Above the Law

Stat(s) Of The Year: ATL 2025 Data Roundup

Highlights from Above the Law’s survey research over the last year.

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We can talk about whatever you'd like, be it the financial calculus of going to law school, or how to best set yourself up for the career you want.

Morning Docket: 12.31.25

* Lawyer who battled home owners’ association over his Christmas decorations used his settlement to buy more Christmas decorations. [ABA Journal]

* Former Paul Weiss pro bono chief, who quit amidst the firm’s Trump deal, will take over as NYC’s law department. [NY Law Journal]

* The annual mainstream media piece reporting to the rest of the world that, yes, there’s a lot of money in Biglaw. [NY Post]

* Recapping the big lateral moves of the year. [American Lawyer]

* Negligent stage diving… there’s a new one. [Lowering the Bar]

* Trump administation aims to circumvent asylum obligations by immediately deporting anyone requesting asylum to “safe” countries like *checks notes* Uganda. [Politico]

* Possible answer to AI hallucinations: mandatory hyperlinks. [National Law Review]

Recall A Biting Memory — See Also

Touchy With The Teeth: Sidley associate fired after (politely) gnawing on her co-workers.

Keep The Congratulations On The Hush Hush: Kirkland opts out of advertising their newest partners.

Prof. Files Fed Suit After Kirk-Related Censorship: Bold move, University of Tennessee.

Amy Coney Barrett Outlines The King Decision: Excuse me, President for life*.

Trump’s Law Firm Executive Order Appeals Exist To Haunt Biglaw, Make Sure His Threats Never Die

Trump may be losing in court but he's trying to win when it comes to fear.

Biglaw’s In Its London Era

There's been a lot of growth on the other side of the pond.

Best Of ’25: Summer Associate’s Naughty Toddler Impression Gets Her Bounced From Biglaw

She really sunk her teeth into Biglaw.

Challenging Truisms And Embracing A Cockroach Mentality

What will it mean to be a lawyer and legal professional in the future? What will our new value proposition be?

Best Of ’25: Amy Coney Barrett Already Workshopping Her ‘President For Life’ Concurring Opinion

But she'll be sure to express how HARD the decision was when she rubberstamps it.

Five New AI-Powered Business Models For Solos And Smalls In 2026

The AI age does not point toward a single future for law practice or for the wholesale extinction of lawyers. Instead, it opens multiple viable paths.

Best Of ’25: Professor Files Federal Lawsuit After Charlie Kirk Comment Retaliation

Can't even comment on Facebook anymore without the government getting involved.

BriefCatch Raises $6M Series A To Accelerate Acquisitions And Development

BriefCatch says the round comes amid its highest revenue growth rate to date, with 126% net enterprise revenue retention among large law-firm customers.

Best Of ’25: Kirkland Refuses To Publicly Announce Its New Partners, Marking A Shift From Swagger To Silence

To be quite honest, this is embarrassing for the world's richest law firm.

Take The Law Department Compensation Survey Before Ringing In The New Year

Help us track compensation for in-house counsel and legal ops professionals.

Morning Docket: 12.30.25

* Another former partner sues Kasowitz alleging unpaid compensation. [NY Law Journal]

* The Post Office will no longer postmark mail on the day it’s sent. The goal is to prevent mail-in voting, but… so long mailbox rule![Brookings]

* Alex Spiro writes California governor warning him that his clients will leave California if the state attempts to make them actually pay taxes. [Yahoo]

* Jeffrey Toobin profiles Tom Goldstein’s predicament. Key takeaway… it seems as though he might not have been quite as good at poker as he thought. [New York Times Magazine]

* Professor redesigns contracts course to recognize the role AI plays in modern practice. [Law.com]

* Legal Cheek’s most read stories of the year. [Legal Cheek]