In the ever-evolving world of legal news, there has been no shortage of noteworthy happenings. From trials and regulations to innovation in workspace design, several events and trends have caught our attention recently.
President Trump has reportedly been seen making fist pumps from the defense table, a manifestation, some theorize, of the unrestrained coaching style employed by his legal team.
Recognizing the need for specialized support, certain large law firms, colloquially termed ‘Biglaw’, are introducing coaching programs for attorneys diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It’s recommended, somewhat whimsically, that any time spent with counselors should be billed in six-minute increments, under the code 9000-020.
Shifting our focus to the realm of criminal law, the Ninth Circuit is set to deliberate on a case that previously thwarted Idaho’s controversial ‘abortion trafficking’ law. Discussing state regulations reveals their limits when neighboring states follow less stringent rules, a scenario recurrently pointed out in debates on firearm legislation.
In other legal sector trends, some modern Biglaw offices are taking a fresh approach to the traditional work setting. Large communal gathering areas and game rooms are increasingly becoming commonplaces, designed to promote interaction and informal discourse.
There is some degree of anticipation in the air with lawyers optimistic that the Supreme Court will maintain some aspects of the Chevron doctrine intact. Whether this hope is judicious thinking or mere wishful thinking is yet to be confirmed.
Covid-19 has deeply impacted workplace dynamics worldwide, and the legal profession is no exception. The morning docket has included resistance to ‘return-to-office’ mandates, forcing the issue to court.
Finally, the prestigious New York Times is soliciting input from attorneys regarding their experience with Artificial Intelligence (AI). They’re asking law professional to share how they are employing AI in the practice, a welcome deviation from the omnipresent dispatches dwelling on President Biden’s age.