Pro Bono

Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 11.11.16

* "You never say no, but I’d rather help him find someone else who can do it. I’m very happy not being in the government." Word on the street is that former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is being considered for attorney general in the Trump administration, but the Greenberg Traurig partner doesn't exactly seem interested. Hmm, perhaps Governor Chris Christie will be AG after all? [Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)] * Judge Gonzalo Curiel is now urging litigants on both sides of the Trump University case to settle, noting that "[i]t would be wise for the plaintiffs, for the defendants, to look closely at trying to resolve this case given all else that's involved." The judge who President-elect Trump once accused of being biased due to his Mexican heritage is now trying to save Trump from being on trial for fraud early in his presidency. [Reuters] * The hits just keep on coming for King & Wood Mallesons. The firm's Australian and Chinese partnerships will likely be bailing out its troubled European and Middle Eastern offices, but Stuart Fuller, its managing global partner, has decided to step down by the year's end, which has prompted an immediate search for a successor. Fuller will remain a partner with the firm, and will return to full-time practice in 2017. [Am Law Daily] * Jones Day has teamed up with the American Bar Association to start VetLex, a program that will connect veterans with pro-bono and low-bono lawyers across the country. VetLex will be the first nationwide network dedicated to legal service referrals for veterans. The program will "revolutionize the way we deliver pro bono resources to veterans." A hearty congratulations to Jones Day and the ABA! [Big Law Business] * Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois has been indicted for defrauding the government out of about $100,000 after allegedly submitting false invoices for the costs of redecorating his office with a "Downton Abbey" motif and various personal expenses. Schock's attorney says the government is "criminalizing a handful of administrative mistakes" made by his client -- six figures worth of alleged mistakes. [Chicago Tribune]

By Staci Zaretsky
Morning Docket

Morning Docket: 09.16.16

* Former Berkeley Law dean Sujit Choudhry is suing the school, claiming that Berkeley discriminated against him by punishing him more harshly for alleged sexual harassment compared to white professors. [Law.com] * The family of Sandra Bland settles its lawsuit over her death for $1.9 million. [New York Times] * The Sixth Circuit, sitting en banc (and rather splintered), rules that the mental-health ban on gun ownership could violate the Second Amendment. [How Appealing] * Congratulations to Miami corporate partner Ira Coleman, who will replace Peter John Sacripanti and Jeffrey E. Stone as chair of McDermott Will & Emery in January. [Big Law Business] * Ashurst remains in a tailspin, with five partners (including two office heads) leaving in the span of 24 hours. [Ashurst] * In other U.K. law firm news, Freshfields is replacing "Dear Sirs" with gender-neutral salutations in all communications and legal documents. [The Lawyer via Big Law Business] * More exciting news for Bancroft: recognition for its pro bono work, which partners pledge will continue after they move over to Kirkland. [Law360] * Paging parents who left Davis Polk to raise their kids: here's a program to bring you back into Biglaw. [Law.com via ABA Journal]

By David Lat