Jake Heller

Non-Sequiturs

Non-Sequiturs: 01.19.18

* When it comes to the retrial of sexual-assault charges against Bill Cosby, there are many women -- 19, to be exact -- willing to testify #MeToo. [Jezebel] * Best friends: which organizations file the most amicus briefs in the U.S. Supreme Court? [Empirical SCOTUS] * Judicata just ranked the brief-writing skills of 20 top California law firms; how did your firm fare? [Dewey B Strategic] * How will artificial intelligence transform society? Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, and Harry Shum, executive VP of Microsoft's AI and research Group, share their insights. [Microsoft] * Speaking of AI, how will it affect the world of legal practice? Jake Heller, CEO of AI pioneer Casetext, has answers. [Artificial Lawyer] * Professor Noah Feldman identifies the shortcomings of Twitter as a forum for legal discussion (but has some kind words for legal blogs, including the one you're reading right now). [Bloomberg] * Message boards are also valuable resources -- like this one, "where all the unemployed lawyers go to cry." [The Outline] * Marc Randazza is a commendably fierce defender of the First Amendment, but this latest case might be a bridge too far. [Huffington Post] * Check out this fascinating profile of a Mormon lawyer who lost his faith searching for an archaeological site. [Science] * Why do we need people from s**thole countries? Meet five lawyers who prove the merits of immigration. [Lawfuel] * Think twice before asking your accountant buddy to do your taxes for you. [Going Concern] * Speaking of taxes, we've finally uncovered the real victims of the new tax scheme -- partners who want a break on sports tickets. [Accounting Today]

By Above the Law
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.08.17

* The Ninth Circuit, President Donald Trump's judicial archnemesis, affirms Judge Derrick Watson's (modified) preliminary injunction against the "grandma ban." [How Appealing] * Donald Trump Jr. opens up to the Senate Judiciary Committee about that infamous June 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer. [New York Times] * Consolidation continues in the legal-services world: Counsel On Call acquires e-discovery company DSicovery LLC (DSi). [ABA Journal] * The Trump administration sides with the anti-gay-marriage baker in the Masterpiece Cakeshop case that will be decided this coming Term by SCOTUS. [How Appealing] * ICYMI: Deborah Farone -- Cravath's chief marketing director for the past 14 years, and the "gold standard" in legal marketing -- is leaving Cravath to start her own consulting firm and to write a book on law firm marketing (to be published next year by the Practising Law Institute). [Law.com] * Cooley raids Wilson Sonsini for talent for the second time in three months, this time hiring emerging growth specialists Jon Avina, Calise Cheng, and Rachel Proffitt. [Big Law Business] * Legal research startup Casetext -- led by CEO Jake Heller, COO Laura Safdie, and VP Pablo Arredondo -- continues on its upward trajectory. [ABA Journal]

By David Lat