See Generally

Whole New Meaning To Judicial Restraint — See Generally

Judge Learns Handcuffing Lawyers Is Frowned Upon: Texas judge charged after allegedly cuffing an attorney mid-hearing.

Disbar Them All: Lawyers have to come together as a profession and make sure the Trump administration's lawyers never practice again.

Judge Skeptical That Trump Can Unilaterally Blow Up Historic Buildings: The East Wing is gone, but the legal fight continues.

Tip For Professor Richard Epstein... Shutting Up Is Still Free: Law professor who faceplanted on COVID insists now declares he’s figured out that everyone has been wrong about the Fourteenth Amendment for a century or so. He is incorrect.

Law School Merger Mania: Regional institution is exploring long-distance merger.

Stroock Calls It After 150 Years: The storied firm dissolves, reminding everyone that nothing is forever.

Law Firm Jet Crash Leaves No Survivors: Tragically, a firm-owned plane went down with no survivors.

Partnerships, Legal Education, Marriages… Lawyers Were Destroying Everything Last Week — See Generally

Another Biglaw Single-Tier Partnership Falls: The path to upward mobility got a little narrower.

Florida And Texas Take Over Legal Education From The ABA: Both states have made abundantly clear that their schools are headed for a dumpster fire.

Supreme Court Hacked, Which Tracks: America’s highest court might want to consider changing its password to something harder than "12345."

Former Senator Turned Biglaw Lawyer Sued For Ruining A Marriage: The complaint reads less like a legal dispute and more like a prestige HBO drama. Well... STARZ drama anyway..

Former Biglaw Associate Who Refused To Bend The Knee Earns Top Honor: Above the Law readers select lawyer who chose principle over prestige as 2025 Lawyer of the Year.

Lindsey Halligan Responds To Illegal Appointment Allegations By Doubling Down: Trump’s most loyal lawyer insists the problem isn’t the law -- it’s everyone insisting on following it.

New Law School Rises From The Ashes Of A Prior Disaster: Hopefully this time is different.

Former Biglaw Partner Charged With Murder: The profession confronts a grim reminder that elite credentials are not character references.

Law School Arms Students With Anti-ICE Hotline: As federal enforcement escalates, one institution decides protecting students matters more than staying quiet.

The New Year Is A Time For Endings — See Generally

Midsize Law Firm Begins New Year By Closing: Firm's resolution appears to have been to shed all its offices.

Judge Ho Trades Common Decency For Chance To Suck Up To Trump: The president's fans are sending violent threats to federal judges. Judge Ho wants to make clear to anyone who might choose a future Supreme Court justice that he doesn't think those threats should be that big of a deal.

ICE Kills Minneapolis Woman And Will Probably Evade Justice: Prosecuting the ICE agent who killed Renee Good presents an uphill battle. Unfortunately, civil relief could prove just as elusive.

The Third Amendment Doomsday Clock Ticks Closer To Midnight: Hilton cut off a franchisee after the Department of Homeland Security attacked the global chain over social media because the local management did not want to deal with the protests related to housing ICE agents.

See Ya!: Judge placed on leave after video of racist and homophobic remarks went viral has now lost her job.

Fake U.S. Attorney Can't Take A Hint: Judge losing patience with Lindsey Halligan pretending to be a prosecutor.

Chief Justice's Annual Report Cites Founding Father Who Would Have Zero Tolerance For This Nonsense: The man who gave Donald Trump absolute immunity framed his latest report around Thomas Paine.

Mega Merger Just In Time For The Holidays — See Generally

Cadwalader Joining Up With Hogan Lovells: After a few months of merger chatter, we have a new home for America's oldest firm.

ICE Accidentally Publishes Enemies List: The agency briefly posted what looked an awful lot like a watch list of immigration lawyers, in case you're wondering what stage of dystopia we're at.

Lindsey Halligan Gets Taken To The Woodshed Again: Trump’s favorite lawyer continues her tour of adverse rulings and judicial side-eye.

Biglaw Firm Faces Serious Allegations: Former associate accuses former partner of rape and asserts hostile work environment claims against the firm.

Prepare Yourself For Rankings Season Discourse: U.S. News is back to reshuffling law schools, ensuring everyone is furious for reasons no one can fully explain.

Dershowitz Spins Wheel Of Nonsense Legal Theories... Lands On 'What If The 22nd Amendment Isn't Real?': Trump wants a third term and his favorite legal scholar is there to muddy up the constitutional waters .

Man Arrested Over Meme Takes His Case To Court: A civil rights lawsuit asks whether free speech still applies.

Tracking Biglaw Bonuses And War Crimes — See Generally

Bonus Tracker Season Officially Begins: Clear your calendars, mute your partners, and keep refreshing -- the market has opinions and associates have spreadsheets.

Military's New GenAI Knows A War Crime When It Sees One: Pete Hegseth's new toy immediately doubleclicked on why you can't double tap.

Federal Judge Who Allegedly Ignored Court Orders Now Allegedly Ignoring Court Ethics: Emil Bove remains consistent!

The Time For Persuasion Is Over: Justice Sotomayor had the administration by the throat, but opted to try to convince the majority to see reason when the nation is well past that point.

Global Biglaw Merger Discovers Divorce Is Also An Option: The once-trumpeted international tie-up is quietly preparing to go its separate ways, proving synergy is temporary but regret is forever.

Firm Beats Trump In Court, Loses To Office Attendance Policy: After defeating executive overreach, the firm turned inward and mandated more face time with the copy machine.

Professor Sues After Discovering Free Speech Has Conditions: Retaliation over comments about Charlie Kirk heads to federal court, where irony enjoys strong venue selection.

Your Honor, May The Record Reflect… Dicks v. Kuntz — See Generally

Serious Case, Extremely Not-Serious Caption: Get ready to giggle like you're 12-years old again.

"Shrug" Is Not Really The Response Anyone Who Cares About The Rule Of Law Wanted To Hear: The disciplinary (non) case against Lindsay Halligan.

Say What You Want About Kim Kardashian's Quest To Become An Esquire: But it sure isn't a reason to get *rid* of the bar exam. Quite the opposite, actually.

USC Law Drama: The divorce that launched a Title IX investigation, a federal lawsuit, and lots of intrigue.

2025 Is Weird, But I Didn't Have Digging Up A Supreme Court Justice's Bones On My Bingo Card: Conservative legal analysts may have lost the plot.

Todd Blanche Chilling Warning To White-Collar Lawyers: Shut up or else.

Trial Lawyer. Fact Witness: Alex Spiro can do it all.

All The Latest Biglaw Bonus Info: In one convenient place.

LOLSuit To Cost Trump Dearly — See Generally

Eleventh Circuit Won't Save Trump And Habba From Sanctions: The American presidency goes from "a million points of light" to "a million dollars in legal sanctions" in a generation.

Milbank Makes Biglaw Bonus Amounts Official: The firm finally weighed in and matched the market.

One Simple Trick To Make Associates Happy: Turns out that giving people money works better than wellness webinars.

Lindsey Halligan Pulls Off A Perfect Double-Faceplant: In a remarkable display of efficiency, she managed to lose both of her big cases in one swoop.

Biglaw Announces Stress-Reduction Plan For Summer Associates: The program is shorter now, which is one way to prepare them for being laid off in favor of AI in a couple years.

Law Professor Responds To Trump With Karate Chop: In defense of Miss Piggy.

Biglaw Bonus Season Arrives! — See Generally

Cravath Starts Bonus Season, Everyone Begin The Freakout: The firm kicked off the year-end festivities and peers began the scramble to match.

Lindsey Halligan Sets New Low Score: Trump’s most loyal lawyer somehow managed to botch our already subterranean expectations.

Biglaw Firm Celebrating The Holidays With Some Mandatory Togetherness: Associates expecting a bonus announcement found out they'd be spending more time enjoying the privilege of fluorescent lighting.

Judge Jerry Smith’s Goes Full Wingnut In Texas Redistricting Case: And, to be clear, the Supreme Court will find a way to sanewash it.

Disbarment Shoe Drops: Josh Kindred’s long-running ethics circus ends exactly where everyone knew it would.

DoorDash Driver Learns Viral Content Can Be A Felony: Refusing to put on pants is already the most popular reason to call DoorDash.

Biglaw’s Latest Transatlantic Marriage Proposal: Ashurst and Perkins Coie look to join forces.

Smile, You’re On ‘Instant Karma Camera’ — See Generally

Racist Rant Costs Biglaw Recruiting Director Their Job: Hard to sell diversity when you’re caught on video proving why it’s needed.

From Dominatrix To Defamation: A Lawsuit Odyssey: Biglaw’s latest scandal reads like a rejected Netflix pilot that still somehow got renewed.

Legal Gala Enjoys Uncharacteristic Excitement As Lawyer Heckles Paul Weiss: Firm chair's speech focused on justice and an audience member pointedly asked why Trump's the one the firm's rewarding.

Law Schools Place Clerkship Stats Over Students: Law schools hide information about judges that might convince their students to protect themselves.

Lindsey Halligan’s Big Day Out: Trump’s most loyal lawyer finally gets her courtroom moment, though probably not the kind she imagined.

Court Greenlights LSU’s Thoughtcrime Hunt: University can continue to consider retaliating against professor for criticizing Trump and Gov. Landry.

Roberta Kaplan Explains Importance Of Creativity: The celebrated litigator discusses how imagination fuels high-stakes advocacy.

Justice Breyer's Positivity Is Strategic: The retired justice sounds out-of-place as the horrors add up, but part of resistance is believing in a future.

Politeness Matters, Even In Biglaw — See Generally

Kirkland Lawyers Sent To Etiquette School: Feedback suggests they don't play well with others.

DOJ Warns Judge That They're Not Going To Listen Anyway: Government lawyers extend courtesy of informing judge of upcoming contempt.

Conservatives Already Dreaming Of Impeaching All Those Radical Leftist Reagan Judges: Federalist Society's annual "let's pretend this isn't a political conference" conference calls upon Republican lawmakers to start impeaching judges blocking Trump administration.

Cadwalader Spotted At The Merger Mixer Again: Firm reportedly in talks with top-50 suitor, proving that “it’s complicated” can also apply to corporate law.

Judge Resigns Over Traffic Tickets: After facing disciplinary action for minor violations, one judge decided to yield rather than fight the citation-industrial complex.

Not All Heroes Wear Capes... Some Are Wrapped Up: D.C. Sandwich Thrower trial offered plenty of comedy.

Simpson Thacher Starts Working For Trump: Another of the elite firms embroiled in Trump payola deals has taken on administration work.

Lawyers Read Riot Act For Calling January 6 A ‘Riot’ — See Generally

White House Cracks Down On DOJ Lawyers Calling January 6 A 'Riot': Two suspended for declining to refer to it as “enthusiastic tourism.”

Hot Dog!: An IRS attorney sidelined by the shutdown has opened a hot dog stand. You'd better believe he's deducting that.

Biglaw Still Believes In Working From Home... That's What Saturdays Are For: Another firm announces a four-day in-office mandate starting in 2026.

Government Lawyers Just Accept The Premise That Trump Will Serve A Third Term: Oral argument casually tosses out that Trump will leave office in 'three years or in seven years."

Comey Asks To Get Case Against Him Tossed Because It's Very Stupid: The former FBI director gives judge multiple reasons to end this nonsense.

Public Service Legal Work Too Woke For Loan Forgiveness: New Department of Education rule doesn't explicitly target public interest lawyers, but it's hard to see how their work survives the new language in the loan program crackdown.

The Billable Hour, The Clock Tolls For Thee:: The rumors of the billable hour's demise have historically been exaggerated, but AI presents problems that aren't easily avoided.

Racking Up The Ls — See Generally

Jeanine Pirro Secures Lifetime Achievement In Losing: After departing the Fox bubble, Jeanine learns the real world has less tolerance for her nonsense. Cadwalader Getting The Urge To Merge?: After a series of departures, Cadwalader may have reached an existential crossroads. Rule Of Law Republicans Convene To Sound Alarm About Trump: Elected Democrats may be […]

Contempt Is Such A Strong, If Entirely Accurate, Word — See Generally

Ed. Note: See generally is our quick review of the big stories from last week. So whether you missed it the first time or just want to revisit it, let's look back on what happened.

Bold Strategy, Counselor. Let's See If It Pays Off (It Does Not): Courtroom decorum lessons came fast and hard for one lawyer who discovered contempt has both a legal and a personal meaning.

San Francisco DA Reminds National Guard That Excessive Force Is Still A Crime: Holding law enforcement accountable is still part of law and order.

Legal Analyst Begins Process Of Normalizing Presidential Juntas: Speaking of National Guard troops performing illegal law enforcement tasks, conservative analysts have started laying the preemptive groundwork.

FASORP Drops Bullying Suit Because Even It Got Bored: The anti-DEI crusaders packed up their nonsense lawsuit after realizing outrage barely covers filing fees.

Biglaw Lost In Translation: Another global firm shutters its Japan outpost.

Donald Trump Prosecutes John Bolton For Doing Less Confidential Document Mishandling Than Him: The mustachioed hawk of yesteryear finally found a misadventure he can't bomb his way out of.

Lawyer Caught Up In Young Republicans Racist Texts Scandal Shocked To Find Consequences Are Still A Thing: The political operative went from whisper campaign to unemployment line in record time.

Clio Announces Plan To Be Everything, Everywhere, All At Once: The legal tech giant expands its offerings and its client base and looks poised to begin competing with... just about everyone in the space.

Brace Yourself For Law School Admissions Hunger Games: Applications are spiking again.

Please Take This: Our annual small law firm survey!

Magically Disappearing Partners — See Generally

Who? Never Heard Of 'Em: Kirkland decides not to name the new partners.

Disappearing Lawyers The Old Fashioned Way: Cadwalader loses nearly 40 in raid.

DOJ Gets Creative: And annoys judge in the process.

We Expect Fake History, But This Is Ridiculous!: Federal judges asked to explain how fake cites ended up in their opinions.

We're Not Saying They're Connected, But...: Judge's home burns down after she ruled against Trump administration and Stephen Miller told the faithful that judges are shielding terrorists.

I Used To Bullseye Womprats: Harvard Law professor arrested after going rat hunting.

Don't Take The Brown Acid: Deloitte caught issuing report with AI hallucinations.

State Ditches Bar Exam As Only Way To Become Lawyer — See Generally

State Previews Future Without The Bar Exam: Utah unveils a new, alternate pathway to licensure focused on practical experience.

Storied Wall Street Firm Enters Its “Co-Management” Era: After capitulating to Trump and suffering bigtime talent losses, Cadwalader adds a co-manager.

Justice Thomas Shows Cowardice Of His Convictions: Thomas described stepping away from teaching after erasing reproductive freedom rather than deal with critical law students.

Biglaw Is A Lot Like A Family... In That You Have To Go Spend Time With Them No Matter How Much You Want To Stay Home: Another firm announces some mandatory office time.

Go Out There And Decide One For The Gipper: Federal judge appointed by Ronald Reagan delivers scathing rebuke of Trump administration tactics.

Texas Decides It’s Done With The ABA, Which Is Fair Since It’s Been Done With Education For Awhile: Maybe it would help if the ABA agreed to hang the Ten Commandments in all law schools?

What We Didn't Want To Do In The Shadows: The conservative justices hoped to keep rubberstamping the administration's dismantling of the federal government, but the White House couldn't leave the Federal Reserve alone.

Life Of A Show Prosecutor: Nevada's interim U.S. Attorney joins the ranks of Trump appointees found illegally trying to serve by adverse possession.

James Comey Hires Experienced Counsel To 86 47's Criminal Case Against Him: The former FBI director picked a small firm with a rich pedigree for his witch hunt prosecution.