Above the Law

Morning Docket: 04.17.26

* Private equity looking to put its money into law firms. [Law.com International]

* Judges embrace paralegal’s suggestion for modernizing briefs. [Law360]

* Legal academics plead with ABA to maintain law school diversity standard. [Law.com]

* Ghislaine Maxwell’s lawyer expects Trump to issue pardon. [Politico]

* Amicus reform proposal rejected. [Reuters]

* Lawyer and former Virginia Lt. Governor kills wife and self. [Guardian]

For Some Reason Sotomayor Is The Only One Apologizing — See Also

Justice Says Sorry For Accurately Describing Kavanaugh’s Pro-Racial-Profiling Opinion: He’s yet to apologize for penning the damned thing.

You Can’t Just Call Renovations A “National Security Necessity”: The administration’s ballroom plan has two left feet.

Looking For The Best Summer Associate Programs?: Look no further!

The T14 Is Dead. Long Live The T14: People will still use the term even if the data tells them otherwise.

Dicking Around Is Not A Crime: The only peace disturbance was arresting a protesting grandma!

What A Horrible Time To Show Support: DLA Piper contributed to Eric Swalwell’s campaign after the rape allegations went public.

Why MSOs Are A No Go For Solo And Small Law Firms

An examination of how MSOs operate, how they differ from other outsourcing arrangements, what the ethics rules say, and why solos and small firms may be better served by the alternatives that are already available to them.

Judge Leon To Trump: For Real This Time — A Fancy Ballroom Is Not A ‘National Security Necessity’

The administration tried to turn a safety carve-out into a full permission slip. Judge Leon had thoughts. Pointed ones.

Unintentional AI Adoption Is Already Inside Your Company. The Only Question Is Whether You Know It.

Every prompt, every tool, every autopilot, every quiet workflow decision is creating a parallel record of your business.

Justice For Grandmother Arrested Over ‘No Dick Tator’ Penis Costume At Trump Protest!

But the fight isn't over, as the judge tried to downplay the free speech issue.

Kirkland’s Money Machine Has Biglaw Scrambling To Keep Up

As the elite firm pulls further ahead, competitors are rethinking strategy, scale, and survival.

Biglaw’s Awkward Reckoning With Eric Swalwell

As Biglaw backs away from Swalwell, there are some uncomfortable questions.

The Salary Trap: The Move That Looks Better On Paper

Make a move that looks like a win on paper, and you may quietly lose ground where it matters most.

The T14 Is Not Dead. It Is Undying, And That’s Okay

A score is a score, even if the goalposts keeps shifting.

Sotomayor Apologizes For Possibly Hurting Kavanaugh’s Feelings Over The Racial Profiling He Invented

No amount of human misery is as important as maintaining proper manners at the Supreme Court.

Due North: Navigating Legal Licensing In Canada For US Lawyers

License conversion is far from impossible.

New FlyTech-LawSites Report On Legal Tech Advertising Finds Market Splitting Between Commoditization And Competition As Demand Surges

The report’s findings point to a broad surge in lawyer engagement with legal tech – alongside intensifying competition in certain segments – and underscore how both buyer behavior and vendor strategy are evolving.

Vault Ranks The Best Summer Associate Programs (2027)

Which law firm do summer associates love most?

White House Wants Pentagon To Demo Nuclear Space Power By 2031

The Trump administration’s National Initiative for American Space Nuclear Power says the Pentagon and NASA will run ‘design competitions’ that are ‘parallel and mutually reinforcing’ to achieve space-based nuclear power.