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Above The Law’s 2018 Lawyer Of The Year Contest: The Finalists!

Cast your vote for one of these seven deserving nominees!

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Last year was, for better or worse, a big year in legal news. So it should come as no surprise to see big names dominating our list of finalists for 2018 Lawyer of the Year (“LOTY”). Thanks to everyone who responded to our request for nominations for 2018 Lawyer of the Year. We narrowed the many excellent nominees to a slate of eight fascinating lawyers — distinguished, despicable, or debatable, depending on your point of view.

Here are the nominees, in alphabetical order, with a brief blurb about each:

  • Michael Avenatti: Who would’ve thought that the lawyer for a former adult film actress would start a chain of events that send another lawyer to jail and add fuel to the fire in the FBI investigation of a sitting president? Despite the fact that he regrettably tried to insert himself into every law-related hot topic of the day, we owe a lot to Michael Avenatti.
  • David Boies: From once working to bring same-sex marriage to America to working on behalf of Harvey Weinstein and allegedly silencing sexual assault victims, this beloved Biglaw partner experienced quite the fall from grace in 2018. Will he be able to overcome last year’s unravelling of his reputation?
  • Michael Cohen: A graduate of the “worst law school in the country,” Michael Cohen was catapulted to infamy in 2018 by virtue of his rocky relationship with his most important former client, Donald Trump. Cohen was loyal to Trump to a fault, perhaps too loyal, as he revealed in his plea deal that he committed criminal acts out of “blind loyalty” to the president — but at least he implicated the president in the process. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison.
  • Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg: This Supreme Court justice is in it for the long haul. In 2018, she was the subject of not one, but two movies (RBG and On the Basis of Sex, and she continues to represent a shining light for women’s rights in America. The Notorious RBG fell in her chambers and broke her ribs in November, and in a strange twist of fate, it was that fall that led to her lung cancer diagnosis. Fear not, because she’s going to be just fine.
  • Justice Brett Kavanaugh: If you thought 2018 couldn’t get any worse, then it’s time for you to hold my beer — that is, if you can get your hands on it before Justice Kavanaugh. Accused of sexual assault as a teen, he went on to give an opening statement so calendar-clutching crazy during Senate confirmation hearing that Matt Damon had to reenact it on Saturday Night Live.
  • Robert Mueller: The man, the myth, the legend, Robert Mueller. Mueller was appointed as special counsel in the Russia probe in 2017, but his work is ongoing and has resulted in the indictments and guilty pleas of dozens of former Trump associates (and he’s gathered some nude selfies to boot). But will this year be when he’s able to crack his largest nut? Stay tuned, because 2019 is Mueller time!
  • Michelle Obama: The former First Lady published her memoir, Becoming, in 2018, and within its pages it was revealed that she “hated being a lawyer.” Believe us when we say that you’re not the only one! Thank you for telling the truth.

Who should be named Above the Law’s Lawyer of the Year for 2018? Cast your vote below. Polls are open until SUNDAY, JANUARY 20, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

Who should be named Above the Law’s Lawyer of the Year for 2018?

  • Michael Avenatti (44%, 635 Votes)
  • Robert Mueller (25%, 361 Votes)
  • Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (15%, 214 Votes)
  • Justice Brett Kavanaugh (6%, 91 Votes)
  • Michelle Obama (5%, 74 Votes)
  • Michael Cohen (3%, 43 Votes)
  • David Boies (1%, 19 Votes)

Total Voters: 1,437

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked 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.

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