COVID-19

Will the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally remake the legal industry?

Many technological changes being adopted now will persist beyond COVID-19, as will the utilization of remote working. Meanwhile, others have suggested the widespread upheaval will provide fuel for state reviews of whether to open up the legal marketplace to alternative business structures and nonlawyer practitioners.

Aug 1, 2020 12:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Boston Marathon bomber wins death penalty appeal; what’s in the GOP coronavirus bill?

Appeals court overturns Boston Marathon bomber’s death sentence A federal appeals court has overturned the death sentence for convicted Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at Boston ruled Friday that the trial judge did not adequately screen jurors for potential bias. The judge “fell…

Jul 31, 2020 4:40 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: BigLaw firm reveals ‘stay gap;’ full DC Circuit will hear Michael Flynn case

Allen & Overy reveals its ‘stay gap’ Allen & Overy is the first major law firm to disclose its “stay gap”—the difference in retention between minority and white lawyers. Black, Asian and minority ethnic lawyers leave the firm seven months earlier on average than white lawyers, while Black lawyers leave…

Jul 30, 2020 4:39 PM CDT

Search for lost LSAT answers continues; LSAC says those affected will see exam fee refunded

A technical issue with the July Law School Admission Test, which was administered remotely, has led to a “small number” of candidates’ test answers being lost.

Jul 30, 2020 3:12 PM CDT

Pay is at least partly restored at these law firms; some lawyers will get bonuses

Associates and staffers at some law firms are getting good news after seeing lower paychecks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jul 30, 2020 12:06 PM CDT

Indiana changes online bar exam again after ‘repeated and unforeseen technical complications’

Following “repeated and unforeseen technical complications,” the Indiana Supreme Court released an order Wednesday stating that its online bar exam has been rescheduled for Aug. 4, and it will now be an open-book test with questions and answers exchanged by email.

Jul 29, 2020 2:37 PM CDT

This new justice’s swearing in will happen during a 100-mile ultramarathon

Jill Karofsky plans to be sworn in as a Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Saturday during a break in a 100-mile ultramarathon.

Jul 29, 2020 12:36 PM CDT

Second BigLaw firm litigates over rent on unoccupied offices during COVID-19 pandemic

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has filed a lawsuit contending that it is entitled to return of rent on unoccupied New York City offices during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jul 29, 2020 10:24 AM CDT

Cyberattack led to state’s delayed online bar exam, software provider says

A testing delay with Michigan’s online bar exam was caused by the outside provider experiencing a distributed denial of service attack, the state supreme court's communications director announced Tuesday evening.

Jul 29, 2020 9:39 AM CDT

Fennemore Craig announces merger; it’s not the time to ‘curl up in a ball,’ CEO says

Fennemore Craig will merge with California law firm Dowling Aaron, creating a law firm with 180 lawyers. Fennemore Craig CEO James Goodnow said the merger will make the combined firm “a dominant player in agriculture business and water law” in the U.S.

Jul 29, 2020 9:15 AM CDT

State’s online bar exam is delayed after tech glitch

Some test-takers of the online Michigan bar exam had a brief password glitch on Tuesday, the state supreme court announced in a late morning tweet.

Jul 28, 2020 2:05 PM CDT

Law school admissions are more flexible for entering 1Ls, survey says; is a class size change expected?

Law schools expect to see entering first-year classes in fall 2020 to be about the same size as last year, despite COVID-19 concerns, according to a survey of admissions officers by the test prep provider Kaplan.

Jul 28, 2020 10:04 AM CDT

Legal billing software can ensure you get paid, even in a pandemic

COVID-19 has been an unwelcome part of our reality for more than four months now. It has affected all aspects of our lives, from personal to professional. The impact on businesses, including law firms, has been dramatic. According to a June survey from MyCase, one of the biggest struggles lawyers have encountered due to the pandemic is maintaining financial stability.

Jul 28, 2020 9:04 AM CDT

First all-virtual ABA Annual Meeting offers full slate of special events and programs

In a year of uncertainty, one thing is certain: The 2020 ABA Annual Meeting will once again offer attendees a memorable roster of special events, CLE programs and networking opportunities.

Jul 28, 2020 9:02 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Suit filed for immigrant children detained at hotel; ill judge doesn’t have to sign reelection papers

Lawsuit filed for immigrant children detained at Hampton Inn A lawyer with the Texas Civil Rights Project was forced out of a Hampton Inn hotel in McAllen, Texas, where he was investigating an Associated Press claim that children were being secretly held there before their deportation, according to a video…

Jul 27, 2020 4:58 PM CDT