What Happens When A Court Rules That Twins Aren’t Related?
It could have been worse; this is actually a partial victory for the parents.
Non-Sequiturs: 12.07.16
* Which Biglaw giants are "committing tens of millions of dollars in free legal services" to the gun control cause? Seems like they're getting a great return on that investment... [New York Times / Dealbook] * The EU fined JPMC and two other banks $552 million for manipulating futures. As if the EU has any future now! [Courthouse News Service] * Lawsuit filed against teacher for 16-year-old bad grade that trapped lawyer in low prestige career. It's like the Plasgraf of bad life choices. [Legal Cheek] * Police called because man whistled "Closing Time." Good. [Lowering the Bar] * Celebrate the holidays with this buyer's guide for trademark disputed beer and wine! [Trademark & Copyright Law Blog] * Immigrant children need assistance coping with trauma. Pro bono lawyers can help. [Psychology Today] * A short reaction to today's piece on Tiffany Trump's law school plans -- and make sure to note the update to that story about her experience taking the LSAT. [Law and More]
AI Is Reshaping Legal Practice—But Tools Aren’t The Real Differentiator.
Explore the mindset, cultural shifts, and training strategies that define the AI‑savvy lawyer, revealing why human judgment, standardized competence, and integrated learning—not technology alone—will shape the future of the profession.
Morning Docket: 11.03.16
* Why would liberal states "remain [] member[s] of this union when the president is a raving narcissist that some describe as a sociopath?" Some law professors are having a difficult time imagining Donald Trump as president, and have said that things like secessions or coups could become real possibilities under Trump's leadership if he should win the election. [WSJ Law Blog] * Biglaw firms in the U.S. have made great strides when it comes to parental leave, but across the pond in the U.K., they don't seem to be doing as well; in fact, these firms seem to be "hemorrhaging female talent," and it's "crippling" law firm diversity and career progression for lawyers with children and families. [The Lawyer (sub. req.)] * Speaking of the U.K., its High Court has ruled that Prime Minister Theresa May must seek parliamentary approval before attempting to leave the European Union, writing "the Crown — i.e. the government of the day — cannot by exercise of prerogative powers override legislation enacted by Parliament." Sorry, Brexit bros. [New York Times] * "[A] well-intentioned majority acting in the name of tolerance and liberalism, can, if unchecked, impose its views on the minority in a manner that is in fact intolerant and illiberal." Trinity Western University has won the right to operate a Christian law school, despite the fact that it intends to discriminate against LGBTQ students. [Globe and Mail] * "They changed the legislative nature of the judicial system, they changed the American constitution, they paved the way for a lot of people's lives." Loving, the film that tells the tale of Richard and Mildred Loving's landmark Supreme Court victory that struck down legislation prohibiting interracial marriage, is out in theaters this Friday. [Reuters] * Glamour has named Emily Doe, the college student who survived Stanford swimmer Brock Turner's sexual assault and helped to change a California law that once allowed for lighter sentences in sexual assault cases where victims were unconscious or intoxicated, as one of the magazine's Women of the Year for 2016. Congratulations. [Glamour]
Morning Docket: 10.21.16
* Rhonda Crawford, the Illinois law clerk who allegedly posed as a judge and was running unopposed for her own judgeship, was indicted for her judicial impersonation. Crawford does not intend to drop out of the race for a seat on the bench, despite the state bar ethics commission seeking to suspend her license to practice. [Chicago Tribune] * London firms CMS and Olswang are merging with international firm Nabarro for a three-way combination that's set to close in May 2017 and operate under the name CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang, but rumor has it an American firm wants to get in on the action. Will Hunton & Williams join in for four-way fun? [The Lawyer] * "[M]aybe Republicans can stop with the 60-something repeal votes they've taken ... and just work with the next president to smooth out the kinks." President Obama hopes that maybe when his second term in the White House is over, his signature healthcare law can be fixed. He doesn't even care if they change its name to "Reagancare." [Reuters] * "The panic is starting to set in. Those who have a lot of interests at stake need to do work now." Lawyers across the pond are poised for a profitable 2017 thanks to people scrambling for legal advice following Brexit, but those billables won't last forever; after all, lawyers aren't "immune to a broader economic slowdown." [Big Law Business] * More law schools are partially or completely covering bar exam preparation costs for their students, but with pass rates plummeting across the nation, you must be curious if this trend has had any positive effect. It worked for Loyola New Orleans and Southern University, whose pass rates for first-timers increased quite a bit. [ABA Journal]
Stat Of The Week: Europe Calls Shenanigans On Apple
The $14.5 billion penalty against Apple is the largest the EU has ever levied against a single corporation.
Morning Docket: 07.05.16
* In case you haven't been keeping score like we have, these are the firms that recently raised salaries: Kilpatrick Townsend, Sutherland, Norton Rose Fulbright, Morgan Lewis (additional details), Troutman Sanders. If you’re worried you’ve missed any of our coverage on pay raises, you can check out our omnibus 2016 salary chart where we collect these stories. [2016 Salary Increase / Above the Law] * “The plan was always to retire after this summer, retirement just came a little sooner than I’d hoped." Olympic gold medalist Shannon Vreeland isn't going to the Rio Olympics this summer; instead, she'll be swimming in the completely the uncharted waters of law school at Vanderbilt. Will she be the new Aquagirl? [SwimSwam] * Worried about Brexit? So are clients who have hired Mischon de Reya lawyers to make sure the British government doesn't try to leave the EU without consulting parliament. "Everyone in Britain needs the government to apply the correct constitutional process and allow parliament to fulfill its democratic duty," says a firm partner. [Bloomberg] * Judge Richard Posner would like to sincerely apologize for saying that the Constitution isn't worth the time judges have spent studying it. What he really meant to say was that he thinks the Constitution is so vague that judges are simply "do[ing] the best they can" to make the 17th century document applicable to our modern world. [WSJ Law Blog] * "I thought you wanted to do this. The time is right and you're ready, you just need to do it! You can't think about it. You just have to do it. You said you were gonna do it. Like I don't get why you aren't." Michelle Carter, the Massachusetts teen who walked her boyfriend through his suicide via text, will stand trial for involuntary manslaughter. [AP]
Opus 2 Steps Up Its AI Game With Acquisition Of A Legal Tech Startup
With the addition of Uncover’s technology, the litigation software is delivering rapid innovation.
Morning Docket: 06.29.16
* In case you haven't been keeping score like we have, these are the firms that recently raised salaries: Lowenstein Sandler and Venable (kind of). If you’re ever worried that you’ve missed any of our coverage on pay raises, you can check out our omnibus 2016 salary chart where we collect these stories. [2016 Salary Increase / Above the Law] * "Imitation is NOT the most sincere form of flattery." Not long after filing suit against Ivanka Trump on similar grounds, Aquazzura seeks to plant its dainty foot firmly up Steve Madden's ass with a series of trade-dress infringement suits for what the Italian company alleges are knockoffs of some of its most popular shoe designs. [Observer] * Will law school graduates be the next ones to have their student loans canceled? Thanks to the Department of Education's proposal of an expanded debt forgiveness rule last week, law school graduates may be able to qualify for a "defense to repayment" provision -- and escape their debt -- if they can prove they were defrauded. [BuzzFeed] * "I'm just not taking any chances with my legal profession. It's very difficult to qualify as a solicitor and I'm not willing to just give it up because the U.K. decides to vote out the EU." British attorneys specializing in antitrust law are registering as Irish solicitors for fear of losing their ability to practice EU law. Thanks, Brexit. [Big Law Business] * Blank Rome is adding Stacy Phillips's celebrity divorce boutique to its firm. Over the course of her career, Phillips has represented many "high-net-worth, high-end clients," the likes of which include Britney Spears and Bobby Brown. With the addition of her small firm, Blank Rome's family-law group will grow to 30 attorneys. [WSJ Law Blog]
If You Do Work Internationally, You’ll Want to Know About the New EU Standards Coming Friday
Can an international deal fall through because electronic signatures were used?
British Lawyers Might Not Get Their Raise: And Other Ways Brexit Shot British Law In The Dick
Figuring out which laws still apply should make for a lot of work for British lawyers, but they might not be getting paid more for their efforts.
NOBODY PANIC — Translating A British Barrister’s Reaction To Brexit
Lawyer keeps a stiff upper lip in the face of Brexit.
Schenck Price Competes Smarter With Lexis+ With Protégé
LexisNexis sat down with John Ursin, Managing Partner at Schenck Price, to learn how the firm is using legal AI to strengthen client service and daily legal work.
Non-Sequiturs: 05.01.15
* If you think the federal government is preparing a military takeover of Texas... you might be a redneck. And you might also be Governor Greg Abbott. [Forbes] * Elie says it's time to end the expansive powers of arrest, for the good of everyone. [New York Daily News] * Most of the 2016 presidential hopefuls are breaking the law. It's good practice for if they win. [LFC 360] * Not to dismiss the important point made in this article about substandard housing and the dangers of lead paint, but I think there may be other lessons to learn from Freddie Gray. [Washington Post] * Satanic Temples are taking this RFRA thing and running with it. [Jezebel] * Over in the EU, Louis Vuitton failed to win back the trademark it claims on its checkerboard pattern. [Fashionista] * I've not read this yet, but here's a collection of Legal Notices To Superheroes. Per the description, "A Letter to Superman from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services" has a lot of promise. [Amazon (affiliate link)] * And remember to vote for the winner of the 2015 ATL Law Revue contest. Voting concludes Sunday at 11:59 p.m. EST. [Above the Law]
In Defense Of Cleary Gottlieb
Is this elite law firm getting a bum rap?
European Parliament Considers Banning All Pornography
A recap of the legal maneuvering in Europe as they consider shutting off the porn spigot.
Judge Orders Tabloid to Hand Over Topless Kate Middleton Pics; Rest of Internet Laughs and Right-Clicks ‘Save Image As’
Kate MIddleton wins a French court ruling protecting the privacy of those topless sunbathing photos.
Morning Docket: 07.05.12
* Who needs a Declaration of Internet Freedom when the government supports protesting citizens who go buckwild in the streets? The European Union voted against ratification of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement. [Associated Press] * Kenneth Schneider, the former Debevoise & Plimpton associate serving a 15-year sentence for forcing a Russian teenager to be his sex slave, was suspended from practice pending further disciplinary proceedings. [New York Law Journal] * Glenn Mulcaire, the investigator who intercepted voicemail messages on behalf of News of the World, lost a bid to remain silent about who commissioned his services. Rupert’s gonna be sooo pissed. [New York Times] * Congratulations to the team from the University of Chicago Law School that won the United States Supreme Court Prediction Competition. They won $5K for betting on their Con Law nerd-dom. [SCOTUS Competition] * Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. is expected to rule on George Zimmerman’s motion for bond today, and perhaps he won’t be so quick to forget that the defendant already lied to the court to get out of jail. [Orlando Sentinel] * “You can’t just arbitrarily add anything you want to a sentence.” Well, it looks like you can, because in addition to jail time, a judge in South Carolina tacked on a Biblical book report to this woman’s sentence. [Daily Mail]