Above the Law

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For small law firms, traditions can help cement a feeling of collaboration and shared focus.

What makes you an effective lawyer just makes you lying-ass liar.

* The confirmation hearings for Jeff Sessions to serve as U.S. attorney general get underway today; here's what to watch for. [How Appealing]

* Biglaw faces big challenges today, and even top law firms need to up their game. [DealBook / New York Times]

* Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law (and also holder of an NYU Law degree), will serve as senior adviser to President Trump; Kushner's lawyer, Jamie Gorelick of WilmerHale, dismissed nepotism and conflict-of-interest concerns. [Washington Post]

* Speaking of conflicts, it's probably a wise idea for Supreme Court justices to unload their holdings of individual stocks -- as a recent snafu involving Chief Justice John Roberts suggests. [New York Times]

* Speaking of SCOTUS, the Court heard arguments yesterday in a case about a Colorado law making it more difficult for criminal defendants whose convictions get overturned to obtain refunds of fines and restitution they previously paid. [How Appealing]

* Here is Chris Geidner's assessment of the where the Court is right now -- and how it might change after President Trump's first appointment, to be announced sometime after inauguration. [BuzzFeed]

* And here is a detailed dossier on one of Trump's SCOTUS finalists, Judge Neil Gorsuch of the Tenth Circuit. [U.S. Law Week / Bloomberg BNA]

* What can we expect from the SEC if Sullivan & Cromwell partner Jay Clayton is confirmed as chair? Thoughts from Peter J. Henning. [DealBook / New York Times]

Five tips from author Jeena Cho for managing career transitions gracefully.

[caption id="attachment_443453" align="alignright" width="300"] Jeff Sessions (Generated by JG JPEG Library)[/caption]

* Department of Justice lawyers dish on the prospect of working for Jeff Sessions. [GQ]

* The red carpet is as good a place as any for issue spotting. [The Fashion Law]

* After being bullied by Donald Trump, Khizr Khan is using his notoriety to rail against Jeff Sessions. [Huffington Post]

* Some people have their panties in a knot over the letter 1,000+ law profs sent opposing the nomination of Jeff Sessions. [TaxProf Blog]

* Advice for older lawyers searching for new work. [Law and More]

* California Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye on what you really need to know before practicing before the state's high court. [Daily Journal]

I felt like I had my own lawyer to deal with customer service, and the lawyer had taken the deal on contingency!

A clever solution to a recurring problem at trials.