A federal judge in Kansas City, Missouri, can’t sentence a defendant after telling him that the federal judicial system “sucks,” and he probably would get…
Does firm size matter? Retired lawyer muses on pros and cons of BigLaw and SmallLaw
The concept of BigLaw only recently crossed my radar. Though I had an idea of what it means, I wan’t sure and so I Googled…
Bid to dismiss Flynn charges appears to be a ‘corrupt and politically motivated favor,’ report says
The U.S. Department of Justice’s bid to dismiss charges against President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser appears to be a “corrupt and politically motivated…
Afternoon Briefs: Trump’s census count order blocked; lawyer dies by suicide as cops close in
Court blocks Trump’s census count order A special three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has blocked President…
En banc court rules Florida can require felons to pay fines before voting; 5 Trump appointees join majority
An en banc federal appeals court has ruled that Florida did not violate the Constitution by requiring felons to pay fines, fees, costs and restitution…
Causation is an issue in suits against cruise lines by passengers who contracted COVID-19
Two federal judges last month dismissed cases filed by passengers who blamed Princess Cruise Lines for their COVID-19 illness. The August rulings were among the…
Well-known lawyer was shot and killed by his son, who then killed himself, family friend says
A well-known Florida personal injury lawyer was shot and killed Wednesday by his oldest son, who also shot the lawyer’s girlfriend before killing himself, according…
Charges brought against man accused of kidnapping and assaulting 2 law students
A Chicago man was charged Tuesday with breaking into the apartment of two University of Chicago Law School students, kidnapping them and physically assaulting them.…
BigLaw firm switches from strict lockstep compensation for partners to modified system
Davis Polk & Wardwell is changing to a more flexible compensation system, allowing it to pay more money to retain and attract rainmaking partners. Davis…
BigLaw firm offers associates a voluntary year off and stipends to help
Ropes & Gray is offering current and incoming associates a year off from the law firm, along with financial help to do it.The program is…
An eviction crisis is coming, housing lawyers warn
Afternoon Briefs: Top state court criticizes former justice; more law firms reverse pay cuts
Top state court criticizes disciplined former justice The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Tuesday criticized Cynthia Baldwin, a former justice, after she said an affidavit, if…
Federal judicial nominee lacks enough experience, ABA says in letter explaining ‘not qualified’ rating
The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has given a “not qualified” rating to Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, a nominee to the U.S. District Court…
Federal judicial nominee lacks enough experience, ABA says in letter explaining ‘not qualified’ rating
The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary has given a “not qualified” rating to Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, a nominee to the U.S. District Court…
Bias cases of JAMS arbitrator who shared racist email should undergo review, group says
The National Employment Lawyers Association is calling for a review of discrimination cases overseen by a former JAMS arbitrator who shared a racist email with…
How Black female prosecutors are challenging the status quo and fighting for reform
Additions to Trump’s SCOTUS short list include 3 GOP senators, 2 judges rated ‘not qualified’
Three Republican senators are among 20 lawyers added to President Donald Trump’s U.S. Supreme Court short list, which was released Wednesday.The senators are Tom Cotton…
7 tips for cost-efficient and effective law firm marketing during COVID-19
Editor’s Note: The ABA Journal is pleased to present Mind Your Business, a series of columns written by lawyers, legal professionals and others within the…
Lawyer who allegedly lied about health for deadline extensions should be suspended, hearing board says
An Illinois lawyer, who reportedly lied and said he had cancer—when he did not—and instead was looking for discovery deadline extensions, is facing potential suspension…
Afternoon Briefs: 7th Circuit rules on jail’s COVID-19 safety measures; ABA asks FEMA to activate disaster legal services
7th Circuit weighs in on federal judge’s order to curb COVID-19 at Cook County Jail The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Chicago affirmed…
Working Mother’s list of best law firms for women marks progress over 5 years
The number of female lawyers promoted to equity partner has increased by almost 25% in the past five years, according to Working Mother Media’s latest…
DOJ files rare request to represent Trump in columnist’s defamation lawsuit
In an unusual move Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Justice moved to intervene in a defamation lawsuit brought against President Donald Trump by E. Jean…
Vanderbilt Law Review members donate fees to support minority students with ABA diversity scholarship
Lawsuit over parental leave policy will continue against Jones Day
Jones Day must face a lawsuit brought by former associates who accuse the firm’s parental leave policy of discriminating against fathers, a federal judge in…
More law firms are moving to make Election Day a paid holiday
As a growing number of large law firms offer their employees paid time off to participate in the Nov. 3 presidential election, the legal community…
‘Demagogue’ tells the story of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s rise and fall
What made 1950s America vulnerable to a man like Joseph McCarthy, a junior senator from Wisconsin? In Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator…
Rocket Lawyer is among the first applicants approved to join Utah’s regulatory sandbox program
Afternoon Briefs: COVID-19 outbreak in attorney’s office leads to court suspension; prosecutor killed while cycling
COVID-19 outbreak in Jefferson County attorney’s office leads to court suspension Three criminal court dockets in the Jefferson County Circuit Court in Louisville, Kentucky, will…
Harvard Law introduces social media policy about classroom statements
If you are a Harvard Law School student making a social media post about something said in class, you should not write it in a…
Another BigLaw firm joins the list of firms laying off staff
Legal consultants have predicted that law firms would continue to cut administrative staff that supported lawyers before the COVID-19 pandemic, and they weren’t wrong.Cleary Gottlieb…
Lawyer is disbarred after history of indecent exposure, voyeurism
A lawyer in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, with a history of sexual misconduct has been disbarred by the South Carolina Supreme Court. In its
Assistant attorney general loses job after reports surfaced of racist social media posts
An assistant attorney general in Texas lost his job last week after reports surfaced that he referred to Black Lives Matter protesters as “terrorists” and…
State AG drops case against Black man who faced 6 murder trials and spent 23 years in prison
After six murder trials that ended with overturned convictions or mistrials, prosecutors in Mississippi announced Friday that they were dropping the case against Curtis Flowers.…
Afternoon Briefs: Federal courthouse closed because of COVID-19; appeals court blocks abortion-referral ban
COVID-19 cases reportedly lead to federal court shutdown The federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, was temporarily closed Friday after several security officers from the…
Judge is accused of abusing judicial prestige while investigating hip-hop clothing store and double murder
A Las Vegas judge is facing an ethics complaint stemming from her own personal investigation of a hip-hop clothing store where her daughter worked and…
Unusual nuisance law cited in suit for Tulsa massacre reparations; one plaintiff is 105
A lawsuit filed in Oklahoma this week seeks damages for a continuing nuisance stemming from the 1921 Tulsa massacre in an affluent neighborhood known as…
Former Shoplet general counsel pleads guilty to embezzling nearly $6M through PayPal transfers
Former Shoplet general counsel and senior vice president Leslie Scharf has pleaded guilty to grand larceny for embezzling nearly $6 million from the office supply…
Afternoon Briefs: Another firm trims salary cuts; lawyer is accused of writing $400K in bad checks
Kelley Drye trims some salary cuts Kelley Drye & Warren is reducing 10% pay cuts to 5% cuts for associates, special counsels and staff…
Skadden is latest firm to announce layoffs; experts say more law firms will follow
As several law firms announced layoffs this week, consultants warned of more bloodletting ahead. One consultant spoke of overcapacity among nonequity partners. Others said staff…
Surveyed midlevel associates discuss snacks, decor, boring work and burnout
Midlevel associates waxed philosophical, critiqued office food and decor, and discussed burnout in verbatim comments collected in an American Lawyer survey. “Life’s a garden, dig…
9th Circuit says surveillance program exposed by Snowden was illegal but upholds convictions
A federal appeals court said Wednesday the massive phone data collection program revealed by whistleblower Edward Snowden, who copied and leaked classified information from the…
Former doctor is convicted of attempted murder of lawyer who opposed him in 2 lawsuits
A former doctor was convicted Wednesday of the attempted murder of a California lawyer who opposed him in litigation stemming from a road-rage incident. Richard…
SCLAID celebrates centennial by recognizing 2 young lawyers’ work to promote access to justice
Afternoon Briefs: Justice Ginsburg officiates wedding; more women and minorities join GC ranks
Justice Ginsburg officiates wedding U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg officiated at an outdoor wedding Sunday, about a month and a half after
Why did the average scaled score for the July multistate bar exam increase?
Despite many concerns about taking a bar exam during the novel coronavirus pandemic, the crisis might have actually led to people doing better on the…
Fake websites for 4 BigLaw firms might have been created to get deal information
Fake websites for four large law firms created in 2008 might have been part of an attempt to get insider information on pending Wall Street…
Insurers rack up early wins in lawsuits over COVID-19 ‘business interruption’ coverage
Court decisions on “business interruption” coverage are so far favoring insurers as they fight claims for lost income during the COVID-19 pandemic. Courts have ruled…
1st Circuit lifts ban on immigration arrests at state courthouses in Massachusetts
A federal appeals court on Tuesday vacated a federal judge’s preliminary injunction that blocked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from making civil arrests of people…
Chemerinsky: Will SCOTUS rulings help decide the 2020 presidential election?
There now have been six instances in which the U.S. Supreme Court has dealt with issues concerning COVID-19 and the election process. The court repeatedly…
Layoffs hit furloughed staffers at 1 BigLaw firm, lawyers and staffers at another
Layoffs are hitting workers at Baker McKenzie and Davis Wright Tremaine. Baker McKenzie is laying off 6% of its workforce in the United States, Canada…
