Morning Docket: 12.10.18

* It's official: 2018 has been the best year for law firms since the Great Recession. Per Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group, the legal industry will soon see its "strongest annual performance in a decade." Biglaw is back, baby! [American Lawyer] * Now that federal prosecutors have linked President Trump to crimes committed during his 2016 campaign, the focus has shifted to the family business -- but thus far, special counsel Robert Mueller hasn't tipped his hand as to whether or how Trump's family members will be involved in the case. [New York Times] * The Ninth Circuit recently upheld a district court judge's decision to put a stop to President Trump's limitations on asylum, citing the fact that his new port-of-entry rule was "likely arbitrary and capricious" since it was based "on a criterion that has nothing to do with asylum itself." Sounds about right. [Los Angeles Times] * Jeffrey Hammes, the longtime chairman of Kirkland & Ellis, will retire in early 2020, and his replacement has already been named. Congratulations to Jon Ballis, who will soon rule the roost at the world's highest-grossing firm. [Big Law Business] * It looks like the legal profession is starting early on its New Year's resolution to cut some weight. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal sector shed 2,400 jobs over the course of November. Yikes... [American Lawyer]

* It’s official: 2018 has been the best year for law firms since the Great Recession. Per Wells Fargo’s Legal Specialty Group, the legal industry will soon see its “strongest annual performance in a decade.” Biglaw is back, baby! [American Lawyer]

* Now that federal prosecutors have linked President Trump to crimes committed during his 2016 campaign, the focus has shifted to the family business — but thus far, special counsel Robert Mueller hasn’t tipped his hand as to whether or how Trump’s family members will be involved in the case. [New York Times]

* The Ninth Circuit recently upheld a district court judge’s decision to put a stop to President Trump’s limitations on asylum, citing the fact that his new port-of-entry rule was “likely arbitrary and capricious” since it was based “on a criterion that has nothing to do with asylum itself.” Sounds about right. [Los Angeles Times]

* Jeffrey Hammes, the longtime chairman of Kirkland & Ellis, will retire in early 2020, and his replacement has already been named. Congratulations to Jon Ballis, who will soon rule the roost at the world’s highest-grossing firm. [Big Law Business]

* It looks like the legal profession is starting early on its New Year’s resolution to cut some weight. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal sector shed 2,400 jobs over the course of November. Yikes… [American Lawyer]


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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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