Morning Docket: 06.04.18

* According to President Trump's lawyers in a confidential memo sent to special counsel Robert Mueller, the President can't obstruct justice because the Constitution allows him to "if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon." Tell that to Bill Clinton. [New York Times] * President Trump was complaining via tweet about the costs of the special counsel's "Russian Hoax Investigation" this weekend, but as it turns out, the costs of the President's trips to Mar-a-Lago dwarf the costs of Mueller's legal bills, so there's that. [The Hill] * Speaking of the Russia investigation, despite numerous past denials, Trump's lawyers also admitted in that confidential memo that the President "dictated" his Donald Trump Jr.'s statement on his 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians where he reportedly hoped to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. [Slate] * Rudy Giuliani says that he doesn't think it's a good idea for President Trump to testify before Mueller because "our recollection keeps changing." That's an eloquent way of saying that they're having trouble keeping their fibs in line. [CNN] * The latest U.S. jobs report was just peachy, but the story for lawyers was a little less rosy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal profession lost about 200 jobs last month, and about 1,000 jobs since last May. [American Lawyer]

By Staci Zaretsky on June 04, 2018 8:35 am

President Trump Unveils His Infrastructure Initiative With State And Local Officials In The State Dining Room Of White House * According to President Trump’s lawyers in a confidential memo sent to special counsel Robert Mueller, the President can’t obstruct justice because the Constitution allows him to “if he wished, terminate the inquiry, or even exercise his power to pardon.” Tell that to Bill Clinton. [New York Times]

* President Trump was complaining via tweet about the costs of the special counsel’s “Russian Hoax Investigation” this weekend, but as it turns out, the costs of the President’s trips to Mar-a-Lago dwarf the costs of Mueller’s legal bills, so there’s that. [The Hill]

* Speaking of the Russia investigation, despite numerous past denials, Trump’s lawyers also admitted in that confidential memo that the President “dictated” his Donald Trump Jr.’s statement on his 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians where he reportedly hoped to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. [Slate]

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

* Rudy Giuliani says that he doesn’t think it’s a good idea for President Trump to testify before Mueller because “our recollection keeps changing.” That’s an eloquent way of saying that they’re having trouble keeping their fibs in line. [CNN]

* The latest U.S. jobs report was just peachy, but the story for lawyers was a little less rosy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the legal profession lost about 200 jobs last month, and about 1,000 jobs since last May. [American Lawyer]

What You Didn’t Learn In Law School

How do you keep up with the competition? Share your perspective in this brief survey to help us benchmark your lifelong training in professional skills. As a thank you, qualified respondents receive a chance to win a $250 gift card.

By Above the Law

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.