most Prestigious Public Interest Jobs In The Legal Industry
It’s been almost three months since Skadden took the coward’s way out and inked a deal with the Trump administration …
Midsize Law Firm Challenges And Opportunities In The World Of AI
The midsize U.S. law firm law market often gets overlooked in the press and to some extent by vendors. Part …
Trump Judge Gives Nazi-Sympathizing Law Student High Marks For Rehashing Klan Legal Theory Calling For Minority Disenfranchisement And Murdering Immigrants
The core of modern conservative ideology isn’t that hard to understand. It has three axioms: 1) White is Right.2) Violence …
Legal Ethics Roundup: CA Upholds Eastman Disbarment; Toxic Work Culture For Federal Clerks; ABA Sues Trump; Honoring Juneteenth & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Judge Suggests Briefs With Hallucinated Citations Could Land Lawyers In Prison For Life
Whenever we catch lawyers in the U.S. turning in court filings filled with fake cases that ChatGPT spit out, they …
Jeffery Kruse On What Legal Teams Get Wrong About Contracts And How To Fix It
(Image via Getty) In-house lawyers spend a lot of time talking about contract efficiency. We run RFPs for CLM tools, …
Biglaw Firm Fighting Trump Announces Staff Layoffs
Perkins Coie was one of the very first firms that Donald Trump issued a retaliatory executive order against, punishing its …
Vault’s Top Law Firms By Practice Area And Region (2026)
Vault recently released its closely watched rankings of the nation’s 100 most prestigious law firms. It was there that we learned …
Ba- Ba- Ba-, Ba- Bomb Iran
Iran presents a real dilemma. I’m writing this on Saturday, and the United States is not (yet) bombing Iran. For …
Operation Midnight Hammer: How The US Conducted Surprise Strikes On Iran
The post Operation Midnight Hammer: How The US Conducted Surprise Strikes On Iran appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 06.23.25
* Kilmar Abrego Garcia released pending trial. [Axios] * In addition to massively expanding the deficit, Congress is also planning …
Latest In Supreme Court Opinions Reveal The Truth About Who The Justices Really Are — See Generally
Neil Gorsuch Tries To Get Cute With The Majority Opinion: It doesn’t end well for him. Embarrassing Courtroom Moment Caught …
Frustrated With Your Legal Career? You Can Do Something About That
In this episode I chat with Cecilia Poullain, an international executive coach and former lawyer. Cecilia shares insightful career transitions …
Mistaken Honorifics In The Courtroom — See Also
Attorney Calls Judge “Honey” During Oral Argument: At least he immediately caught himself! Ketanji Reads Gorsuch’s Textualism Argument For Filth: …
A Biglaw Firm Where Partners And Associate Work Together In Harmony
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the most recent Vault ranking. which …
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AHIP CEO On The Budget Bill: ‘We Are Very Concerned About The Impact On Coverage’
AHIP, an advocacy organization for health insurers, is sounding the alarm over the potential impact of the 2025 budget reconciliation …
Building A Successful CLE: Structuring Content With Value, Ethics, And Humor
Ed. note: This is the second article in a series. In our first article, we laid the groundwork for your …
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 …
Michigan Law Review Gets Sued For Allegedly Discriminating Against White Heterosexual Applicants
There are multiple ways to earn a slot in University of Michigan Law Review. Grading-on is the dream, but law …
Handling Settlement Agreements With Long Payment Periods
In a best-case scenario, a lawsuit or some other kind of legal matter settles with everyone signing a settlement agreement …
Neil Gorsuch Starts Some Supreme Court Drama. Ketanji Brown Jackson Ends It.
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Today, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Stanley v. City of Sanford, Florida. …
There’s An Epidemic Of ‘What Were They Thinking?’
After the hideous events of September 11, 2001, we spoke of a “new normal” for Americans. Are we now in …
Legal Geek In-House Panel: What In-House Counsel Really Want Is AI, Efficiency, And An Ability To Trust
It’s okay, this used to confuse me too. One of the more interesting sessions at the Legal Geek conference this …
Bar Association Calls Out The Jackboot Thuggery Of ICE
Do you think they know they look like the bad guys here? (Photo by Andres Kudacki/Getty Images) Safeguarding the legal …
Stat(s) Of The Week: Is Your Firm ‘Caring’?
It’s not exactly news that most lawyers work incredibly hard for their clients. But translating that work into positive client …
Lawyer Calls Judge ‘Honey’ During Oral Argument And You Can Feel The Cringe
In a gift from the digital gods, the Colorado appellate courts film oral argument because that allows us to follow …
Why Your Law Practice Is Killing You And How To Fix It
Let’s be real, most lawyers are grinding themselves into the ground. Stress, exhaustion, and burnout aren’t badges of honor. They’re …
The Top Biglaw Firms In New York City (2026)
Many law students and lawyers alike have long dreamed of someday working in New York, the city that never sleeps …
Why Making Social Media Companies Liable For User Content Doesn’t Do What Many People Think It Will
Brazil’s Supreme Court appears close to ruling that social media companies should be liable for content hosted on their platforms—a move …
Morning Docket: 06.20.25
* It’s that time of year to start wildly speculating about Supreme Court retirements. [ABA Journal] * A new decision …
Alito Doesn’t Think Trans Children Deserve The Strict Scrutiny Standard — See Also
The Majority Of The Supreme Court Gave The Okay To Discriminate Against Trans Children: That said, Alito’s concurrence really goes …
Rising Healthcare Costs: What Employers Are Doing To Manage Expenses, Per Mercer
The post Rising Healthcare Costs: What Employers Are Doing To Manage Expenses, Per Mercer appeared first on Above the Law.
It’s Easier For A Biglaw Firm To Increase Their Prestige Ranking When You Ignore The Whole ‘Craven Capitulation’ Thing
The timing of Vault’s survey is less than ideal. Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the …
IRS Issues Memorandum Stating That Taxpayers Who Were Scammed Out Of Their Money Online Could Be Eligible To Claim A Theft Loss Deduction
Cases of online scams have been rising in recent years. While existing laws and IRS guidance suggest that victims can …
A New Middle Eastern War Ignites, Markets Swing On Early Bets That Trump Will Chicken Out Again
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) Though Iran and Israel have never exactly been on friendly terms, the conflict between the …
Sam Alito Provides Breath Of Fresh Air In Transgender Care Case. Vile, Bigoted Fresh Air, But Fresh Air Nonetheless
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) This morning, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in United States v. Skrmetti, upholding a …
Surprise, Surprise, The TikTok Ban Is Delayed A Third Time
(Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images) Nothing says strong national security hygiene like letting “data collection” and “influence operations” fester! …
Sonia Sotomayor Dissents ‘In Sadness’ After SCOTUS Upholds Bans On Transgender Care For Minors As Constitutional
Justice Sonia Sotomayor (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. This …
Even More Litigation Partners Are Bailing On Paul, Weiss
Boutique law firm Dunn Isaacson Rhee was recently founded by former Paul, Weiss partners Karen Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jessica Phillips, and …
LexisNexis & Harvey Announce Partnership
What did you do during the data wars, kid? That’s more or less how someone in the far-flung future will …
Willkie Farr Gets Slammed For ‘Grave Mistake’
West Coast Willkie Farr attorneys are leaving en masse because the firm bent a knee to Donald Trump, pledging $100 million in …
The Jerk Store Called, They’re Not Running Out Of Lawyers
(image via Getty Images) According to a new survey, lawyers think their law firms are really tolerant of jerks. Are …
GCs And Law Firm Attorneys: Perfect Together?
How well are law departments and law firms working together? What are the biggest challenges to collaboration? What emerging skills …
Legal Geek North America 2025: Quick Talks, Big Ideas, And Plenty Of Networking
I had the good fortune to attend my first day of the Legal Geek North America conference this week in …
The 2025 ATL Top 50 Law School Rankings Are Here!
We are pleased to announce the release of the 13th annual Above the Law Top 50 Law School Rankings. Above …
Vault 100 Rankings: The Most Prestigious Law Firms In America (2026)
What do associates at major law firms care about more than money? Prestige. But in times like these, when Biglaw firms …
Morning Docket: 06.18.25
* Partners who bailed on Willkie leave no doubt about the motivation, publicly calling out the firm’s “grave mistake.” [American …
Time To Step Up Those Proposals — See Also
Your Firm Needs To Step Up Their Pitches: Less time assembling proposals, more time improving how you propose. Bribery?! In …
The Justice Making Bank On Books
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the most recent Supreme Court financial …
Future-Proofing Legal: What It Takes In 2025
Getty Images “Future-proofing” is a phrase that gets tossed around a lot in boardrooms, planning decks, and LinkedIn rants, but …
More Biglaw Partners Are Itching To Leave Firms That Made Deals With Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I have a high degree of confidence there will …
Another Litigator Dips From A Biglaw Firm That Caved To Trump
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: a talented Biglaw litigator has decided to depart their firm, one that …
TikTok Could Be Back Up On The Chopping Block Soon
The Unbearable Lightness of TikTok has been an annoying ongoing saga. I’d prefer a hard yes or no to a …
Hell Yeah, I Was There
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
POLL: Has Your Law Firm Declared Juneteenth A Paid Firm Holiday? (2025)
Back in June 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill to make Juneteenth an official federal holiday, memorializing the end …
NYC Mayoral Candidate Arrested While Observing An Immigration Court Hearing
The fascism is real, y’all. Current New York City Comptroller and candidate for mayor Brad Lander was arrested by masked …
‘Go Ahead And Bribe People… For AMERICA!’ Becomes DOJ’s Sad New FCPA Model
Befitting a nation run by a casino boss looking to build hotels in shady dictatorships, the United States put a …
‘Watt’s’ The Problem – The Energy Demands Behind AI
Generative AI is the game-changing technology of the decade, and the race is on to build better systems. Whether it’s …
Law Firm Marketing: A Tragedy In Three Acts That Firms Can’t Stop Performing
I laughed, I cried, it was considerably worse than Cats. That pretty much sums up client reactions to the pitch …
AI Timekeeping Platform Laurel Raises $100M In Series C Round
Just four months ago in an article here, I caught up with founder and CEO Ryan Alshak for an update …
Supply Chain Chaos Is Stalling Beauty Industry Innovation, Says New Report
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Morning Docket: 06.17.25
* Rod Rosenstein jumps to Baker McKenzie, placing a new firm in Trump’s executive order sights. [Reuters] * John Eastman …
Can The Damage Control At Least Be Realistic? — See Also
Paul Weiss Says Everything Is Okay: If you squint past the horrible PR and the firm hemorrhaging partners, it’s a …
This Biglaw Firm Is Growing Its Associate Ranks
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by the National Law …
Michael Avenatti Resentenced, Shaves Several Years Off His Time
If you are forced between defrauding your clients or stiffing the IRS out of their money, pick a struggle! Star …
Why Every In-House Lawyer Should Hear What Tanisha Minev Has To Say About Legal Ops
If you’re in-house, overwhelmed, and wondering if there’s a smarter way to support the business without burning out, make time …
Legal Ethics Roundup: A Legal Ethics Summer Reading List
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Trump Sued By ABA Over… *Gestures At Months Of Lawlessness*
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) The American Bar Association appears to have found the backbone that the Surrender Firms couldn’t …
Amy Coney Barrett Reportedly Voted Against Taking Up Dobbs Case That Overturned Constitutional Right To Abortion
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It’s a mistake by ignorant conservatives and wishful liberals …
Mike Pompeo Joins Conservative Powerhouse Firm Founded By Bill Barr
Former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr is slowly but surely turning his boutique firm into a conservative powerhouse. After leaving …
Biglaw Firms In Downtown LA Shift To Remote Work For Sake Of Convenience Amid Ongoing Protests
While life goes on as usual in the City of Los Angeles at large, about one square mile of downtown …
Paul Weiss Insists Everything Is Fine, Despite All Evidence That Things Are Not, In Fact, Fine
You know that meme of the dog sitting amid flames, saying everything is fine? (For our visual learners, it’s below.) …
Attorney Allegedly Texts Judge, ‘I Wish You Die Tonight In A Car Fire,’ But Doesn’t Say HE’S Going To Do It, Making This The Most Lawyerly Threat Ever
Over the past couple weeks, authorities say Acting Supreme Court Justice Susan Capeci received multiple threatening messages from the account …
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 …
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 …
Palantir, Meta, OpenAI Execs To Commission Into Army Reserve, Form ‘Detachment 201’
The post Palantir, Meta, OpenAI Execs To Commission Into Army Reserve, Form ‘Detachment 201’ appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 06.16.25
* Poll reveals majority of Americans understand Supreme Court is partisan institution. [Reuters] * They’re raising taxes on the free …
Third Amendment Trending, Which Is Never Great — See Generally
AirBnBivouac: Trump sent troops to L.A. with no plan to house them and everyone dusted off their pocket Constitutions. Florida …
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 …
Skadden Fellowship Sells Out, Gets Rid Of Commitments They’ve Championed Since 1988
The Skadden Fellowships have been a pretty big deal for the last 37 years. Fellows have done a lot of …
BioNTech To Buy CureVac In $1.25B Stock Deal That Would Also End mRNA Patent Dispute
The post BioNTech To Buy CureVac In $1.25B Stock Deal That Would Also End mRNA Patent Dispute appeared first on …
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 …
Midsize Firm Refuses To Back Down On Its Diversity Scholarship Program, Despite Trump’s DEI Threats
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We are concerned about the efforts that the Trump …
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 …
Florida Supreme Court Demands State Bar Stop Working With ABA Because… LOL, Screw This ‘Rule Of Law’ Stuff
Yesterday, the Florida Bar opened a letter from their friends over at the state supreme court and were likely surprised …
Second Circuit Declines To Let Trump Grab Carroll By The Process. Again.
(Photo by Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images) This morning a totally normal thing happened in the Second Circuit when the judges brushed …
Tax-Smart Retirement Withdrawals: The Fine Art Of Not Giving Uncle Sam Your Lunch Money
Every morning at about 6:47 AM, my 4-year-old daughter’s head pops off the pillow with the same urgent question: “What …
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 …
Bevy Of Willkie Partners Depart For Biglaw Firm That Will Actually Stand Up For The Rule Of Law
There is a mass exodus of West Coast-based Willkie Farr partners leaving because the firm bent a knee to Donald …
Injunction Restriction In Budget Bill Revised… It’s Now Much Worse!
A couple weeks ago, we talked about how the GOP’s Big Beautiful BillTM included a stray attack on preliminary injunctions. …
The 2025 UK Top 50: The Richest Biglaw Firms Across The Pond
We all know that Biglaw firms in America did well in 2024, but what about their Biglaw counterparts across the pond …
Skilled Adversaries Can Make Attorneys Grow
Lawyers typically face all kinds of adversaries as they handle legal matters for clients. Some adversaries are pushovers and only do …
Lindsey Graham Thinks It Should Be Illegal To Identify ICE Agents
(Photo by Demetrius Freeman-Pool/Getty Images) We’re just supposed to assume that the masked person brandishing a gun and ordering us to get …
Morning Docket: 06.13.25
* A president might be able to send troops to kill a political rival, but we draw the line at …
Sitting U.S. Senators Aren’t Safe From Arrest — See Also
Senator Padilla Arrested For Doing His Job: “Agents” tried to stop recordings of the arrest, citing “FBI rights.” California Widens …
A Huge Thanks To Our Advertisers On ATL
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom Brightflag CobbleStone Software …
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 …
Trump’s Half-Assed Lawyers Didn’t Even Include A Table Of Authority When They Tried To Justify Flooding L.A. With Troops
Quick question, what do you get when you drain the swamp and don’t replace it with anything of value? Answer: …
Kristi Noem’s Goons Just Roughed Up A Sitting U.S. Senator And Called It A Slow Thursday
For those following the fascism thermometer, we’ve gone from mayors to representatives and have just now reached senators. Congratulations, everybody! …
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 …
Law School Banned Clinic From Talking About Studies That Made Governor Sad
Kimberly Terrell resigned from her role as director of community engagement at Tulane’s Environmental Law Clinic after law school administrators …
Didn’t Pass The California Bar? No Problem! You Might Still Be Able To Practice!
The bar exam is meant to do one thing: sift the people who are minimally competent enough to be lawyers …
Paladin Collaborates With Some 30 Law Schools To Launch A Pro Bono Platform For Law Students
Paladin, a legal technology company whose platform is used by law firms, in-house legal teams, and legal services organizations to …
The Best Way To Handle The Jerks Working At Your Law Firm
Lawyers tend to get a reputation for being jerks, both within and outside of the legal industry. Try as they …
Former Judges Blast State Bar Association For Cowering From Trump
Multiple Biglaw firms agreed to deputize themselves to the federal government to avoid executive orders that everyone knew were illegal, …
Paying For Law School In 2025: A Straight-Talk Playbook
I’m Nicolas, COO at Juno and a proud (if battle-scarred) grad-school alum who once signed on the dotted line for …
Beware: Don’t Open That Email From L@tham
Increasingly, fraudsters are using (or least attempting to use) the good name of Biglaw firms in order to perpetrate their …
‘We Dissent’: NIH Workers Protest Trump Policies That ‘Harm The Health Of Americans’
The post ‘We Dissent’: NIH Workers Protest Trump Policies That ‘Harm The Health Of Americans’ appeared first on Above the …
Morning Docket: 06.12.25
* Police officers file suit to force Republicans to hang statutorily required plaque honoring law enforcement efforts on January 6. …
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 …
The Biglaw Firms Making Sizable Gains In Gross Revenue
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by American Lawyer, in …
French Tesla Owners Sue Car Company Because Elon Musk Is Dragging Their Reputation Through The Mud
(Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images) There’s a point where …
Lawyers Must Band Together In The Battle To Save The Rule Of Law
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Rights can’t just exist in dusty law books, recited …
An Arrest By Any Other Name Would Smell As Much A Violation Of The Posse Comitatus Act
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Another milemarker on the George Orwell expressway blurred past America’s window this morning while the …
Instead Of Wasting Millions On A Fake Display Of Military Strength In D.C., Trump Should Fund A Real One In Ukraine
It is one vainglorious outrage after another in this White House. If you write about some dumbfounding scandal in the …
Fixing The Clerkship System
This week, thousands of clerkship hopefuls apply broadly for federal clerkships via the Online System for Clerkship Application and Review …
Elon Musk Has Plan To Make X Profitable: The Secret Ingredient Is Trump Administration Threats!
After Elon Musk transformed Twitter into a racial slur generator and users fled en masse, advertisers understandably scaled back their …
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Former Biglaw Associate And Federal Prosecutor, Wins NJ Democratic Primary For Governor
Where does America stand when it comes to its political views? The results of yesterday’s primary for New Jersey governor …
So Long And Thanks For All The Bonuses
Paul Weiss fancied itself clever when it offered Trump pro bono payola in exchange for dropping an illegal executive order. …
Kirkland Axes A Bunch Of DEI Staff, Because Of Course
Donald Trump began his second (and hopefully last) term by attacking Biglaw firms and the rule of law. Trump nominally …
In Axing mRNA Contract, Trump Delivers Another Blow To US Biosecurity, Former Officials Say
The post In Axing mRNA Contract, Trump Delivers Another Blow To US Biosecurity, Former Officials Say appeared first on Above …
Morning Docket: 06.11.25
* Kirkland cuts diversity leader and staff in ongoing cowardice campaign. [American Lawyer] * Elon Musk’s Twitter strategy remains “threatening …
Morning Docket: 06.10.25
* Surrender firms basking in coverage suggesting they view Trump deals as empty gestures. Yes, and all those big ticket …
Hey, Third Amendment! Are You Ready For The Spotlight?! — See Also
How Much Longer Will The National Guard Sleep On The Floor?: And will hotels have to rely on the Third …
The Supreme Court Wasn’t Always The D.C. Institution It Is Today
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Where was the first location the U.S. Supreme …
Quit Acting Like An Angsty Teenager To Build Your Book Of Business
(Image via Getty) We hit a major milestone in the Fretzin household this week. My only child, Andrew, graduated from …
Were Biglaw’s Pro Bono Payola Deals With Trump Vague On Purpose?
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It’s wise to be as vague as possible, which …
Trump’s National Guard Stunt May Finally Give The Third Amendment Its Moment
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) Is it legal for Donald Trump to seize control of the National Guard to assist …
Getty Sues AI Company For IP Infringement On Both Sides Of The Pond
If the average person were to go on Getty and take a bunch of their photos without paying, it would …
Axinn’s New Office In Rockefeller Center Promises To Be Collaborative Hub Designed To ‘Attract Top Talent’
With the push to bring attorneys back to the office more often in the wake of the pandemic, some law …
Brad Bondi Can Still Be DC Bar President If Mike Pence Has The Courage
Paul Hastings partner Brad Bondi ran a star-crossed campaign for DC Bar president and got predictably shellacked. In normal times, …
Yellow Peril 2.0
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
Why CVS, Express Scripts Are Suing Over The Arkansas PBM Law
The post Why CVS, Express Scripts Are Suing Over The Arkansas PBM Law appeared first on Above the Law.
Spotlight Is On Sullivan & Cromwell’s Questionable Ethics
Nine feckless Biglaw firms inked deals with President Donald Trump that netted the president a $940 million war chest of …
3 Takeaways From The Lex Machina 2025 Patent Report
For the fifth year in a row, it is time for this column to share some thoughts on the release …
Legal Departments Show Growing AI Adoption But Implementation Challenges Remain, New Survey Finds
A new benchmarking study reveals that artificial intelligence adoption in corporate legal departments is gaining momentum, with 38% of surveyed …
Another One Bites The Salaried Partner Tier — See Also
Times Are Changing At Debevoise: If there’s a partner on your case, make sure to clarify which kind they are. …
Ted Cruz Wants To Replace Pride Month With A Supreme Court Low Point
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! Led by Senator Ted Cruz, a bevy of …
Ivy League Schools Sign Amicus Brief In Support Of Harvard’s Fight Against Trump Federal Funding Cuts
Gutting funding that could be used for academic research at Harvard and other Ivy League universities will likely have disastrous …
Pete Hegseth Takes His Petty Bullshit To The Legacies Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg And Thurgood Marshall
Pete Hegseth is not particularly qualified to be the Secretary of Defense. The former cable TV host is best known …
Pam Bondi’s Brother Decimated In D.C. Bar Race
If you’re considering running for president of the bar association, it behooves you not to be related to the head …
Ketanji Brown Jackson Has Been Training To Land A Knockout Punch
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I take boxing lessons. And I think that helps …
Law Review Puts Out Full Issue Of Articles Written With AI
While practicing lawyers embrace generative AI as a quicker and more efficient avenue to sanctions, law professors have mostly avoided …
How Brent Dyer Reframes Biglaw, And What In-House Counsel Should Expect Instead
In my experience, few moments feel as disorienting as receiving a hefty law firm invoice that reads like a puzzle …
Landing A Federal Judgeship In The Trump Administration
(Photo by Brendan McDermid-Pool/Getty Images) We’ve known for years that Donald Trump despises liberal judges. Back in his first term, …
Partners Are Running From The Stink Of Paul, Weiss’s Capitulation
Paul, Weiss shocked the world of Biglaw in March when they became the first — though not the last — …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Messy Mexico Judicial Elections, Angry Clients, Pro Bono For DOJ, Bondi Complaint & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Top 50 Biglaw Firm Announces Nonequity Partnership Tier, Mainstains Lockstep Compensation
Biglaw firms with single partnership tiers are now few and far between, with more big-name firms showing that they’re ready, …
What Does A Brand Acquisition Really Mean For The Founder’s Net Worth?
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Morning Docket: 06.09.25
* Debevoise maintains lockstep compensation but creates non-equity tier. [American Lawyer] * Supreme Court tech glitch blasted out orders before …
We’re In The Folk Music Stage Of The #Resistance — See Also
WilmerHale Got A Musical Shout-Out For The Firm’s Hard Work: As did Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, and Susman Godfrey! …
The GOP’s Budget Plan Is A Crisis In The Making For Hospitals
The post The GOP’s Budget Plan Is A Crisis In The Making For Hospitals appeared first on Above the Law.
The Quiet Crisis Of Law Firm Lead Conversion: Why You Don’t Have A Marketing Problem, You Have An Intake Problem
Law firms across the country are investing heavily in digital marketing. They’re running SEO campaigns, producing video content, launching PPC …
The Cities With The Most Lawyers In America
(Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Trivia Question of the Day! According to data …
‘Adventures In Legal Tech’: The Challenges Of AI Upskilling
How are legal professionals and law firm managers adapting to rapid advances in artificial intelligence? Justin Cary of Drummond Woodsum …
Pro Bono Work Can Be Helpful To Law Firms
Many law firms have pro bono programs since they want to perform good work with the skills they obtained through …
AI Training Is The New Hotness For Biglaw Summer Associates
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. The biggest change to our training is we have …
Court Slaps Down Yet Another Trump Attack On Harvard
On May 23, US District Judge Allison Burroughs granted a temporary restraining order barring the Trump administration from kicking Harvard …
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 …
Yet Another Top Biglaw Firm Shutters An Office In China
Biglaw firms continue to shutter their offices in China. Today, we have news on the sixth large law firm to …
An AI Program May Soon Be The One With The Best Grades In Your Study Group
The “AI Can’t Replace X!” gambit is a key component of assessing how effective AI is at any given time. …
Stat(s) Of The Week: This Is A Spinal Tap
Two months ago, Above the Law launched the Biglaw Spine Index to track what Am Law 200 firms are doing …
The 500 Largest Law Firms In America (2025)
There are many different and exciting ways to rank law firms. How prestigious are they? How much money are they …
Biglaw Firms Enshrined In Protest Song
WilmerHale handed the Trump administration another defeat last week, with Judge Richard Leon striking down the retaliatory executive order with …
Judge Cites Kafka Regarding Renditioning Venezuelans To Salvadoran Concentration Camp, But Allows Kafkaesque Conditions To Continue
Generally speaking, if a judge begins an order — in a case where hundreds of men were illegally renditioned to …
Morning Docket 06.06.25
* Spat between America’s richest and orangest man makes Steve Bannon talk about nationalizing SpaceX. [Wall Street Journal] * Lawyers …
Another Biglaw Firm Adopts 4-Day In-Person Requirement — See Also
Add Another Day To Your Commute!: Hogan Lovells moves to a 4-day policy. Director Of Skadden’s Fellowship Program Resigns Over …
Thanks A Bunch To Our Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom Brightflag CobbleStone Software …
Shared Space Is On The Rise For Biglaw Associates
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Trivia Question of the Day! According to Maptician, since 2023, what percentage of …
Doing The Right Thing Is Doing The Right Thing (With Apologies To Spike Lee)
Every once in a while, the good folks win. Definitely not often enough, but when they do, it’s cause for …
Tech Is Fueling The Next Phase Of Fashion Resale
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The Number Of Law Students Admitted Based On GRE Scores Is Growing
The upward trend isn’t quite this dramatic. The LSAT is the go-to admissions test for law school — it’s in …
This Global Biglaw Firm Has Money On Its Mind
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. We have an ambitious goal of $1bn (GBP 740m/EUR …
At Aderant’s Momentum Global Conference, A Drive Towards AI-Enabled Cloud Innovation And ‘Unmatched Client Experience’
As he took the stage before the nearly 1,000 people assembled in the ballroom of the Omni Hotel in Dallas …
From Paralegal To Chairman: Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp’s Leader Shares His Thoughts On Strategic Growth Planning
In today’s legal market, where law firms continue to show an ever-increasing interest in strategic growth through mergers, we wondered …
Biglaw Firm Fighting Trump In Court, But Still Making Tweaks To Diversity Statements
Perkins Coie was one of the first firms Donald Trump targeted when he started firing off retaliatory executive orders. It’s …
Advice For New Grads: Focus On Fit
Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership …
In-House Counsel: Which Law Firms Do You Count On?
Every year, we publish a list of the top law firms in the country, and we’re now collecting information for …
Unlocking The Cloud: Gen AI, The ‘Toggle Tax,’ And The Rapid Pace Of Change
As ILTA noted in its 2024 technology survey, 67% percent of firms are already leveraging the benefits of cloud-based solutions, …
Top Biglaw Firm Will Require Attorneys To Work From The Office 4 Days Each Week
We’re closing out the first week of June, and it’s so hot on the east coast that you can feel …
Director Of Prestigious Skadden Fellows Program Resigns Over Firm’s Pro Bono Payola Deal With Trump
Resignations continue to be announced at Biglaw firms that made deals with Trump over his unlawful executive orders designed to …
Morning Docket 06.05.25
* Someone just anonymously donated $10M to Vermont Law school. They should change their name to Anonymous School of Law. …
Standing Up For The Rule Of Law Is An Easy Way To Get Popular! — See Also
Rise And Resist Gains A Bunch Of Support: Cheers for fighting the good fight! Here’s Your Preview Of The NextGen …
Gross Revenue Is Not Created Equal Across Biglaw Firms
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by Am Law, which …
Drop The ‘Partner’ Act: In-House Lawyers Belong In The C-Suite As Leaders, Not Sidekicks
In the in-house legal world, there is a phrase that has been worn thin from overuse: business partner. For years, …
Trump Pardons Tax Evasion Convictions Of Reality TV Stars And A Businessman Whose Mother Attended A Million-Dollar Political Fundraiser
(Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Recently, President Donald Trump issued two controversial pardons involving tax evasion due to …
Midsize Firm Enjoying Time In The Spotlight After Denouncing Trump’s Attacks Against Law Firms
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Our firm is now known more broadly than it’s …
Eminem Hits Meta With A Copyright Lawsuit After It Allegedly Misappropriated Hundreds Of His Songs
Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity, to seize everything you ever wanted [from Meta], would you capture …
‘Brave’ Biglaw Firms Draw Rally To Support Their Fight For Justice Against The Trump Administration
Yesterday afternoon, Rise and Resist, a nonprofit group dedicated to opposing government acts that “threaten[] democracy, equality, and our civil liberties,” …
Why A Culture Of Innovation Drives Impact For Law Firms
In today’s legal market, innovation is central to how firms deliver value, attract talent, and grow profitably. The difference between …
Sex Asteroids, Sleazebags, And Meme Police
Lawsuit against former Texas SG alleges bizarre cosmic sex fetish. The administration made two significant changes to the judicial nomination …
Wall Street Infuriates The President With ‘TACO Trade’ Lingo, He Forgets Key Lesson Of ‘Back To The Future’
We can’t all be Hawk Tuah Girl. Sometimes virality is more of a slow burn. Such is the case with …
![[quiz]-are-you-in-control-of-your-firm’s-cash-flow?](https://lawofnew.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/17770-quiz-are-you-in-control-of-your-firms-cash-flow-251x250.jpg)
[QUIZ] Are You In Control Of Your Firm’s Cash Flow?
What is Legal Matter Management? Insights and Value. In the ever-evolving landscape of law, organization and efficiency remain pillars for …
What Will The New Bar Exam Look Like? Say Hello To The NextGen Bar Exam Blueprint
Future lawyers of America, a “blueprint” for the NextGen bar exam has finally been released by the NCBE, and it …
Pyx Health Acquires FarmboxRx With $47.5M Funding Boost
The post Pyx Health Acquires FarmboxRx With $47.5M Funding Boost appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket 06.04.25
* Trump’s obviously unconstitutional Birthright Citizenship curtail hits the 9th Circuit. [Reuters] * Tom Girardi gets 7 years for frauding …
Welcome To The Boston Market! — See Also
Crowell & Moring Are On The Yahd: Congrats to Crowell & Moring and Faber Daeufer & Itrato on teaming together. …
Top 5 Biglaw Firm Creates New Way For Associates To Connect, Learn The Ropes
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Trivia Question of the Day! Which top-ranked Am Law firm has introduced an …
The DOJ’s Accusations That Harvard Discriminates Against White Men Are Dressed-Up FASORP Talking Points
Harvard — the school that just spent six long years in court fighting to prevent photos of slaves from falling …
Another FBI Alert: The Legal Industry Continues To Be Targeted By Ransomware
Ed. note: This is the latest in the article series, Cybersecurity: Tips From the Trenches, by our friends at Sensei Enterprises, a boutique …
The Myth Of The Modern Swing Vote
For decades, the gravitational center of the U.S. Supreme Court could be pinpointed to a single seat. Justice Anthony Kennedy …
The Number Of People Who Passed California’s February Bar Exam Has Grown By The Hundreds
Taking the bar exam sucks. Talking the California Bar sucks. Taking California’s February 2025 bar exam sucked so bad that …
Conservative Legal Scholar Thinks Donald Trump Would Be Behind Bars If Not For ‘Federalist Society Judges’
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Donald Trump should realize that an independent judiciary is …
Newark Mayor Sues Alina Habba For MA’AM, DO YOU EVEN LAW?
On March 21, Mayor Ras Baraka walked out of the federal courthouse in Newark a free man. After filing a …
Top 100 Biglaw Firm Announces Tie-Up That Will Allow It To Open Up Shop In Boston’s Booming Market
With Q3 nearly upon us, Biglaw firms most definitely have the urge to merge. Within the last month, two major …
What Clients Really Want: Straight Talk From Leading CLOs
Getty Images I recently had the privilege of moderating a webinar called “What GCs Want From Their Outside Counsel” with …
How Your Firm Can Spot Shelfware Before You Buy (And Shelve) It
Shelfware is a term used to describe software that sits unused “on the shelf,” collecting dust rather than driving demonstrable …
Watch Out – Don Liu Is Back!
Ed. note: Please welcome Vivia Chen back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, “The Ex-Careerist,” here. …
‘Preeminent’ Litigator, Name Partner Of Elite Am Law 100 Trial Firm, Passes Away
We have some sad news to report out of the Texas legal community, where a Biglaw firm’s name partner recently …
HIPAA’s Blind Spot: It’s Time To Address Client-Side Attacks
The post HIPAA’s Blind Spot: It’s Time To Address Client-Side Attacks appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket 06.03.25
* DC rent inflation lawsuit settles for a cool $1M. That should cover a couple of months. [WaPo] * Are …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm Considers Salaried Partner Tier — See Also
Eventually Everyone Gets Roped Into Trends: Ropes & Gray considers nonequity partnerships. The American Bar Isn’t The Only One You …
Biglaw Summer Associates Are Really Worried About Job Security
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Trivia Question of the Day! According to the Law360 Pulse 2025 Summer Associates …
Law Mom And The Modern Family: Networking Nights
Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership …
German Bar Association Warns That Working With Yellow-Bellied Firms Could Violate Professional Codes Of Conduct
(Photo by Fran Santiago/Getty Images) “You’re welcome to do dealings with foreign governments when it makes sense, but don’t go …
Biglaw’s Best Now Viewed As ‘Craven Fools’ Thanks To Deals With Trump
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. It is easy to forget that when Paul Weiss …
Welcome To Biglaw: Brand New Megafirm HSF Kramer Officially Makes Its Debut
It’s June 2, and for the Biglaw community, that means that a new competitor just entered the marketplace. Today marks …
Remembrance Of Tweets Past
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) The news is a deluge. It arrives relentlessly in daily, or hourly, or minutely cycles. The …
Criminal Defense Attorneys Facing Work Without Pay Because Of Poor Budgeting
Gideon v. Wainwright secured the right to an attorney for defendants facing felony charges, even if they couldn’t afford the …
Top 10 Biglaw Firm Is Considering Creating A Nonequity Partnership Tier
Biglaw firms with single partnership tiers are now few and far between, with more big-name firms showing that they’re ready, …
How Filevine Bakes AI Into Every Layer Of Your Case Management
While many of today’s technology users experience AI as a chatbot parked in the corner of the screen, Filevine’s case …
Legal Ethics Roundup: Ford Sues Lawyer Billing 57-Hour Day, ‘Biglaw 3, Trump 0,’ ABA & Fed Soc Out on Judges & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
‘Agentic’ AI Is The Hot Buzzword… But Do Lawyers Actually Want An Agent?
Thomson Reuters just unveiled the next step in the evolution of CoCounsel, and the future is agentic! At least that’s …
Analysis: The No Good, Very Bad Year For UnitedHealth
The post Analysis: The No Good, Very Bad Year For UnitedHealth appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket 06.02.25
* Amended class status adds millions of new members to tech antitrust suit. Talk about taking another bite at the …
Trump Turns On The Federalist Society — See Generally
You Either Die A MAGA Hero Or Live Long Enough For Donald Trump To Call You A “Sleazebag”: White House …
And For My Last Trick — See Also
Magic Circle Firms Are Trying To Pull A Disappearing Act: Will they pull off transmuting “Magic Circle” for “Global Elite”? …
Trump Has A Reputation For Questionable Pardons
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to reporters at The Daily Beast, which …
Bird Flu Threat Still Looms, But HHS Just Canceled A Moderna Contract That Could Prepare For It
The post Bird Flu Threat Still Looms, But HHS Just Canceled A Moderna Contract That Could Prepare For It appeared …
Laying The Groundwork For A Successful CLE
Getty Images How many times have we sat at a conference, staring at our phones, thinking to ourselves, “This feels …
Lawyers Should Not Weaponize The Concept Of Professional Courtesy
Professional courtesy is an incredibly important concept within the legal profession. Judicial resources are often stretched thin, so it is …
FL Attorney General Plays Stupid Games, Wins Stupid Prizes
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier bloody well understands the Supremacy Clause. This asshole graduated from Georgetown Law — and not that …
Contract Queen Taylor Swift Regains Control Of Her Master Recordings
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I’m trying to gather my thoughts into something coherent, …
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 …
Donald Trump Rips Federalist Society, Calls Leonard Leo A ‘Sleazebag’
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) “I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society …
Where To Read And How To Contact Above The Law
Whether you’re new to the site or a legacy reader, we thought we’d offer a little refresher on how to …
Elite Biglaw Firms Want To Make Their ‘Magic Circle’ Designation Magically Disappear
Elite London-based Biglaw firms — A&O Shearman, Clifford Chance, Freshfields, Linklaters, and Slaughter and May — have been referred to …
Trump’s Budget Bill Seeks To Smother Federal Injunctions
Justice might be blind, but the “Big Beautiful Bill” Republicans are pushing through Congress wants to make sure she’s also …
Trump Administration Tells Supreme Court DOGE Can’t Be FOIAed
(Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images) The destructive force that is DOGE still somehow manages to exist, despite it not being (depending …
Morning Docket: 05.30.25
* Fewer than one-third of lawyers actually log off at all during the summer. While that sounds bleak, why would …
Why Chase Down Sexual Predators When You Could Be Protecting The President’s Ego? — See Also
This Is What The FBI Has Come To: Read about the agency’s interesting triage of societal ills. If You Choose …
Thanks To Our Incredible Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay Aon Axiom Brightflag CobbleStone Software …
Associate Compensation Is More Than Just The Cravath Scale
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to the National Association for Law Placement’s …
Exclusive: LexCheck Unveils Version 3.0 Of Its AI-Powered Tool For Reviewing Complex Agreements And Auto-Generating Custom Playbooks
LexCheck has launched version 3.0 of its AI-powered contract review software, introducing capabilities that automatically generate custom playbooks from clients’ …
Owning Your Time: Boundaries That Protect Your Energy And Your Life
Part-time job, work tracking system, day planning or time management, side hustle or office work deadline, start and end time …
Biglaw Associates Should Hold Out Hope On Salary Increases
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. I would say people are not quite so aggressive …
Davis Wright Tremaine’s Chief Talent & Inclusion Officer Talks About Diversity After Trump’s Attack On Biglaw
Yusuf Zakir (photo courtesy of Davis Wright Tremaine) Our last Q&A with Davis Wright Tremaine’s Yusuf Zakir was centered on …
DOJ Ditches ABA Judicial Vetting Because ‘Being Qualified’ Is Too Woke
During the first Trump administration, the White House just sat back and took it when the American Bar Association would …
Summer Associates Rate Their ‘Dream’ Biglaw Firms (2025)
Memorial Day has come and gone, and in the legal profession, that means that summer associate season is nearly upon …
It’s A Good Time To Be A MAGA Lawyer
The Trump II reign has come with new legal wrinkles (many of them unconstitutional) as Donald Trump is taking the …
Kash Patel Says He’s Prioritizing Social Media Mocking Trump Over ‘Child Sex Predators, Fentanyl Traffickers, Terrorists’
(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) FBI Director Kash Patel took a break from his busy schedule of hanging out in …
The Billable Hour Reimagined: A Toolkit For Future-Focused Law Firms
Is the billable hour becoming a thing of the past? In an era where client expectations are reaching new heights, …
The Real Error Is Human: AI Can’t Cure Carelessness
How many fake cases does it take before we stop blaming the tool and start blaming the lawyer? It seems …
Build Your Book Without Burning Out: 3 Easy Keys Most Lawyers Miss
There’s a misnomer in the legal world that building your “all-mighty” book of business requires a massive, time-consuming effort. Sure, …
Experts Share Their Tariff Advice For Indie Beauty Brands
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Morning Docket: 05.29.25
* Court of International Trade strikes down Trump’s tariffs as exceeding his authority. Bittersweet pill for the conservative nondelegation doctrine …
Multiple Mergers May Manifest Momentarily — See Also
Competition Could Be Pushing Competitors Together In New York: Which Biglaw firms will be the next to merge? Is Skadden …
Trump Announces Plan To Cancel NPR For ‘Bias,’ Is Immediately Sued For FIRST AMENDMENT, HOW DOES IT GO?
(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Another day, another lawsuit prompted by the president’s compulsion to announce his intent to violate …
A Solicitor General And An Asteroid Walk Into A Sexual Harassment Complaint… Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One
Somehow, the partner explaining, “In this firm, there are no rules… You can say whatever slurs you want” manages to …
The Trump Deals Reverberate In Biglaw’s Relationship With Clients
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Above the Law’s 2025 Biglaw Intimidation …
Biglaw Promised Trump Pro Bono… His Fans Heard ‘Free Lawyers For Me!’
Once upon a time — say, exactly two months ago — Skadden thought it had outmaneuvered the Trump administration. To …
Law Student Uses ChatGPT To Write Children’s Book On Peace Negotiations
How could a law student go about building peace? You could graduate and snag a Biglaw gig and funnel most …
Sorry, Associates, But Now There’s ‘Less Pressure’ To Increase Biglaw’s $225K Salary Scale
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Without the stiff competition of the talent wars to …
Skadden Develops A Hint Of A Backbone, Let’s See How Long It Lasts
Skadden and the rest of the order of obsequiousness — that is, the nine Biglaw firms that capitulated to Donald …
Supreme Court Just Making It Up As It Goes Along
As Supreme Court season hits fever pitch, we’re joined by Professor Leah Litman, author of Lawless: How the Supreme Court …
Steno’s AI Tool Steps Ahead Of The Pack
To prepare for cases in years past, countless billable hours were spent on transcript analysis while associates tediously combed through …
New York Biglaw Firms Under Pressure Could Lead To A Wave Of Unexpected Mergers
As market pressures abound, Biglaw firms continue to have the urge to merge. Kent Zimmerman, a veteran law firm mergers …
Visit A National Park, Monument, Or Historic Site This Summer To Show Your Support And Retain Your Sanity
Allow yourself to indulge in a passage from Timothy Snyder’s 2017 book “On Tyranny“: What is patriotism? Let us begin …
Why One Leader Is Calling Out Insurers’ Inaction On Prior Authorization
The post Why One Leader Is Calling Out Insurers’ Inaction On Prior Authorization appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 05.28.25
* Skadden takes pro bono case against the Trump administration. Oooh, let’s see how this plays out! [Bloomberg Law News] …
Former Law School Dean Sentenced To 8 Years Behind Bars — See Also
The Worst Part Is What He Did After The Theft Scandal: Edward Rene will have a lot of time to …
Biglaw Equity Partners Are Seeing A Windfall
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to data collected by American Lawyer, in …
The Biglaw Executive Orders Get The FedSoc Echo Chamber Treatment
Last week I did something I never imagined I would. I went to a Federalist Society event. The New York …
Mind The (Skills) Gap: AI And Legal Education With Sam Moore
Businessman holding light bulbs, ideas of new ideas with innovative technology and creativity. In Season 9, Episode 3 of Notes …
Trump Gets Ass Kicked Again… This Time It’s The Order Against Wilmer
(Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) This will come as a shock, but the White House can’t just arbitrarily punish …
Patenting Privation (Part III): Empowering Revenge
Just over a year ago on these pages, I continued our look at the patent franchises protecting the defining drugs …
Judge Who Handcuffed And Harassed Field Trip Student For Sleeping Could Face Consequences
One of the challenges that comes with teaching high school students is classroom management. Imagine a student falls asleep while …
New Show Looks At People Targeted By Powerful Institutions
As the current administration flirts with weaponizing the government under the guise of de-weaponizing the government, consider how easy it …
Ex-Law School Dean Sentenced To Nearly A Decade Behind Bars
Back in 2020, Texas Southern University’s Thurgood Marshall School of Law was rocked by a series of admissions scandals. In …
Elite Biglaw Firm In Talks To Hire Former Government Heavy Hitter
DLA Piper, one of the most successful Biglaw firms in the world, is reportedly in talks to bring aboard a …
The FBI Decides What We Really Needs Right Now Is Another Investigation Into The Dobbs Leak
Since the moment that the Supreme Court’s draft decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was leaked, there were theories the leak came …
Law Firm Tagged Over Fake Citations Quietly Deletes Blog Post Encouraging Lawyers To Use AI
On May 16, Butler Snow landed on the unhappy end of a Show Cause order from an Alabama federal judge. …
Legal Ethics Roundup: 5 Justices Recuse Over Books, Lively/Baldoni PR Ethics, Jenner EO Struck, PW Lawyers Flee & More
Ed. note: Please welcome Renee Knake Jefferson back to the pages of Above the Law. Subscribe to her Substack, Legal …
Judge Successfully Rips Trump Prosecutors ‘New A-Hole’ In Court
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Jesus, he tore these people a new asshole. Good …
What A Historic Absence Of Its Top Officer Means For The Navy
The post What A Historic Absence Of Its Top Officer Means For The Navy appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 05.27.25
* While the firms continue to deny that they gave the Trump authority to dictate what matters they take on, …
Bad Week For Biglaw Capitulators — See Generally
Ed. Note: We’re starting a new feature, kicking off the week with a collection of top stories from the prior …
This Kagan Dissent Packs A Punch — See Also
She Took Off The Gloves For This Dissent: Someone needs to point out the Court’s abuse of the shadow docket. …
Paul Weiss Rainmakers Bolt To Start New Firm Free Of Trump Deal Restrictions
Well, well, well. If it isn’t the consequences of Paul Weiss’s own actions. Earlier today, American Lawyer reported that Karen …
Have You Heard The One About …?
(Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) Am I the only one losing their sense of humor? It’s the only …
Omarosa Adds New Legal Accolade To Her Resume!
Omarosa Manigault Newman has been known as many things over the span of her career: writer, political aide, and a …
Biglaw Partner Shares What It’s Really Like To Work In Intellectual Property Law
Olga Berson, partner at Thompson Coburn, shares her journey from a scientist to a top patent attorney, tackling AI’s impact …
Biglaw Needs To Follow The Lead Of Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day! According to Above the Law’s 2025 Biglaw Intimidation …
Executive Order Against Jenner & Block Is ‘Null And Void’
Judge John Bates, appointed by George W. Bush, is overseeing the litigation filed by Jenner & Block against the Trump …
The Self-Care Most Lawyers Overlook: Your Daily Life
Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership …
Faxes Should Be Eliminated From The Legal Profession
A few years ago, I wrote an article about how fax numbers are still an important tool in the legal …
Trump Represents A Boom In Business For One Prominent Lawyer
I’ve done this kind of work challenging administration overreach all of my career. There’s just more of it to challenge …
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 …
Merrick Garland Returns To Biglaw To Continue Not Prosecuting Donald Trump From The Private Sector
(Photo by Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) In a move that surprised absolutely no one and thrilled only the most ardent fans …
DHS Benchslapped With Immediate TRO In Harvard Student Visas Case
Some presidents walk softly and carry a big stick. Some presidents bigfoot around, shouting “WE’RE ABOUT TO DO SOME CRAZY …
Elena Kagan Does That Thing Elena Kagan Does Where She Humiliates The Majority
(Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images) Antonin Scalia earned a reputation for throwing shade at his colleagues. And while we all …
Trump Administration Threatens To Strip Harvard Law’s Ability To Enroll And Teach International Students
The Trump administration has been playing hardball with the legal industry to get its way. The shenanigans he’s pulled against …
Fifth Circuit Says It’s Fine For A Judge To Funnel Parolees To His Campaign Donors’ Ankle Monitor Service
(Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Every so often, the Fifth Circuit Appeals Court will surprise you with a well-reasoned decision that cuts …
How A Tiny Federal Agency Supports Innovation & Competitiveness In The Scientific Community
The federal government has a role in fostering scientific innovation in the United States. It’s in the law. Actually, it’s …
Morning Docket: 05.23.25
* The Trump administration told Harvard that it couldn’t enroll foreign students unless it met a series of demands. Harvard …
Congratulations, Kim Kardashian! — See Also
See Also Guess Who Completed Their Studies!: Will Kim’s next step be bar prep? Cowardlader Wants To Skimp On Their …
Thanks To Our Awesome Advertisers
We’d like to express gratitude to our fantastic sponsors here at Above the Law: AffiniPay(Opens in a new window) Aon(Opens …
Biglaw Partner Compensation Is Not Created Equal
Ed. Note: Welcome to our daily feature Trivia Question of the Day!(Opens in a new window) According to data collected …
Trump’s Biglaw Bootlickers Say Quiet Part Out Loud In Letters To Congress
(Photo by DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images)In April, the nine Biglaw firms who settled with the Trump administration to the …
Trump Not Too Thrilled About ‘Rule Of Law’ Theme That’s Taken Over Law School Commencements
(Photo by PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images) Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day(Opens in a new …
Cadwalader Thinks It’s Outsmarted Trump On Their Pro Bono Tithe. We’ll See About That.
There’s been a lot of talk (Opens in a new window)in Biglaw circles about what, exactly, the nine firms that …
Oklahoma Doesn’t Get The OK On Opening A Religious Charter School
Carson v. Makin changed the way that the separation of church and state worked in the same way that removing …
Pets And Grief
Eighteen years ago, a month into my addiction recovery, I attended a 12-step meeting where someone shared about losing his …
Inviting You To Take This Important New Survey: Can AI Help Close The Justice Gap?
As many of you know, I’ve long followed and reported on the evolving intersection of law, technology, and access to …
From Workflow To Win: How Legal Ops Makes Legal Tech Actually Work
Getty ImagesIf you’ve ever sat through a demo of a powerful legal tech tool and thought, “Yes, this is exactly …
What Can In-House Lawyers Learn From Elite Athletes About Peak Performance?
When you hear “mental performance training,” you probably think of Olympic athletes, NFL quarterbacks, or a top tennis pro on …
Kim Kardashian ‘Finally’ Graduates From ‘Law School’
It’s law school graduation season, and after a trying journey, everyone’s favorite reality TV star turned entrepreneur and actress, Kim …
3 Health Investors Share Their Most Controversial Industry Takes
Healthcare investors are increasingly interested in financing companies focused on specialty pharmacy, women’s health, the patient experience and more, according …
Morning Docket: 05.22.25
* Law firm office leasing is booming, so don’t hold out much hope for working from home. [American Lawyer] * …
Biglaw And Its Discontents — See Also
Taking The Protest To The Orange Shoe Firms: Use that free speech! This Biglaw Firm Is Committed To The Green: …
Lawyers: The Ultimate Growth Industry
According to the ABA, there were 1,322,649 active lawyers in the United States as of January 1, 2024. These lawyers …
Nintendo Changes User Agreement That Allows It To Permanently Disable Your Expensive Game Console If You Break The Rules
On June 5, 2025, the Nintendo Switch 2 game console will be released worldwide. The sticker price for the console …
Ed Martin Pledges To Use DOJ To Harass People He Can’t Actually Prosecute
The good news is that Ed Martin will not be the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. In the …
Alignment: Self-Care That Reflects Your Values And Goals
Ed. note: This is the latest installment in a series of posts on motherhood in the legal profession, in partnership …
Ketanji Brown Jackson Is Officially The Most Outspoken Supreme Court Justice
Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day. Perhaps it is my general outspokenness on and sometimes …
Lawyer Arrested Following Apparent Mental Health Issue
A combination of long hours, intensive reading, and high-stakes outcomes puts a lot of stress on lawyers. May is Mental …
Judge Ho Indulges In Furious Rage Wank Over AEA Deportations
(via YouTube) Yesterday, Judge James Ho had what can only be described as a public tantrum on the public docket. …
Billables Are Not The Same As Cash Flow. Here’s Why That’s Important.
You’ve established yourself as an authority in your field. Your firm can be found at the top of the search …
Global Biglaw Firm Plans To Grow Its Own Forest
DWF — a global Biglaw firm that placed at No. 124 on the 2024 Global 200 — is doing its …
Are Those Seashells In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Threatening An Assassination?
Since we’re cursed to act as keepers of the flame to remind the legal community that several large law firms …
Capitulating Biglaw Firms Draw Protesters Over Their Trashy Trump Deals
Yesterday afternoon, Rise and Resist, a nonprofit group dedicated to opposing government acts that “threaten[] democracy, equality, and our civil …
Persecuting Foreign-Born Scientists Will Guarantee America Falls Behind Economically And Militarily
Do you know why the United States of America beat Nazi Germany in the race to develop the atomic bomb? …
The Changing Landscape Of Ransomware: Why Healthcare Organizations Are Paying Less
The post The Changing Landscape Of Ransomware: Why Healthcare Organizations Are Paying Less appeared first on Above the Law.
Morning Docket: 05.21.25
(Photo by Aude Guerrucci-Pool/Getty Images) * An open letter to Clarence Thomas. If we print it out and wrap it …
We Have The Data To Prove It! — See Also
The Legal Industry Doesn’t Stand With Trump’s Bullying: Read the survey for yourself! Habeas Corpus? I Hardly Know Her!: Kristi …
The Supreme Court TV Show That Never Was
Tom Goldstein is fighting back this week against the government’s wild indictment, which painted a picture of Goldstein balancing a …
Basic Ethics Breaks Supreme Court Because Too Many Justices Have Book Deals
The good news is that the Supreme Court took its self-imposed, entirely toothless ethical code seriously and multiple justices recused …
Marketing Roundup: Legal Storytelling, Crisis Communication, And Media Relationship Strategies
As a part of the Legal Marketing Association’s (LMA’s) partnership with Above the Law, each month we’ll share a roundup …
Elton John Calls Government ‘Losers’ For Letting Tech Firms Skirt Copyright Laws
(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) We’ve seen some big names stand up against feeding art to AI. Jay-Z was one …