Diversity

Justice Amy Coney Barrett is charting her own path on the bench

The dissent was biting, accusing the Supreme Court’s conservative majority of “feeble” and “cherry-picked” arguments that inaccurately downplayed the Environmental Protection Agency’s role in protecting air quality. Of course, all three liberal justices signed on. But the writer was a conservative nominated by President Donald Trump: Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who charted a distinctive path during her breakout fourth term on the high court.

Jul 9, 2024 10:50 AM CDT

Writing novels helps this employment lawyer avoid burnout

Brooke Tabshouri was a few years into her legal career when she experienced what she describes as “bad burnout.” She learned through therapy and mindfulness classes that she needed to do something creative when she wasn’t being a lawyer or caring for her two children.

Jul 9, 2024 9:42 AM CDT

BigLaw DEI leader encountered bias after standing up to ‘nearly all-white firm,’ bias suit alleges

The former vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion at Armstrong Teasdale alleges in a bias lawsuit that the law firm fired her after rebuffing her requests for additional staff and preventing her from doing her job.

Jul 8, 2024 12:37 PM CDT

Conservative group sues Northwestern University law school for alleged hiring discrimination against white men

Spurred on by the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ban of race considerations in college admissions, a conservative group filed a lawsuit against the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law on July 2, charging that it discriminates against white men in hiring faculty and in choosing articles for its law review.

Jul 3, 2024 2:06 PM CDT

These law firms topped rankings for minority, female and LGBTQ lawyers

Larger law firms are making slight gains in employment of minority and female lawyers, according to rankings released last week by the American Lawyer.

Jul 3, 2024 12:41 PM CDT

Law students support free speech but want LSAT and bar exams gone, new survey says

The vast majority of law students support free speech, and more than half say the LSAT and bar exams must go, according to a new survey released by the Buckley Institute at Yale University.

Jun 25, 2024 11:34 AM CDT

19 state AGs fire back after others demand ABA diversity standards change

Nineteen state attorneys general signed a letter calling on the American Bar Association, Fortune 100 CEOs and other organizations to retain “their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Jun 20, 2024 3:58 PM CDT

Florida lawyer seeking permanent retirement can’t sue in federal court, judge concludes

Updated: A federal judge has tossed a lawsuit by a Florida lawyer who wanted to permanently retire from the bar while facing possible discipline following a misdemeanor conviction for brandishing a baseball bat.

Jun 18, 2024 3:52 PM CDT

Justice Thomas questions associational standing; would his view end diversity challenges?

Justice Clarence Thomas took a dim view of associational standing in a concurrence last week to the U.S. Supreme Court’s abortion drug mifepristone decision, a stance that could interfere with diversity challenges.

Jun 18, 2024 12:14 PM CDT

LSAC president reflects on challenges facing legal ed as she shifts to lead Association of American Law Schools

As Kellye Testy of the Law School Admission Council prepares to leave her post June 30 and start the very next day as executive director and CEO of the Association of American Law Schools, she talked with the ABA Journal about the changes and the challenges facing legal education.

Jun 17, 2024 9:09 AM CDT

Kaufman Dolowich fired associate after rejecting his disability accommodation request, suit alleges

A fired associate at Kaufman Dolowich in Philadelphia has sued the law firm for alleged disability discrimination.

Jun 13, 2024 2:53 PM CDT

This BigLaw firm is tops for culture, most important factor to surveyed law students, new report says

Culture is the most important factor for Yale Law School students when deciding which law firm offer to accept, according to a new report by Yale Law Women+.

Jun 11, 2024 1:42 PM CDT

Federal judge halts disaster aid program for minority farmers

A federal judge in Texas has blocked an Agriculture Department disaster relief program from giving preferences to minority and female farmers, siding with a group of plaintiffs who allege that the program illegally discriminates against White male farmers.

Jun 11, 2024 12:25 PM CDT

Retired D.C. Circuit judge talks about his memoir on navigating a legal career through blindness

Judge David Tatel retired late last year after nearly 30 years on the federal appeals court. In all that time, he never saw a single piece of paper nor an attorney arguing before him. Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice shares his journey.

Jun 11, 2024 8:35 AM CDT

Florida Supreme Court rules against prosecutor ousted by governor

The Florida Supreme Court has ruled against the elected prosecutor in the Orlando, Florida, area in a challenge to her suspension from office by the state’s governor.

Jun 7, 2024 8:56 AM CDT