During its hybrid meeting in Chicago on Friday, the Council of the American Bar Association Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted to send the newly crafted Standard 208, Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression, out for notice and comment. This decision is of significant note as the standard tackles the interconnected…
The American Bar Association’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions has postponed a decision on whether to allow law schools to make admission tests optional. However, it appears there may be alternative provisions to avoid the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). As stated in their recent hybrid meeting in Chicago, the question of making law…
In an unprecedented decision by a Harris County 12-person jury, a Houston resident, known as Jane Doe, has been awarded $1.2 billion in damages. This award follows a trial concerning injuries caused by an ex-boyfriend who published intimate photographs of her and used her identity to conduct fraudulent activities. The trial’s verdict, which was decided…
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison’s recent acquisition of talent from Kirkland & Ellis reportedly includes a four-partner team in London, led by private equity expert, Neel Sachdev. The total number of lawyers involved in the transition could well exceed ten, spanning both U.S. and U.K. offices. In addition to Sachdev, debt finance partner Eric…
Davis Polk & Wardwell, established in its current location at 450 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan since 1992, announced a significant addition to its existing footprint. Over the decades, the law firm has witnessed steady growth, leading it to acquire approximately three extra floors, a trend emblematic of their long-term strategic planning. The company informed that…
A recent report submitted to the Washington state Legislature has raised concerns over the lack of diversity among jury members in the state. The study found people of color and those of lower socioeconomic status to be generally underrepresented among those responding to jury summons, according to a press release by the state courts. This…
Following the dismissal of Johnson & Johnson’s second talc bankruptcy, plaintiffs’ lawyers are showing a renewed commitment to their plans of pursuing trials nationwide. The leading attorneys in the talc multidistrict litigation, have suggested a bellwether trial plan in a letter to the judge on August 11. This proposed strategy includes the pursuit of consolidated…
In a surprising move for the legal world, less than half a year after its establishment, the labor and employment boutique that splintered from Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith has decided to put a stop to its operations. The announcement closely follows a sizeable team exit from the firm to O’Hagan Meyer earlier this week….
Mary Smith, recently appointed president of the American Bar Association (ABA), has stated her intent to tackle some of the major challenges currently witnessed within the legal landscape, specifically artificial intelligence, threats to democracy, and the transitions required in a post-COVID-19 world. Under Smith’s new administration, the ABA has established two innovative task forces assigned…
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum recently appointed judges to two new bench seats in the East Central Judicial District which incorporates Cass, Steele and Traill counties. According to an announcement made on July 21, the appointees are Southeast Judicial District Judge Cherie Clark and East Central Judicial District Judicial Referee Stephanie Hayden. The creation of…
In a recent wrongful death action, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled in favor of a nightclub that was leasing space. A mother, grieving the loss of her son who was shot and killed outside the club, had contended that the court’s earlier summary judgment for the club was inappropriate. She claimed there was a dispute…
With the unanimous passing of a proposal at the American Bar Association’s annual meeting in Denver earlier this month, law students can now earn up to 50% of their credits remotely, a significant increase from the previous one-third of credits. According to an ABA spokesperson, the change is effective immediately. This shift represents a response…
Lawyers at all levels have identified unreasonable client demands as a major source of stress and anxiety, according to a recent survey conducted by American Lawyer. This is notably prevalent in ‘Big Law’, where out of approximately 2,500 attorneys surveyed, half indicated that unreasonable client demands had a negative impact on their mental health. A…
Yesterday, BuzzFeed and Vox Media were served with a copyright infringement lawsuit concerning the unauthorized use of an image depicting the NFL’s first openly gay, full-time female coach. The claim of copyright violation stems from allegations that the media outlets used this photo without securing the required licensing rights from the professional photographer who created…
A website claiming, “Our flights are so cheap, United sued us … but we won” is facing another legal challenge. This time, it’s not United but American Airlines that has decided to confront Skiplagged Inc., a company that aids travelers in booking itineraries with multiple stopovers where the passenger disembarks before reaching the intended final…
The landscape of staffing in the world of ‘Big Law’ has been considerably impacted in recent times by layoffs and ongoing attrition. To add to the challenges, a lower demand for services, increasing costs, and tightening policies surrounding hybrid work are pushing law firms to reassess their strategies for staffing. According to a recent study…
Latham & Watkins, an established US law firm, will soon close its Shanghai office, a significant shift after nearly two decades of presence in the region, as per people familiar with the situation. The move is part of a broader trend in recent months of American law firms reducing their business operations in mainland China….
Artificial Intelligence (AI), specifically generative AI, is set to change the operational landscape of law firms. In light of recent developments, there’s a growing anticipation of the impact of these advancements on firms’ back offices. AI capabilities have grown exponentially and the legal field is not immune to its reach. Various tasks currently conducted by…
The renowned company specializing in peer review research and attorney honors, Best Lawyers, has announced its procurement of Good2bSocial, a notable digital marketing firm. The acquisition is confirmed to be effective immediately, as revealed in a joint press release. This latest business move is portrayed as an extension of the services provided by both corporations,…
In an era when communication is digitally-driven, legal professionals are increasingly making use of social media platforms and new technology, ranging from artificial intelligence to cutting-edge legal tools. Riding this technological wave has its advantages; from gaining public recognition, significantly impacting social causes, to professional networking. However, on the flip side, challenges abound, particularly related…
The constant shifts towards in-office mandates within law firms occur against the backdrop of growing frustration among associates, partners, and other business professionals. Witnessing these changes does not seem to bring solace nor satisfaction to these professionals; indeed, they appear to be less satisfied as they perceive these changes to be on the whims of…
The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that insurance companies cannot sidestep state law through the use of ‘creative policy drafting’. Specifically, the court ruled that a single auto insurance policy covering multiple vehicles must provide separate uninsured motorist coverages for each vehicle, dismissing attempts to evade statutory requirements. In the underlying case, Franklin v. CSAA…
A pressing issue lurking within the rapidly burgeoning cannabis industry is the menace of counterfeit product claims. Big-name player GS Holistic finds itself at the forefront of this issue, championing a nationwide legal initiative to combat the problem. Regrettably, the full account of this issue remains behind a paywall, and thus, only snippets of information…
In a notable shift within the legal landscape, changes in Chinese regulations have begun to impact not only clients, but law firms themselves, according to Law.com. The Law.com Barometer newsletter, supported by the ALM Global Newsroom and Legalweek, documents these trends and disruptions on a weekly basis. The alterations in China’s regulations originally presented issues…
A number of women, primarily graduates with Juris Doctor degrees from George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School, have this week leveled accusations of sexual misconduct against former professor Joshua D. Wright. Wright, the founding partner of Lodestar Law & Economics, served as a Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, an appointment made by President…