Smith, Currie & Hancock to Merge with Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker, Forming Smith Currie Oles Smith, Currie & Hancock, a midsize law firm originally founded in Atlanta, has revealed plans to merge with another firm based in Seattle, Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker. This strategic move aims to establish a new law firm comprising 76 attorneys, Smith Currie Oles. (139 views)
Major US Law Firms Adjust Start Dates for New Lawyers Amid Shifting Legal Landscape Several prominent US law firms have postponed the start dates for some first-year lawyers, reflecting a decreased demand for corporate legal work. However, legal industry experts believe this move also signals anticipation of a rebound in the cooled mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market. Cooley, a Palo Alto-founded law firm, recently announced that incoming corporate... (108 views)
Stanford Law School Welcomes Renowned Professors to Expand Curriculum Stanford Law School (SLS) has recently expanded its core curriculum and resources by welcoming three distinguished professors. Easha Anand, a prominent civil rights and Supreme Court litigator, Robert Bartlett, a renowned scholar in corporate finance and securities regulation, and Jud Campbell, an expert in First Amendment law and constitutional history, have joined the... (43 views)
Tech Sector Faces Backlash Over Inhumane Layoffs: Experts Call for Respect and Dignity for Employees Tech Sector Faces Backlash Over Inhumane Layoffs: Experts Call for Respect and Dignity for Employees (9 views)
Boston Law Firms Vary in Approaches to Economic Slowdown: Some Opt for Deferral of Associates, Others Remain Optimistic In the face of an economic slowdown, large law firms are considering various strategies to navigate the challenges ahead. One approach is deferring the start date of first-year associates and reducing the number of summer associates hired. While business leaders express concerns about the current economic landscape, Boston-area firms have different views on the necessity... (15 views)
Eckert Seamans Announces Firmwide Layoffs as Part of Strategic Realignment Major US law firms are continuing to streamline their operations in preparation for the summer season, with yet another firm implementing a reduction in force. Eckert Seamans, a prominent law firm, is the latest to announce layoffs as part of its strategic realignment. (74 views)
Georgetown University Emerges as Top Law School in Specialty Rankings Georgetown University Law Center has emerged as the leading law school in specialty rankings based on its outstanding clinical, tax, and criminal law performance. An analysis conducted by law dean Paul L. Caron reveals that while Georgetown secured the 15th position in the overall law school rankings by U.S. News & World Report, it excelled in several specific areas,... (432 views)
Clifford Chance Expands Global Energy and Infrastructure Work, Opens Houston Office Clifford Chance Opens Houston Office to Strengthen Global Energy and Infrastructure Practice (28 views)
California Intellectual Property Litigator L. Kieran Kieckhefer Joins Gibson Dunn & Crutcher L. Kieran Kieckhefer Joins Gibson Dunn & Crutcher as Partner in San Francisco (99 views)
San Diego Lawyer Disbarred and Wanted for Arrest in Client Theft Case Introduction: A San Diego lawyer, Kelly DuFord Williams, has been disbarred by the California Supreme Court following allegations of stealing over $80,000 from clients. The State Bar of California found Williams guilty of misappropriating settlement funds that belonged to two clients of her former law firm, Slate Law Group. The disbarment order also requires Williams to... (36 views)
North Carolina Takes Stand on Political Opinions and Ideological Promotion in Hiring and Training In a move to safeguard job applicants from being coerced into discussing politics and culture during the hiring process and to prevent certain ideological concepts from being promoted, North Carolina's government personnel laws are undergoing significant changes. The state's House of Representatives voted 72-46 in favor of extending these regulations beyond state agencies... (24 views)
GRE's Fundamental Reforms Pose a Challenge for Law Schools Introduction: When the GRE entered the law school application process, it promised to disrupt the LSAT's longstanding monopoly. Recognizing the limitations of the LSAT, such as in-person testing and a lack of cross-disciplinary application, schools, and prospective students saw an opportunity for change. However, the recent announcement of fundamental reforms by the GRE... (22 views)
Renowned Lawyers Unite to Prosecute Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: A High-Stakes Battle Ensues In a stunning turn of events, the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has taken a gripping twist as two acclaimed legal titans step into the spotlight. Dick DeGuerin and Rusty Hardin, both revered in the Lone Star State, have been handpicked to spearhead the case against Paxton in the state Senate. This captivating development was announced by state Rep.... (9 views)
Law School Applications Decline, Ending Pandemic-Era Surge Return to Normalcy as Law School Applicant Numbers Drop (20 views)
U.S. Legal Sector Adds Jobs Despite Layoffs at Top Law Firms Increased Job Growth and Challenges Faced by the Legal Services Industry (82 views)
Breaking News: Prominent Litigator Susan Leader Joins Paul Hastings, Boosting Firm's Expertise in Complex Commercial Litigation In a strategic move to enhance its legal firepower, leading U.S. law firm Paul Hastings announced today the addition of Susan Leader, a highly accomplished complex commercial litigator. Formerly with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Leader brings a wealth of experience and an impressive track record to her new role at Paul Hastings. (44 views)
Breaking: U.S. Labor Board Takes Aim at Noncompete Agreements, Urges Workers to Reclaim Their Rights In a significant move to safeguard workers' rights, the U.S. labor board is cracking down on the controversial practice of noncompete agreements, calling them illegal and inhibitory. The latest memo from National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo emphasizes that these agreements undermine the fundamental principles of labor law, discouraging... (17 views)
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton Faces Historic Trial Over Abuse of Office Allegations In a landmark decision, the Texas House of Representatives voted 121-23 to impeach Ken Paxton, the newly-suspended Attorney General of Texas, on charges of abuse of office. This move sets the stage for a significant trial, marking a pivotal moment in the state's political landscape. Paxton, a staunch conservative and ally of former President Donald Trump, is now at the... (29 views)
Unpacking the Power and Challenges of Generative AI in the Legal Industry A panel of industry experts gathered at the "Generative AI: Uses, Risks and Impacts" session during the Master's Conference in Washington, D.C., to shed light on the confusion surrounding the models driving generative AI within the legal industry. As discussions on leveraging productive artificial intelligence have gained momentum, concerns about the safety of large... (16 views)
Morris, Manning, and Martin LLP Spearheads Efforts to Foster Diversity in the Legal Profession In an inspiring endeavor to foster diversity within the legal profession, Morris, Manning, and Martin LLP (MMM) has launched an internship program to increase the representation of lawyers of color. Huynh, the chief diversity partner at MMM, shared his personal experience, shedding light on the lack of mentors and limited access to information about legal careers during... (23 views)
National Conference of Bar Examiners Reveals Details of NextGen Bar Exam The National Conference of Bar Examiners has unveiled the content and structure of the NextGen Bar Exam, set to be introduced in July 2026. In a 42-page outline released on Thursday, the specific legal skills and areas of law to be tested were identified, marking a departure from the current exam's heavy emphasis on memorization. (46 views)
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner Streamlines Workforce Globally: 47 Business Professionals Laid Off International law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner recently announced its decision to reduce its workforce by laying off 47 business services professionals across its global offices. This move reflects the ongoing trend of law firms streamlining their employee numbers in response to changing market demands. With a presence in 31 offices and a team of approximately 1,275... (28 views)
U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Admissions Policy of Virginia High School, Rejects Discrimination Claims A U.S. appeals court upheld the admissions policy of a highly selective Virginia high school on Tuesday, aimed at promoting diversity and rejecting claims of discrimination against Asian-American students. The Richmond-based 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals concluded that the Fairfax County School Board did not have any discriminatory intentions when it revamped the... (14 views)
U.S. Justice Department's Brief Challenges Charter School's Skirts-Only Dress Code Ruling Framing is crucial when persuading the U.S. Supreme Court to take or avoid a case. This is evident in the recent brief filed by the U.S. Justice Department in response to a petition by a North Carolina charter school, which had its skirts-only dress code ruled unconstitutional. (16 views)
Affirmative Action Faces Uncertain Future as Supreme Court Decision Looms In 1998, a measure approved by California voters to ban race-conscious admissions policies at public colleges and universities profoundly impacted the enrollment of Black, Hispanic, and Native American students at two elite institutions, UCLA and the University of California, Berkeley. The figures revealed a startling decline of over 50% in admissions for these... (6 views)
Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling Announce Merger to Create Global Legal Powerhouse London-based law firm Allen & Overy and New York's Shearman & Sterling have announced plans to merge to create one of the world's largest legal practices. If partners at both firms approved the deal, it would result in a combined global revenue of approximately $3.4 billion. (25 views)
California Lawyers May Soon Be Required to Report Professional Misconduct: New Ethics Rule A new ethics rule may soon be implemented in California, requiring lawyers to report instances of professional misconduct committed by their peers and colleagues, aligning the state with the reporting standards of other states. The board of trustees of the State Bar of California voted in favor of this rule, which mandates reporting fraud, misappropriation of funds, and... (34 views)
Mike McKool, Co-founder of McKool Smith, Departs the Renowned Law Firm for an Undisclosed Client Mike McKool, the co-founder of McKool Smith, has announced his departure from the renowned national trial law firm to represent a new client whose identity remains undisclosed. McKool, 73, expressed his eagerness to seize the opportunity, stating, "At my age, how many great cases am I going to be offered? It was so compelling that it was hard to turn my back on." (35 views)
California Moves Closer to Developing Its Own Bar Exam: Blue Ribbon Commission's Recommendations and Implications The Board of Trustees of the State Bar of California has endorsed a plan to begin developing its bar exam. The new exam would replace the current national bar exam, which California has used for years. (34 views)
Dechert Layoffs and Overcapacity: Biglaw Firms Adjust to Market Conditions Biglaw firms were once eager to hire numerous associates and business professionals during the prosperous years following the pandemic. However, as demand has significantly decreased, these firms have been compelled to implement layoffs to align their headcount with the current market conditions. (82 views)