Above the Law

My Chatbot For Young Lawyers: ‘Ask Frank’

Lawyers can ‘Ask Frank’ questions about the profession, their careers, and the practice.

Don’t Forget: Deadline Is Nearing To Apply For The Startup Alley Competition At ABA Techshow

Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Friday, Dec. 26, 2025.

Mark Cuban: Employers Are Unknowingly Profiting From Sick Workers’ Drug Costs

Mark Cuban warned that many employers are collecting drug rebate money funded by their sick employees — a practice that can violate fiduciary duties under ERISA.

Morning Docket: 12.11.25

* Citi preaches positive outlook for law firms next year. In fairness, bankruptcy work still counts as demand. [Yahoo Finance]

* Law firms sprucing up their offices to sweeten deal of calling everyone back in. [American Lawyer]

* Lawsuit seeks to block Trump from plastering his face on national park passes like he’s Stalin or something. [Law360]

* Trial set to begin for Wisconsin judge charged with obstructing immigration officials by not letting them commandeer her courtroom. [ABC News]

* Ethics expert says senior DOJ leadership declaring “war” on judges is not good for the rule of law. [New York Law Journal]

* Paralegal for prosecutors who snuck a look at her boyfriend’s case file receives suspended sentence. [Legal Cheek]

* Legal tech year in review. A lot has happened… but mostly AI. [ABA Journal]

$300K Bonuses?! — See Also

These Firms Are Really Giving Back To Their Associates!: Great time to work at Boies Schiller or Kellogg Hansen!

Another Boutique Putting The Market To Shame: Dunn Isaacson Rhee is paying out some major coin!

The Gift That Keeps On Taking: Economists say Trump’s tariffs will cost families thousands.

Federal Judges Aren’t Supposed To Be Politicking: Did Emil Bove not get the message?

Even ‘The Future Of American Warfare’ Thinks It Was A War Crime: Hegseth’s bold call to integrate GenAi.mil is already backfiring.

Free Speech On Trial: Professor sues school for retaliating over a Facebook comment.

Is Protégé Next Up?: LexisNexis just dropped a huge AI expansion pack.

Elite Firm Delights Associates With Bonuses Up To $300,000

This firm is going way over the Biglaw market rate on bonuses.

LexisNexis Protégé Announces Glow-Up As It Hopes To Be One-Stop Legal AI Shop

This next generation product will also test counterpoints, explore alternative approaches, and deliver a second ‘opinion’ on arguments.

Judge Emil Bove’s MAGA Rally Field Trip Sparks Judicial Misconduct Complaint

Sure, he's a federal judge but he hasn't left politics behind.

This Is Why We Have Bar Exams

And the DOJ continues to be a hot mess.

$300,000 Bonuses For Junior Associates? Bonuses 8x The Market Rate? This Biglaw Firm’s Spin On Bonuses Brings In A LOT Of Cash

Boies Schiller & Flexner associates are raking it in.

Sure, Swift Kicks To The Sternum For All Tech CEOs, But How About An AI Robot That Can Clean The Damn John?

The bulk of the media-facing AI field is full of tech charlatans stumbling all over one another to create the first humanoid robot that isn't a useless POS.

A Monthly Checklist For Upping Your Cash Flow

Want to kickstart your firm’s profitability? Learn how by downloading the guide.

Boutique That Broke Away From Capitulating Biglaw Firm Hands Out Bonuses That Really Pack A Punch

Associates at the firm are reaping big rewards after its Biglaw split.

Trump’s Liberation Day Tariffs Are On Shaky Legal Ground As They Appear To Be A Stealth Consumption Tax

A Yale Budget Lab study believes the average household will lose $2,700 in purchasing power in 2025 due to the tariff’s inflationary effect on prices.

Trump Admin Should ‘Go Farther’ On Rewrite Of Acquisition Regulations: Industry Org

‘This is a really rare opportunity to attack some of those requirements that are most burdensome,’ said Margaret Boatner, AIA's vice president for national security policy.