Each week NALP provides a summary of news articles of interest to legal career professionals.
For news in the public interest arena, see the news digest from Samuel Halpert, NALP's Director of Public Service Initiatives, at www.psjd.org.
March 15, 2024
- "Drop in Demand for New Talent at Law Firms Results in Softest Recruiting Cycle since the Great Recession," 03.12.24.
This week NALP released Perspectives on 2023 Law Student Recruiting, which reveals a drop in demand for new lawyers, creating the softest recruiting cycle since the Great Recession and a challenging job market for students. Find the press release and the full report here.
- "Law firm summer associate recruiting hits 11-year low in 2023," 03.12.24. (Reuters)
- "Flush with incoming associates, law firms pulled back on 2024 summer associate hiring, rivaling Great Recession levels," 03.12.24. (ABA Journal)
- "Biglaw's Summer Associate Recruitment Cycle Is The Worst Since The Great Recession," 03.12.24. (Above Law)
- "Facing Overcapacity, Law Firms Made Fewer Offers for 2024 Summer Associates," 03.12.24. (The American Lawyer)
- "Firms Trimmed Entry-Level Hiring Amid Demand Shifts In 2023," 03.12.24. (Law360)
- "ABA Bar Passage Data Report Comes With New Terminology," 03.12.24.
Law.com reports, "When the American Bar Association released its annual report with bar passage data, it showed that the passage rates haven't changed much, but some terminology had. Instead of 'diploma privilege,' the ABA was now using 'alternate pathways.' While the terms are not interchangeable, diploma privilege was absorbed into the alternate pathways category, according to the ABA."
- "New bar passage stats show several law schools below ABA cutoff," 03.11.24.
New ABA data shows that "90.40% of 2021 graduates who sat for a bar exam passed it within two years of graduation, which is slightly lower than the 91.85% two-year bar pass rate for 2020 graduates," reports ABA Journal, with seven law schools falling below the required 75% two-year ultimate pass rate. (Subscription required.)
- "First-time bar exam pass rate ticked up in 2023 while racial gaps persist," 03.11.24.
Reuters reports, "More than 79% of U.S. law school graduates who took the bar exam for the first time in 2023 passed, according to new data released on Monday by the American Bar Association."
- "The Law Firm Disrupted: Who Would Want to Manage a Big Firm Anyway?" 03.14.24.
Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column explores "two conflicting imperatives — managing a firm to higher productivity in an increasingly competitive environment, while recognizing that the next generation of lawyers aren't necessarily on board with self-sacrifice for the benefit of the institution, even if it also accrues to their wallets."
- "Anticipating Transactional Rebound, Am Law 50 Steps Up Partner Hiring in Early 2024," 03.12.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "In the first two months of 2024, lateral partner hiring in the Am Law 50 has already surpassed the same periods in 2022 and 2023, especially in corporate practices, where firms are seeking to get ahead of a return in transactional activity."
- "Allow your firm's culture to change," 03.13.24.
Jordan Furlong examines how law firm culture is formed and changed, arguing, "Core values do not depend on which generation happens to be running the show at any given time. Values outlive culture. You should allow your firm's culture to shift and ripple and flow as times change and its people change."
- "US law firm office leasing soared to record high in 2023," 03.14.24.
"U.S. law firms leased a record total amount of office space in 2023, commercial real estate brokerage Cushman & Wakefield said on Thursday, signaling the legal industry's relative bullishness on in-person work since the pandemic," reports Reuters.
- "In-house counsel salary survey shows 'robust' and 'active' market, says recruiter," 03.13.24.
Lexpert reports, "A new in-house counsel salary survey from ZSA Legal Recruitment and Counselwell shows there is a premium for in-office work, and British Columbia is the most lucrative province for in-house roles."
- "Annual CCCA survey reveals key trends and challenges for Canadian in-house legal sector," 03.13.24.
The Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) and Mondaq released findings of the third annual Canadian In-House Counsel Survey, reports Lexpert, with results showing hyrbid work models have become the norm, demand for in-house legal services is growing, and stress and anxiety levels are rising, among other findings.
- "Let's Do Lunch!" 03.13.24.
This editorial at Law.com reminds us that "Lunch used to be where business was done" and looks at how that has changed since COVID and remote work.
- "What best prepares you for the practice of law?" 03.10.24.
The National Jurist reports on the NALP Foundation's Law School Alumni Employment and Satisfaction study.
- "By The Numbers: Why Associates Stay At Their Firms," 03.08.24.
"After a flood of associates left their firms in search of greener pastures as part of the 'talent wars' of the early 2020s, the National Association for Law Placement [Foundation] wanted to know what made other early-career attorneys decide instead to stay put. Here, Law360 Pulse takes a look at how compensation, work-life balance, and a dozen other factors helped play a role." (Subscription required.)
- "Big Law Recruiting Firms Merge, Aiming to Form 'One-Stop Shop for the Am Law 20'," 03.08.24.
Big Law recruiting firms "Johnson Downie and Lippman Jungers have joined forces in a bid to dominate the profession's top lateral partner moves," reports The American Lawyer.
- "After COVID Office Cuts, Firms Will Do 'More With Less'," 03.08.24.
Law360 reports, "Things are settling back into place in the legal office space market after the great upheavals caused by COVID-19, with most law firms now focused on making the best use of their existing space after a round of pandemic-era downsizing, according to a new survey." (Subscription required.)
- "Military Spouses Are Untapped Pool Of Attorney Talent," 03.08.24.
"Service members' spouses in the legal profession present a massive well of untapped talent, though balancing a law career with their families' service to the country can be challenging, attorneys working in and with this community tell Law360 Pulse." (Subscription required.)
- "US legal jobs returned to near-record high in February, Labor Dept says," 03.08.24.
Reuters reports, "The U.S. legal services sector added 2,700 jobs in February, resuming an upward trajectory after dipping at the start of the year, according to U.S. Labor Department data released on Friday."
- "ANALYSIS: More Law Students Into Public Interest but Firms Win," 03.08.24.
Bloomberg Law reports on data from their most recent Law School Preparedness Survey that shows that one-fourth of law students aspire to practice in the public interest but that only 1% of practicing attorneys currently do so. You can view infographics related to this survey here.
- "24% of law students expect to work in public service, survey says," 03.13.24.
ABA Journal has more. (Subscription required.)
- "Radha Curpen at Bennett Jones LLP on how law firms should understand intersectionality," 03.12.24.
This episode of the CL Talks podcast at Canadian Lawyer's features Radha Curpen speaking on "diversity, equity and inclusion in law and how intersectionality fits within that framework."
- "Another Bite at the Apple: Neuroinclusion as a Way to Lead the Diversity Challenge," 03.08.24.
This op-ed at The Legal Intelligencer provides tips for making the legal hiring process and the profession more open and inclusive for neurodivergent individuals.
- "I Left the Big Law Work-Life Balance Trap and Found Integration," 03.15.24.
A lawyer writing for Bloomberg Law describes why and how he left Big Law and concludes, "Finding ways to make professional life align with your values, goals, and personal objectives — however that may look for you — is worth it."
- "A Journey to Wellness Begins With Changes in Law Firm Culture," 03.14.24.
A lawyer and recovering alcoholic writes about his experiences, the role of long working hours, high stress, and socializing based around alcohol, and the more recent changes in law firm culture to put more emphasis on well-being.
- "Mental Health: Who Has The Power to Change the System?" 03.10.24.
Law.com International's Editor-in-Chief, following up on last week's opinion piece about mental health in the legal profession, outlines several groups he sees as responsible for the existing culture of the profession and who might be drivers of change, including law firm leaders, managers, junior lawyers, and clients.
- "Reports: Canadian firms 'successful' but lawyers face mental well-being, efficiency challenges," 03.07.24.
Law360 Canada reports, "Most Canadian lawyers believe their organizations are generally successful, but face challenges in the form of safeguarding lawyer mental well-being and improving internal efficiency, according to reports by the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) and the Thomson Reuters Institute." (Subscription required.)
- "New Lie-Detecting AI for Job Interviews Risks Violating Old Laws," 03.15.24.
Bloomberg Law outlines the legal issues around the use of artificial intelligence in the interview process, including "broader concerns over whether software that claims to evaluate candidates' integrity is illegal, and perhaps even discriminatory."
- "AI Detection Study Finds ChatGPT Outputs Likely to Contain Some Form of Plagiarism," 03.13.24.
Legaltech News interviews the author of a recent study that showed "about 60% of OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model outputs contained 'some form of plagiarized content,' with 45.7% of all outputs containing 'identical text.'"
- "Midsize Law Firms Are Testing Different AI Approaches to Compete With Big Law," 03.13.24.
Daily Business Review reports, "As the profile of generative artificial intelligence continues to rise, many firms are being careful how they deploy the technology and even how they talk about it publicly. But as some midsize firms see potential in AI helping them compete against Big Law, they are approaching it head on."
- "The fate of billable hours is in the hands of artificial intelligence," 03.12.24.
ABA Journal reports, "If AI is capable of doing tasks in seconds that once took hours or days, then law firms are faced with a dilemma: continue depending on that timer, which will be cut significantly; or find alternative billing methods that account for the tasks done, rather than the time that it takes to do them." (Subscription required.)
- "AI, the Billable Hour and Improving Client Service," 03.08.24.
In an op-ed at Law.com, a consultant writes, "I believe AI could be best utilized not to eliminate associate-level work, but to enhance how legal work is delivered and enable partners and associates to spend more time improving the quality and timeliness of the legal work."
- "How Tech Is Helping Fuel the Rise of the Mid-Market," 03.08.24.
The Law.com Barometer newsletter explores the benefits of new technology for midsize law firms in the competition for both clients and talent, noting, "In decades past, the move from Big Law to midsize firms often meant choosing between quality of work or quality of life. Now, midsize firms are competing for complex cases and major clients, while also offering the same quality of life they were always known for, if not better."
March 8, 2024
- "Surveys reveal key challenges for law firms and government lawyers in Canada," 03.06.24.
CBA/ABC National shares results from the inaugural State of the Canadian Law Firm Market report that show "the need for law firms to adapt, innovate, and prioritize their most valuable asset: their legal professionals."
- "Law firm survey finds misalignment between idea of success and firms' planning and metrics," 03.06.24.
Canadian Lawyer also picks up this story, noting that the report found that "the definition of success among law firms is not always aligned with how they measure and plan for it or their assessment of goals and risks."
- "Yale's Heather Gerken Aims to Pave the Way for Women in Leadership," 02.29.24.
For Women's History Month, Law.com profiles female law deans, starting with Heather Gerken, the first female dean at Yale Law School.
- "Arkansas Law Dean 'Thrilled' That Many Women of Color Have Succeeded Her," 03.07.24.
The second article in this series interviews Cynthia Nance, the first Black woman dean at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville School of Law.
- "LSAT alternative JD-Next teams up with Themis Bar Review as part of Aspen deal," 03.07.24.
"The test prep company that owns Themis Bar Review has acquired legal textbook and study aid firm Aspen Publishing, which operates the new alternative law school admissions program JD-Next," reports Reuters.
- "ABA Approves Golden Gate University Law's Teach-Out Plan," 03.07.24.
The Recorder reports, "The American Bar Association approved Golden Gate University School of Law's teach-out plan weeks after several current students and the school's alumni association filed suit against the institution for breach of contract and seven other counts, including the appointment of a receiver, due to the school sunsetting its J.D. program at the end of this academic year."
- "ABA Approves Charleston Law's Request to Become Nonprofit," 03.07.24.
"The American Bar Association has approved the Charleston School of Law's request to convert to a nonprofit school, leaving only one for-profit ABA-accredited law school," according to Daily Report.
- "Toronto Metropolitan University announces new home for Lincoln Alexander School of Law," 03.06.24.
Law Times reports, "The Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) has officially announced that its Lincoln Alexander School of Law will relocate to a new home…. Scheduled to take possession in 2025, the university plans to renovate the property to serve the expanding needs of the law school."
- "Ian Holloway, UCalgary law's dean, on why he put aside tradition to design a new curriculum," 03.05.24.
Canadian Lawyer profiles the outgoing dean of UCalgary Law and his approach to designing his law school's curriculum.
- "LSAT writing section gets a revamp ahead of changes in scoring," 03.05.24.
Reuters reports on LSAC's announcement that it will "start scoring the writing section sometime after the upcoming testing cycle, which begins in August and ends in the summer of 2025. The writing section is currently unscored but is provided to law schools."
- "First new US law school since 2017 gets ABA provisional approval," 03.04.24.
"The American Bar Association has granted provisional accreditation to the Jacksonville University College of Law, making it the first new U.S. law school to gain that distinction since 2017," reports Reuters.
- "80% Through Fall 2024 Law School Admissions Season: Applicants Are Up +5.1%, With Smallest Increase In White Males," 03.04.24.
TaxProf Blog examines LSAC admissions data.
- "Why 'Growth for Growth's Sake' May Actually Help Law Firms," 03.06.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "with a spate of lateral partner and group moves at Am Law 200 firms in new and key locations over the last two weeks, firms appear to be doing what they can to keep pace in what's been dubbed the 'Great Growth Race,' an Am Law 200 competition that's causing them to be more aggressive in expanding market share with lateral hires while also honing their strategy."
- "The Firms Charging Into Secondary Cities As BigLaw Retreats," 03.06.24.
Law360 reports, "While top-tier firms have recently tapered their migration to secondary legal markets, firm leaders and recruiters say these locations continue to hold appeal for mid-tier firms, citing advantages such as lower expenses and competitive billing rates." (Subscription required.)
- "Struggling With Succession Planning, Midsize Law Firms Consider Compensation Strategies," 03.05.24.
Law.com Pro Mid-Market explores issues surrounding succession planning in mid-size firms.
- "Adaptability Is a Must for Lawyers to Ascend the Career Ladder," 03.08.24.
At Bloomberg Law, "Fringe Professional Development's Katie Aldrich explains how a mindset of continual growth and adaptability can help attorneys succeed as they move from associate to partner."
- "Tips for Transforming Outlooks (and Maybe Even Outcomes) for Junior Transactional Attorneys," 03.07.24.
A young lawyer, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, shares his experience and offers advice for new transactional lawyers who are learning the profession.
- "Perkins Coie Fourth US Firm to Shutter China Office in 8 Months," 03.04.24.
Law.com International reports on U.S. law firms closing offices in China.
- "Disciplinary Board Proposes Mandatory Succession Planning for Pa. Lawyers," 03.01.24.
"The Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board is proposing a new rule that will require attorneys to have written succession plans under the Rules of Professional Conduct," according to The Legal Intelligencer.
- "Law Firm Leaders Want Lawyers to Spend More Time in the Office, But With Less Space," 03.08.24.
The American Lawyer looks at the tension law firms are facing between their desire to optimize their real estate portfolios and also their lawyers' time in the office.
- "'We Believe There's a Purpose to Being in the Office': Dechert Grows San Francisco Footprint Via Sublease," 03.06.24.
The Recorder reports on Dechert's new, larger office space.
- "Kilpatrick Plans Move to Smaller NY Office, Embracing 'Modern Law Firm Work Environment,'" 03.05.24.
"Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton will considerably downsize its New York City office when it moves this fall to a newly renovated office designed for more collaboration space and fewer dedicated offices," according to New York Law Journal.
- "Navigating the shift: Is remote work fading away?" 02.29.24.
Law360 reports, "Given the growing number of companies, including tech giants like Facebook and Google, calling their employees back to the office, the debate over the end of remote work has become prominent. Unfortunately, the issue of whether employers possess the authority to enforce such returns isn't black and white, rendering it a complex topic to address."
- "Corner Offices Are Out; Collaboration Is In. Say Hello to the New Law Firm," 02.27.24.
The New York Times explores some of the changes law firms are making to their office spaces.
- "Workplace DEI Programs Have a Path Forward in Face of Backlash," 03.07.24.
Two lawyers from Democracy Forward, writing for Bloomberg Law, provide recommendations for "what companies can do to navigate resistance to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs."
- "Divided 2nd Circuit Adopts 'Real Name' Test for Associational Standing," 03.06.24.
The National Law Journal reports, "A unanimous U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit on Wednesday upheld the dismissal of a challenge to a Pfizer diversity fellowship on Wednesday, finding the advocacy group alleging the program was discriminatory lacked standing to sue."
- "Number Of Women In Mid-Law Partner Classes Stays Stagnant," 03.05.24.
Law360 reports, "The percentage of female attorneys in this year's partnership classes among Mid-Law firms remained constant, with experts saying that although midsize and regional firms tend to do better than their BigLaw cousins, work remains to be done if firms are to reach gender parity among their partner ranks." (Subscription required.)
- "Women in Law Summit to help lawyers 'write the story of their own career journey:' Karima Kanan," 03.05.24.
Canadian Lawyer reports on their upcoming Women in Law Summit.
- "Business Is Booming for DEI Lawyers as Firms Ask 'What's Legal?'" 03.05.24.
Bloomberg Law interviews experts on the impact of last summer's SCOTUS affirmative action ruling, what programs are at risk, and what is legal.
- "Why a Lack of Black Representation in the Legal Industry Should Concern the Entire Profession," 03.05.24.
This Law.com Legal Speak podcast episode speaks to Marlon Hill of Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman on "why he thinks Black History Month can be an opportunity to learn about how we can do better and make better policy."
- "Defusing the Always-On Time Bomb: Cultivating a Culture of Responsiveness Without Sacrificing Sanity," 03.04.24.
Tracy LaLonde, writing for Law.com, looks at lawyer work-life balance and asks, "how do you strike a balance? How do you meet these high expectations while mitigating the pressure to always be accessible?"
- "Vanessa Ford Reminded Us That Law Firm Culture Is Still Toxic. Why Does It Survive?" 03.03.24.
In response to the suicide of prominent U.K. lawyer Vanessa Ford, this editorial at Law.com International examines the "toxic culture" of law firms across the world and asserts, "It's clear that after all the ink and conversations devoted to what we often refer to as 'law firm culture,' not much has changed — or at least not enough. Issues surrounding work-life balance, women in the legal profession, heavy alcohol consumption among lawyers, working (or not working) from home, the stresses created by the billable hour, and more, are still as problematic as ever — perhaps more so in our post-COVID world. To be sure, the legal community has made efforts to address some of these issues. But for every step forward, it seems to take two steps back."
- "The Dangers of Calling Law's Most Serious Problems 'Industry-Wide Issues,'" 03.06.24.
There has been quite a bit of reflection on Vanessa Ford's death, including this editorial at Law.com International which asks who is responsible for law firm culture and concludes, "law firm leaders talk about it as an industry issue, but not really theirs. Because the moment you 'zoom out' and attribute what has occurred within your firm to an industry or societal problem, it suddenly becomes everyone's problem — and ultimately no-one's."
- "How law students are learning about AI," 03.11.24.
CBA/ABC National profiles some students in the Conflict Analytics Lab at Queen's University, a program that helps law students learn how to use generative AI and other innovations.
- "The Law Firm Disrupted: Orrick, Reed Smith and Dechert Make Time to Get Comfortable With AI," 03.07.24.
Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column this week explores the idea of giving billable hour credit to associates for working on "innovation projects."
- "In 'Ultra-Dynamic' AI Environment, More Law Firms Are Launching Devoted Teams," 03.07.24.
The American Lawyer reports that a number of law firms have announced AI practice and strategy teams lately, "with firm leaders pointing to increased client interest, a surge of AI-related cases hitting courts, a dynamic environment and an overall push toward an 'innovation economy' that has also led to a run on IP talent, for example."
- "Law Firms Aren't Behind the Generative AI Adoption Curve — Yet," 03.07.24.
Roy Strom at Bloomberg Law looks at data on AI adoption and reports, "There's no guarantee law firms will succeed in adopting AI tools. And it will no doubt present challenges to law firms' hourly billing model. But they're at least off to a decent start relative to the rest of the business world."
- "Law Firms and ALSPs Share the Same Destiny," 03.06.24.
This op-ed at Legaltech News predicts that, with the advent of generative AI, "law firms and Alternative Legal Service Providers ('ALSPs') are going to converge under a technological strategy that ALSPs are already leveraging."
- "Artificial intelligence hallucinations in legal research may become a thing of the past," 02.23.24.
Canadian Lawyer explores developments in generative AI technology.
March 1, 2024
- "Has Big Law Finally Returned to a Point of 'Normalcy'?" 02.26.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "A return to profit growth and a more normal baseline for other drivers of profitability in 2023, coupled with fresh optimism for a transactional rebound in 2024, have firm leaders and industry observers in recent weeks gesturing toward an idea that's often eluded them since at least the string of COVID shutdowns around this time in 2020: 'normalcy'."
- "No Longer Just an HR Matter, DEI Expands to Law Firm Operations," 02.26.24.
The Legal Intelligencer reports, "the role of DEI professionals in Big Law is growing to include not just concerns surrounding talent but also operations and office space. DEI professionals should be — and are now often asked — to weigh in on multiple facets of firm operations, whether it's office decorations, parking and seating arrangements, legal industry observers say."
- "Ahead of the Curve: Dissecting the ABA's Current and Proposed Diversity Standard," 02.29.24.
In the Law.com Ahead of the Curve column, Christine Charnosky shares her thoughts on the current and proposed ABA Standard 206 on diversity and inclusion.
- "Bush: The FTC Needs To Intervene In Law School Rankings," 02.27.24.
TaxProf blog highlights this blog post from The Sling that argues that the Federal Trade Commission should address the U.S. News law school rankings.
- "Bar-Takers See Accommodation Gap For Periods, Lactation," 02.26.24.
Law360 reports, "As would-be lawyers prepare to take the bar exam, testing accommodations for those who menstruate or lactate will vary by jurisdiction. In recent years, there's been a reckoning on state bar policies that affect women and transgender test-takers, but advocates say there's more to be done." (Subscription required.)
- "NCBE Field Tests NextGen Bar Exam, Creates Family Law Content Scope Panel," 02.26.24.
Law.com reports that the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) recently held its first field test for the NextGen Bar exam.
- "As Big Law Moves in, Native Firms Have Advantages in Battle for Clients and Talent," 02.29.24.
Daily Report discusses the advantages of smaller, local firms in emerging markets, noting, "Despite increasing competition from Big Law firms in emerging markets, native law firms have advantages such as nimbleness and market familiarity if they choose to compete for talent and clients."
- "Linklaters Veers Towards 3-Gate Lockstep System in Latest Talent Push," 02.27.24.
"Linklaters is considering adding a third gate to its lockstep that would enable it to better reward younger top performers," reports Law.com International.
- "'Detached': Why Big Law May Rethink Its Focus on Productivity," 02.27.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "law firm productivity may be evolving with the rise of technology that's allowed (or forced) lawyers to pack more work into less time, a greater openness toward alternative fee arrangements, and a broader profitability push that's improved leverage. Now, there may be even greater emphasis on the profitability of a practice, not just hours."
- "An Early Look: The 2024 Am Law 200 Financials," 02.26.24.
The American Lawyer compiles law firm financial results.
- "Small firm hiring deserves greater scrutiny," 02.23.24.
A law professor writing for ABA Journal shares some of her students' experiences with small law firms and argues that law schools and state bars should monitor smaller firms for dubious hiring and recruiting practices. (Subscription required.)
- "3 Common Barriers As Law Firms Embrace Upward Reviews," 02.23.24.
"Upward reviews, in which associates provide feedback on partners' performance as their managers, have become increasingly popular in the legal industry in recent years, but according to consultants who help implement them, the potential upsides can be muted if firms fail to avoid some common mistakes," according to Law360. (Subscription required.)
- "These Are The Hottest Trends In Law Firm Design," 02.23.24.
From Law360: "Out with the law library and in with Zoom rooms? Law360 Pulse recently talked to architects and legal employers to find out what the biggest trends are in law firm design." (Subscription required.)
- "Is BigLaw Ready To Talk About Its Bullying Problem?" 02.20.24.
Law360 reports, "The legal community exploded into debate recently after a Black associate's lawsuit accusing her former BigLaw employer of discrimination excerpted an excoriating email from a partner that some online deemed unacceptable and bullying, and others said was simply a fact of BigLaw life." (Subscription required.)
- "As law firm office space shrinks, natural light is in and 'capacious' corner offices are gone," 02.29.24.
ABA Journal examines trends in new office spaces, noting, "New offices often emphasize natural light and may incorporate glass doors instead of wood, audio and video technology, plenty of electrical outlets, air filtration, acoustics and better artificial lighting." (Subscription required.)
- "Law firm managers struggling to fill roles as demand for lawyers continues: recruiter report," 02.29.24.
Canadian Lawyer reports, "Law firms are struggling to find skilled talent, and managers say they plan to hire more contractors in 2024, according to the latest data from recruiting agency Robert Half Canada. The report says lawyers and other legal professionals remain in high demand in Canada."
- "'Inactive' Junior Lawyers in Redundancy Firing Line, Market Specialists Say," 02.29.24.
"Industry watchers are predicting that law firms will increasingly examine 'utilisation rates' to identify potential cuts in their junior ranks," reports Law.com International.
- "OK, Boomer! Tackling the Attorney Generation Gap," 02.28.24.
The New Jersey Law Journal Young Lawyers Advisory Board examines differences among the four generations currently in the workplace and offers tips for each generation on working with the others.
- "New Group Aims To Help Attys Meet Middle Class Legal Needs," 02.23.24.
Law360 reports, "For middle-class Americans who may make too much money to qualify for legal aid services, affording an attorney to assist with civil matters like divorces and estate planning can still be a financial impossibility. The recently launched Above The Line Network, however, is on a mission to promote cost-conscious lawyering models to put legal services within economic reach for a big and underserved middle market."
- "Career Websites Face Emerging Role as Salary Transparency Cops," 02.23.24.
Bloomberg Law takes a deep dive into recently enacted laws surrounding wage transparency and what enforcement might look like.
- "US Law Firm Leasing on Upswing in 2023, Hitting Highest Mark Since 2019," 02.23.24.
The American Lawyer reports that U.S. law firm leasing is up and that "regardless of whether firms stayed put or moved with their new lease in 2023, 43.6% expanded their space, compared with 28.5% in 2022. For the year, 56% of leases signed were to stay in place, compared with only 33.9% the year before."
- "'Literally Nothing Walkable': Why Gibson Dunn Moved to Downtown Palo Alto," 02.20.24.
The Recorder examines what lawyers and law firms are looking for in office space and shares what Gibson Dunn has done to lure more lawyers into the office: "With the future of work uncertain amid COVID-19, [firm leaders] began looking for a new location that would both justify the commute and magnify the benefits of in-person collaboration. Must-haves included proximity to public transit as well as restaurants and coffee shops where informal relationships could develop."
- "Taking Stock of the Gender of Judges on State and Federal Appeals Courts," 02.29.24.
The AmLaw Litigation Daily takes a deep dive into research on gender diversity in the judiciary.
- "We're doing DEI wrong," 02.27.24.
This op-ed at Business Insider argues, "For decades, most companies have been reactive on DEI, often responding only after some lasting damage had already been done. This approach is rarely sustainable. "
- "Mandated Gender Pay Gap Disclosures Just Took Effect For This Nation — Here's What It Means For Law Firms," 02.27.24.
The American Lawyer examines newly published data on the gender pay gap in Australia, noting that "Women continue to outweigh men in the legal profession but lag in pay."
- "SCOTUS Declines to Intervene in Affirmative Action Admissions Case," 02.26.24.
"It seems the U.S. Supreme Court might be taking a one-and-done approach when it comes to ruling on affirmative action in admissions, but that could be a positive thing for law schools," according to Law.com.
- "Anti-DEI Legislation Moves Forward in Alabama," 02.23.24.
Inside Higher Ed examines the recently-passed Alabama bill that bans "diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at certain public institutions in Alabama — including colleges and universities."
- "Strategies for a healthy workplace environment: Proactive measures against bullying," 02.26.24.
This op-ed at Law360 Canada argues that "Employers have the responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of staff, which includes taking proactive steps to address bullying and harassment."
- "Lex Mundi's latest report reveals GenAI's impact on the legal sector," 02.28.24.
Canadian Lawyer examines a recent Lex Mundi report titled "Opening Pandora's Box: Early Implications of Generative AI for Corporate Legal Management," which "suggests that GenAI heralds a new era of disruption, potentially surpassing previous technological shifts in its impact on legal services delivery and operations."
- "Don't Wait Up: Lack of Expertise, Talent Holding Back Generative AI in Legal Industry," 02.29.24.
Legaltech News reports on a recent survey in which legal professionals from law firms, legal departments, and government agencies responded on which factors are hindering AI adoption in their organizations: "Asked what is preventing them from using generative AI, slightly over 36% of respondents cited their legal teams' limited, or nonexistent, expertise in leveraging the technology, while around 34% pointed to either limited resources or generative AI's potential for hallucinations. What's more, slightly over 27% cited a lack of the 'right tech talent' to support generative AI implementations, while around 20% said either that the risks outweigh the benefits or that they're first waiting for broader industry adoption."
- "AI Use in Law Practice Needs Common Sense, Not More Court Rules," 02.28.24.
Bloomberg Law columnist David Lat argues, "At this early stage, lawyers and judges have only a limited sense of how AI will affect the practice of law or the enterprise of judging. It would therefore be wise to pause and gather more data before taking action."
- "Could Generative AI help solve the law's access dilemma?" 02.27.24.
Jordan Furlong discusses the competing priorities of legal regulators to balance quality and accessibility and asserts that, despite the questions surrounding the technology, "I believe Generative AI is the first legitimate candidate we've ever seen for potentially resolving the accessibility/reliability conundrum in legal services."
- "New website will let law clerks judge their judges," 02.24.24.
The Washington Post reports on a new database that "will allow young lawyers to review the judges they worked for and give law students a way to learn which judges have good — or bad — reputations as employers."
- "Hungry for Career Advice, Employees Turn to GenAI for Career Info," 02.23.24.
SHRM (the Society for Human Resource Management) shares data on where members of Generation Z are seeking career advice, noting that many are turning to generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools in the absence of advice from their managers.
February 23, 2024
- "ABA says law schools still need approval for alternative admissions program," 02.22.24.
"The American Bar Association on Thursday declined to grant full approval to JD-Next, rejecting a proposal to put the alternative law school admissions program on par with the LSAT and the GRE," reports Reuters.
- "JD-Next Exam Garners Comments Raising Concerns Over Validity, Accessibility," 02.21.24.
If you're interested in reading about the comments that were submitted on this proposal, Law.com reports, "Nearly two dozen comments have been received regarding the JD-Next exam, ranging from concerns about the test's validity and reliability to whether it accommodates examinees with disabilities, but many support its use including numerous Black and Native American professionals."
- "Is it a crime?" 02.19.24.
CBA/ABC National delves into Canada's new law against wage-fixing and what it means for law firms and law students.
- "ABA Weighing Diversity Standard Revisions in Light of SCOTUS Ruling," 02.22.24.
Law.com reports that the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar will consider amendments to Standard 206 that "would include changing the standard title from 'Diversity and Inclusion' to 'Access to Legal Education and the Profession,' and shifting the overall focus of the verbiage away from underrepresented groups and more toward providing access to 'all persons.'"
- "Universities' Competing Free Speech Obligations Need Untangling," 02.22.24.
A lawyer writing at Bloomberg Law takes a close look at the conflicting obligations that public universities have to protect free speech and eliminate hostility and discrimination.
- "Stanford and Yale Bumped Up OCI in Response to Precruiting, But Big Law Isn't Backing Down From Direct Applications," 02.21.24.
The American Lawyer has more on the move to earlier OCIs, noting, "the slow and steady decline of OCI could create new problems for law firms. First-generation lawyers, for instance, benefited from the level playing field that OCI provided. Moving the process to direct applications puts the burden on law students to figure out which firms they need to meet with and apply to during their first year of law school."
- "Passing the batons: Reform and Reckoning in 2024 Legal Education," 02.17.24.
Former Northwestern Law Dean Daniel Rodriguez, in this post at PrawfsBlawg, outlines the four key issues he thinks the new ABA and LSAC leaders need to address.
- "Students, alums sue to stop Golden Gate University from dropping law degree program," 02.16.24.
"The alumni association and four current students at Golden Gate University School of Law sued the university and its president on Wednesday in California state court, seeking to stop the planned closure of its juris doctor program," according to Reuters.
- "Online law graduates get pathway to take Indiana bar exam," 02.16.24.
Reuters reports, "Graduates of law schools not accredited by the American Bar Association are eligible to take the bar exam in Indiana following a Thursday rule change by the state's high court, but they will have to go through an individual approval process."
- "Students From Non-ABA-Accredited Law Schools Can Sit for Indiana Bar, State Supreme Court Rules," 02.16.24.
Law.com has more.
- "The 2024 American Lawyer Laterals Report," 02.21.24.
The American Lawyer released its Laterals Report.
- "Impactful Laterals Abounded in 2021 and 2022. Have They Found Success?" 02.20.24.
The American Lawyer revisits some "impactful" lateral hires from the past few years.
- "The Game Isn't Over for Associates Who Fall Off the Partner Track," 02.19.24.
NALP member Rachel Patterson, writing for Bloomberg Law, argues that "A career transition, even if unexpected or disappointing, presents an opportunity for reflection around wants, interests, values, and gifts" and provides tips for associates who learn they are not on the partner track.
- "The Law Firm Disrupted: Getting Laterals Right," 02.16.24.
Law.com's The Law Firm Disrupted column examines how firms should use data on their lateral hires.
- "The Risks Junior Lawyers Face by Switching Firms Too Soon, and the Benefits of Staying the Course," 02.16.24.
This op-ed at Law.com argues that "junior lawyers should focus on what does lie within their control, and that is how they react to the modern challenges of being a lawyer in private practice" and challenges them to "harness discontent as a catalyst for positive change."
- "Association of Corporate Counsel unveils results of 2024 Chief Legal Officer survey," 02.21.24.
Canada's Lexpert reports on a recent ACC study that shows chief legal officers and legal departments "face intense pressure to do more with less."
- "My Nonpracticing Law Job: Recruiter," 02.20.24.
"Self-proclaimed 'Lawyer Doula' Danielle Thompson at Major Lindsey shares how she went from Columbia Law School graduate and BigLaw employment associate to a career in legal recruiting — and discovered a passion for advocacy along the way," at Law360. (Subscription required.)
- "Saudi Arabia Lures Big Law Firms to Lucrative New Legal Market," 02.16.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "At least 30 multinational law firms have opened branches in Saudi Arabia in the past nine months or have applied for the right to do so, racing to establish a foothold in the oil-rich kingdom now allowing outside legal work."
- "How Legal Recruiting (Really) Works," 02.16.24.
Dan Binstock, writing for The American Lawyer, outlines "some of the very basics that every attorney should know about recruiters."
- "Legal Forges Ahead With DE&I Efforts, Despite Backlash," 02.22.24.
The Law.com Barometer newsletter reports, "While DE&I rhetoric may not be as prominent as it was in 2020, efforts to address gender and racial disparities in the legal industry are not only ongoing, but also expanding and maturing."
- "Supreme Court Signals It's Done With Affirmative Action for Now," 02.22.24.
Bloomberg Law reports that, by declining to hear an affirmative action case related to a magnet high school and by not prohibiting West Point from using race as an admissions factor, "The US Supreme Court has signaled it isn't ready to say anything more on affirmative action right now, frustrating conservatives who want the court to enforce and expand its blockbuster college admissions decision from last term."
- "The Sweet Spot Between Microaggressions and Empty Words: Threading the Needle on Associate Feedback," 02.20.24.
The American Lawyer explores how "law firms and partners [can] offer appropriate feedback to associates while keeping diversity, equity, and inclusion standards in mind."
- "For Gen Z, a job is just a job," 02.13.24.
Business Insider reports on the changing priorities of Gen Z employees, noting that "Gen Zers are much less apt to entrust their futures to their employers."
- "Big Law Associates Don't Have It Easy Despite Raises, Lower Hours," 02.23.24.
A recruiter at Major, Lindsey & Africa, writing at Bloomberg Law, offers a rebuttal of a recent Bloomberg piece claiming associates have never had it so good, arguing, "The suggestion that 2023 was a cakewalk for associates because of their high pay and low utilization is misleading, if not incorrect."
- "Balancing the Scales: A Young Attorney's Guide to Excelling Personally and Professionally," 02.22.23.
The Young Lawyer Editorial Board at The Legal Intelligencer offers tips for young lawyers seeking balance in their lives, noting, "success in the legal profession does not need to come at the expense of your well-being and sanity."
- "Employers' obligation to protect psychological well-being of workers expanded by Quebec bill," 02.21.24.
Law360 Canada reports, "The Quebec government, in an initiative welcomed by business and labour, is in the final stages of passing legislation that aims to further prevent and fight psychological harassment and sexual violence in the workplace by adding legal presumptions to make it easier to prove an employment injury or illness stemmed from violence at the hands of a co-worker or employer representative." (Subscription required.)
- "Improving Executive Functioning Skills as a Law Student," 02.13.24.
This episode of JD Supra's Law School Toolbox Podcast addresses "executive functioning skills for law students and new lawyers, in relation to staying organized, managing time effectively, and also studying and working smart."
- "Advocate, advise, and accompany," 02.22.24.
Jordan Furlong continues to envision what generative AI might mean for the legal profession and concludes that even the best-case scenario "will require a massive overhaul of our legal habits and institutions."
- "Law Firms, Legal Departments Are Investing in Gen AI, but for Different Purposes," 02.21.24.
Legaltech News examines data on law firm and corporate use of generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) to report on how much they are using the tool and how much they are planning to invest in it.
- "How generative AI could alter the staffing mix in legal departments," 02.20.24.
Legal Dive reports, "If legal departments want to deploy generative AI technology effectively, they will need to carefully steward the reams of data they possess. This required emphasis on data management will likely prompt in-house legal teams to shift how they staff their departments, according to Stuart Fuller, global head of legal services at KPMG International."
- "How to Keep People From Dozing Off During Online Meetings," 02.15.24.
The Wall Street Journal has tips for making your online meetings more engaging.
February 16, 2024
- "Colleges, students and states reeling from FAFSA setbacks," 02.11.24.
The Washington Post reports on the issues surrounding the release of the new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), including technical glitches with the form, delays in sending data to schools, and the possibility that the new data will be incompatible with the schools' software.
- "Some D.C.-area colleges push back deadlines to commit after FAFSA delays," 02.15.24.
The Washington Post reports that several area colleges and universities "are giving prospective students more time to weigh admissions offers as schools wait for the Education Department to send critical financial aid data."
- "An Early Look: The 2024 Am Law 200 Financials," 02.13.24.
The American Lawyer has this running compilation of articles about law firm financials.
- "ABA-Approved Online Law Schools Make Becoming A Lawyer Easier And More Affordable," 02.15.24.
TaxProf Blog highlights this article that asserts, "As the ABA allows law schools to implement a distance education program for legal education, opportunities for potential lawyers will grow due to numerous factors, including lower costs and more versatility of when and how they complete their education."
- "The Top 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Starting An LLM Program," 02.15.24.
An LL.M. candidate writes at Above the Law about things she wishes she had known before starting her program.
- "Yale, Stanford yield to summer associate recruitment 'creep'. Other top law schools resist, for now," 02.14.24.
Reuters picks up on last week's story about earlier OCIs.
- "Is Shifting Away From Rankings Opening Up New Opportunities for Need-Based JD Scholarships?" 02.14.24.
Law.com reports that the University of Michigan Law School has joined the list of law schools offering tuition-free need-based scholarships for law school and notes, "the U.S. News ranking methodology works against law schools' commitments to enhance the socioeconomic diversity of classes and to allocating financial aid to students based on need."
- "New ABA Rule Is a Step Forward for Free Speech at Law Schools," 02.14.24.
David Lat, writing for Bloomberg Law, spoke with law students and school administrators to see how they feel about the ABA's new rule on freedom of speech and concludes, "At the end of the day, while Standard 208 is a commendable step forward, free speech and academic freedom are ultimately about culture. Law schools must instill a culture of free speech and academic freedom, one in which people tolerate and even affirmatively seek out opposing viewpoints. And that can't be done by rules and standards alone; it needs to be done by changing hearts and minds."
- "Two-Thirds Through Fall 2024 Law School Admissions Season: Applicants Are Up +4.3%, With Smallest Increase In White Males," 02.12.24.
TaxProf Blog explores LSAC admissions data.
- "Fenwick & West Laying Off Nearly 10% of Attorneys, Staff," 02.13.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "Fenwick & West is laying off nearly 10% of its attorneys and staff as the tech-focused firm faces fallout from stalled transactional markets."
- "Fenwick Layoffs Show Pressure on Firms Tied to Silicon Valley," 02.15.24.
Bloomberg Law has additional analysis of the employment market.
- "Impressive Gains at Quinn Emanuel, Hogan Lovells, Milbank Suggest a Healthy 2023 for Am Law 100," 02.13.24.
"Early 2023 financial reports from Am Law 100 firms reveal impressive gains that reversed past setbacks, paced by preliminary indications of roughly a 30% jump in revenue at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan and double-digit increases to the top line at Hogan Lovells and Milbank," according to The American Lawyer.
- "Aren't non-equity partners really just glorified associates?" 02.12.24.
This op-ed at Law360 Canada examines the difference between various categories of lawyers. (Subscription required.)
- "As Associate Pay Raises Divide the Market, Several Law Firms Match, Others Hold Off," 02.12.24.
"Several large law firms based in Washington, D.C. have matched the latest associate compensation scale of top firms, but others have stopped short of announcing changes, as salary hikes continue to divide the industry," reports The National Law Journal.
- "White Box vs. Black Box Compensation Systems," 02.09.24.
The author of this opinion piece at Law.com argues that "a 'black box' partner compensation system is the worst compensation system a law firm can have" and outlines the components of a successful partner compensation system.
- "Employers Risk Bias Suits in Targeting Remote Staff for Layoffs," 02.16.24.
Bloomberg Law reports on data that shows that remote workers, who are "more likely to be women, people of color, and those with disability accommodations" are also more likely to be laid off.
- "Choosing the Right Path: Selecting Your Practice Area as a New Lawyer," 02.15.24.
Two lawyers writing at The Legal Intelligencer advise young lawyers to be intentional in choosing a practice area, noting, "Regardless of the pathway to your practice area, it should ultimately be your choice, one that you make deliberately, and one that will lead you down a path of personal career fulfillment."
- "Lawyers Need Proper HR Training to Be Better Supervisors and to Reduce Risk," 02.15.24.
This op-ed in The Legal Intelligencer reflects on recent discrimination cases against law firms and argues, "most firms should use these cases as opportunities to reassess their internal coaching, mentoring, and supervising policies for attorneys and staff."
- "Lofty-Sounding 'Chief Legal Officer' Title Becomes Bargaining Chip in Talent Hunt," 02.14.24.
Corporate Counsel reports that more corporations are starting to rename their general counsel to "the loftier-sounding chief legal officer."
- "Latest Big Law Layoffs Illustrate Inconsistency in Market as Some 'Still Haven't Seen That Bounce Back'," 02.14.24.
"Despite impressive gains at the top of the Am Law 200 charts and a mindset geared more toward growth, layoffs and cuts continue to rattle the industry," according to The American Lawyer.
- "Have Transactional Demand Levels Slowed Lateral Partner Hiring?" 02.14.24.
The American Lawyer examines lateral hiring data and reports, "Amid the downslide in merger and acquisition deals last year and the uptick in corporate layoffs, the lateral hiring boom in Big Law that's characterized much of the post-pandemic era for the legal industry finally began slowing down."
- "Chasing Higher Performance, Top Firms Are Refreshing Comp Systems to Court Laterals," 02.15.24.
The American Lawyer explores changes that law firms are making to their compensation systems, "widening the ratio in pay for the highest and lowest-paid partners in order to better recruit and retain high performers."
- "AI and Hospitality: Transforming Law Firm Workplaces for the Future," 02.13.24.
This op-ed at Law.com examines workplace experience as a driver for return-to-office and argues, "AI isn't merely about automating tasks; it's the linchpin in redefining the workplace experience, enabling organizations to provide unprecedented, personalized experiences and customized interactions."
- "Pre-Hire Personality Tests Set Legal Challenges for Employers," 02.12.24.
Two lawyers writing for Bloomberg Law examine the use of personality tests in the recruiting process and outline considerations of how to implement such tests.
- "Law firms' profits rebounded in late 2023 amid robust rate growth," 02.12.24.
Reuters reports, "Fueled largely by rate growth and increased demand for countercyclical work, profits rose year-over-year among both large and midsize law firms in the fourth quarter following a dismal 2022, according to the latest Thomson Reuters Law Firm Financial Index."
- "Aggressive Rate Hikes, Head Count Management Helped Am Law 50 Squeeze Profits From Sluggish Demand in Q4," 02.12.24.
The American Lawyer notes that, despite a drop in demand, "the Am Law 50 saw nearly as much of an increase in overall fees worked — nearly 8% — compared to respective increases of roughly 11% and 9% for the Am Law 51-100 and Second Hundred."
- "Hours Down. Revenues Up. What Gives?" 02.14.24.
The AmLaw Litigation Daily summarizes findings from the Thomson Reuters report.
- "Law Firms Witnessed a 'Return to Profit Growth' in 2023," 02.09.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "The legal industry saw profitability resume its growth in 2023, with law firms increasing average revenues by 6.1% in the last year, outpacing expense growth of 5.6%. Ultimately, profits per equity partner grew by 6.6%, according to researchers at Citi's Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group."
- "Law Firms Prioritized Nonequity Partner Growth In 2023," 02.12.24.
Law360 reports, "Even as demand lagged and expenses went up last year, law firms took an aggressive approach to expanding their non-equity partner headcounts, according to the results of a survey by Citi Global's Wealth at Work Law Firm Group." (Subscription required.)
- "Research Finds Surprise in Women Lawyers' Deal Work: Progress," 02.15.24.
Roy Strom at Bloomberg Law explores the results of new research that shows "78% of deal leadership teams announced in 2023 included at least one woman, up from 42% in 2013. Overall, women made up 31% of deal teams in 2023 compared to 19% a decade earlier. The numbers don't show women are close to men in deal team representation, but they indicate women are getting an equal or better shot at working on deal teams relative to their representation inside law firms."
- "What's In a Name? After Texas banned DEI, a campus space for LGBTQ students got an overhaul," 02.12.24.
"Well over a dozen states are considering bills this year that would ban diversity, equity, and inclusion programming. To understand exactly what that means for a campus, take a look at Texas, where lawmakers passed such a ban last year," at The Chronicle of Higher Education. (Subscription required.)
- "Gender Results Framework: A new data table on workplace harassment," 02.12.24.
Statistics Canada has released a new data table based on its 2020 Survey on Sexual Misconduct at Work which shows, among other statistics, "31% of men and 47% of women reported ever experiencing some form of harassment or sexual assault in the workplace."
- "AccessLex Grant Program Keeps Focus on Race, Ethnicity Despite Affirmative Action Ruling," 02.12.24.
Law.com reports, "The AccessLex Institute has been providing Diversity Pathway Intervention grants to institutions for 10 years, and last summer's U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action has not altered the program."
- "Courtroom Diversity Orders From 2020 Probed by GOP Senators," 02.09.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "Two Republican senators are probing a trio of orders issued by three Illinois federal judges indicating they would be more likely to grant oral argument if the arguing attorney is newer, a woman, or a person of color."
- "How Legal Work Can Feed Attorneys' Suicidal Thoughts," 02.13.24.
Law360 reports, "Studies show time and again that attorneys are at greater risk for suicide and suicidal ideation than peers in other industries. Law360 spoke with eight attorneys who shared their personal stories about how the legal profession encourages behavior that can lead to suicidal ideation and how they found help." (Subscription required.)
- "Best Friends at Work: Can They Transform the Legal Workplace?" February 2024.
The February issue of the Institute for Well-Being in Law Catalyst newsletter has this article from Michael Ellenhorn reporting on friendships at work, with data from Gallup that shows that having a "'best friend at work' is a key determinant of high vs. low performing teams and engaged vs. disengaged employees" and provides some tips for how employers can encourage work friendships.
- "How could generative AI radically transform the legal industry?" 02.15.24.
ABA Journal reports on a panel at the ABA Techshow where "Panelists maintained that generative AI could lead to all sorts of sea changes, including helping to bridge the access-to-justice gap; forcing courts and lawyers to guard against deepfakes and other false evidence; and, most notably, killing the billable hour." (Subscription required.)
- "AI Might Kill Off the Billable Hour Someday, But It Will Be a Slow Death," 02.14.24.
Legaltech News shares a new report from Lex Mundi that indicates "The legal industry's deeply entrenched pricing model — the billable hour — isn't going away any time soon, though generative AI may chip away at its dominance for certain types of work."
- "Why this time it's different: How generative AI may finally kill the billable hour," 02.09.24.
This op-ed at Canadian Lawyer argues, "Hourly billing will survive, but it may soon cease to be the dominant pricing arrangement between law firms and clients. This time, it's different."
February 9, 2024
- "Pay is top reason associates stay at their law firms, study finds," 02.06.24.
Reuters reports on new research from the NALP Foundation showing that "Compensation is the main reason associates stay at their law firms, followed by work-life balance and opportunities for advancement."
- "This is the No. 1 reason associates stay at their law firms, new study says," 02.08.24. (ABA Journal — Subscription required)
- "Compensation, Work-Life Balance Among Top Drivers of Associate Satisfaction," 02.07.24. (The American Lawyer)
- "Compensation, Work-Life Balance Keep Associates At Firms," 02.06.24. (Law360 — Subscription required)
- "Harvard Law School Mentor Shares Essential Student Tips," 02.08.24.
The Legal Intelligencer talks with lawyer and Harvard alum Michael J. Epstein, who "offers law students six key tips that come from his decades of experience as a lawyer and his work as a Harvard Law mentor."
- "Yale and Stanford Law Schools Move Virtual Interviews to June," 02.08.24.
"Yale and Stanford Law Schools have moved up virtual recruiting to June this year, ahead of the formal on-campus interviews (OCI) that are held in late summer, to better align the hiring timeline," according to Law.com.
- "ABA Vote Requires Law Schools to Prohibit Disruptive Protests," 02.05.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "The American Bar Association's policy-making body has passed a measure requiring law schools to adopt written 'academic freedom' policies that protect speech, including for those who express unpopular or controversial ideas."
- "Free speech and academic freedom standards will now be part of ABA accreditation process," 02.05.24.
More from ABA Journal. (Subscription required.)
- "Rape Questions Could Be Next Focus Of Bar App Reforms," 02.05.24.
Law360 reports, "New Jersey will change its character and fitness questionnaire to ask less invasive questions of sexual assault survivors, after a Law360 inquiry about the form. With nearly every state asking would-be lawyers questions that could dredge up sexual traumas, some attorneys are calling for other states to do the same." (Subscription required.)
- "How a Law School Student at N.Y.U. Spends Her Sundays," 02.03.24.
The New York Times has the profile of how one NYU law student spends her Sundays.
- "17 of the Top 20 Law Schools Have More Women Enrolled," 02.02.24.
Law.com's Christine Charnosky looks at enrollment data from the ABA and discusses changes and challenges in tracking this information over time.
- "Harvard Law to offer low-income scholarships, joining Yale and Stanford," 02.02.24.
Reuters reports, "Harvard Law School will this fall begin offering full-tuition scholarships to some lower-income students, following similar moves at Yale and Stanford."
- "Harvard Is Fourth Law School To Go Tuition-Free For Students In Need, Joining Yale, Stanford, And WashU," 02.05.24.
TaxProf Blog also has this story and links to stories on the other three tuition-free programs.
- "Helping Law Students Define and Pursue Success," 01.29.24.
On the Indisputably blog, Professor John Lande (University of Missouri Law) shares a collection of articles to help students manage career expectations, prepare for practice, and define success.
- "Mid-sized firms excel at billing, struggling with collecting, says Clio report," 02.05.24.
Canadian Lawyer looks at data from Clio that "revealed several trends impacting mid-sized firms," including an increase in billable hours but a lag in collecting.
- "Mid-Sized Firms Working Harder, Making More... And STILL Leaving More Money On The Table Than Other Firms," 02.07.24.
Joe Patrice at Above the Law explores the Clio data further.
- "How to be the leader your law firm needs," 02.07.24.
Jordan Furlong explores the difference between management and leadership and examines the role mid-career lawyers have in bridging the gap "between older partners who've made great sacrifices and expect others to do the same, and younger lawyers for whom the costs of those sacrifices wildly exceed the benefits."
- "Midsize Firms Use Bonuses, Culture to Compete for Talent After High Payouts for Associates," 02.05.24.
Law.com Pro Mid-Market reports, "From extra bonus pay to free dog walking services, midsize firms are employing financial and non-financial means of competing for talent in the wake of the latest associate wage scale increases by the nation's largest firms."
- "Cravath Enters Modern Era of Big Law Amid Regular Rate of Partner Exits," 02.02.24.
The American Lawyer looks at changes in the culture at Cravath.
- "'You Want to Be Oxygen': How Legal Departments Can Fix Their Isolation Problem," 02.06.24.
Corporate Counsel examines the isolation felt by many in-house attorneys and provides some possible remedies.
- "US legal jobs dip following record high, Labor Dept says," 02.02.24.
Reuters reports, "The U.S. legal services sector lost 4,400 jobs in January after reaching an all-time employment high last year, according to Labor Department data released on Friday."
- "Bridging the Divide in Hybrid Work Models: Adapting the Apprenticeship Model and Shifting Measurement Focus," 02.02.24.
The final installment in last week's Law.com series outlines ways law firms can provide effective training and development in a hybrid work environment, as well as metrics for measuring engagement and new approaches to evaluating success.
- "HR Pros Share Best Practices for Hybrid Work Models," 01.30.24.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) shares how some corporations are implementing hybrid work, measuring performance, and addressing challenges related to employee engagement.
- "Judges in the Hot Seat Over Oral Argument Diversity Policies," 02.09.24.
Law.com examines issues around America First Legal's lawsuit accusing judges in Illinois of "unlawfully discriminating and showing judicial bias in violation of the judicial code of conduct."
- "Diversity Twice as Important to Associates than Partners, Survey Finds," 02.09.24.
Law.com International reports on a recent U.K. survey by Major, Lindsey & Africa that showed "41% of associates want law firms to promote diversity more, compared to just 24% of partners."
- "Black DOJ Enforcers Call on Minority Law Students to Prosecute," 02.07.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "Senior Black Justice Department prosecutors made an impassioned pitch to minority law students to overcome reservations of enlisting in an institution they may not trust."
- "Championing Black excellence: Fostering workplace diversity during Black History Month," 02.07.24.
Law360 Canada provides tips for employers that want to celebrate Black History Month.
- "As Black Women Still Face Hurdles in the Legal World, Mentorship Remains Critical to Success," 02.07.24.
Daily Business Review examines ABA diversity data and speaks with three lawyers about their experiences and the importance of representation and mentorship to increase the numbers of Black women in the legal industry.
- "UC Berkeley cites First Amendment in bid to end antisemitism lawsuit," 02.06.24.
"The University of California, at Berkeley argued on Monday that a lawsuit claiming its campus and law school are rife with antisemitism should be thrown out because the First Amendment bars administrators from punishing student organizations for political speech," according to Reuters.
- "Corporate America Tweaks Diversity Initiatives Amid Pushback," 02.05.24.
The Wall Street Journal reports, "Businesses are trying to fashion programs that foster inclusion without running afoul of the law and potentially bringing costly consequences, according to lawyers and corporate advisers working on such policies. That means some are abandoning the most legally risky and potentially discriminatory practices, such as numerical targets that can be seen as 'quotas' or the use of unconscious bias training that casts blame."
- "Attorneys Who Argue Before Supreme Court Skew Male, Ivy League," 02.05.24.
Adam Feldman of the Empirical SCOTUS blog, writing for Bloomberg Law, analyzes data on the attorneys who argue before the Supreme Court showing, "There is significant homogeneity among this group, with the most common profile a male who graduated with a law degree from Harvard, Yale, or Stanford and who clerked at a federal appeals court and then the Supreme Court."
- "Supreme Court refuses to stop West Point's race-conscious admissions policy," 02.02.24.
The Washington Post reports, "The Supreme Court on Friday refused to immediately force the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to change its race-conscious admissions policies, less than a year after the court's conservative majority rejected similar programs at other colleges and universities."
- "Justices Deny Request to Halt Race-Conscious Admissions at West Point Pending Appeal," 02.02.24.
More from The National Law Journal.
- "Utah Bans D.E.I. Programs, Joining Other States," 02.01.24.
The New York Times reports on the latest DEI ban, which "prohibits any program, office or initiative that has 'diversity, equity and inclusion' in its name or 'asserts that meritocracy is inherently racist or sexist.' It also requires student support services to be open to all students, outlawing efforts that focus on students of certain races or genders."
- "ABA looks to oppose laws that ban teaching about race," 02.01.24.
"The American Bar Association's policymaking body is poised to take a public stand on Monday against laws that bar teaching about race or gender, as well as bans on books that cover those subjects," reports Reuters.
- "O'Melveny DEI Head On How Language Can Foster Belonging," 01.31.24.
At Law360, "O'Melveny & Myers LLP's director of diversity and engagement, Bendita Malakia, talks about how language plays a critical role in DEI efforts and improving a sense of belonging at law firms." (Subscription required.)
- "Erin Durant on speaking up about mental health and the importance of sponsorship for women lawyers," 02.06.24.
Canadian Lawyer's CL Talk podcast speaks with lawyer and author Erin Durant about her book, her experiences with mental health struggles, and the role that mentorship can play in improving mental health.
- "Pushing back against stigma surrounding mental health," 01.25.24.
CBA/ABC National examines data from the 2022 National Study on the Psychological Health Determinants for Canadian Legal Professionals and shares "small steps we can each take to reduce perceived stigma in the legal profession."
- "Can Big Law Extract the Maximum Value of AI?" 02.08.24.
The Barometer newsletter at Law.com reports on discussions at Legalweek NYC around how law firms will adapt to and use generative AI tools, noting the irony that big law firms can easily afford the expense of purchasing the technology but that "it would be much harder for Big Law to adjust to the implications of heavy AI use given the significant structural changes it would force to staffing, hiring and pricing, whereas [smaller firms] would be able to benefit from the scale gen AI would offer and could more easily adapt to its impact on the business model."
- "Mid-Sized Firms Have Lagged Behind In Tech... But Why?" 02.08.24.
Joe Patrice at Above the Law examines data on law firm technology adoption from the 2024 U.S. Midsize Law Firm Priorities Report and concludes, "there is a palpable fear among a lot of mid-sized firms owing to the real or perceived concern that tech investments won't be backed up by partners who will leave lawyers struggling to figure out what the tech does."
- "Gen AI Could Force Lawyers, Clients to Talk Differently About Billable Hour, Legal Pricing," 02.07.24.
Legaltech News discusses the impact of generative AI, calling it "a technology…that is unlike many past innovations, reviving not only the potential to hamper the billable hour, but also the impetus for legal teams to better communicate with their clients about pricing dynamics."
February 2, 2024
- "Hiring slowdown keeps growth in check at biggest US law firms," 01.30.24.
Reuters shares results from this year's Wells Fargo Legal Specialty Group survey that shows law firms "have responded to relatively flat client demand and a still-cool dealmaking environment by reducing hiring and increasing billing rates."
- "Less Work, More Money: Big Law Associates Never Had It Better," 02.01.24.
In his Big Law Business column, Bloomberg Law's Roy Strom takes a dive into the data and asserts, "associates have never had it better than they do right now," noting that the average hours worked (at top firms) is at its lowest point ever, while associate salaries keep climbing.
- "After Moderate Revenue Gains, Law Firms Plan for Growth in Both Deals and Litigation," 01.30.24.
The American Lawyer has more.
- "Top Law Firms' Revenue Rose 6% on Higher Rates, Wells Fargo Says," 01.30.24.
Bloomberg Law also has the story.
- "Rate Hikes Helped Law Firms Boost Profits By 6% In 2023," 01.30.24.
Law360 reports, "Law firm billing rate increases of 8.3% across the industry drove profits upward by almost 6% in 2023, even as demand remained nearly flat, according to the results of a year-end survey of 130 law firms by Wells Fargo's Legal Specialty Group." (Subscription required.)
- "Does Finding the Bar Difficult Make You Less Competent? Some Lawyers Think So," 02.01.24.
Law.com's Christine Charnosky reports on a recent survey that shows lawyers have some opinions on the bar exam and apprenticeship programs — mostly in favor of the former and against the latter.
- "Harvard Law Review elects second Black woman president in 137 years," 02.01.24.
"The Harvard Law Review, for only the second time in its 137-year history, will be led by a Black woman," reports Reuters.
- "New bar exam developers ditch problem-plagued ExamSoft platform," 01.31.24.
Reuters reports, "The National Conference of Bar Examiners said on Tuesday that it had replaced ExamSoft, the platform most states use for the current bar exam, with different testing software for the NextGen bar exam."
- "NextGen Exam to Be Administered Via Surpass Assessment Software in All Jurisdictions," 01.31.24.
Law.com has more.
- "'You Need Specific Examples': What Employers Can Learn from Davis Polk Retaliation Verdict," 02.01.24.
New York Law Journal provides analysis of the recent Davis Polk verdict, noting, "Specific, detailed performance feedback may have led to the quick verdict in Davis Polk & Wardwell's favor in an ex-associate's retaliation trial on Monday — and it should be a priority for employers before any lawsuits are filed."
- "Goodwin, Citing Performance Reviews, Parts With Number of Associates," 02.01.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "Goodwin Procter, citing its annual performance-management cycle at the beginning of each year, has parted ways with an unknown number of associates, the firm said Thursday."
- "It's Time for Partners to Go Beyond Structured Feedback Platforms," 01.31.24.
A consultant from Fringe PD, writing for Bloomberg Law, outlines ways that law firm partners can "establish a culture of feedback."
- "Will Allen & Overy, Freshfields, Clifford Chance and Linklaters Find America's Streets Paved With Gold?" 01.29.24.
The American Lawyer picks up this story from Law.com International that looks at U.K. firms launching in the U.S. and asks, "how will all these efforts to become a major player in the U.S. pan out?"
- "What's in a Name? Law Firms Rebrand HR to 'People Operations'," 01.29.24.
Law.com Pro Mid-Market reports, "The shift away from HR terminology to 'talent development' has largely played out among large law firms, where titles such as chief people officer and chief talent officer are widespread, and is gradually encroaching on the midsize firm sector. Consultants say this evolution is tied to the aggressive war for talent in the legal profession."
- "Here's What to Do When Your Firm Is Mulling a Merger," 01.26.24.
The LegalSpeak podcast at Law.com outlines "the questions lawyers and legal professionals should be asking themselves if their firm is mulling a merger: how do you know if and when it's time to make a move to a new firm? What are the risks of staying or leaving? And how can you get a handle on what to expect post-merger before the union becomes official?"
- "Is a Boutique the Right Fit? A Legal Recruiter Weighs In," 01.26.24.
A legal recruiter, writing for Texas Lawyer, discusses "compelling aspects of boutique law firms that often go unnoticed by attorneys contemplating a career transition."
- "Law Firms Expanded Recruiting Reach Even As Hiring Slowed," 01.25.24.
Law360 reports, "As overall lateral hiring slowed in 2023, a new report from Leopard Solutions found that the top 200 U.S. law firms have continued to extend their recruitment efforts beyond their usual networks, bringing in attorneys from smaller firms at the same rate as their BigLaw counterparts." (Subscription required.)
- "These Public Service Loan Forgiveness applicants have seen their student debt erased," 02.01.24.
ABA Journal profiles some lawyers who have had their student loans forgiven under the federal government's Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. (Subscription required.)
- "Ask A Mentor: How Do I Balance Social Activism With My Job?" 01.31.24.
"Corporate attorneys pursuing social justice causes outside of work should consider eight guidelines for finding equilibrium between their beliefs and their professional duties and reputation," say three lawyers writing at Law360. (Subscription required.)
- "Lawyers viewed as more ethical than car salespeople and US lawmakers," 01.30.23.
The ABA Journal examines data from a recent Gallup poll that shows most Americans don't find lawyers very trustworthy, but still rank them more trustworthy than business executives, insurance salespeople, car salespeople, senators, and members of Congress. (Subscription required.)
- "42% of legal teams face cost-cutting mandates, ACC survey finds," 01.30.24.
LegalDive reports that a new survey from the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) shows that many corporate counsel are operating under cost-cutting mandates while also experiencing major rate hikes from their outside counsel.
- "Business Development New Year's Resolutions Already Falling Flat? Re-Engage by Prioritizing Your Internal Network," 01.30.24.
A business development expert, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, challenges lawyers to "look back at your goals and identify tactics in utilizing your internal firm network and resources to propel your business development priorities forward."
- "Bridging the Divide in Hybrid Work Models: Understanding the Root of Discontent," 01.30.24.
This op-ed at The American Lawyer examines the perspectives of employees, leaders, and clients in relation to hybrid and remote work, including how certain cultures evolved and how they can be adapted.
- "Bridging the Divide in Hybrid Work Models: Generational Differences and Expectations," 01.31.24.
Part two in the series explores characteristics and preferences of Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Z and provides tips for creating an effective workplace dynamic for all.
- "Bridging the Divide in Hybrid Work Models: Balancing Physical Presence and Flexibility," 02.01.24.
Part three focuses on finding the right balance between remote work and in-person work.
- "H-1B Lottery Revamp, Higher Visa Fees Finalized in New Rules," 01.30.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "Final rules hiking fees for employment-based visas and overhauling the lottery process for H-1B specialty occupation visas were released Tuesday by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services."
- "Biden Orders US Contractors to Reveal Salary Ranges in Job Ads," 01.29.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "The Biden administration plans to require companies with federal government contracts to disclose expected salary ranges in job postings, as part of a broader effort to boost race and gender pay equity. US contractors, as well as federal agencies, will also be prohibited from using a job applicant's compensation history to set their starting pay."
- "Career quiz for law students and young lawyers," 01.29.24.
Law360 Canada has this quiz for law students on how to know your worth as a lawyer. (Subscription required.)
- "Prosecutors are 'quitting in droves,' and it's bad news for defendants, law prof says," 01.26.24.
ABA Journal reports, "Prosecutors are 'quitting in droves,' while the offices that employ them are getting a fraction of the applications that they have in the past, according to a law professor who studied the problem. Vacancies in prosecution offices are higher than 15% in Houston and Los Angeles; higher than 20% in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Detroit; at 25% in Alameda, California; and at 33% in Miami." (Subscription required.)
- "Keep it legal: employment lawyer on how to implement flexible work arrangements in Canada," 01.25.24.
Canadian Lawyer cites statistics from a new report from Statistics Canada (StatsCan) that shows "although the number of employees working mostly from home is returning to pre-pandemic levels, employers are still facing challenges in meeting diverse employee preferences," and provides tips for implementing flexible work policies.
- "Chicago falls shy of national milestone for women attorneys," 02.01.24.
The Chicago Sun-Times looks at NALP diversity data and reports specific data for the legal market in Chicago.
- "ABA looks to oppose laws that ban teaching about race," 02.01.24.
Karen Sloan at Reuters writes, "The American Bar Association's policymaking body is poised to take a public stand on Monday against laws that bar teaching about race or gender, as well as bans on books that cover those subjects."
- "Why Progress on Law Firm Diversity Is 'Minimal at Best'," 02.01.24.
Corporate Counsel reports, "Legal departments' efforts to use their clout to get law firms to hire and promote more women and minorities appear to be stalling, even as firms say they're more committed than ever to diversity," and looks at some of the factors behind the lack of support.
- "Companies Embrace Religion as New Facet of Diversity Efforts," 02.01.24.
Bloomberg Law discusses the recent growth of employee resource groups (ERGs) focused on religion, reporting that "Forty-three Fortune 500 companies have publicly reported having faith-oriented ERGs, up from 37 companies in 2022" and noting a recommendation that "employers should establish interfaith groups to avoid the appearance of singling out or endorsing a particular religious group or belief."
- "Court Ends Bar Diversity Funding," 01.30.24.
The Florida Bar Association published an announcement this week that "The Florida Supreme Court has directed The Florida Bar to eliminate funding for diversity and inclusion initiatives from its forthcoming budget, a move that includes the removal of allocated funds for the Bar's Diversity and Inclusion Committee."
- "Florida Bar Diversity Funding Cut by State Supreme Court," 01.31.24.
Bloomberg Law has more.
- "Black Business Fund Appeal Tests Post-Civil War Law in DEI Cases," 01.30.24.
This deep dive at Bloomberg Law discusses the legal strategy of challenging diversity programs using Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.
- "2023: A Landmark Year in LGBTQ+ Rights — Legal Triumphs and Political Challenges," 01.29.24.
This op-ed in The Legal Intelligencer outlines legal developments and difficult challenges faced by the LBGTQ+ community in 2023.
- "By The Numbers: Law Firms' Slow But Steady DEI Progress," 01.29.24.
Law360 reports, "Law firms have long strived for better diversity in their ranks, but the effort to make a more organized, concentrated push to improve representation is still in its infancy, according to a recent survey of diversity professionals at major U.S. firms." (Subscription required.)
- "White male NYU Law student seeks class action status in bias case," 01.26.24.
"The anonymous plaintiff in a race and sex discrimination lawsuit challenging the selection process for New York University School of Law's flagship law review is seeking class action status for all current and future white, heterosexual male students who hope to participate," Reuters reports.
- "NYU says white man's discrimination suit over law review selection is 'half-baked'," 01.30.24.
This story from Reuters shares NYU's response to the lawsuit.
- "Ex-Trump aide's group files complaints over judges' diversity pushes," 01.26.24.
Reuters reports on "a judicial misconduct complaint accusing three federal judges in Illinois of discrimination, citing policies they adopted to give young women and minority lawyers greater opportunities to argue cases in court."
- "Justices Asked to Stop West Point from Using Race in Admissions," 01.26.24.
Bloomberg Law reports that Student for Fair Admissions asked the Supreme Court "to issue a preliminary injunction [to stop using race as a factor in its admissions decisions] by Jan. 31, which is when West Point stops accepting applicants and starts choosing the students it'll admit to its incoming class."
- "West Point Defends Race-Conscious Admissions Policy To Supreme Court," 01.30.24.
The National Law Journal provides the federal government's response to this suit.
- "Legal chiefs, diversity officers view DEI differently, survey finds," 01.25.24.
LegalDive reports on the recent Inclusion, Equity and Diversity C-Suite Survey Report from Littler, that "highlighted stark contrasts in the perspectives of legal chiefs and diversity officers, which could create clashes in the area of DEI."
- "Importance of boosting employee morale during wintertime," 01.29.24.
Law360 Canada has this piece on how "employers can implement various strategies aimed at promoting open communication, flexibility, wellness, and recognition."
- "How Clients Are Contributing To Law Firm Well-Being," 01.26.24.
Law360 reports, "Outside counsel are often trained to respond to email at all hours and deliver on requests from corporate clients posthaste, a culture of on-demand service that has played a part in mental health challenges in the profession. In recent years, though, some clients have begun to push for a paradigm shift." (Subscription required.)
- "Why Lawyers Would Benefit From Honing Their 'Rest Ethic'," 01.25.24.
Law360 reports, "The legal field is brimming with people who are intimately familiar with work ethic, but often don't know how to adequately and effectively rest in order to be their most effective selves, according to a Thursday presentation at the Institute for Well-Being in Law's 2024 Virtual Annual Conference." (Subscription required.)
- "Importance of talking about mental health in the workplace," 01.24.24.
In honor of Bell Let's Talk Day, on January 24, this Law360 Canada piece discusses ways employers can "prioritize a supportive work environment."
- "'Late Adopters' or 'Cautious Optimism': Law Firm Partners Share Divergent Approaches to Gen AI," 01.31.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "The lack of consensus about how law firms should be embracing generative artificial intelligence came into focus Wednesday at a Legalweek panel on ethical deployment of the emerging technology in litigation, with a partner at the U.S.'s most profitable law firm highlighting a timid approach in comparison to the guarded enthusiasm shared by a partner at one of the country's largest labor and employment shops."
- "Employers Ask 'What Is AI' as Regulators Probe Hiring Biases," 01.30.24.
Bloomberg Law has this in-depth piece that examines state and federal regulations surrounding the use, reporting, and auditing of "artificial intelligence" tools, noting that experts are concerned about a lack of clarity in the definition of AI and also pointing out that "Innovation in human resources technology has complicated the situation, along with the potential inclusion of some old school tools in the 'AI' category."
- "Lawyers voice opposition to 5th Circuit's proposed AI rule," 01.29.24.
Reuters reports, "Several lawyers at major law firms are pushing back on the first proposed rule by a federal appeals court to regulate the use of artificial intelligence by lawyers appearing before it, calling it 'unnecessary' and confusing."
- "We Asked Every Am Law 100 Law Firm How They're Using Gen AI. Here's What We Learned," 01.29.24.
The American Lawyer surveyed Am Law 100 law firms and reports that an "attitude of cautious innovation characterizes the complicated and evolving relationship the world's largest law firms have with generative AI."
- "Clients, Common Sense Drive Big Law Gen AI Policies," 01.31.24.
The second installment in this series from The American Lawyer discusses law firm approaches to using AI with client data (spoiler alert: most firms are not).
- "Ninth Circuit Creates Panel to Study Artificial Intelligence," 01.25.24.
Bloomberg Law reports, "The West Coast-based US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is creating a committee focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence on legal practice, the latest federal court to address the growing technology."
- "Can AI end client frustrations over billing?" 01.25.24.
This op-ed at Reuters addresses the question, "Could generative AI help to finally resolve the perennial irritation that blown budgets, non-compliant billing and unexpected charges cause clients?"
January 26, 2024
- "A 'Sweatshop'? Lawyers Detest Law Firm Cultures That Emphasize Profitability," 01.23.24.
The American Lawyer shares findings from the 2023 Law Firm Culture Survey report released by Major, Lindsey & Africa and Law360, which looked at which law firm traits inspired the most positive and most negative feelings in lawyers. Positive traits included prioritizing client service and high-quality performance, while "the most common [negative] answer by far was 'profit-mindedness,' with just under 40% of respondents selecting it among their top 10."
- "The New Normal in Office Work Is Here, but Lawyers Still Aren't Happy With It," 01.25.24.
The American Lawyer has more on this, calling out stats that show "A majority of lawyers who believe their firm's culture has changed since their arrival believe those changes are for the worse."
- "Should law firms focus more on work-life balance? Survey finds 'wide gaps' in opinions of associates, partners," 01.24.24.
ABA Journal also shares this story. (Subscription required.)
- "What's Behind The Bad Vibes At Biglaw Firms?" 01.24.24.
Above the Law has more.
- "What Lawyers Really Think About Law Firm Culture," 01.23.24.
Law360 Pulse Magazine writes, "Here are a few things lawyers had to say when asked to describe their firm's culture and whether their firms were focusing on the most important cultural priorities." (Subscription required.)
- "Discrimination Lawsuits Put Partners' Feedback for Associates Under the Microscope," 01.23.24.
The American Lawyer discusses how recent lawsuits accusing firms of discrimination "demonstrate how the blurry line between constructive criticism and microaggressions serves to complicate the matter."
- "More elite universities settle suit over alleged 'price-fixing' aid policies," 01.24.24.
The Washington Post reports on settlements related to a lawsuit against elite universities, claiming that the schools "used a shared methodology to calculate financial need in a way that reduces institutional dollars to students from working- and middle-class families."
- "5 Universities in Student Aid Antitrust Suit Agree to More Than $100M in Settlements," 01.23.24.
Law.com also has this story.
- "ABA Seeks Comments On Proposal To Allow Accreditation Of Fully Online Law Schools," 01.25.24.
TaxProf Blog has the ABA memorandum soliciting comments on the proposal to accredit online law schools.
- "AccessLex Institute 2023 Legal Education Data Deck," 01.23.24.
TaxProf Blog shares the AccessLex Institute data deck released last week.
- "Facing undergraduate debt and law school loans, students wonder whether it's worth it, new AccessLex study says," 01.23.24.
ABA Journal picks up on the AccessLex Institute data and reports, "Almost half of all law school students have debt from their undergraduate education, more fund their legal education with loans and less than half say it was worth it, according to the AccessLex Institute's Legal Education Data Deck." (Subscription required.)
- "More Law School Graduates Are Shouldering Loan Debt," 01.23.24.
Law360 reports, "Most law graduates finance their graduate education through loans, and the proportion of law graduates borrowing for law school has increased, according to a Tuesday report from AccessLex Institute." (Subscription required.)
- "Is It Still Worth Going To Law School? Most Law Students Don't Think So," 01.24.24.
Above the Law has more.
- "Most law schools 'very concerned' about impact of affirmative action ruling - survey," 01.22.24.
"A majority of law school admissions officers are 'very concerned' that the U.S. Supreme Court's ban in June on race-conscious admissions at colleges and universities will reduce the number of diverse law students nationwide, according to a new poll [from Kaplan]," reports Reuters.
- "Law School Admissions Officers Report Concerns About Diversity," 01.22.24.
Law.com has more.
- "Plan for Law School During Each Year of College," 01.16.24.
U.S. News & World Report provides advice on "choices that motivated pre-law students can make to set themselves up for success in the law school admissions process."
- "In Partner Pay, Law Firms Are Under Pressure to Strike Right Balance," 01.25.24.
The Law.com Barometer newsletter explores ways law firms balance partner compensation, noting, "big changes to partner compensation can result in cultural rifts among partners who might lose shares under a system that rewards revenue generation and high-performers who feel like they're subsidizing less profitable practices."
- "Where Are Big Law Billing Rates Growing the Fastest?" 01.24.24.
The American Lawyer examines data on billing rates.
- "Rewriting the terms of associate engagement," 01.24.24.
Jordan Furlong looks at lawyer disengagement and argues, "This is less about 'young lawyers today,' and more about what law firms have become."
- "No Origination Credits in Partner Pay? Covington Sees Advantages," 01.22.24.
The National Law Journal reports, "More large law firms lately are adjusting pay to reward rainmakers and other partners with large books of business. But not all firms are moving in this direction. Covington & Burling remains one of the few firms in the Am Law 100 that does not have billing or origination credits."
- "Even As Billing Rates Increase, Lack of Confidence in Fees and 'Subtle Psychology' May Lead to Less Profit," 01.17.24.
The American Lawyer reports, "Billing rates are expected to climb again in 2024. But a majority of firms also expect their bill write-downs or write-offs — the kind of fee erosion that's led to falling realization — to go up, according to a new report."
- "Why Law Firms Should Spend Time Investing in Their Talent," 01.15.24.
ABA's Law Practice Management has this in-depth article describing how "Investing in talent and valuing contributions beyond billable hours are the keys to building a sustainable and thriving law practice." (Subscription required.)
- "Associates Who Want to Be Partner Must Be Proactive, Consistent," 01.26.24.
NALP member Rachel Patterson, writing for Bloomberg Law, advises that there are "proactive steps you take to hold yourself accountable for your goals and professional development," and shares a list of questions associates can ask themselves about their own performance.
- "The Fully Human Lawyer: Value Beyond Numbers," 01.25.24.
An executive coach, writing for The American Lawyer, provides insights into how lawyers can quantify their value to a firm beyond the numbers in a spreadsheet.
- "'I Question Their Dedication to the Firm': Insiders on Slaughter and May's Reduced Hours Policy," 01.25.24.
Law.com International provides some additional insight into the culture at Slaughter and May, which recently introduced a "switch on/switch off" program allowing lawyers to choose to work fewer hours, noting that "in the weeks following the rollout, doubts have started to emerge as to the scheme's effectiveness, with a particular focus on the possibility that participating in it could impact a lawyer's partnership prospects."
- "Clerks for hire: The Supreme Court recruiting race," 01.25.24.
The Washington Post outlines the maneuvering (and bonuses) involved in the recruitment of Supreme Court clerks to work at D.C.'s elite law firms.
- "Is A Boom In Remote Work Tempering Virtual Firms' Growth?" 01.24.24.
Law360 reports, "Following a period of rapid expansion, the headcount growth at some virtual-oriented law firms has leveled off in recent years, a shift some attribute to the widespread adoption of remote work policies by traditional brick-and-mortar law firms and increased productivity fueled by integrating new technologies." (Subscription required.)
- "Job Seekers Crave Remote Work, Even as Remote Jobs Decline," 01.24.24.
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports, "Job seekers are still very interested in remote work several years after the COVID-19 pandemic made it a temporary necessity, but the number of remote-work opportunities continues to dwindle as employers increasingly ask new hires to report to the office."
- "Lawyer Employment Outlook Looks Good, Though Bar Passage Rates Decline," 01.23.24.
Law.com examines data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, AccessLex Institute, NALP, and other sources.
- "To all the law students I have loved (or just liked a bit)," 01.22.24.
Law360 Canada has this piece about the problem of work-life balance for young lawyers. (Subscription required.)
- "Big Law Has 'False Sense of Security' as Clients Depart for Midsized Firms," 01.22.24.
Corporate Counsel advises that the 2024 State of the US Legal Market report from Thomson Reuters and the Center on Ethics and the Legal Profession at Georgetown Law shows "Legal departments are aggressively shifting work from the Am Law 100 and Am Law Second Hundred to less expensive law firms."
- "The Law Firm Disrupted: Working Harder or Working Smarter?" 01.21.24.
Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column analyzes the message that "old metrics surrounding revenues and billable hours is dated and that firms need to be far more focused on understanding the actual drivers of productivity."
- "Weil, Pillsbury Eye London Office Moves Amid US Firm Upsizing Trend," 01.19.24.
Law.com International reports that two U.S. law firms "have set their sights on London office relocations amid a wider trend of U.S.-headquartered firms taking up more space in the U.K. capital."
- "When You Want to Be Hybrid, But Your Boss Wants You in the Office," 01.18.24.
Harvard Business Review provides steps you can take to convince your boss to let you work remotely.
- "Flurry Of Moves Kicks Off 2024: BigLaw's January Shake-Ups," 01.17.24.
Law360 reports, "During the first two weeks of January the legal industry was inundated with news of large group hires, law firm combinations and high profile lateral partner departures. Here, Law360 Pulse looks at the flurry of movement that kicked off 2024." (Subscription required.)
- "Accommodation Awareness: As management retools remote work policies, ADA issues are expected," 01.25.24.
ABA Journal reports that, while law firms are pushing to have employees in the office and employees are pushing back, "Employees with disabilities are at the forefront of this battle, arguing that remote work can be a reasonable accommodation under the Americans With Disabilities Act."
- "The Law Firm Disrupted: A Fresh Take on Big Law's Diversity Problem," 01.25.24.
Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column shares thoughts on The Black Ceiling, a new book by University of Richmond School of Law professor Kevin Woodson, which "hones in on training that draws attention to the racial discomfort that Black employees face" in law firms.
- "Doubling Down on DEI," 01.24.24.
This op-ed at The American Lawyer exhorts, "DEI programs aren't meant to bring us shame; they're here to show us the ways we can become stronger. These programs are here to show us the way to a better world. We must stand against those who are insistent on keeping us stagnant and stand with those who bring us into the future."
- "Achieve DEI Goals by Collecting and Breaking Down Data," 01.24.24.
Jean Lee from the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, writing at Bloomberg Law, argues that "disaggregating data breaks down the numbers to reveal specific trends affecting groups such as Black or LGBTQ+ employees. This level of precision helps pinpoint problems and may be essential to the legality of DEI solutions."
- "Facing Backlash, Some Corporate Leaders Go 'Under the Radar' With D.E.I.," 01.22.24.
The New York Times explores some of the ways corporations are rethinking diversity initiatives in the face of recent backlash.
- "What GCs Think About Women Associates Outnumbering Men," 01.19.24.
Law360 reports, "In the days since data showed that women surpassed men as associates, general counsel have urged their law firm colleagues not to lose sight of the entire picture, which continues to show the genders aren't close to equal representation at higher levels." (Subscription required.)
- "Growth and justice reform advocacy mark 2023 for Canadian Association of Black Lawyers," 01.19.24.
Canadian Lawyer reports, "The ratification of a new chapter and successfully lobbying for amendments in the federal government's new bail reform legislation stand out as 2023's highlights for the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL), according to the group's president and vice-president."
- "Centering Disability In The Law School Pedagogy: A Way To Include Disabled Law Students," 01.15.24.
TaxProf Blog highlights this article from The Journal of Law and Education which recommends "pedagogical changes that center disability [as] one step towards making law school more accessible to disabled law students."
- "How 6 States Are Addressing Lawyer Well-Being," 01.24.24.
Law360 reports, "In the years since a groundbreaking 2016 study on lawyer well-being found alarming rates of mental health problems in the legal profession, state bars and supreme courts have amped up efforts to improve lawyer mental health. Well-being leaders in six states shared details of their work at the IWIL [Institute For Well-Being In Law] 2024 Virtual Annual Conference on Wednesday." (Subscription required.)
- "Should US Law Firms Offer 20% Less Pay for 20% Less Work?," 01.22.24.
The American Lawyer examines Slaughter and May's recent decision to offer reduced work hours for reduced pay and argues that although many U.S. firms offer case-by-case arrangements for reduced hours, "Formalizing a reduced hours program may help attorneys feel more comfortable using it, according to associates and partners who expressed their trepidation about the programs in recent surveys."
- "Models in Mentoring," 01.20.24.
"Hear from multiple mentor-mentee pairs on what has made a successful relationship — both for the individuals and their organizations," at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
- "Does AI Signal The End Of The Billable Hour?" 01.23.24.
Above the Law has this piece, from a vice-president at Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory U.S., that asks, "What will Generative AI do to the billable hour?"