Features

The 25 greatest legal movies

A panel of law practitioners recommends their favorite legal-themed films, including those released in the decade since our last top-25 list. The judges voted for many of the classics from our 2008 list, along with some newer films we hope will get you thinking about the reach of the law in new ways.

Aug 1, 2018 12:09 AM CDT

Threatening Words: Courts and protected speech

While spoken words are protected by the First Amendment, offensive expressions can fall into the category of true threats, a type of unprotected speech.

Aug 1, 2018 12:05 AM CDT

Shut up! The art and craftiness of cease-and-desist letters

The demand letter has joined the extreme style of public discourse. The speed of communication and cost of trial prompts the strong letter to follow a more dramatic and colorful model.

Jul 1, 2018 12:25 AM CDT

Wrongly convicted as a teen, now he helps those like himself

Jeffrey Deskovic settled a federal lawsuit against the authorities responsible for his wrongful conviction. Using some of his settlement money, he created the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, a nonprofit based in New York City committed to preventing wrongful convictions and helping exonerees reintegrate into society.

Jul 1, 2018 12:25 AM CDT

Crafting helps high-achieving lawyers relax, recharge and have fun

Lawyers complement their practice of law with knitting, sewing, woodworking and similar hands-on artistic endeavors. They say it helps them to relieve stress, refresh and refocus.

Jul 1, 2018 12:20 AM CDT

The Chicago police legacy of extracting false confessions is costing the city millions

Of the 29 wrongful conviction rulings involving false confessions in the United States in 2017, 13 were in Cook County. Of the more than 260 false confession cases since 1989, about 25 percent have come from Cook County.

Jul 1, 2018 12:15 AM CDT

Opioids, justice & mercy: Courts are on the front lines of a lethal crisis

Court diversion programs are expanding in the opioid crisis, with judges increasingly an advocate on the sidelines. Local courts are pivoting from crime and punishment to carrot-and-stick, using more humane, interventional approaches to deal with the defendants with addictions who are overwhelming their dockets.

Jun 1, 2018 12:30 AM CDT

Opioid family court cases increase

Child welfare agencies in Vermont, Minnesota and Ohio cite opioids as driving an increase in the number of children in foster care. A 2011 study found that opioid abuse was associated with increased domestic violence.

Jun 1, 2018 12:25 AM CDT

Time’s up: Legal, judicial systems slow to adapt to sexual harassment and assault issues

Employment lawyers say decreasing sexual harassment at work requires awareness that behavior may make colleagues uncomfortable and willingness to stop the conduct without resentment.

Jun 1, 2018 12:20 AM CDT

Why 3 BigLaw firms ended use of mandatory arbitration clauses

In some situations, confidentiality of arbitration can be a problem, as it makes corroborating claims more difficult. The Me Too movement has prompted some law firms to review human resources policies.

Jun 1, 2018 12:15 AM CDT

Building a niche law practice rewards extra work, special training

In a challenging job market for young lawyers, a specialized legal niche provides a marketing edge for solo practitioners and better advice to clients.

Jun 1, 2018 12:05 AM CDT

Increased enforcement of immigration laws has raised the risk of scams

Fraud targeting immigrants did not begin with the Trump administration; advocates say it’s constant and pervasive. But the administration’s aggressive approach to immigration law enforcement is driving up interest in legal services, they say. And some subset of those immigrants looking for help will end up trusting the wrong people.

May 1, 2018 12:30 AM CDT

Underreporting makes notario fraud difficult to fight

Immigration legal-services fraud is extremely underreported, advocates say. One potential solution: making victims of immigration legal-services fraud more comfortable coming forward.

May 1, 2018 12:25 AM CDT

Nixon in New York

Having his own firm gave Nixon access to deep-pocketed clients, allowed him to travel internationally and burnish his foreign policy credentials and, most importantly, helped build a formidable staff of top-notch lawyers, researchers and writers—a staff that did just about everything for him when it came time to ramp up for the 1968 campaign.

May 1, 2018 12:20 AM CDT

Side hustle: These lawyers balance full-time practice and for-pay side project

Lawyers often take on additional work beyond the boundaries of their practices. But some attorneys take parallel paths, excelling in another areas completely unconnected to law. These mega-multitaskers have essentially built second careers—making money, gaining recognition, building brands and reporting a level of satisfaction they think wouldn’t be possible working in law alone.

May 1, 2018 12:15 AM CDT