Kim Kardashian, the celebrity businesswoman and reality-TV star, climbs the bifurcated ladder of law education with the same struggles as any average law students. Ever since 2019, Kardashian’s journey to become a lawyer has been closely followed by legal professionals and law students alike, with her candid reflection of the trials and challenges bridging the…
A new report from Uplift Legal Funding unveils an interesting perspective on the geography of the US legal profession. By assigning each state a score out of 10 based on a variety of factors, it seeks to determine which states offer conditions in which lawyers are the least stressed, overworked, or underpaid. They derived these…
Legal tech and publishing veteran Steve Errick, previously the chief operating officer at Fastcase and head of the Legal Research Information Division at LexisNexis, has recently taken up a new role with the American Arbitration Association (AAA) as senior vice president and chief development officer. In his new role, Errick will guide various strategic initiatives,…
The developing story of former President Donald Trump and unresolved Georgia election issues raised eyebrows, with suggestions of Trump willingly turning himself in being taken as seriously as sales pitches for Brooklyn bridges. Experts remain skeptical about these claims. Trump prodonly treads risky political terrains, yet this move hints at something unprecedented. For more on…
The International Legal Technology Association Conference (ILTACON) hit the ground running this week, as it commenced in Orlando from Sunday and is set to wrap up by Thursday. Attendees numbering over 3,200 and 1,700 members onsite had the opportunity to absorb enlightening content, interact with new contacts, and explore potential business opportunities. One of the…
Companies striving to enact diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs are coming under scrutiny, as practices are discovered that could potentially incite lawsuits. Law firms have found that some corporate efforts have inadvertently taken the form of discriminatory preference for certain groups, such as racial quotas and ill-equipped hiring managers who misinterpret ‘diversity’ as means…
In a notable scenario, a judge was caught modifying their own Wikipedia page, generating discussions amidst professionals around the ethics and influence of public figures on open-source platforms. The ability to edit Wikipedia does not inherently mean one should, particularly when the revisions derive from an account evidently owned by the subject of the page,…
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit recently sided with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, affirming the dismissal by a lower court of free-exercise claims against him. The case stemmed from the prohibition of in-person learning during the surge of COVID-19 transmission in the winter of 2020. A group comprising of churches, private religious…
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…
The conveniences of virtual Continuing Legal Education (CLE) sessions, such as the lack of commute and control over environmental conditions, is no longer news to many practicing lawyers in a post-COVID world. However, an odd factor contributing to the ‘comfort’ is the decrease in the need to adhere to strict dress codes, as several professionals…
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…
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…
Welcome to a new week of legal news, focusing on major decisions made in appellate courts across the United States. This roundup covers a variety of court cases, from Harvard’s court fight over affirmative action legal fees to the regulation of the Supreme Court by Congress. Let’s delve into these critical legal events. Allie Reed…
Pioneering in the realm of legal technology, the International Legal Technology Association Conference (ILTACON) goes beyond than a traditional trade show. With a history spanning more than two decades, ILTACON has been evolving as a platform not just for showcasing the latest in legal technology, but more importantly, as a space fostering education, networking, and…
The U.K.’s corporate legal industry is known for being one of the country’s more exclusive professions, often favoring individuals who have had the privilege of superior education. Broader representation has, however, been a focus in recent years as law firms explore methods to encourage greater social diversity among their ranks. They strive to balance the…
In a recent case of gender bias in Continuous Legal Education (CLE) training, Maine-licensed attorneys experienced difficulty in having their programs approved for Harassment and Discrimination (H&D) credit. The programs dealt with discrimination against women and mothers in the courtroom, one of them presented by ABA Past-President Paulette Brown, discussing COVID trends that adversely affect…
Judge Brantley Starr recently attracted considerable attention, leading to a misconduct complaint, when he ordered a group of Southwest Airlines in-house attorneys to participate in training courses provided by an established Anti-LGBTQ group. His reasoning for doing so ignited considerable controversy and has resulted in an appeal. This decision underscores concerns about the misuse of…
In recent times, there appears to be a trend among Republican-appointed judges to distinguish themselves with ostensibly unconventional behavior. Former President Donald Trump’s appointee, U.S. Circuit Judge James Ho, demonstrates this trend clearly in his latest court proceedings. This news from Reuters reports his stark deviation from his peers’ views when he was the lone…
ILTACON, one of the most anticipated events in the legal tech sphere, is fast approaching. And this year, it is expected to offer even greater content and format changes that have legal professionals across the globe buzzing with excitement (Above the Law). In prior years, ILTACON offered six educational tracks. This year, a seventh track…
Ahead of this year’s academic year, a pipeline program, created by retired federal judge and current Jones Day lawyer, Ann Claire Williams, has dutifully prepared 91 first-years (1Ls) for law school in Illinois. The initiative, aptly named “Jumpstart”, aims to equip students, particularly those with little or no exposure to the legal profession, with the…
The rapid evolution of technology along with the constant wave of emerging cyber threats impose unique challenges on legal professionals, particularly in terms of protecting their clients’ information as well as maintaining unimpeachable ethical standards. These growing complexities are challenging the legal profession to reconsider its professional conduct guidelines in a way that responds to…
In a noteworthy move that has the potential to affect federally funded research at US institutions of higher education, a new set of risk-based security requirements has recently been introduced. The driving force behind these changes is the protection and promotion of key American values and interests. Recognizing the critical importance of international cooperation in…
Legal professionals working at top law firms and world-renowned corporations would be interested in examining a recent resource provided by Lathrop GPM on the topic of franchising as exemplified by Ben & Jerry’s – a veritable case study in this area. This discussion is part of Lathrop GPM’s Increasing Diversity initiative in Franchising and provides…
Mark your calendars for the upcoming Regional Healthcare Compliance Conference, slated for September 8th in Waltham, Massachusetts. This event, orchestrated by the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), aims to provide local compliance education to practitioners in the region. The conference will span a wide variety of highly relevant topics designed to impact compliance programs in…