California lawyer among those on lockdown in Spain amid coronavirus

Former State Bar of California trustee Joanna Mendoza and her family plan to remain in Barcelona until at least early April, which is when they hope to leave for Seville, Spain, to continue their European trip. However, she acknowledges their plans may change again because of the coronavirus.

Mar 19, 2020 3:53 PM CDT

NALP report shows historically high offer rate for summer associates; what’s to come?

Offer rates from summer associate programs reached a historic high of nearly 98% last year, according to a report by the National Association for Law Placement.

Mar 19, 2020 2:33 PM CDT

Several top law schools adopt pass-fail grading plans after going online

At least five top law schools have announced they are adopting pass-fail grading or giving students the pass-fail option.

Mar 19, 2020 1:34 PM CDT

Can companies be held liable when their employees fall ill with the coronavirus?

Companies across the country have shuttered operations, required employees to work remotely and limited services and business hours. As these companies face an uncertain financial future, they also face the possibility that their workers will contract the coronavirus and hold them accountable for not putting proper protections in place.

Mar 19, 2020 11:30 AM CDT

ICE halts most immigration enforcement, more courts close amid COVID-19 pandemic

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is cutting back arrests as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mar 19, 2020 11:22 AM CDT

Judge defies order to delay hearings, denies issuing warrants for no-shows

“Not everyone watches the news, and I wanted to be here and have the hearings for those that showed up,” Cleveland Municipal Court Judge Pinkey Carr said.

Mar 19, 2020 11:02 AM CDT

As COVID-19 mandates virtual law classes, nonprofit creates list of volunteer online speakers

If you have any interest in being a guest law school speaker, now is the time, provided that you’re comfortable doing it online.

Mar 19, 2020 10:35 AM CDT

7 types of tech tools to help lawyers set up virtual offices

Mar 19, 2020 10:25 AM CDT

Outbreaks of disease have shuttered the Supreme Court going back more than 2 centuries

When the U.S. Supreme Court announced this week that its March sitting of oral arguments would be postponed “in keeping with public health precautions recommended in response to COVID-19,” the statement included some historical references for support—going back as far as 227 years ago.

Mar 19, 2020 9:10 AM CDT

Lawsuits over coronavirus quarantines are unlikely to succeed, experts say

Lawsuits challenging COVID-19 quarantines and restrictions on public gatherings may be doomed to failure. Experts said the government has broad powers to handle a public health crisis.

Mar 18, 2020 4:36 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: BigLaw sex bias suit may be resolved; US judiciary seeks $7M for COVID-19 impact

Secretary’s BigLaw sex bias suit apparently resolved A former legal secretary at Troutman Sanders who claimed she was sexually harassed by a partner at Troutman Sanders has apparently resolved her lawsuit. Plaintiff Jessica Correa agreed to dismiss the suit in a joint stipulation with Troutman Sanders and the partner. Correa…

Mar 18, 2020 4:06 PM CDT

Lawyers are supposed to plan for the worst, so how can you ease COVID-19 anxiety?

Are you someone who rarely, if ever, calls friends just to catch up? If you prefer texting to spontaneous small talk, you might want to rethink things—especially now.

Mar 18, 2020 1:14 PM CDT

More than 50 law firms require or allow work from home because of COVID-19 concerns

The number of law firms requiring or encouraging work at home is growing larger by the day.

Mar 18, 2020 12:34 PM CDT

BigLaw merger delayed because of COVID-19 challenges

Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton have announced they will delay their merger until July 1 because of the “unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19.”

Mar 18, 2020 10:33 AM CDT

Execution halted after lawyer argues it could spread coronavirus

The highest criminal appeals court in Texas delayed the execution of a Texas inmate on Monday after his lawyer argued that gathering so many people could create a risk of exposure to the novel coronavirus.

Mar 18, 2020 10:28 AM CDT