Afternoon Briefs: Derek Chauvin cites possible jury misconduct; judge tosses claim by ex-summer associate

Former Minneapolis police officer seeks new trial Lawyers have filed a motion seeking a new trial for Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted in the May 2020 death of George Floyd. The motion said the judge should have sequestered jurors, should have moved the location of the trial,…

May 5, 2021 4:41 PM CDT

Federal judge strikes down nationwide eviction moratorium for exceeding statutory authority

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has set aside a nationwide eviction moratorium that was set to expire June 30, ruling that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention did not have the authority under federal law to impose the moratorium.

May 5, 2021 3:41 PM CDT

Success of ABA Day 2021 is a blueprint for year-round advocacy

On April 20 and 21, thousands joined the American Bar Association online during its annual advocacy event, ABA Day, to discuss the need for robust legal aid funding and increased judicial security.

May 5, 2021 2:10 PM CDT

3 BigLaw firms will give back $1M in Purdue Pharma legal fees in settlement with trustee

Three large law firms have agreed to reduce fee applications by $1 million in their bankruptcy representation of Purdue Pharma, the maker of the prescription pain medication OxyContin, after the U.S. trustee alleged a failure to disclose a common interest agreement.

May 3, 2021 12:01 PM CDT

On the heels of a global pandemic, Well-Being Week in Law is more important than ever

Well-Being Week in Law kicks off today, highlighting the importance of health and happiness across the legal profession.

May 3, 2021 9:00 AM CDT

Legal historian John Fabian Witt discusses new book on epidemics and law

May 3, 2021 8:54 AM CDT

Americans are divided by age and race on the fairness of the justice system, ABA civics survey finds

The ABA’s third annual survey of civic literacy, which assesses the public’s knowledge about the basics of U.S. democracy, also included questions about issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its results were released as part of Law Day.

Apr 29, 2021 2:38 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Lawyer for accused Capitol rioter says ‘biatch’ less offensive; charge dropped against Boies Schiller partner

Lawyer for accused US Capitol rioter says ‘biatch’ is less offensive A lawyer for accused U.S. Capitol rioter Richard “Bigo” Barnett of Gravette, Arkansas, has said his client didn’t use the B-word to describe House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a note that he left for her. Barnett, photographed with his…

Apr 27, 2021 4:28 PM CDT

Unbundled law firms find success offering virtual legal services

The Law Shop by Skogerson McGinn in Van Meter, Iowa, provides unbundled legal services, which means it helps clients with specific legal tasks rather than assisting them with their entire cases or matters.

Apr 27, 2021 2:02 PM CDT

The pandemic brought this lawyer to legal commentary, and the work includes sponsorship deals

Lawyer and influencer Emily D. Baker thinks YouTube is a great place to teach people how the law works.

Apr 26, 2021 9:41 AM CDT

How should the legal profession navigate a post-COVID-19 world? ABA group has recommendations

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the ABA initiated one of the largest national surveys of its members, seeking to understand both how they had been affected and how they expected their practice to evolve in the future.

Apr 26, 2021 8:00 AM CDT

Data shows increase in both first-time and 2-year bar exam pass rates

Despite the coronavirus chaos around July 2020 bar exams—including health fears for in-person bars, software problems with remote tests and jurisdictions making last-minute date and format changes—the first-time pass rate actually increased from the previous year.

Apr 23, 2021 2:11 PM CDT

A BigLaw partner’s journey through clinical depression

Back in the day, I ran with the big dogs in BigLaw. Now, after suffering with clinical depression for more than 20 years and surviving a suicide attempt, I am happier than ever in the legal profession. My mental health journey is a cautionary tale, but one with a message of hope.

Apr 23, 2021 12:02 PM CDT

NALP executive director talks empowering careers, recruiting and professional development

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Jim Leipold, the executive director of the National Association for Law Placement—an organization focused on career counseling and planning; recruitment and retention; and the professional development of law students, lawyers and its members.

Apr 23, 2021 9:06 AM CDT

Which firms top the Am Law 100? And how much did their revenue grow?

The nation’s 100 highest-grossing law firms had an average 6.6% increase in gross revenue last year, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Law.com’s reporting on its Am Law 100.

Apr 22, 2021 12:36 PM CDT