Living through Hurricane Katrina inspired Alessandra Jerolleman’s disaster justice advocacy

Alessandra Jerolleman lost her home, her car and much of her community to the Hurricane Katrina’s powerful surge and flood waters. But Jerolleman found the hurricane also changed her life in another profound way.

Jan 24, 2024 2:32 PM CST

Half of law schools worry about creating diverse student body, new Kaplan study says

After the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 decision striking down affirmative action, half of law school admissions officers are “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” about creating a diverse student body, according to a survey conducted by test prep company Kaplan released Monday.

Jan 22, 2024 9:40 AM CST

Checkmate: BigLaw associate seeks chess master status

Opposing counsel may want to watch out for Rochelle Ballantyne, a first-year litigation associate at Sidley Austin and a longtime chess champ with a fierce competitive spirit.

Jan 17, 2024 8:19 AM CST

Want to clear a criminal record? This lawyer has an app for that

In 2022, lawyer Noella Sudbury launched an app called Rasa to provide a quick, cheap and easy solution for people who want a fresh start, automating the process of expungement from start to finish.

Jan 17, 2024 8:15 AM CST

LSAC president shifts to lead Association of American Law Schools

Kellye Testy will become the executive director and CEO of the Association of American Law Schools on July 1.

Jan 11, 2024 12:38 PM CST

LSAC launches hybrid program for DC-area law school applicants

As diversity remains a hot topic after the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College decision, the Law School Admission Council is piloting a hybrid version of its Plus Summer program to offer support to more potential law school applicants from underrepresented communities around Washington, D.C.

Jan 10, 2024 12:33 PM CST

For the first time, women make up majority of law firm associates, new NALP report says

Women have a slight majority in the ranks of associates at U.S. law firms, the National Association for Law Placement says in its latest diversity report.

Jan 10, 2024 8:16 AM CST

The First-Year Switch: Succeeding after an early lateral move

Ten years ago, I was a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young attorney, fresh from a federal clerkship and eager to start my litigation career. One year later, I was a sleepless, burned-out basket case on my way out the door asking myself, “Did I make an awful mistake when I went to law school?” Fast forward almost a decade, and I can answer that question with a resounding no.

Jan 3, 2024 1:45 PM CST

Relax with our favorite long reads of 2023

Hopefully you're going to have some time over the winter holidays to cozy up with a good story. We've curated a list of some of our favorite web and print long reads from 2023. There's a mix of popular features and some under-the-radar stories that you may have missed.

Dec 22, 2023 1:50 PM CST

Listen to our 10 favorite podcast episodes of 2023

Looking for a new listen? We've picked our favorite 2023 episodes from each of the ABA Journal's three podcasts, one of which is bidding adieu after a 13-year run. If this whets your appetite, find all our past episodes on our podcast page. You can also check out more legal podcasts from our partners at Legal Talk Network.

Dec 22, 2023 8:59 AM CST

Top 10 Your Voice columns of 2023

One of the ABA Journal's most precious assets is our access to engaged legal professionals with a knack for writing and a point of view to share. With that in mind, we launched our Your Voice section in 2018, inviting guest columnists to spark conversations about issues relevant to the profession. Your Voice is chock-full of five years of evergreen advice and thought-provoking pieces of writing, but these 10 were the most read from 2023.

Dec 22, 2023 8:56 AM CST

State Bar of Wisconsin’s diversity clerkship program ‘discriminates behind closed doors,’ suit says

The State Bar of Wisconsin is facing a lawsuit claiming that its diversity clerkship program for law students is violating the First Amendment rights of a lawyer who pays mandatory dues.

Dec 21, 2023 11:18 AM CST

Check out our 9 favorite Instagram posts from 2023

It's been another fascinating year in the legal industry and for our coverage at the ABA Journal. And like clockwork, 2024 will be here before we know it.

Dec 18, 2023 8:59 AM CST

More aspiring law students are applying to fewer schools, new LSAC data shows

Despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s June decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, more students of color are applying to law school, according to the latest figures from the Law School Admission Council.

Dec 14, 2023 9:05 AM CST

Meet Peter Park, possibly youngest person to pass California bar

At 18 years old, Peter Park is already working as an assistant district attorney in Tulare County, California. Park was only 17 years old when he passed the California bar exam on his first try.

Dec 12, 2023 9:21 AM CST