It’s antiquated. It represents the fake prestige that large law firms cloak themselves with.
— A response to a survey conducted by The American Lawyer, concerning the use of the term “white shoe” for large law firms. According to Am Law’s survey results, 50.6% of overall respondents said the industry should continue to use the label.
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.
Staci 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.