DePaul University College of Law Dean to Lead ABA Legal Education In a groundbreaking move, Jennifer L. Rosato Perea, the current dean of DePaul University's College of Law, is set to become the managing director for accreditation and legal education at the American Bar Association (ABA). Effective June 1, Rosato Perea will step into the role, succeeding Bill Adams. This historic appointment makes her the first woman and Latina to head... (2 views)
Exploring Legal Education and Admissions: Task Force Tackles Challenges A comprehensive initiative spearheaded by state supreme court justices and court administrators from diverse regions is set to delve into the intricacies of lawyer licensing and assess whether law schools adequately prepare students for real-world legal practice. The Committee on Legal Education and Admissions Reform, a collaborative endeavor by the Conference of Chief... (10 views)
Legal Giants Navigate Shifting Tides: Paul Weiss and Baker McKenzie Announce Strategic Salary Adjustments In an apparent response to the dynamic currents of the legal market, Paul Weiss and Baker McKenzie have made waves by announcing substantial increases in associate compensation. This development, mirroring the actions of four other major players this month, reflects a heightened sensitivity to market dynamics and a heightened competition for top-tier legal talent. (27 views)
Survey Reveals Growing Trend Among Prelaw Students: The Quest for Ideological Alignment in Law Schools In a recent survey by Kaplan, a notable trend has emerged among prelaw students, shedding light on their increasing preference for law schools with a political environment that aligns with their beliefs. This shift in perspective is a significant departure from previous years, as more than half of the respondents (58%) expressed the importance of attending a law school... (9 views)
California Supreme Court Enacts Sweeping Ethics Reforms Following Girardi Scandal Amidst growing criticism surrounding the State Bar of California's handling of the Tom Girardi case, the California Supreme Court has responded decisively by introducing a comprehensive set of ethics reforms. These reforms, officially approved on Tuesday, mark a significant milestone in addressing concerns related to conflicts of interest and ethical lapses within the... (14 views)
ABA Considers Accreditation for Fully Online Law Schools In a ground breaking development, the American Bar Association (ABA) is contemplating a significant shift in its accreditation policies, potentially extending approval to fully online law schools. This move departs from the ABA's longstanding emphasis on in-person legal education. The Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, an essential... (31 views)
ABA Proposes Sweeping Changes to Academic Freedom, Online Library Standards, and Accreditation In response to escalating tensions surrounding academic freedom and free speech issues on campuses nationwide, the ABA’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar unanimously voted to advance a proposal to the House of Delegates. The proposal addresses concerns raised in recent years, particularly incidents at Stanford Law School and Yale Law... (11 views)
Law Firm Revenue Surges Amidst Billing Rate Hike In a recent survey conducted by Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group, law firms have experienced a significant uptick in revenue, marking a substantial 4.6% increase throughout the third quarter of the year. This growth has been attributed to a surge in billing rates, revealing a noteworthy trend within the legal industry. (6 views)
Unveiling the Expertise: Eric Robinson Talks E-Discovery, Data Governance, and Beyond at KLDiscovery In a recent discussion, Ari Kaplan engaged in a comprehensive conversation with Eric Robinson, the Vice President of Global Advisory Services and Strategic Client Solutions at KLDiscovery, a prominent software company. With a career spanning the legal and data management sectors, Robinson delved into his vast experience in litigation management, e-discovery, and data... (5 views)
National Trends in Multistate Bar Exam Performance (July 2023) The National Conference of Board Examiners (NCBE) has reported a modest increase in the national mean scaled score for the Multistate Bar Exam (MBE) in July 2023. The mean score stands at 140.5, reflecting a marginal improvement of 0.2 points compared to the previous year. Notably, the number of test-takers has risen by 2.8%, reaching 45,968 individuals nationally. (9 views)
Cleary Gottlieb's Vision: Breaking Into Top 20 Firms with Innovative Strategies In a strategic move, Cleary Gottlieb's Managing Partner, Michael Gerstenzang, is spearheading a mission to substantially boost the firm's revenue without resorting to extensive headcount growth or tweaking its single-tier partner pay structure. The audacious goal is to propel Cleary into the echelons of the Top 20 firms by gross revenue, demanding a remarkable $500 million... (9 views)
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan: Unraveling a Legal Legacy and Igniting a Talent Acquisition Wave in New York In a seismic shift within the legal realm, the longstanding New York-based institution, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, faces dissolution, culminating in the conclusion of its illustrious 147-year legacy. The decision to close its doors follows a tumultuous year marked by a spate of lawyer departures and unsuccessful attempts at merger negotiations with larger firms. This... (15 views)
Google Initiates Legal Battle Against Scammers Peddling Fake AI Chatbot Downloads In a decisive move, Google (GOOGL.O) has taken legal action in a California federal court to thwart an intricate scam involving the deceptive promotion of spurious "downloads" of its AI chatbot, Bard. Unidentified individuals are exploiting names such as "Google AI" and "AIGoogleBard" to lure users into unwittingly installing malware, which is intricately designed to... (19 views)
U.S. Legal Industry Adopts Prudent Hiring Strategy for First-Year Associates in 2023 As law firms in the United States grapple with the ongoing challenge of escalating direct expenses over the past three years, they have taken a cautious approach to hiring first-year associates this autumn. This deliberate decision has been illuminated by the findings of the Thomson Reuters Institute's latest Law Firm Financial Index, raising essential questions about the... (25 views)
US Job Growth in October Falls Short of Expectations, Unemployment Inches Up In an unexpected twist, the United States witnessed a less robust job market in October, signaling a potential cooling down of economic activity. The highly anticipated report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics disclosed that only 150,000 jobs were added during the past month, well below the 180,000 jobs that economists had predicted. Furthermore, the unemployment rate... (8 views)
California’s Higher Education System Breaks Barriers for Undocumented Students For years, California has been a pioneer in enacting progressive legislation to support undocumented residents, such as granting driver's licenses. Now, the state's higher education system is taking a ground breaking step by considering the employment of undocumented students. (9 views)
Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, in Collaboration with Jewish Organizations, Launches Campus Antisemitism Legal Helpline In a momentous effort to address the mounting incidents of antisemitism on college campuses in the United States, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a renowned law firm, has joined hands with a consortium of Jewish organizations. This groundbreaking partnership aims to provide comprehensive legal support and protection to college students and educators who confront antisemitic... (12 views)
The End of an Era: Stroock & Stroock & Lavan's 150-Year Legacy In a stunning turn of events, the iconic law firm Stroock & Stroock & Lavan is poised to cease operations, ending its illustrious 150-year history. This venerable institution, renowned for its profitability, is on the verge of closure as its executive committee announces a winding down of operations following a partner vote to dissolve the firm. (95 views)
Revolutionizing Legal Assessment: States Embrace Next Generation Bar Exam In a bold stride toward modernizing legal education, three states are taking the lead in adopting the Next Generation bar exam. Maryland, Missouri, and Oregon have committed to implementing this groundbreaking assessment system, set to debut in July 2026, while Wyoming and Connecticut are following suit in the near future, signaling a significant shift in the landscape of... (2 views)
Biden Administration's Robust Response to Escalating Anti-Jewish Incidents on U.S. Campuses Concerns over the rise of anti-Jewish incidents at American universities have prompted the Biden administration to take proactive measures. In a high-stakes meeting with prominent American Jewish leaders, the administration addressed this alarming surge. This article delves into the key developments and actions taken to counteract anti-Jewish incidents on U.S. campuses. (1 views)
Winston & Strawn Faces Legal Challenge Over Diversity Fellowship Program In a striking legal development, the venerable law firm Winston & Strawn finds itself embroiled in a contentious lawsuit led by Edward Blum, a prominent critic of affirmative action. This latest legal saga marks the third instance of a law firm being taken to court over their diversity fellowship program, with Blum's American Alliance for Equal Rights at the forefront of... (19 views)
Breaking News: July 2023 New York State Bar Exam Results In a groundbreaking announcement, the New York State Board of Law Examiners has unveiled the highly-anticipated outcomes of the July 2023 New York State Bar Examination, marking a historic milestone with its exceptionally early release. (133 views)
LSAC's Decision Sparks Controversy as Logic Games Are Removed from LSAT In a recent announcement, the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) has set off a wave of emotions within the legal community by deciding to remove the "logic games" section from the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), effective August 2024. In its place, this section will be replaced with additional logical reasoning questions, eliciting a wide range of reactions. (15 views)
California Passes Legislation Mandating Cursive Instruction California Governor Gavin Newsom has recently approved a bill that aims to reintroduce the teaching of cursive writing in the state's educational curriculum. The newly passed legislation, known as California Assembly Bill 446, effectively amends the state's education code to incorporate the instruction of cursive or joined italics for students in grades one through six. (37 views)
Federal Judge Blocks Colorado's Exclusion of Christian School from Preschool Program Due to Religious Policies In a significant legal development, a federal judge has intervened to prevent Colorado from excluding a Christian private school from its taxpayer-funded universal preschool program. The exclusion was rooted in the school's policy that mandates employees to adhere to its faith and requires students to use bathrooms and pronouns under their biological sex. U.S. District... (4 views)
Quinn Emanuel's Legal Minds Set to Reap Generous Fall Bonuses In a recent announcement that has left associates and counsel buzzing with excitement, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, one of the leading law firms in the United States, disclosed plans to award special fall bonuses, with amounts ranging from $2,120 to a remarkable $32,908. This exclusive news was revealed on Monday, raising the stakes in the competitive legal world. (22 views)
Florida Lawyers May Require Client Consent for AI Use in Legal Matters As the legal landscape evolves, the Florida Bar is taking a significant step toward regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by attorneys. The organization is actively developing an advisory opinion aimed at governing the utilization of AI in the legal sector, and they are actively seeking input from Florida lawyers. The Florida Bar's leadership has tasked the... (9 views)
Silicon Valley's Top Deal Lawyer Joins Paul Hastings with a Stellar Team In a significant development in the legal landscape, prominent Silicon Valley deal lawyer Scott Joachim is spearheading a team of private equity legal experts, making a strategic move from the prestigious law firm Goodwin Procter to join the esteemed ranks of Paul Hastings. In parallel, Paul Hastings also welcomed a seasoned capital markets lawyer from Cooley, further... (22 views)
Edward Blum Challenges Law Firms' Diversity Fellowship Programs Edward Blum, a prominent advocate against affirmative action, has taken legal action against three leading law firms - Winston & Strawn, Hunton Andrews & Kurth, and Adams and Reese, alleging that their law student diversity fellowship programs may be violating federal law. (9 views)
Aspen Publishing's Exclusive JD-Next Exam Granted Approval by ABA for 33 Law Schools Aspen Publishing has recently celebrated a significant milestone in the world of legal education following its acquisition of an exclusive license for JD-Next, a pioneering law school admissions test. The American Bar Association's Section of Legal Education and Admissions Council has officially granted a variance to thirty-three esteemed law schools, permitting them to... (99 views)