Career & Practice

Lawyers play pivotal role fighting tyranny, says incoming ABA President-elect Michelle Behnke

A strong group of attorneys advances and protects the law—and the ABA is and will continue to be the power behind those efforts, ABA President-elect Michelle Behnke said.

Aug 6, 2024 11:43 AM CDT

Misconduct complaint tossed against federal judges who pledged not to hire clerks from Columbia

Federal judges didn’t violate ethical rules by refusing to hire law clerks from Columbia University or Columbia Law School, according to a review panel of the judicial council of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans.

Aug 6, 2024 10:19 AM CDT

Law firms are seeing ‘significant resurgence’ in financial health, new report says

Most major practice areas experienced growth in the second quarter of 2024, leading to “a significant resurgence in the financial health of law firms,” according to the Thomson Reuters Institute, which released its latest Law Firm Financial Index.

Aug 6, 2024 9:04 AM CDT

Sen. Wyden says Thomas took two more undisclosed flights on donor’s jet

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s lavish travel provided by Republican donor Harlan Crow included two more flights aboard the billionaire’s private jet that were not publicly disclosed, according to a letter Monday from Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) to Crow’s attorney.

Aug 6, 2024 8:40 AM CDT

Billable hours for DEI work? Yes, please

Many firms already credit pro bono hours toward their attorneys’ billable hours. But what about the time attorneys devote to bar association activities and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives?

Aug 5, 2024 6:31 PM CDT

Law students should be paid for externships and get salary info at campus interviews, ABA House says

The days of law students working in field placements for credit without monetary compensation may be coming to a close. The House of Delegates resolved Monday at the ABA Annual Meeting to urge law schools to let students receive payment and course credit for field placements.

Aug 5, 2024 6:05 PM CDT

AI-generated court filing had name, bar number of lawyer who had nothing to do with case, complaint says

Updated: A Florida foreclosure lawyer has said his name and his bar number were used in a court filing generated by artificial intelligence. And he had nothing to do with the case.

Aug 5, 2024 2:53 PM CDT

Sharecropper’s son who rose from poverty to become first Black New Jersey justice dies at 91

Updated: Former New Jersey Supreme Court Justice James H. Coleman Jr. died at age 91 on Aug. 2, rising from his childhood in a home without electricity and running water to become the first Black justice appointed to the state supreme court.

Aug 5, 2024 10:18 AM CDT

Beyond Logic: The case for emotional branding for law firms

Businesses increasingly recognize emotion’s pivotal role in decision-making. Research in the Harvard Business Review shows emotional connections can drive significant gains.

Aug 5, 2024 8:53 AM CDT

Former ABA President Tommy Wells has died

Past ABA President H. Thomas “Tommy” Wells Jr. died on Wednesday. “Tommy was an amazing leader for this association, and I don’t think he ever had an enemy in the world,” said ABA President Mary Smith, calling his death a “horrible loss for all of us and the association.”

Aug 1, 2024 4:30 PM CDT

Duane Morris bestows partner title on powerless attorneys to shift tax and business costs, suit alleges

Duane Morris reduces business expenses and tax obligations for equity partners by shifting some of the burdens to lawyers who carry the partner title but have no equity or power in the law firm, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday.

Aug 1, 2024 10:55 AM CDT

Judge who socialized with police officers, used the F-word, agrees to removal from bench

A municipal court judge in New Jersey has agreed to permanent removal from office after admitting material facts in a misconduct complaint that accused him of using the F-word when frustrated with his computer and socializing with police officers.

Aug 1, 2024 9:27 AM CDT

‘Huge market opportunity’ for some law firms during ESG backlash

Most major U.S. law firms in recent years have launched dedicated environmental, social and governance (ESG) practice groups to help clients navigate a surge of new rules and initiatives emerging across climate; sustainability; diversity, equity and inclusion; human capital; and other areas. But more recently, law firms have run squarely into the political backlash against ESG.

Aug 1, 2024 2:20 AM CDT

Good lawyers don’t only point out problems, they offer solutions

Understanding how to give an unfettered opinion and drive the client’s decision-making can make the difference between great lawyers and those seen as just OK. With smart guardrails, you shouldn’t be afraid to loosen the strict restraints on your opinions—because at the end of the day, your client wants to know what you think.

Aug 1, 2024 1:50 AM CDT

Lawyer with muscular dystrophy shoots for the stars

Megan Parker was born with Ullrich congenital muscular dystrophy. She has a limited range of motion and uses a motorized wheelchair for mobility. She also has a tracheostomy tube in her neck and breathes through a ventilator. Despite these challenges, Parker persevered through college and law school, graduating with both a JD and an LLM.

Aug 1, 2024 1:30 AM CDT