Morning Docket: 06.01.18

* New firm, new pay: Recently merged firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner is going to be moving to a merit-based pay system for partners. Messing with people’s money? This should be interesting! [Legal Week] * Reed Smith has rolled out a new plan that will "revamp" associate life at the firm, complete with new training, billing requirements, and reviews. This isn't specifically for millennials (suuuuure), but rather, "an acknowledgment that there are some creative and inventive ways to do things differently." [American Lawyer] * In case you missed it, President Trump says he's considering commuting former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's 14-year sentence for corruption and he might even throw a pardon Martha Stewart's way. Hmm, it's almost like the president is trying to set the stage for something that could come in the future... [Chicago Tribune] * According to Vivia Chen, if we really want gender equity in the legal profession, it might be time for some quotas. It's working for corporate boards in Europe, so it could work here too, but alas, "the topic has largely been a nonstarter in the U.S." [The Careerist] * Jennifer Ihns, the former clinic administrator at Notre Dame Law, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for embezzling about $200,000 from the school, but she'll only spend two years behind bars, with five years of probation. [Law.com]

By Staci Zaretsky on June 01, 2018 8:37 am

* Reed Smith has rolled out a new plan that will “revamp” associate life at the firm, complete with new training, billing requirements, and reviews. This isn’t specifically for millennials (suuuuure), but rather, “an acknowledgment that there are some creative and inventive ways to do things differently.” [American Lawyer]

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.

By Barbri

* In case you missed it, President Trump says he’s considering commuting former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich’s 14-year sentence for corruption and he might even throw a pardon Martha Stewart’s way. Hmm, it’s almost like the president is trying to set the stage for something that could come in the future… [Chicago Tribune]

* According to Vivia Chen, if we really want gender equity in the legal profession, it might be time for some quotas. It’s working for corporate boards in Europe, so it could work here too, but alas, “the topic has largely been a nonstarter in the U.S.” [The Careerist]

* Jennifer Ihns, the former clinic administrator at Notre Dame Law, has been sentenced to seven years in prison for embezzling about $200,000 from the school, but she’ll only spend two years behind bars, with five years of probation. [Law.com]

How Checkbox’s ‘Legal Front Door’ Can Transform Your Workflow

Leveraging agentic AI to triage, prioritize, and automate the law department inbox.

By Above the Law and Checkbox

Staci Zaretsky has been an editor at Above the Law since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.