Above the Law

Business Origination Skills In The Age Of Agentic AI: Is There Anything New Under The Sun?

Is the legal world is about to be turned upside down?

‘BEWARE’: Trump Order Demands Some Defense Firms Halt Paying Dividends, Buying Back Stock

The executive order says future contracts should be written so that the Pentagon can enforce the mandates, including a cap on executive pay, during periods of ‘underperformance.’

Morning Docket: 01.08.26

* “Bulk” of SDNY prosecutors are spending their days reviewing Epstein files. You know, there are discovery tools that can handle massive productions like this very quickly if the only issue is protecting the victims and not, say, using redactions to cover up and mislead. [Law360]

* Quinn Emanuel equity partners averaging $9 million this year. [Bloomberg Law News]

* Trump seeks millions in legal fees from Georgia election interference prosecution. [NBC News]

* DOJ complaining about Luigi Mangione’s lawyers pointing out that Pam Bondi worked at a lobbying firm that represented United Healthcare. [ABC News]

* Is a pinstripe suit acceptable for interviews? [Legal Cheek]

* Latham sued by former counsel. [Law.com International]

* Polsinelli settles fee dispute with former partner. [Law.com]

ICE Kills Legal Observer In Broad Daylight — See Also

Obviously Wrong, But Probably Not Wrong Enough For Qualified Immunity: Mayor Jacob Frey has since told ICE to leave his state.

Grand Opening, Grand Closing: Firm starts off new year by shutting its doors forever.

So Much Money Can Only Mean One Thing: Layoffs are coming.

Why Keep Up The Act?: Judge makes Lindsey Halligan explain why she’s pretending to be U.S. Attorney.

Texas Supreme Court Just Gave Themselves A New Job: They’ve severed ties with ABA accreditation. Kinda.

Right-Wing’s Fraud Fever Dreams Will Fade Even As Tim Walz’s Decision To Cede Power Goes Down In History

By putting his state above his own ambitions, Tim Walz has ensured that these MAGA lies will swiftly disappear.

Gimme More (Deductions): Britney Spears Challenges The IRS At The US Tax Court

What can a noncelebrity learn from Britney Spears’s fight with the IRS?

Texas Supreme Court Takes On Role As Law School Accreditor

Hope the extra work is worth it!

Legal Market Is Doing Great, Which Is How You Know You’re All About To Get Laid Off

The legal market's financials look just like 2007? Nothing scary about that!

CES 2026 And Agentic AI In Legal: It’s Not Going To Happen — Until It Does

Agentic AI is now enough of a thing for legal to begin thinking about its benefit and risks.

2026 Prediction Time!

Welcome to another dumpster fire of a year.

Midsize Firm Kicks Off The New Year By Announcing Plans To Close Its Doors

Staff at the firm were apparently blindsided by the news.

The 2025 Outside Counsel Rankings: Top Law Firms By Type Of Organization

See which firms are most trusted by the Fortune 1000, private companies, and nonprofits.

Report: Employer-Sponsored Health Insurance Costs Jumped In 2024, Outpacing Inflation

Employer-sponsored health insurance costs rose faster than inflation from 2023 to 2024, with higher premiums and deductibles making coverage less affordable for employers and workers, a recent analysis found.

Morning Docket: 01.07.26

* Judge demands to know why Lindsey Halligan is still listed as “U.S. Attorney” when she is most definitely not a “U.S. Attorney.” [Law360]

* Could law firms be on the brink of a financial downturn? [Reuters]

* McGlinchey Stafford will close down. Which might go a ways toward answering the prior question. [American Lawyer]

* “Mid-market legal powerhouse” launches. Which might go a ways toward further complicating that question. [ABA Journal]

* Texas Supreme Court decides to break with ABA and do its own law school accrediting. So now would be a very good time to start a shady correspondence law school with a vaguely religious name. [Texas Lawyer]

* University considers suing player who announced intention to transfer. [Yahoo]

Third Amendment Jawboning!? — See Also

This Administration Keeps Knocking At The Third Amendment: And at the doors of Hilton, no less!

K-9s Are One Thing, But Give Me A Break: AI model claims officer morphed into frog.

George Conway Is Running For Congress: The former partner wants to represent you!

Judge Resigns After Obstruction Conviction: She says Milwaukee Branch 31 deserves to start the year with a judge on the bench.

Cast Your Vote!: Who deserves to be crowned Lawyer Of The Year?