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 14, 2025

Top Stories

1. "Summer Associate Hiring Held Steady in 2024 as Law Firms Recruited Earlier; Report Confirms Significant Changes in Recruiting Practices," 03.11.25.
   This week, NALP released new research on law student recruiting. You can find the full Perspectives on 2024 Law Student Recruiting and the press release here.
   
   
   1. "OCI, Early Interviews Plummeted in 2024 as Law Firms Turned to New Recruiting Methods," 03.11.25 (The American Lawyer)
      
      
   2. "Campus Interviews Out Of Favor In Quest For Summer Talent," 03.11.25. (Law360 — subscription may be required)
      
      
   3. "US law firms chopped summer associate jobs to record low and recruited earlier than ever, report shows," 03.11.25. (Reuters)
      
      
   4. "Biglaw Summer Associate Recruiting Leaves OCI In The Dust In Favor Of Alternative Hiring Plans," 03.12.25. (Above the Law)
      
      
   5. "Law firms no longer prioritizing on-campus interviewing to recruit," 03.13.25. (National Jurist)
      
      
   6. "On-campus recruiting for summer associates falls in popularity as law firms 'jockey for positions,'" 03.13.25. (ABA Journal — subscription may be required)
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

2. "Florida weighs breaking with American Bar Association over DEI rule," 03.12.25.
   Reuters reports, "Citing an American Bar Association diversity mandate for law schools, Florida is considering dropping a requirement that students graduate from an ABA-accredited school in order to sit for the state's bar exam."
   
   
3. "Bar exam pass rates in US rose as race gaps narrowed in 2024, ABA data shows," 03.12.25.
   "Nearly 83% of graduates from ABA-accredited law schools who took the bar for the first time passed — up more than three percentage points over the 79% first-time pass rate in 2023. It's the highest national first-time pass rate since 2020, when 84% of takers passed," according to Reuters.
   
   
   1. "These US law schools crushed the bar exam in 2024," 03.13.25.
      Reuters has more.
      
      
4. "Texas commits to NextGen bar exam starting in 2028, NCBE says," 03.11.25.
   ABA Journal reports, "Texas will begin administering the NextGen bar exam starting in July 2028, joining 36 of the 56 jurisdictions that test bar candidates, according to a March 11 press release from the National Conference of Bar Examiners." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
5. "The Education Dept. Survives for Now, but Program and Staffing Cuts Cause Upheaval," 03.06.25.
   "For now, the White House has not formally called for the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education. That's little comfort for many in higher education who fear the administration will continue to wreak havoc with its move-fast-and-break-things approach to policymaking," reports The Chronicle of Higher Education. (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
   1. "Draft Order Offers Hints to How Trump Wants to Shut Down the Department," 03.06.25.
      Inside Higher Ed reports, "A draft executive order obtained Thursday by Inside Higher Ed directs the newly confirmed education secretary, Linda McMahon, to 'take all necessary steps' to return authority over education to the states and facilitate closure of the Department of Education 'to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law.' If signed, the order — which has been rumored for weeks but is not yet official — would be the first step in carrying out the president's controversial campaign promise to abolish the 45-year-old department, which he believes is unconstitutional and has grown too large." (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   2. "Education Department Fires 1,300 Workers, Gutting Its Staff," 03.11.25.
      "The Education Department announced on Tuesday that it was firing more than 1,300 workers, effectively gutting the agency that manages federal loans for college, tracks student achievement and enforces civil rights laws in schools," according to The New York Times.
      
      
   3. "Assessing the Damage After the Education Department's Mass Layoffs," 03.13.25.
      Inside Higher Ed examines the impact of layoffs at the Department of Education. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   4. "Democratic-led states sue to halt Trump from dismantling US Education Department," 03.13.25.
      Reuters reports, "A group of Democratic state attorneys general on Thursday filed a lawsuit seeking to block Republican U.S. President Donald Trump's administration from dismantling the U.S. Department of Education and halt it from laying off nearly half of its staff."
      
      
6. "Yale Law School Reports Stable Diverse Enrollment Post-Affirmative Action," 03.06.25.
   TaxProf Blog links to an article at Yale Daily News that says the school's "latest American Bar Association report reveals the racial demographics remained relatively stable compared to last year's class."
   
   
7. "Justice Department Targets ABA for Law School Diversity Rule," 03.05.25.
   Bloomberg Law reports, "The Justice Department is urging the American Bar Association to scrap diversity requirements for law schools or risk losing its accrediting power."
   
   
   1. "ABA Legal Ed council suspended diversity standard; AG Bondi wants it scrapped," 03.06.25.
      ABA Journal reports, "A move last month by the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar to suspend the accreditation standard originally titled 'Diversity and Inclusion' doesn't go far enough, according to a Feb. 28 letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who wants the council to abolish it 'immediately' or risk the right to accredit law schools." (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   2. "Trump Attacks on ABA Threaten Group's Funding and Membership," 03.07.25.
      Bloomberg Law has more on the threats to the American Bar Association.
      
      
   3. "Business School Accreditor Removes DEI Standards," 03.10.25.
      Inside Higher Ed reports, "The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business replaced the words 'diversity and inclusion' with 'community and connectedness' and eliminated a dozen other references to those terms in its document of guiding principles for schools." (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   4. "ABA Reiterates Suspension Of Law School Diversity Accreditation Standard In Wake Of DOJ Threat If ABA Does Not Eliminate The Standard," 03.13.25.
      TaxProf Blog links to an ABA press release that reiterates that the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is not enforcing the diversity standard, as well as a number of other articles on this topic.
      
      
8. "ABA and HBCUs highlight environmental law jobs through new partnership," 03.04.25.
   "As part of a new initiative, the ABA and several historically Black colleges and universities are working together to engage students who are interested in environmental, energy and natural resources law," according to ABA Journal. (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
9. "The California Bar Exam Fiasco: Is Provisional Licensure The Appropriate Remedy?" 03.01.25.
   TaxProf Blog has links to a number of articles related to issues with the recent California bar exam.
   
   
   1. "Deans Ask California High Court to Provisionally License Grads Who Fail February Exam," 03.03.25.
      The Recorder reports, "Seventeen California law schools on Monday asked the state Supreme Court to scrap the state bar's new remote-testing platform and to return to in-person testing in time for the July bar exam."
      
      
   2. "'Deeply Concerned' California Supreme Court Orders July Bar Exam to Be Held in Person," 03.04.25.
      "In their first public comments on last week's glitch-plagued bar exam, California's Supreme Court justices on Tuesday said they were 'deeply concerned' and ordered the July exam to be administered in person instead of remotely," according to The Recorder.
      
      
   3. "California Bar Leaders Puzzle Over Remedy for February Exam Mess," 03.12.25.
      Bloomberg Law reports on possible outcomes from the bar exam testing fiasco, noting, "Because troubles on test day ranged from distracting glitches to full-fledged catastrophe, no single remedy has emerged as fair for all applicants."
      
      
   4. "State Bar Blocked Law School Academics From Vetting Troubled Bar Exam," 03.13.25.
      The Recorder reports, "California's state bar last month blocked a group of legal academics from participating in a previously scheduled review of content on the troubled February 2025 bar exam, raising new questions about the material on the licensing test."
      
      
10. "Education Dept. softens controversial guidance on race and schools," 03.01.25.
    The Washington Post reports, "The Education Department is retreating from some of the most incendiary suggestions it made last month in a sweeping directive threatening to pull federal funding from any college or K-12 school district that considers race in hiring, programming, scholarships and virtually every other aspect of student and campus life."
    
    
    1. "New Ed. Dept. Guidance on Race and DEI Tells Colleges Which Programs It Might Consider Illegal," 03.02.25.
       The Chronicle of Higher Education has more. (Subscription may be required.)
       
       




Law Firms

11. "By The Numbers: Top Trends In How Law Firms Are Growing," 03.12.25.
    Law360 reports, "Lateral hiring among the top 200 law firms rebounded in 2024, with firms adding 900 lateral hires, according to a new Leopard Solutions report that also highlighted ongoing transitions in the legal industry, including generational leadership shifts, evolving career aspirations, and growing pressures on diversity, equity and inclusion." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
12. "Single-Tier Partnerships Consider Options, While Other Firms Continue Rapid Nonequity Expansion," 03.03.25.
    The American Lawyer reports on the rise of nonequity partnership tiers, noting, "Among a sample of 19 firms that have reported 2024 financials so far, nine had nonequity growth that was at least double the amount of equity growth; 14 in total had more growth in the nonequity than the equity tier."
    
    
    1. "Point of Diminishing Returns: When Nonequity Partner Growth Drags Down Profits," 03.04.25.
       This editorial at The American Lawyer asserts, "Law firms are using the nonequity partner ranks for multiple purposes now, and some lawyers can get stuck in a nonequity abyss, weakening overall firm performance."
       
       




Public Service/Public Interest

13. "Second judge blocks mass firings of probationary federal workers," 03.14.25.
    The Hill reports, "A second federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from firing federal workers, issuing an order Thursday that probationary employees be reinstated weeks after their dismissal. The ruling, from U.S. District Judge James Bredar in Maryland, is broader than an order from another federal judge in California on Thursday that covered six agencies."
    
    
14. "Federal Worker Layoffs Climb Toward 250,000 as Deadline Looms," 03.13.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "The Trump administration's push to drastically shrink the federal government shifts to a new gear Thursday, when agencies face a deadline to submit plans for large-scale layoffs and budget cuts. With them, the list of government job cuts that for weeks had been measured in the tens of thousands — and included retirements, deferred resignations, and selective firings — is expected to reach into the hundreds of thousands."
    
    
15. "The Fully Human Lawyer: What Government Lawyers Need to Know about Joining the Private Sector," 03.12.25.
    A consultant, writing for The American Lawyer, asserts, "If you are thinking about or already in the process of leaving the public sector, here is what you need to know: Many lateral hires struggle in private firms because they do not understand the different culture of private versus public sector work."
    
    
16. "Trump order blocks public service loan forgiveness for employees of 'activist organizations,'" 03.10.25.
    ABA Journal reports, "Employees of 'activist organizations' that support activities with a 'substantial illegal purpose' should no longer be eligible for a student loan forgiveness program for borrowers in public service jobs, according to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Friday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
    1. "The Ed. Dept. is reassuring public servants about their key student-loan forgiveness program," 03.10.25.
       Business Insider reports, "After Trump signed an executive order on Friday focused on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, the Federal Student Aid office posted on X that borrowers enrolled in the program wouldn't be facing any changes at this point."
       
       
17. "In the federal court system, law clerks find little recourse for bullying and abuse," 03.01.25.
    NPR has this story about sexual harassment and abuse of federal law clerks and their lack of recourse, noting, "For most people, the courts are where they turn for accountability when they have problems at work. But for the people who work in those very courts, their rights are not that clear. Protections for them are not set out under law, and a judge's colleagues and friends can be the deciders."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

18. "'Who the Hell Knows': Lawyering — and Judging — in the Age of Trump," 03.13.25.
    In the first of a two-part series, Law.com interviews lawyers and judges and reports, "Some legal observers are concerned — not so much that judges will be afraid to issue rulings that will earn the president's ire, but that being a judge will cease to be viewed as an attractive career."
    
    
    1. "Judges and Lawyers Speak Out Amid Trump Attacks," 03.13.25.
       In the second part of the series, Law.com notes, "The industry has remained largely silent," and shares commentary from some lawyers, academics, and judges.
       
       
19. "Why Hourly Billing Won't Go Away Until Legal Departments Demand It," 03.12.25.
    Corporate Counsel reports on a recent webinar discussing the tension around billable hours and "effective fee arrangements" and concludes, "Law departments worry they'll overpay for legal services, while firms fear they'll be undercompensated for their work. The result? An entrenched status quo where neither side takes the first step toward change."
    
    
20. "Underperformers Can Be Rehabilitated: Here's How," 03.12.25.
    A consultant, writing for Law.com, explores the benefits of coaching in "addressing issues such as situational changes, practice impediments, and age-related challenges."
    
    
21. "Law Firm Hiring May Indicate 'Growing Demand,' Report Says," 03.07.25.
    Law360 reports, "Even as overall legal sector jobs declined in February nationwide, the number of open law firm positions increased by 59% compared with the year before, indicating 'strong market expansion and growing demand for legal talent,' according to a report released Friday by Leopard Solutions." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
22. "Legal Jobs Down As Gov't Work Dries Up Under Trump," 03.07.25.
    Law360 reports, "Following modest gains at the beginning of the year, the U.S. legal sector lost 3,300 jobs in February, according to preliminary data released Friday from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
23. "Employers Need to Understand Remote Work as an ADA Accommodation," 03.04.25.
    This piece at Bloomberg Law examines case law related to remote work as an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act and shares themes for employers to consider.
    
    
24. "Paul Weiss to Require 4 Days of Weekly Office Attendance," 02.28.25.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison will begin asking its employees to come into its offices Monday through Thursday starting on April 30, a firm representative confirmed on Friday afternoon, moving up from a three-day office policy."
    
    
    1. "As More Law Firms Adopt 4-Day Office Policies, Will Others See 'Safety in Numbers'?" 03.04.25.
       The National Law Journal speculates on whether more firms will follow suit.
       
       
    2. "The Law Firm Disrupted: Market Segmentation Muddles The Return To Office Push," 03.06.25.
       Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column reports, "The firms that are ratcheting up their in-office mandates have one thing in common: average profits per equity partner above $3 million."
       
       




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

25. "'Diversity' Becomes 'Belonging' as Companies Shift DEI Lingo," 03.13.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Companies from Delta Air Lines Inc. to Bank of America Corp. instead are embracing a new corporate lexicon in their reports to investors — selecting phrases like 'inclusion,' 'merit-based hiring,' and 'belonging' — in the midst of the Trump administration's moves to purge DEI programs in both government and the private sector."
    
    
26. "Women in Leadership Roles Fuel Revenue Growth," 03.08.25.
    For Women's History Month, this piece at New York Law Journal urges, "by sharing stories of women's leadership, firms can attract and retain top talent but also cultivate a more inclusive and innovative workplace culture."
    
    
27. "You don't need DEI programs to have diverse workplaces, say employment lawyers," 03.06.25.
    This article at ABA Journal advises, "Having DEI programs could come with litigation risks and press coverage that might result in lost customers, even if the program violates no laws, say lawyers interviewed by the ABA Journal. For companies and nonprofits planning to keep or add such programs, they advise various compliance practices." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
28. "Trump Targets Law Firms Over Steele Dossier, Diversity Moves," 03.06.25.
    "President Donald Trump on Thursday suspended security clearances for Perkins Coie and ordered investigations of at least 15 law firms over diversity programs," reports Bloomberg Law.
    
    
    1. "Trump Order Calls For DEI Policy Review of 'Leading Law Firms'," 03.06.25.
       The order "directs the chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to review the practices of large law firms for compliance with the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including whether firms 'reserve certain positions, such as summer associate spots, for individuals of preferred races; promote individuals on a discriminatory basis; permit client access on a discriminatory basis; or provide access to events, trainings, or travel on a discriminatory basis,'" according to The National Law Journal.
       
       
    2. "Big Law Firms Have Quietly Removed DEI Website Language, Altered Diversity Policies," 03.07.25.
       The American Lawyer reports, "The order pushed some law firms to carefully vet and adjust their websites, while others had already made changes. By Friday afternoon, several law firms appeared to change their diversity and DEI webpages to reflect new language that removed 'diversity' from the focus."
       
       
    3. "Fear of Trump Has Elite Law Firms in Retreat," 03.09.25.
       The Wall Street Journal reports, "In private conversations, partners at some of the nation's leading firms have expressed outrage at the president's actions. What they haven't been willing to do is say so publicly. Back-channel efforts to persuade major law firms to sign public statements criticizing Trump's actions thus far have foundered, in part because of retaliation fears, people familiar with the matter said."
       
       
    4. "To Avoid Trump's Target, Law Firms Scrutinize Practices Amid Investigation Threats," 03.11.25.
       "Firms that think they could be included in a Trump administration probe of DEI policies are reviewing all of their potential vulnerabilities and either preparing to explain their rationale for keeping them or removing them altogether, crisis experts said. A significant portion of top Big Law firms had scrubbed their website of words such as 'diversity' or taken DEI pages offline by Friday afternoon," reports The American Lawyer.
       
       
    5. "Perkins Coie Sues Trump Administration Over Executive Order," 03.11.25.
       Bloomberg Law reports on Perkins Coie's lawsuit against the executive order.
       
       
    6. "Judge Blocks Trump Order Targeting Perkins Coie, Clients," 03.12.25.
       Bloomberg Law reports, "A DC federal judge on Wednesday temporarily barred the Trump administration from enforcing an executive order targeting law firm Perkins Coie."
       
       
29. "Canadian Firms Stand Firm on Commitments to DEI," 03.05.25.
    Law.com reports, "Canadian law firms say they are standing strong in their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion even as colleagues in the U.S. are becoming less vocal about their DEI efforts in light of attacks from the Trump administration and other right-wing organizations."
    
    
30. "D.C. U.S. attorney tells Georgetown he won't hire from any school with 'DEI,'" 03.05.25.
    The Washington Post reports, "Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin demanded that the dean of Georgetown Law School end all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the school, asserting in a letter that his office will not consider hiring anyone affiliated with a university that utilizes DEI."
    
    
    1. "Georgetown Dean Pushes Back Against U.S. Attorney's Threat To Refuse To Hire Students From Law Schools With 'DEI,'" 03.07.25.
       TaxProf Blog links to several articles on this topic.
       
       
    2. "Legal Experts Agree: Georgetown Law Dean Gave Master Class On How To Fight Trump's Anti-DEI Crusade," 03.08.25.
       And more from TaxProf Blog here.
       
       
    3. "The MAGA Culture War Comes for Georgetown Law," 03.09.25.
       New York Times columnist David French opines, "Even a first-year law student knows that the federal government cannot dictate the viewpoint and curriculum of a private Christian school, yet here was a federal prosecutor opening an inquiry into a Jesuit school's protected speech."
       
       
    4. "Religious Freedom as a Defense for DEI?" 03.13.25.
       Inside Higher Ed reports, "Given that multiple institutions have already complied with Trump directives to unwind DEI initiatives, despite numerous outstanding legal questions, Treanor's response stood out as an uncommon example of a university holding its ground. It also raised a unique question for religiously affiliated institutions: Does religious freedom offer a defense against Trump's attacks on DEI efforts?"
       
       
31. "How to Assess the New Legal Risks of Your DEI Policies," 02.27.25.
    Harvard Business Review discusses "the risk levels of common corporate DEI policies and programs [as well as] research on what actually works to deliver concrete gains toward a fairer and more diverse workplace."
    
    
32. "Law Firms Walk DEI Tightrope Amid Political Pressure," 02.25.25.
    Law360 reports, "Law firms that once led the charge on diversity initiatives now find themselves walking a tightrope, balancing their long-standing commitments to diversity with shifting corporate priorities and political pressure stemming from the Trump administration's efforts to curtail such programs." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

33. "Study: College Mental Health and Financial Concerns Reach Critical Levels," 03.12.25.
    Diverse: Issues in Higher Education reports on a recent study that shows, "Mental health challenges matched financial concerns in severity, with an overwhelming 95% of students identifying at least one obstacle impacting their academic success. Mental health issues (53%) and financial difficulties (49%) topped the list, followed by physical health problems (33%), academic struggles (28%), and social belonging challenges (26%)."
    
    
34. "Demanding legal profession must recognize eating disorders, says lawyer," 03.12.25.
    "The legal profession is a high-pressure environment where long hours, tough competition, and perfectionism are the norm. While these demands can drive success, they also make lawyers vulnerable to mental health struggles, including eating disorders," reports Canadian Lawyer.
    
    
35. "Preparing lawyers for the no-win scenario," 03.03.25.
    Jordan Furlong asserts that "there's one aspect of being a lawyer that we have almost entirely failed to train and develop: how to deal with failure itself. When we design new systems for forming lawyers, we have to make certain we include teaching lawyers the reality of failure — to show them how to fail, and still survive."
    
    
36. "Firms Must Accept Wellness, Inclusion as a Structural Necessity," 02.28.25.
    A wellness expert, writing at Bloomberg Law, discusses the importance of inclusion, noting, "Legal workplaces that fail to prioritize inclusion jeopardize both the well-being of their most valuable assets — their people — and the profession's ability to thrive."
    
    




Technology

37. "AI Has Not Yet Changed Many Law Firm-Client Relationships in the US and UK," 03.12.25.
    "A transatlantic survey commissioned by Definely finds lingering uncertainty about how artificial intelligence will impact firm-client relations, as well as notable differences between the U.K. and American legal tech markets," according to Law.com International.
    
    
38. "Hiring Needs Human Connection: A Chat With Legalweek Speaker Lori Landew," 03.05.25.
    Legaltech News interviewed Audible general counsel Lori Landew about "the importance of human interaction in the hiring process and how innovation in tech has changed the various areas of law she's worked in."
    
    
39. "How an AI courtroom simulation is helping first year law students combat public speaking fear," 02.27.25.
    Canadian student newspaper The Ubyssey reports on an artificial intelligence courtroom simulation that is designed "to help first year law students learn courtroom speaking skills."
    
    

February 28, 2025

Top Stories

1. "American Bar Association suspends law school DEI rule enforcement," 02.21.25.
   "The ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar voted on Friday to halt enforcement of its current standard until August 31 while it reviews a pending proposed revision to the rule," reports Reuters.
   
   
   1. "ABA Legal Ed Council Suspends Diversity Accreditation Standard In Wake Of Trump Executive Order And DOE Letter," 02.24.25.
      TaxProf Blog has more from the ABA, as well as links to other articles on this topic.
      
      
   2. "American Bar Association halts diversity and inclusion criteria for US law schools," 02.21.25.
      Canadian Lawyer also has this story.
      
      
2. "KPMG approved to launch US law firm in first for Big Four," 02.27.25.
   Reuters reports, "KPMG won approval from Arizona's Supreme Court on Thursday to launch a law firm in Arizona, making it the first of the Big Four accounting firms to be able to practice law in the United States."
   
   
   1. "KPMG Must Pivot Around Audit Clients in Creating US Law Practice," 02.28.25.
      Bloomberg Law has more on this, noting, "KPMG must overcome a prohibition against giving legal advice to audit clients as it becomes the first Big Four accounting firm to practice law in the US. The prohibition stops the company from gaining potential legal customers from the hundreds of Fortune 500 and privately held companies it audits."
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Trump Is Targeting DEI in Higher Ed. But What Does He Mean?" 02.27.25.
   Inside Higher Ed reports, "The string of vague and sometimes seemingly contradictory executive actions has left leaders of federally funded colleges and universities and their employees to wonder: Should they wait for clarification — legal or otherwise — before upending their DEI policies and programs? Or respond like [some institutions] and start ditching things that might be perceived as DEI activities?" (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
4. "A Call to Abolish the Bar Exam, From a Different Perspective," 02.26.25.
   NALP member Jill Backer of Ave Maria Law School, writing for Daily Business Review, shares her opinion on the bar exam.
   
   
5. "The DEI Hills Higher Ed Is Willing to Die On," 02.25.25.
   Inside Higher Ed examines the impact of last week's "Dear Colleague" letter, which gave institutions a matter of days to eliminate "illegal DEI" programs, and notes, "now all higher ed institutions are pressed to ask: What parts of their once-touted progress are they prepared to lose? And what strategies, programs and practices will they fight to keep?"
   
   
6. "Student loan borrowers face abrupt 180 as GOP budget plans threaten to raise payments," 02.25.25.
   The Hill reports on proposed changes to student loan forgiveness plans and notes that "student loan advocates are pushing borrowers to document their payments to ensure they can prove progress on their loans."
   
   
7. "State Bar Offers Free July 2025 Exam to February Applicants as Test Problems Persist," 02.24.25.
   The Recorder reports, "[California] State bar leaders on Friday agreed to drop July 2025 bar exam fees for those impacted by the problem-plagued run-up to the February test that starts Tuesday. Applicants who withdrew, or will withdraw, from the Feb. 25-26 exam, and those who fail despite making what officials called 'good faith efforts' will be able to take the next test for free, the bar's board of trustees announced at the end of a daylong meeting Friday."
   
   
   1. "California bar exam meltdown on Tuesday prompts offer of March retakes," 02.26.25.
      "The State Bar of California is offering a retake of its February bar exam after examinees experienced 'significant' technical issues or were unable to launch the test on Tuesday — the first day of the state's newly developed licensing exam," according to Reuters.
      
      
   2. "'Unacceptable': State Bar Weighs Exam Redo as Tech Problems Mar Bar Exam's First Day," 02.26.25.
      The Recorder reports on an email sent to California bar exam takers that said, "applicants may have the chance to retake the performance test portion of the exam or essay questions they couldn't access. 'Scoring adjustments' also are being weighed. The missive did not say how the bar would ensure the integrity of a retake given that thousands of applicants have already seen the essay topics and performance test elements. Nor did it say who would qualify for the retake or how severe technical problems would be avoided in a second test administration."
      
      
   3. "Who Answers for Botched February California Bar Exam? So Far, Nobody," 02.26.25.
      "As California's online bar exam was plagued with another day of system crashes, freezes and late starts, leaders of the state Supreme Court and the state bar on Wednesday declined to say whether anyone would be held accountable for the problems that prevented an unknown number of applicants from completing or, in some cases, even beginning the test," according to The Recorder.
      
      
   4. "Calif bar exam 'fiasco' this week needs court intervention, law deans say," 02.27.25.
      "The Supreme Court of California needs to intervene to help bar exam takers following the chaotic rollout of the state's new test this week, several California law school deans said on Thursday," reports Reuters.
      
      
   5. "Aspiring California Attorneys Sue Over Bar Exam 'Disaster'," 02.27.25.
      Bloomberg Law reports, "The company administering California's February 2025 Bar Exam is facing a proposed class of test takers for 'failing spectacularly' to run the licensing exam."
      
      
8. "What is the future of ABA accreditation of law schools? (In short, fairly secure)," 02.19.25.
   At the Excess of Democracy blog, author Derek Muller speculates on the ABA's role in accrediting law schools and predicts, "I tend to anticipate the status quo will remain."
   
   




Law Firms

9. "Trump's Covington Memo Could Lead to 'Chilling Effect,' But Will Law Firms Speak Up?" 02.28.25.
   The American Lawyer reports, "Several law firm leaders agreed that the unprecedented suspension of security clearances was troubling, but none would discuss the presidential action publicly."
   
   
10. "Below the Billing Rate Leaders, Firms Must Balance Value With Talent Retention," 02.28.25.
    The American Lawyer looks at the balance law firms must strike between billing rates and lawyer compensation.
    
    
11. "After Year of Financial Gains, Sharpening Partner Profitability Becomes Next Goal," 02.27.25.
    "Law firms across the board had a stellar 2024 financial year, with many reporting double-digit gains in revenue and profits. Now law firm leaders are focused on how they can grow their business even more in 2025. And sharpening profitability, on the individual partner level, remains one of the key levers for growth, consultants say," according to The American Lawyer.
    
    
12. "Should Eight-Figure Lateral Partners Make It Rain Right Away?" 02.26.25.
    "In the era of paying higher compensation packages to snag lateral partners, questions about the expected return on investment — and how swiftly that payoff comes — have become more prevalent," according to The American Lawyer.
    
    
13. "As Profits Skyrocket, Law Firms Maintain Equity Tier Exclusivity," 02.25.25.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Am Law 100 firms have kept a tight grip on the brass ring lately. While nonequity tiers have continued to balloon, the top-100 equity partner total slightly declined in 2023. And it appears that trend continued through 2024, whether it was due to retirements, lateral exits, de-equitizations, closer management of the partnership or all of the above."
    
    
14. "What's a 'New York Firm' in 2025? Latham's Bid to Edge Out Wall Street Stalwarts," 02.24.25.
    The American Lawyer outlines Latham's strategy for growth in New York, noting, "Like Latham, the landscape in the city has evolved: No longer is the New York legal market run by a small cadre of Wall Street law firms."
    
    
15. "Billing Rates Keep Increasing. GCs Question Whether Their Growth is Sustainable," 02.24.25.
    "In an economic environment muddled by developments in Gen AI, stubborn inflation, and uncertainty generated by a new federal administration, law firm billing rates, currently reaching record-high levels, could potentially be a bubble on the verge of popping," says The American Lawyer.
    
    
16. "An Early Look: The 2025 Am Law 200 Financials," 02.24.25.
    This page at The American Lawyer provides links to their coverage of law firm financials, for anyone who is interested.
    
    
17. "California Law Firms Saw Banner Year for Revenue, Profit Growth in 2024," 02.24.25.
    The Recorder reports, "Law firms across California had a banner year in 2024, with Southern California, in particular, surpassing national averages across key financial metrics, according to recent data from Citi's Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group."
    
    
18. "Skadden Mulls Non-Equity Tier as Partner Pay Pressure Mounts," 02.21.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Skadden is considering adding a tier of salaried 'partners' at the Wall Street law firm, following similar moves by several of its rivals."
    
    




Public Service/Public Interest

19. "Free virtual boot camp seeks to recruit and educate civil rights advocates," 02.27.25.
    ABA Journal shares information on a free, virtual program for all lawyers and law students interested in advocating for justice and equality. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
20. "Law Firms 'Pull Back' on Hiring Fired Government Lawyers," 02.27.25.
    The National Law Journal reports, "As the number of lawyers in the crosshairs of the Trump administration rises, so has Big Law firms' unease with hiring politically controversial figures."
    
    
21. "Big Law Keeps Up Hiring Spree in DC, as Government Workers Flood Job Market," 02.24.25.
    Amid government agency layoffs, "Big Law hiring across the Beltway is continuing at a rapid clip in 2025, with several law firms in the past week announcing new lateral attorneys or policy advisers in their Washington, D.C., and Baltimore offices," according to The National Law Journal.
    
    
22. "Oversight agency finds Trump's federal worker firings unlawful, asks for some employees to be reinstated," 02.24.25.
    "An independent federal oversight agency has deemed at least some of President Trump's mass firings of probationary period employees unlawful, creating a pathway for those employees to regain their jobs. The Office of Special Counsel, the agency responsible for investigating illegal actions taken against federal employees, issued its decision for six employees, each at different agencies. While the decision was technically limited in scope, it could have immediate impact on all terminated staff at those six agencies and could set a wide-ranging precedent across government," according to Government Executive.
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

23. "Tried and True: Tips I Would Give to Myself as a Young Lawyer," 02.27.25.
    The Young Lawyer Editorial Board at The Legal Intelligencer offers these tips for new lawyers on building relationships and mastering the craft of lawyering.
    
    
24. "Am Law 200 Firms See Atlanta as 'Gateway' to the Southeast," 02.26.25.
    "Some national firms apparently view Atlanta as their 'entry point' into the Southeast, with at least one seeing expansion possibilities to other parts of the region after only a few months of operation," according to Daily Report.
    
    
25. "Move Over KPMG, This Accounting Firm Has a Vision for Providing Legal Services Nationwide," 02.26.25.
    The American Lawyer reports on the aspirations of Aprio Legal, a new alternative business service provider approved in Arizona, to serve clients across the country and discusses the legal and ethical implications.
    
    
26. "'Not Just About Technical Knowledge': Putting Young Lawyers in Position to Succeed," 02.25.25.
    The American Lawyer speaks with Lori Berman, Vice President of Learning at Legal Innovators, about "what she's learned about preparing lawyers for success in Big Law, and how she intends to put those lessons into practice at Legal Innovators."
    
    
27. "Crafting Culture — The Blueprint for an Inspiring Workplace," 02.24.25.
    A lawyer, writing at Daily Business Review, discusses the importance of workplace culture in recruiting and retaining lawyers, noting, "Glassdoor found that 77% of job seekers consider company culture before even applying for a job."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

28. "LGBTQ+ rights-centred pro bono legal services soared in the past decade: Thomson Reuters report," 02.28.25.
    Canadian Lawyer looks at results from a recent Thomson Reuters report on pro bono legal services.
    
    
29. "What Progress for Black Partners at UK Law Firms?" 02.28.25.
    Law.com International discusses whether the representation of Black lawyers in the U.K. has improved and what more can be done.
    
    
30. "Transgender Workers See Legal Options Shrink With EEOC Shift," 02.27.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission recently moved to drop at least seven lawsuits it filed on behalf of transgender workers. It also paused its processing of transgender bias charges and removed non-binary gender markers from intake forms to align with President Donald Trump's executive order proclaiming that the government recognizes only two immutable sexes."
    
    
31. "King & Spalding Escapes Suit Alleging Summer Minority Internship Program Was Discriminatory," 02.26.25.
    "A Maryland federal judge on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit in which a former law student claimed that a King & Spalding summer minority internship program was discriminatory, even as law firms' efforts at promoting diversity are under increased scrutiny, thanks to the posture of the Trump administration," according to Daily Report,
    
    
32. "C-Suites Delay DEI Rollbacks Despite Trump Enforcement Threat," 02.26.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports on a recent survey by Littler that shows more than half of corporate executives are more anxious about diversity-related lawsuits and government enforcement actions than previously, but, "Despite the heightened fears, 60% said they're taking a wait-and-see approach, not planning any further rollbacks of their DEI efforts until the federal government issues new guidance or enforcement plans."
    
    
    1. "'Marked Lack of Clarity': Many Companies Holding Line on DEI, but Trump's Threats Have Them Worried," 02.26.25.
       Corporate Counsel has more on this.
       
       
    2. "Cos. Not In Rush To Abandon DEI Measures, Report Says," 02.26.25.
       Law360 reports, "Companies don't appear to be dropping their diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in droves even though President Donald Trump's administration has made workplace DEI programs an early target, according to a new report issued by Littler Mendelson PC." (Subscription may be required.)
       
       
33. "Law Firms Walk DEI Tightrope Amid Political Pressure," 02.25.25.
    Law360 reports, "Law firms that once led the charge on diversity initiatives now find themselves walking a tightrope, balancing their long-standing commitments to diversity with shifting corporate priorities and political pressure stemming from the Trump administration's efforts to curtail such programs." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
34. "Trump's State Bar DEI Threat Emboldens Diversity Policy Attacks," 02.25.25.
    Bloomberg Law examines the threat to state bar diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, noting, "Two main factors could determine a state bar's exposure to lawsuits over DEI work: whether the bar's membership is voluntary, and whether it gets public funds."
    
    
35. "Big Four Diverge on Diversity as Culture War Hits Accounting," 02.24.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "KPMG LLP and Deloitte LLP, which both run US government contracting businesses, culled initiatives meant to foster employment equity after an executive order from President Donald Trump targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs within federal contractors. The other two accounting heavyweights — Ernst & Young LLP and PwC LLP — have left diversity programs and services largely intact so far, sidestepping the federal government's DEI purge."
    
    
36. "Inside Track: Companies Walking on Eggshells Amid Furor Over DEI," 02.21.25.
    Law.com examines the status of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in corporations.
    
    
37. "Judge largely blocks Trump's executive orders ending federal support for DEI programs," 02.21.25.
    Associated Press reports, "A federal judge on Friday largely blocked sweeping executive orders from President Donald Trump that seek to end government support for programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion."
    
    
    1. "Trump's DEI Order Block Leaves Companies Asking: Now What?" 02.25.25.
       Bloomberg Law reports, "Even though parts of President Donald Trump's anti-DEI orders are on hold for now, companies that do business with the government aren't free of legal risk."
       
       




Mental Health/Well-Being

38. "Vanessa Ford One Year On: Little Has Changed, Say Partners," 02.28.25.
    Law.com International marks the one-year anniversary of the death of partner Vanessa Ford and reports, "Despite the widespread shock which rippled through London firms in the aftermath of the findings, office culture has not relented. In fact, according to some, expectations on lawyers are now even higher than they were."
    
    
39. "In-house roles no longer the only refuge for lawyers seeking better work-life balance: Robert Half," 02.25.25.
    "Lawyers looking for a better work-life balance are no longer moving only to in-house roles but are increasingly choosing smaller law firms where they can still practise law," reports Canadian Lawyer.
    
    

February 21, 2025

Top Stories

1. "Ed Department: DEI Violates Civil Rights Law," 02.15.25.
   Inside Higher Ed reports on a "Dear Colleague" letter issued by the Department of Education that threatens the federal funding of institutions that the department believes are still embracing "illegal DEI," including "hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and all other aspects of student, academic, and campus life." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
   1. "In Sweeping Letter, Ed. Dept. Says SCOTUS Ruling Applies to All Race-Conscious Programs," 02.16.25.
      The Chronicle of Higher Education also has this story: "The U.S. Department of Education on Friday night raised the specter of yanking federal funding from institutions if they consider race in a broad swath of activities, including hiring, promotion, compensation, financial-aid awards, scholarships, prizes, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies, and other administrative support. It's an attempt to expand the Supreme Court's 2023 decision that banned race-conscious admissions. The letter threatened compliance assessments starting within two weeks." (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   2. "After Sweeping Anti-DEI Guidance, What Should Colleges Do?" 02.18.25.
      This follow-up at Inside Higher Ed advises that, although the Department of Education's letter itself cannot change the law, colleges and universities will now have to decide how much to comply with or fight against the administration's stance. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   3. "Law Schools Are Dropping 'Diversity' From Their DEI Branding," 02.20.25.
      "Some top US law schools have dropped mentions of diversity from their websites as academic centers face a compliance deadline to ensure continued federal funding," according to Bloomberg Law.
      
      
   4. "Despite Breakneck Changes to DEI On Campus, Counsel for Schools Shouldn't Feel Rushed, Lawyers Advise," 02.20.25.
      Law.com discusses the implications of the "Dear Colleague" letter with lawyers in the education arena.
      
      
2. "Despite Federal Backlash on DEI, Bar Associations Press Forward on Commitments," 02.19.25.
   Law.com reports, "Bar associations across the country said they would continue with diversity, equity and inclusion programming amid scrutiny from the Trump administration."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Two-Thirds Through The Fall 2025 Law School Admissions Season: Applicants Are Up 20% (Black Applicants Are Up 32%)," 02.18.25.
   TaxProf Blog reports on LSAC admissions data.
   
   
4. "Does The FTC's ABA Ban Portend Revocation Of Its Law School Accreditation Power?" 02.14.25.
   TaxProf Blog has a collection of articles on the Federal Trade Commission's new policy that prohibits their political appointees from attending ABA events or renewing their ABA memberships.
   
   
5. "Amid Calif bar exam disarray, refund offered to 5,600 test takers," 02.14.25.
   "The State Bar of California on Thursday offered a full refund to the 5,600 people scheduled to sit for its new bar exam later this month if they want to withdraw from taking it — an unprecedented step with the test date just 12 days away," reports Reuters.
   
   
6. "Men Push Back, Students Sue: The Culture War on Campus," 02.14.25.
   Law.com reports, "Civil rights lawsuits detected on Law.com Radar, and playing out across the country, illustrate that during periods of radical change, American universities are key battlegrounds in the culture war."
   
   




Law Firms

7. "Paying the Team: Partner Comp Changes Considering 'Future Superstars' and Top-Performers," 02.20.25.
   The American Lawyer reports that law firms are using a variety of tools to keep all of their lawyers happy, including "a mix of tweaking base comp, giving more lawyers access to the bonus pool, giving out titles or added responsibilities and rewarding partners for measurements beyond business generation."
   
   
8. "Third or Fourth Stop? 'Serial Laterals' No Longer a Dealbreaker," 02.19.25.
   The American Lawyer reports that "The legal profession's free-agent era has given rise to a class of 'serial laterals'…But law firm leaders…know the talent arms race has never been more heated, and firm leaders are overall more open to partners who've made several moves coming in."
   
   
9. "A Busy Run for Lateral Partner Hiring in Big Law," 02.18.25.
   "February has already been a busy month for law firm hiring, with a number of firms, many in the Am Law 50, unveiling lateral partner moves across various practice areas and jurisdictions last week as well as after the Presidents Day federal holiday," reports The American Lawyer.
   
   
10. "Staying Hungry, The Am Law 200 Took an Extra Serving of Lateral Hires Last Year," 02.18.25.
    The American Lawyer looks at year-end data and reports, "The data shows that New York City was the top location for lateral partner moves, with the Big Apple representing 20% of all U.S. partner joins. New York was trailed by Washington, D.C. (12%), Chicago (7%), Los Angeles (6%) Houston (5%), and Boston (4%)."
    
    
11. "US Law Firms Quietly Secure UK ABS Licenses as Arizona Weighs KPMG Bid," 02.17.25.
    "As U.S. law firms eagerly await Arizona's decision on whether to license KPMG Law US as an alternative business structure (ABS), some top U.S. headquartered firms aren't waiting on the sidelines — they're seizing the opportunity in England, where regulators have been granting ABS licenses since 2012," according to Law.com International.
    
    




Public Interest/Public Service

12. "How Gov't Attys Can Prepare For A Private Sector Job Search," 02.19.25.
    Law360 has advice for government lawyers looking to enter private practice. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
13. "Freeze on Foreign Aid Hits Lawyers Without Borders," 02.19.25.
    "The U.S. freeze on foreign aid has forced the organization Lawyers Without Borders, which serves the global legal community, to pause five programs, including an initiative to help women judges and lawyers in Afghanistan. While many organizations have been impacted by the sudden halt imposed by the Trump administration on international assistance, the non-profit is an example of how the shifting landscape in Washington is directly affecting the legal industry," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    
14. "Trump's Exiting Government Lawyers Swamp DC Firms With Resumes," 02.18.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports on the flood of lawyers who have left the government and are seeking other positions, quoting recruiter Dan Binstock, who says, "It's like nothing we've ever seen before and we're still trying to wrap our heads around it too."
    
    
15. "Government Attys Crowd Legal Job Market Amid Trump Cuts," 02.14.25.
    Law360 reports, "With a wave of government lawyers crowding the job market in Washington, D.C., as President Donald Trump's early moves strike fear into the federal workforce, experts say law firms are taking their time weighing hiring decisions." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
16. "Dechert Opens Fellowship to Students Hit by Trump Job Freeze," 02.14.25.
    "Dechert is opening its fellowship program to five graduating law students whose job offers were axed by President Donald Trump's hiring freeze," reports Bloomberg Law.
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

17. "You're Fired: In Era of Remote Work, Does It Matter How Terminations Are Delivered?" 02.19.25.
    Law.com asks lawyers about the best way to terminate employees, and the consensus is, "Laying off employees via mass email doesn't pose a big legal risk as much as it poses a risk in damaging morale, both for the departing employee and for those who are left behind."
    
    
18. "The Enduring Power of Mentorship: Lessons From a Harvard Mentor in an Age of Misinformation," 02.19.25.
    A lawyer, writing for New Jersey Law Journal, discusses the importance of mentorship, asserting, "in a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and disembodied information, real wisdom must be passed from person to person. It cannot be crowdsourced. It cannot be generated by code. It must be lived, shared and nurtured."
    
    
19. "KPMG Says Big Four US Moves Would Displace Some Law Firm Service," 02.19.25.
    "A top KPMG executive predicts US corporations will increasingly turn to accounting's Big Four for legal work because they have better technology to handle matters including huge data sets and multiple contracts," according to Bloomberg Law.
    
    
20. "'Surge' in Associate Pay Shows Atlanta's Increasing Prominence in Legal Industry, Report Says," 02.18.25.
    "A new report says a 'surge' in associates' salaries, particularly in corporate and real estate practices, shows that Atlanta is becoming a more prominent part of the nation's legal industry," says Daily Report.
    
    
21. "Is the Working From Home Era Fading for UK Lawyers?" 02.18.25.
    Law.com International reports that, for now, "despite an increasing number of large employers rolling out stricter return to office policies, the legal industry appears to be bucking the trend."
    
    
22. "A new start after 60: I got divorced, became a lawyer — and began fighting for other women," 02.17.25.
    The Guardian US has this uplifting story of a woman who became a lawyer later in life.
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

23. "Civil Rights Groups, Covington & Burling Challenge Trump's Anti-DEI Orders," 02.20.25.
    The National Law Journal reports, "The NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Lambda Legal and Covington allege Trump's orders threaten Black, Latino and transgender communities in violation of their rights to free speech and equal protection."
    
    
24. "Outside Counsel Urging Employers to Keep Trans Protections in Place," 02.20.25.
    "Though the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is abandoning six lawsuits it brought on behalf of transgender individuals alleging workplace discrimination, employers would be foolish to abandon policies and training programs aimed at protecting nonbinary employees from harassment and bias," reports Corporate Counsel.
    
    
25. "Powerful Shareholder-Advisory Firm Abandons Push to Diversify Corporate Boards," 02.14.25.
    "A powerful shareholder-advisory firm that for years has pressured companies to increase the representation of women and minorities on their boards is abandoning that effort," reports Corporate Counsel.
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

26. "The Telling Data on Bullying in the Legal Profession," 02.19.25.
    The Am Law Litigation Daily reports, "According to a survey commissioned by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, one in four lawyers reported they were bullied at work over the past year."
    
    
    1. "Bullying in the Legal Profession: Talent Drain and 'Great Silencer,'" 02.04.25.
       In case you missed it, the February issue of NALP's Bulletin+ features an article from the commission with more information on the study and its results. (Members only.)
       
       
27. "Lawyers Are Stressing Out: Insider Feedback," 02.18.25.
    Daily Report interviews a therapist who was formerly a lawyer about the state of mental health in the legal profession, and she outlines "how attorneys and law firms can address the sources of stress to better support mental health in the legal community."
    
    




Technology

28. "'Hopeless' to potentially handy: law firm puts AI to the test," 02.18.25.
    BBC reports on an experiment with generative artificial intelligence tools conducted by Linklaters. The firm concluded that "the tools were 'getting to the stage where they could be useful' for real world legal work — but only with expert human supervision."
    
    

February 14, 2025

Top Stories

1. "Trump Hiring Freeze Has Agencies Ditching Law School Recruiting," 02.07.25.
   Bloomberg Law reports that federal agencies are pulling out of public interest career fairs and quotes NALP Executive Director Nikia Gray: "For some of these students, the fact that these jobs were pulled may make the difference of whether they ever become a practicing attorney or not. This is happening at a really critical juncture in their career development."
   
   
2. "'All Firms Are Vulnerable,' Even Historically Impenetrable Ones, in The Modern Hiring Market," 02.14.25.
   The American Lawyer reports, "Just a few weeks into 2025, a handful of U.S. firms that by tradition almost never lost partners to a competitor have faced departures. Recruiters and consultants said that trend may continue."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "State Bar Struggles With 'Messy' Run-Up to February Bar Exam," 02.12.25.
   "With the February bar exam just two weeks away, [California] state bar officials continued to scramble this week to secure an adequate number of testing sites and to respond to a deluge of questions from frustrated applicants," according to The Recorder.
   
   
4. "GOP State Lawmakers Targeting DEI and Tenure Again," 02.11.25.
   Inside Higher Ed reports, "Donald Trump began his second term as president with executive orders and funding freezes targeting DEI, but these federal actions have met resistance in the courts. Now some states are taking up the fight, joining Florida, Texas and other states that, even before Trump retook office, already broadly banned DEI from public institutions. Some states are further proposing bills targeting things that Trump hasn't directly gone after, including faculty tenure." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
5. "As much of Kansas faces an attorney desert, lawyers call attention to the issue," 02.10.25.
   "In Sedgwick County, the idea of a satellite law school — similar to the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita — has begun circulating. The reason? Kansas, especially in rural areas, is struggling to feed the demand for lawyers, in both the private and public sectors," according to High Plains Public Radio.
   
   
6. "The Supreme Court's SFFA Decision Has Caused An Unprecedented Shift In Law School Admissions," 02.09.25.
   TaxProf Blog highlights this (paywalled) article at The Chronicle of Higher Education that says, "[Students for Fair Admissions] is affecting law-school enrollment in unprecedented ways. Asian applicants experienced vast increases in access to the nation's highest-ranked schools. Black and Hispanic applicants experienced unprecedented declines in opportunities at these schools. These latter groups are already underrepresented in legal education, and so it looks like SFFA will intensify deficits and militate against efforts to bring about equitable and representative access to the legal profession."
   
   
7. "As the DEI Crackdown Escalates, Faculty Choose Between Silence and Resistance," 02.06.25.
   Inside Higher Ed interviewed several faculty members at higher education institutions "to see how the crackdown is, or isn't, affecting them and their colleagues. Their responses range from defiance to self-censorship beyond what Trump's DEI actions actually require, but all share concern about what's yet to unfold." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
8. "Trump threatened college research, culture and funding. Confusion reigns," 02.08.25.
   The Washington Post has this in-depth piece on threats to higher education institutions, including cuts to federal funding and attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and notes, "Several experts said they anticipate that will result in a much broader definition of what is required, expanding the ruling beyond admissions to require schools to dismantle other areas in which race is a consideration, such as some scholarships, recruitment efforts and affinity groups like Black student unions."
   
   




Law Firms

9. "Partners Ask During Firm Mergers: Should I Stay or Should I Go?" 02.14.25.
   A consultant, writing for Bloomberg Law, offers advice for partners whose firms are undergoing or considering a merger.
   
   
10. "Beyond the Compensation: Advice from Top Law Firm Leaders to Lateral Partners," 02.13.25.
    Dan Binstock, writing for The American Lawyer, gets law firm leaders to share "unfiltered advice on what truly matters in a lateral partner move."
    
    
11. "Eight-Figure Outliers Aside, These Lateral Candidates Face a 'Buyer's Market' in Big Law," 02.13.25.
    "Amid a flood of government attorneys hitting the lateral market, whether by choice or circumstance, law firms have their pick of lawyers with top public sector experience. But as firms prepare for shifting demand under the new administration and long-term strategic planning, some lateral candidates from the government are having a tougher time getting placed," says The American Lawyer.
    
    
12. "Associate Compensation Jumped $100K in NYC Over 5 Years, Report Finds," 02.12.25.
    The American Lawyer reports, "While associate compensation is on an upward trajectory across the nation, those based in New York, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., are seeing the most notable increases in payouts, according to a recent report from global legal recruitment firm Major, Lindsey & Africa."
    
    
13. "A Seat at the Grown-Ups' Table? How Junior Partners Are Valued at Their Firms," 02.11.25.
    The American Lawyer reports on the results of a recent survey of recently promoted partners, which found that "Partners in their first three years are enjoying their new roles more than their predecessors," partly because there is less emphasis on billable hours and more emphasis on training and business development.
    
    
14. "Why Do Big Law Mergers Fall Short of Revenue Hopes?" 02.11.25.
    This episode of Bloomberg Law's On the Merits podcast explores "why firms merge, what challenges they face, and what the most successful mergers look like."
    
    
15. "Beyond Averages: The Under- And Over-Performance Of Firms," 02.11.25.
    Law360 takes a deep dive into "the 2024 year-end results that just came out to dissect the highs and lows of law firm performance last year." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
16. "Law firm profits climbed as 2024 ended, but boom times may not last," 02.10.25.
    "U.S. law firms enjoyed robust profits in the fourth quarter of 2024, but several key indicators suggest that 2025 could bring a slowdown," according to Reuters.
    
    
    1. "Fourth Quarter Growth in Demand and Worked Rates Coincided with Countercyclical Dip, New Report Indicates," 02.10.25.
       The American Lawyer reports, "Transactional practices have their work cut out for them in 2025 as countercyclical growth slows, Thomson Reuters' Q4 Law Firm Financial Index noted."
       
       
    2. "Law Firm Growth in Demand and Worked Rates in Q4 Coincided with Countercyclical Dip," 02.10.25.
       Law.com International reports, "Transactional practices have their work cut out for them in 2025 as countercyclical growth slows, according to Thomson Reuters' Q4 Law Firm Financial Index."
       
       
17. "Exceptional Growth Becoming the Rule? Demand Drove Strong Year for Big Law," 02.07.25.
    "Big Law broadly had a strong year in 2024, according to a new survey from Citi's Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group that illustrated a team effort from a spectrum of pro-cyclical and countercyclical practices," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    
    1. "Strong Revenue and Profitability Growth Propel Pennsylvania Firms Into 2025," 02.11.25.
       The Legal Intelligencer: "Significantly growing revenue and profits per equity partner, Pennsylvania firms had a strong performance in 2024 according to a recent survey from Citi's Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group."
       
       
    2. "Southeast Firms Outpaced National Average for Demand in 2024, but Revenue Growth Lagged," 02.12.25.
       Daily Report: "Southeast firms — with a majority in the Georgia and Florida markets — exceeded the national average in how fast they were growing head count and demand for their services in 2024."
       
       
    3. "DC Law Firms Saw Revenue and PEP Up 9% Last Year, but 2023 Proved Hard to Beat," 02.12.25.
       The National Law Journal: "The D.C. firms surveyed by Citi increased gross revenue by 8.6% in 2024, falling shy of the national industry average of 12.3%."
       
       
    4. "Texas Lagged Industry in Revenue, Demand Growth in 2024, but 2025 Outlook is Positive," 02.12.25.
       Texas Lawyer: "The Citi Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group year-end survey shows that the Texas region kept a lid on expense growth in 2024 and also grew lawyer head count, which can help it meet 2025 demand in strong industry sectors."
       
       




Public Service/Public Interest

18. "Trump administration directs agency heads to fire most probationary staff," 02.13.25.
    The Washington Post reports on the termination of probationary government employees, noting there are over 200,000 employees with that status but that "It was not immediately clear how many of those hired by the federal government within the last two years would be affected."
    
    
19. "American Bar Association says rule of law is under 'attack'," 02.11.25.
    Reuters reports on statements from the ABA on "the U.S. president's recent actions to dismantle parts of the federal government."
    
    
    1. "The ABA supports the rule of law," 02.10.25.
       Read the ABA statement on rule of law.
       
       
    2. "ABA condemns remarks questioning legitimacy of courts and judicial review," 02.11.25.
       Read the ABA statement on the legitimacy of judicial review.
       
       
    3. "American Bar Association slams US administration's apparent questioning of court legitimacy," 02.12.25.
       Canadian Lawyer also has this story.
       
       
20. "IRS, DOJ Hires With Rescinded Jobs Get Aid From Ex-Officials," 02.10.25.
    Bloomberg Tax reports, "Attorneys and law students who have had their job offers rescinded by the Treasury and the Justice Department's Tax Division are getting help finding employment from a group representing law firms, accounting firms, nonprofits, and private companies."
    
    
    1. "Tax Bar Steps Up To Help 200 Law Students And Graduates With Rescinded Job Offers From The IRS And DOJ Tax Division Due To Trump Hiring Freeze," 02.10.25.
       TaxProf Blog also has this information.
       
       
21. "US Attorneys Said to Be Told to Justify Keeping Newest Prosecutors," 02.07.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports that on Friday, "all 93 US attorneys [were given] two business days to explain why prosecutors they've hired in the past two years who aren't focused on Trump priorities such as immigration and public safety should be retained, said five people briefed on the situation."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

22. "'Work There Will Dry Up': White-Collar Defense Practices Poised to See Slow Downs," 02.13.25.
    The National Law Journal reports, "White-collar defense and litigation partners throughout Big Law are bracing for potential disruptions to business, as the Trump administration signals changes in enforcement priorities."
    
    
23. "Business Law Boutique Merges With Accounting Firm, Showcasing Possibilities of Deregulation in Arizona," 02.12.25.
    "Law firm Radix and business advisory and accounting firm Aprio both already have ABS licenses, giving them a head start on Big Four firm KPMG, which seeks approval to deliver a similar combination of services on a broader scale," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    
24. "Benefits of hybrid work examined in new study, while firms' quest to bring lawyers back to office continues," 02.11.25.
    ABA Journal explores some of the varied approaches that law firms are taking to hybrid work, and notes, "Adding a wrinkle to the debate over remote work is new research suggesting that hybrid schedules can increase productivity."
    
    
25. "Atlanta Calling: National Law Firms Flock to a 'Hotbed for Talented Lawyers,'" 02.10.25.
    "Atlanta seemingly has become a magnet for Big Law growth in the past year as national and global firms have moved into a city where venture capital, technology, real estate and more are fueling the economy," according to Daily Report.
    
    
26. "Will Big Law's Bet on the Middle East Pay Off? " 02.10.25.
    "The Middle East appears to be the hottest legal market around, but wherever firms decide to place their eggs in 2025, geopolitical concerns loom large, writes The Global Lawyer," at Law.com International.
    
    
27. "Legal Leaders Need To Create A High-Trust Culture," 02.07.25.
    Leadership coach Lawrence Center discusses the importance of creating and nurturing trust in a work environment.
    
    
28. "How should lawyers update their resumés?" 02.01.25.
    ABA Journal offers advice for lawyers who want to update their resumés, noting, "Gone are the days when law schools and firm names reigned supreme. Today's resumés are longer, richer in detail and strategically tailored to highlight practical expertise, adaptability and achievements."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

29. "Democratic AGs Defend DEI Against 'Misleading' Trump Directives," 02.13.25.head
    Bloomberg Law reports on guidance issued this week by 16 state attorneys general "in response to President Donald Trump's executive orders threatening enforcement actions against DEI programs the administration deems illegal."
    
    
30. "Trump 'Two Sexes' Order Complicates Employers' Rules on Pronouns," 02.13.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "The Trump administration's shifting anti-bias enforcement priorities are muddling an already intricate legal landscape for employees who want to use pronouns that align with their gender identity in the workplace."
    
    
31. "Conservative groups call on EEOC to investigate ABA diversity programs," 02.10.25.
    "A coalition of conservative legal groups on Monday asked the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to investigate several of the American Bar Association's diversity hiring programs, claiming they discriminate by giving priority to minority applicants and other underrepresented groups," reports Reuters.
    
    
    1. "ABA Hit With Discrimination Claims Over DEI Hiring Programs," 02.10.25.
       Bloomberg Law also has this story.
       
       
32. "With DEI Top of Mind, Black Judges Discuss Growing Up During Segregation, Efforts to Diversify the Profession," 02.10.25.
    The Am Law Litigation Daily reports on a recent event at the Seattle federal courthouse in which African American judges discuss their experiences growing up in a segregated country and experiencing discrimination, as well as what the legal community can do to promote diversity now.
    
    
33. "Steer Clear of 'Illegal DEI' With Leveling — Not Lifting — Programs," 02.10.25.
    Two NYU law professors, writing for Bloomberg Law, explain the term "illegal DEI" (as invoked in the president's executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion) and draw a distinction between what the authors call "lifting DEI" and "leveling DEI," noting that "at least for now, no one — not even this vehemently anti-DEI administration — is stopping organizations from removing bias from workplace systems to create a level playing field for all."
    
    
34. "Alarmed, Employers Ask: What Is 'Illegal D.E.I.'?" 02.10.25.
    The New York Times reports on so-called "rainbow-hushing" and says, "[Employers] are trying to keep enough of their diversity efforts in place to remain protected from future discrimination lawsuits, while also avoiding Mr. Trump's ire, federal investigations and lawsuits from anti-D.E.I. conservatives."
    
    
35. "Black students 'less likely' to pass barristers' training course: UK Bar Standards Board report," 02.07.25.
    Canadian Lawyer reports on data from the U.K.'s Law Society Gazette that shows "just 45 percent of Black students residing in the UK with a 2:1 undergraduate degree on courses started in 2022/23 passed the courses compared to 66.7 percent of White students. Meanwhile, 52.7 percent of students from Asian descent passed, as did 69.2 percent of mixed-heritage students."
    
    
36. "DEI Didn't Change the Workforce All That Much. A Look at 13 Million Jobs," 02.07.25.
    The Wall Street Journal looks at data on employees of S&P 500 companies and concludes, "For all the controversy that diversity programs stir up, most senior managers are still white men."
    
    




Technology

37. "From Laggards to Tech Founders: Law Firm Innovation Is Flourishing," 02.06.25.
    This Law.com editorial looks at the state of law firm innovation and predicts that changing the ways lawyers work "will likely become less challenging as younger generations of attorneys, already more exposed to, and comfortable with, technology than their counterparts, enter the workforce. In fact, tech skills and knowledge will be a trait that many law firms look for in prospective hires."
    
    

February 7, 2025

Top Stories

1. "'None of Us Like It': How Expedited Summer Associate Recruiting Affects Law Students and the Firms Hiring Them," 02.05.25.
   The American Lawyer has this in-depth piece, which includes quotes from NALP members and Executive Director Nikia Gray, discussing the issues with early recruiting.
   
   
   1. "The 'Cruel' Recruiting Timeline," 01.07.25.
      If you missed it last month, you can read Nikia Gray's article on the topic from the January issue of the Bulletin+ here.
      
      
2. "Law School Applications are Up Across the Country. Law Deans Aren't Sure Why," 02.06.25.
   Law.com reports on LSAC data showing law school applications are up and says, "Several observers pointed to social factors, such as the 2024 election and a deepening appreciation for how law can impact everyday life; others highlighted changes to the LSAT as a contributing factor, and still others pointed to rising associate pay promising financial security to Gen Z applicants."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Diversity officers and professors sue to block Trump's DEI orders," 02.03.25.
   The Washington Post reports on a lawsuit filed on behalf of the American Association of University Professors, the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, and the mayor and city council of Baltimore, "asking a judge to block two of the DEI-related orders Trump issued in the first two days of his second term and rule that they are unlawful."
   
   
4. "U of M Law School holds off on hiring assistant dean of DEI," 02.02.25.
   Minnesota Public Radio reports, "The University of Minnesota Law School is halting the hiring of a new assistant dean of diversity, equity and inclusion as President Donald Trump continues to crack down on DEI in federal programs."
   
   
5. "Blazing A Trail: Oregon Is Moving Away From The Traditional Bar Exam And Embracing Supervised Practice," 02.01.25.
   ABA Journal's Legal Rebels column discusses Oregon's alternative path to licensure. (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
6. "California's new bar exam hits early snags, examinees report," 01.31.25.
   "California will roll out its new bar exam on Feb. 25, but test takers say they have already encountered technical and logistical problems ranging from crashed computers and distracting online proctors on mock exams to an inability to schedule their tests," reports Reuters.
   
   
   1. "5,300 February California Bar Takers May Face Technical And Logistical Problems With New Exam: 'It Feels Like Hazing,'" 02.05.25.
      TaxProf Blog highlights this article and others, including guidance for California bar takers from a law professor.
      
      




Law Firms

7. "What Happens When Lateral Partners' Guaranteed Compensation Ends?" 02.04.25.
   The American Lawyer reports that "an unprecedented uptick in partner movement over the past few years means more partners have changed firms with the promise of two years of guaranteed compensation, which in turn means more negotiations on the horizon over how partners are compensated when guarantees expire."
   
   
8. "Mergers Are About People, Not Paperwork: Here's Why," 02.03.25.
   A consultant writing for The Recorder provides tips for bringing people together during a law firm merger and advises, "When leaders prioritize internal relationship-building with the same intentionality as business development, they unlock the potential for transformation. This isn't just about surviving change; it's about thriving through it."
   
   
9. "How Some Elite Law Firms Are Growing Equity Partner Ranks Faster Than Others," 02.03.25.
   "Elite law firms are targeting lateral partner groups who can increase the firm's wallet share with existing, significant clients," says The American Lawyer.
   
   




Public Service/Public Interest

10. "'A Shock to the System': Some Government Attorneys Are Forced Out, While Others Weigh Job Options," 02.05.25.
    The National Law Journal reports a flood of government lawyers in the job market, "from attorneys who have been terminated, to those under probationary periods who are concerned about their job security, to graduating law students who have had their job offers with the federal government rescinded. However, despite law firms engaging in widespread conversations with attorney and J.D. candidates — there just isn't enough space for them all."
    
    
11. "US judge extends pause on Trump's plan to freeze federal grants, loans," 02.03.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports that a U.S. District Court Judge extended the pause on President Trump's freeze of federal funds, saying that "a funding freeze outlined in a memo from the White House budget office last week would be 'potentially catastrophic' for organizations that rely on federal funding to carry out their missions and provide services to the public."
    
    
12. "Government attorneys are scrambling to leave the federal workforce," 01.31.25.
    ABA Journal reports that, although some amount of lawyer turnover is expected during any change in administration, this year's transition has seen an unusual amount of turnover among career lawyers, and "Law firms, particularly in D.C. and New York, want to hire the talent leaving the federal government, but they are overwhelmed by the number of candidates reaching out to them, legal recruiters say." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

13. "Legal Job Satisfaction Up, Less Turnover Expected, Study Says," 02.06.25.
    Law360 reports, "Legal professionals reported high job satisfaction at the end of last year, signaling a quieter job market for the legal industry in 2025, according to a new report from recruiting firm Robert Half." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
14. "Big Four Shun Return-to-Office Push, Stick With Hybrid Instead," 02.05.25.
    "The Big Four accounting firms are sticking with hybrid work policies that they say offer crucial flexibility and help attract talent, despite corporate and US government moves to call employees back to the office five days a week," according to Bloomberg Law.
    
    
15. "As American Firms Retreat, Will Loyal UK Firms Regain Asia Market Share?" 02.03.25.
    This editorial at Law.com International asks, "Will U.K. firms regain market share and the upper hand now that so many of their U.S. rivals have up and left Greater China?"
    
    
16. "Why in-house lawyers are increasingly demanding business acumen from external counsel," 01.31.25.
    Canadian Lawyer explores results of a recent Association of Corporate Counsel report that shows the shifting roles and expectations of in-house legal teams.
    
    
17. "The Law Firm Disrupted: Scrutinizing the Elephant More Than the Mouse," 01.31.25.
    Last week, the Arizona Supreme Court declined to approve KPMG's application for an alternative business structure license and asked for more information from the company. Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column looks at the reasons behind this pause, noting, "KPMG and its Big Four peers have far more heft than the largest law firms in the U.S. and around the world, and certainly more than the businesses currently operating with ABS licenses in Arizona."
    
    
18. "Embracing a 'Stronger Together' Mentality: Collaboration Best Practices for Attorneys," 01.31.25.
    Two law firm business development professionals, writing at The Legal Intelligencer, discuss the importance of collaboration and share "tactics to employ in kickstarting collaboration initiatives in your practice, firm or company."
    
    
19. "Pulling back the curtain on partnership," 01.27.25.
    Precedent Magazine explores "what equity partnership is truly like at large and mid-size firms throughout the profession."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

20. "Retention, Development and 'Empowering Teams': This Am Law 200 Firm's Newest Practice Leader Says Objectives Haven't Changed," 02.06.25.
    The American Lawyer interviewed Monique Jewett-Brewster, partner and head of the financial services practice at Lathrop GPM, "about her career in law and whether there's still a place for DEI initiatives in law firms."
    
    
21. "ABA opposes any DEI probes into bar associations," 02.04.25.
    Reuters reports, "The American Bar Association urged the Trump administration to roll back its executive order calling for federal investigations into diversity and inclusion efforts by bar associations, citing the groups' 1st Amendment rights."
    
    
    1. "House asserts bar associations' First Amendment rights, says AG's Honors Program should be reinstated," 02.03.25.
       Here is the ABA Journal article on this topic, as well as the ABA's opinion on the DOJ revoking job offers from the Attorney General's Honors Program. (Subscription may be required.)
       
       
22. "Opinion: Corporate America isn't abandoning DEI — it's just rebranding it," 02.03.25.
    This Los Angeles Times opinion piece by leaders at the Meltzer Center for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at New York University School of Law asserts that "the 'DEI in the dustbin' narrative is utterly unsupported by the data. The companies that have formally backed away from their diversity programs represent a tiny minority of corporate America."
    
    
23. "How Ice Miller's Diversity Head Will Navigate Anti-DEI Climate," 01.28.25.
    Law360 speaks with Ice Miller LLP partner "to discuss how she plans to approach her new role as the firm's first chief equity and inclusion officer amid a nationwide pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion programs." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
24. "Employers shouldn't abandon diversity efforts, SHRM says," 01.24.25.
    HRDive reports on a briefing by the Society of Human Resource Management in which "SHRM executive Emily Dickens highlighted the importance of compliance as President Donald Trump comes after DEI."
    
    
25. "What Comes After DEI," 01.23.25.
    At Harvard Business Review, author Lily Zheng explains a "new framework, built around the core outcomes of fairness, access, inclusion, and representation (FAIR)" and asserts, "by emphasizing fairness in policies, broad accessibility, inclusive cultures, and trust-based representation, organizations can better address the needs of all employees and create meaningful, lasting change." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

26. "Return to Work Mandates Among Current Mental Health Stressors for Legal Professionals," 02.07.25.
    Law.com's Legal Speak podcast speaks with lawyer and therapist Stacey Dougan about how external events can influence mental health and "how aligning needs and values with professional roles and responsibilities can help legal professionals enhance their wellbeing."
    
    
27. "UK Lawyers Seeking Mental Health Support Hits All-Time High," 02.06.25.
    Law.com International reports, "Mental health concerns among lawyers have reached an all-time high according to a U.K. legal mental health charity, as the industry continues to grapple with the endemic issue."
    
    
28. "Should lawyers get billable-hour credit for time off? It should be encouraged, ABA House says, but not before debate," 02.03.25.
    ABA Journal reports on two resolutions from the Young Lawyers Division that were recently passed by the ABA House of Delegates: "Resolution 505 encourages all legal employers to adopt policies and practices that provide attorneys with at least one consecutive week of uninterrupted time each year during which they are relieved of work-related communications and responsibilities," and Resolution 506, which "[urges] all legal employers to adopt policies and practices that promote flexible work arrangements." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Technology

29. "Want to thrive in the era of legal AI?" 02.04.25.
    Precedent Magazine delves into the potential of generative artificial intelligence, urging, "The way things stand right now, many of us lawyers view AI from the wrong perspective. Some see it as a threat to our profession, while others view it as unimportant or unreliable. Those attitudes need to change, so we can begin adapting to the new reality."
    
    
30. "Law Firms Look to Gen Z for AI Skills, as 'Data Becomes the Oil of Legal,'" 01.31.25.
    "With a greater number of older attorneys expected to age out of the profession and succession planning earning an increased focus in the legal world, law firms will need to ramp up talent recruitment and retention, and observers envision Gen Z attorneys, with their heightened familiarity with technology, as a particularly critical asset," according to The American Lawyer.
    
    

January 31, 2025

Top Stories

1. "Law Firm Revenue Jumps 13% in 2024, Fueling a Profit Surge," 01.29.25.
   Wells Fargo's Legal Specialty Group released their 2024 year-end findings, and Bloomberg Law reports, "The country's largest legal operations by revenue outperformed on virtually all metrics compared with 2023, the bank found in the survey of more than 130 law firms. Strong demand for lawyers' time allowed firms to raise rates without sacrificing how much of their bills they collected."
   
   
   1. "Profits Surge Across Big Law Tiers, but Am Law 50 Segmentation Accelerates," 01.29.25.
      The American Lawyer reports, "Law firm gross revenue increased at its fastest rate last year since the transactional boom in 2021, while profits per partner surged by double digits, including close to 20% for the top 50 firms, according to the latest bank survey results about 2024."
      
      
   2. "Wells Fargo's 2024 Law Firm Survey: A Year of Strong Growth and Profitability in the Legal Industry," 01.29.25.
      JD Journal has more.
      
      
2. "KPMG's Bid to Practice Law in U.S. on Indefinite Hold, as Arizona Justices Exercise Caution," 01.30.25.
   The American Lawyer reports, The Arizona Supreme Court's decision Tuesday to put off determining whether Big Four KPMG can operate a law firm subsidiary under the state's Alternative Business Structure program suggests the justices are leery of rushing into a decision that could have implications far beyond their own state.
   
   
   1. "KPMG's Move to Practice Law in Arizona May Signal Paradigm Shift," 01.30.25.
      Bloomberg Law's On the Merits podcast discusses the KMPG threat.
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Both Dakotas consider widely different public service options to bar exam, law school," 01.28.25.
   ABA Journal reports, "In efforts to ease the shortage of lawyers in rural areas, North and South Dakota are each considering public service options that impact bar admission, though each offers very different requirements — including whether going to law school is necessary." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
4. "Trump Targets 131 Colleges (76 With Law Schools) With Endowments Over $1 Billion For Possible DEI Investigations," 01.27.25.
   TaxProf Blog highlights a (paywalled) article from The Chronicle of Higher Education about the 131 undergraduate campuses that could be targeted under a recent executive order on DEI programs, and provides a list of the 76 institutions with law schools that might be affected.
   
   
5. "Online Law School Comes Back to Haunt Attorney," 01.27.25.
   "The Fifteenth Court of Appeals dismissed an appeal brought by an attorney seeking admittance to the State Bar of Texas on grounds she received her juris doctor from an unaccredited online law school," reports Texas Lawyer.
   
   
6. "Confusion Follows Trump Order on Sex and Gender," 01.24.25.
   Inside Higher Ed discusses the impact of the executive order on gender, noting that "the order could complicate institutions' efforts to accommodate transgender students and eventually change how the federal government enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   




Law Firms

7. "Merger Mania Fails: Big Law Combos Leave Most Firms Behind Pack," 01.31.25.
   Bloomberg Law explores data on law firm mergers, noting that "Large US law firms are increasingly using mergers to grow, but a Bloomberg Law analysis shows that almost all firms trailed their rivals after doing big deals."
   
   
8. "Am Law 100 Lateral Partner Hiring Rose in 2024: Report," 01.30.25.
   The American Lawyer reports, "Lateral partner hiring across the Am Law 100 increased in 2024 over the previous year, with Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C., registering the most activity" according to findings from Aspire Legal Solutions.
   
   
9. "How Lateral Recruiting Is Impacting Associate Compensation," 01.29.25.
   Law360 reports, "How law firms look at compensation is inextricably intertwined with the lateral recruiting market, and both are currently in flux, according to Nathan Peart, a longtime recruiter who took over as the executive director of associate recruiting at Major Lindsey & Africa at the beginning of this month." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
10. "Non-Equity Partner Surge A 'Mixed Bag' For Associates," 01.29.25.
    Law360 reports, "Many U.S. law firms have actively grown their non-equity partner ranks in recent years, creating more high-level job opportunities within law firms in what appears to be a win for young lawyers. But what seems like a positive development could come with some caveats, experts say." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
11. "Smaller Firms in 'Growth Mode' as Competition, Rates Heat Up," 01.28.25.
    "If the recent flurry of small firm and solo acquisitions is any indication, many midsize firms are starting the year in 'growth mode,'" reports The Legal Intelligencer.
    
    
12. "Navigating Partner Exits During Law Firm Mergers," 01.28.25.
    At Law.com International, a consultant provides tips on preparing for "letting go of partners whose performance, practice or outlook may not align with the new direction of the merged operation."
    
    
13. "Law Firms Are 'Struggling' With Partner Pay Segmentation, as Top Rainmakers Bring In More Revenue," 01.28.25.
    The American Lawyer reports, "After a windfall 2024 for many firms, legal recruiters and consultants say firm compensation systems are still struggling to account for their top rainmakers, as well as how to ensure the rest of the partnership doesn't get 'left behind.'"
    
    
14. "Mergers On The Rise: A Shift For Regional Law Firms," 01.27.25.
    Law360 reports, "As the legal industry grows ever more competitive, smaller regional firms are seeking new strategies to level the playing field with their larger counterparts." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
15. "Was It Ever A Profession? A Look at the History of Law Firms as a Business with RJon Robins," 01.24.25.
    This episode of Law.com's Legal Speak podcast interviews "small-firm guru RJon Robbins about the history of law as a business, whether that has become more of a focus lately and whether, regardless of what attorneys say, the law has always been a business like any other."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

16. "Average in-house pay has increased, junior in-house lawyers are closing gender pay gap: report," 01.28.25.
    Canadian Lawyer shares data from the 2025 Canadian In-House Lawyer Salary Report.
    
    
17. "Alternative legal services market reaches $28.5 bln, report says," 01.28.25.
    "The market for legal services that are not performed by traditional law firms has hit a record $28.5 billion, according to a new report, with a small but growing share belonging to law firm subsidiaries or affiliates," says Reuters.
    
    
18. "Companies' Obsession With Soft Skills Has Made Prized GC Posts Even Harder to Land," 01.27.25.
    Corporate Counsel reports, "The recruiting firm BarkerGilmore's 2025 Market Outlook said demand for in-house legal talent remains strong, though the increasing focus on such skills as building trust and fostering collaboration has made the already-difficult task of landing the most prized jobs — general counsel or chief compliance officer — even more daunting."
    
    
    1. "US demand for diverse legal and compliance talent still strong in 2024, recruitment firm says," 01.28.25.
       Canadian Lawyer also shares information from this new report, noting, "The demand for diverse legal and compliance talent in the US has stayed strong in the past year."
       
       
19. "As Lawyers Exit Government Service, Don't Overlook The Potential," 01.27.25.
    This column at Bloomberg Law offers suggestions on how lawyers leaving the federal government might fit in other organizations, noting, "Significant change usually presents opportunity in the law, and the coming wave of government lawyers may present companies and law firms with the chance to onboard talent that's not always on the market."
    
    




Public Service/Public Interest

20. "Trump White House rescinds order freezing federal spending, reversing course," 01.29.25.
    The Washington Post reports on this week's freeze on federal loans, grants, and other financial assistance and the retraction (separate from the hiring freeze reported below).
    
    
    1. "Judge signals toward granting Dem challenge to OMB freeze after order rescinded," 01.29.25.
       The Hill has more on this, reporting, "A federal judge said Wednesday he plans to grant a group of Democratic attorneys general's request to block President Trump's freeze on federal aid, even though the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo was rescinded amid confusion earlier in the day."
       
       
21. "January Federal Update: Executive Orders Issued," 01.27.25.
    The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) has a good summary of all of the orders that impact career services/recruiters (hat tip to Danielle Taylor).
    
    
22. "US President Trump's justice department halts unpaid summer internships for law students," 01.24.25.
    Canadian Lawyer has this (paywalled) Bloomberg article on the revocation of unpaid internships.
    
    
23. "Trump Federal Hiring Freeze Scuttles Job Offers for Law Students," 01.23.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports on rescinded job offers from the Department of Justice, the IRS, and Federal Communications Commission.
    
    
    1. "Federal government hiring freeze could dramatically affect some law schools' employment outcomes," 01.23.25.
       The Excess of Democracy blog has this post on the potential impact on law school employment outcomes.
       
       
    2. "Trump's hiring freeze leaves thousands of law students out in the cold," 01.27.25.
       Karen Sloan at Reuters has more.
       
       




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

24. "Law Firms See Generational Shift In Leadership In 2024," 01.30.25.
    Law360 reports, "The legal industry saw a wave of leadership transitions in 2024, with a growing number of top executives in the nation's top 200 law firms stepping down, paving the way for a new generation of leaders, according to an upcoming report by Leopard Solutions." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
25. "The Future Of DEI: Employee Resource Groups, Allyship And Partnerships," 01.29.25.
    A consultant writing for Forbes discusses corporate support for DEI programs and initiatives and offers three strategies for helping DEI "survive and thrive," noting, "Corporate DEI work is still legal and is growing, not dying." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
26. "Transgender Troops Challenge Trump's Military Ban," 01.28.25.
    Law360 reports, "A group of current and prospective transgender service members sued the Trump administration in D.C. federal court on Tuesday over an executive order barring transgender troops from serving in the military, saying the order is unconstitutional." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
27. "EEOC Acting Chair Calls for Revoking Gender Identity Guidance," 01.28.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "The EEOC's acting chair is calling for the rescission of agency guidance on workplace gender identity protections while removing nonbinary gender markers from bias charge intake and nixing an app that allowed commission employees to specify their pronouns."
    
    
    1. "Trump Fired E.E.O.C. Commissioners in Late-Night Purge," 01.28.25.
       The New York Times has more on this.
       
       
    2. "Trump Fires EEOC Commissioners, Kneecapping Democrat-Controlled Civil Rights Agency," 01.29.25.
       "Testing the bounds of his authority, President Donald Trump fired two of the three Democratic members of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, leaving it without the quorum needed to conduct business," reports Corporate Counsel.
       
       
28. "Diversity Lab Alters DEI-Centered Verbiage on Mansfield Certification Website," 01.28.25.
    "Diversity Lab has altered some of the language on the Mansfield Certification website, removing references to minimum thresholds for minority candidates along with other diversity-centered verbiage," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    
29. "Big Law Aims to Make DEI Less Divisive in Trump's Second Term," 01.27.25.
    The American Lawyer speaks with DEI professionals and other experts about the executive order banning DEI programs and reports, "they don't expect the executive order to change the convictions of law firms whose partnerships were already committed to DEI. However, the same sources said they believe firms will both reduce their outward communication of DEI programming and eliminate language that has sparked division — including references to specific races, ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities — to avoid being targeted by federal agencies."
    
    




Technology

30. "Legal Departments, Firms Expect Gen AI to Boost ALSP Usage," 01.28.25.
    Legaltech News reports, "Many firms and corporate legal departments alike see generative AI adoption bolstering the use of Alternative Legal Service Providers (ALSP) over the next three years, according to Thomson Reuters' Alternative Legal Service Providers 2025 Report."
    
    

January 24, 2025

Top Stories

1. "Justice Dept. Cancels Entry-Level Job Offers in Honors Program," 01.23.25.
   The New York Times reports, "The Justice Department has abruptly rescinded job offers made to dozens of recent law school graduates who were to be placed in entry-level positions in its antitrust, criminal, civil rights, immigration and national security divisions, and at the F.B.I." as a result of the Trump administration's hiring freeze.
   
   
   1. "Trump hiring freeze hits law students headed to the U.S. Justice Department," 01.23.25.
      Reuters has this story as well, with quotes from some NALP members.
      
      
   2. "DOJ revokes job offers to young lawyers in elite honors program," 01.23.25.
      ABA Journal also reports on this situation. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
2. "Trump Signs Two Orders to Dismantle Equity Policies," 01.20.25.
   The New York Times reports, "President Trump on Monday ordered his administration to gut policies instituted under the Biden administration to prevent sex discrimination and protect transgender Americans, and dismantle federal programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion."
   
   
   1. "Trump Orders Federal Scrutiny of Corporate DEI Programs," 01.21.25
      President Trump's anti-DEI executive order "directs a whole-of-government effort to pressure companies to stop using DEI initiatives, ordering the heads of every agency to submit reports on what they can do to discourage such programs," reports Bloomberg Law.
      
      
   2. "Explainer: Trump says corporate diversity efforts are illegal — but are they?" 01.23.25.
      This Reuters article provides some explanation on the new executive orders.
      
      
   3. "Companies Parse What Makes a DEI Program Illegal Under Trump," 01.23.25.
      Bloomberg Law reports, "The administration's attacks on DEI will also accelerate shifts in how companies talk about diversity, spark closer reviews of who has access to corporate opportunities, and prompt more businesses to shut down their diversity teams or fold them into other areas of their operations."
      
      
   4. "With DEI Rollbacks, Employment Attorneys See Potential for Targeting Corporate Commitment to Equality," 01.23.25.
      Law.com publishes an excerpt from The AmLaw Litigation Daily newsletter that asserts, "Companies that have scaled back their DEI initiatives should be prepared for those actions to be scrutinized if they are faced with a suit claiming that a firing or other action involving a particular employee was motivated by factors such as race, gender, religion or national origin."
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Trump's DEI Scrutiny Coming to Bar Associations, Law Schools," 01.22.25.
   Bloomberg Law reports on the potential impact of an executive order from President Trump, which "declares that inquiries should be done in the next 120 days. It also asks the attorney general and the secretary of education to propose guidance for higher education institutions that receive federal funds on how best to comply with the standards set in Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College."
   
   
   1. "How a Trump Executive Order Could Upend Colleges' Hiring Practices," 01.22.25.
      "The order applies to federal contractors and likely includes the majority of colleges that receive federal financial aid or other federal funding. It was the latest indication that the Trump administration is determined to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion and affirmative-action practices not only across the federal government, but higher education, as well," says The Chronicle of Higher Education. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   2. "Trump Takes Aim at DEI in Higher Ed," 01.23.25.
      Inside Higher Ed notes, "The executive order doesn't have an immediate impact on DEI programs at colleges and universities, but experts worry about a chilling effect." (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   3. "Trump diversity order sparks pushback from attorney groups," 01.23.25.
      Reuters reports that California and Massachusetts have already responded that their programs do not break the law.
      
      
4. "LA wildfires will not stop California's plans to offer new bar exam next month," 01.22.25.
   ABA Journal reports, "While plans to launch a new Kaplan-developed bar exam Feb. 25 and 26 move forward, the State Bar of California's Committee of Bar Examiners will consider offering a refund to February examinees impacted by the wildfires that have plagued the Los Angeles area." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
5. "More Business Schools Shrink Their 2-Year MBA To 1-Year; Will More Law Schools Offer 2-Year JDs?" 01.21.25.
   TaxProf Blog highlights an Inside Higher Ed article on the rise of accelerated M.B.A. programs.
   
   
6. "Hopes and Fears: Higher Ed Leaders Sound Off on Trump's Return to Power," 01.20.25.
   Inside Higher Ed interviewed leaders and scholars in academia about their expectations for higher education over the next four years to get their thoughts about "both the challenges and opportunities Trump's second four years may present." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   




Law Firms

7. "Law Firms Turn to 'Golden Handcuffs' to Rein In Partner Movement ," 01.24.25.
   The American Lawyer reports, "The practice of holding back bonuses or a larger portion of partner compensation toward the end of the year, creating so-called 'golden handcuffs' to deter partners from firm-hopping, is on the rise, according to some industry observers."
   
   
8. "In A Recruiting 'Wild West,' Law Firms Expand Internal Teams," 01.23.25.
   Law360 reports, "The last five years have brought with them some major changes in both new lawyer and lateral attorney recruiting, according to experts, leaving large law firms scrambling to find internal recruiting professionals to navigate what some are calling the 'Wild West' of hiring." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
9. "The Gloves Are Off in the Battle for Top Partner Talent," 01.23.25.
   "Some law firms have also kicked up the battle for rising talent, armed with newly launched or expanded nonequity tiers. All is fair in the battle for top talent and adding market share," says the Law.com Barometer newsletter.
   
   
10. "Big Law's Splashy 2025 Hires Obscure a Slow Laterals Market," 01.23.25.
    Bloomberg Law's Big Law Business column examines the state of the lateral market, speculating that it may be slow because partners are waiting to see what their equity shares from 2024 will be.
    
    
11. "Senior Associates' Billing Rates See The Biggest Jump," 01.22.25.
    The American Lawyer reports, "It's not just law firm partners whose billing rates have shot up lately. Associates, and specifically experienced associates, saw the biggest increases in billed rates between 2023 and 2024, according to a new report" from Wolters Kluwer.
    
    
12. "Why Associates in This Growing Legal Market Are Leaving Their Firms," 01.22.25.
    The American Lawyer has this story on the legal market in India, where "Long hours and a lack of boundaries have been driving out both new recruits and seasoned associates at even the largest and strongest law firms in India. Many are moving in-house or to smaller firms, and some are leaving the profession entirely, taking up managerial roles in business instead."
    
    
13. "Law Firms Ended 2024 With 'Drastic' Drop in Lateral Hiring," 01.20.25.
    "The legal industry's lateral hiring landscape saw a sharp decline in 2024, a trend driven by a confluence of economic pressures, evolving market dynamics, and internal shifts within law firms. The once bustling activity of partners and associates switching firms has slowed considerably, raising questions about the future of legal recruitment and talent management," reports JD Journal.
    
    
14. "Why Law Firms Are Seeing 'Profit Leakage,'" 01.14.25.
    Law360 reports, "Even as many law firms see rising profitability, a number of factors are still negatively affecting their profit margins, including write-offs and discounts, according to a new report out Tuesday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
15. "Balancing Hybrid Work With Relationship Building, Newly Merged Ballard Spahr Prioritizes 'Coaching Aspect' of Training New Associates," 01.17.25.
    The American Lawyer reports on Ballard Spahr's customized training program, which "provides additional professional skill development, including a one-on-one writing program and business development coaching."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

16. "In-house counsel survey finds drop in diversity prioritization, more lawyers in non-legal roles," 01.23.25.
    Canadian Lawyer reports, "A 'stubborn lack of focus' on equality, diversity and inclusion, soaring concerns about artificial intelligence, and a growing number of lawyers moving into non-legal roles are some of the most notable findings in an annual in-house counsel report by the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and Mondaq."
    
    
17. "New Pay Transparency Laws Challenge Employers Across State Lines," 01.23.25.
    A lawyer writing for Bloomberg Law advises, "Each pay transparency law is unique — in states that currently have them — which makes compliance challenging for employers. Companies should ensure they understand which laws apply to them, as well as the laws' specific requirements."
    
    
18. "The Law Firm Disrupted: For Office Policies, Big Law Has Its Ear to the Market, Not to Trump," 01.23.25.
    Law.com's The Law Firm Disrupted column looks at the state of return-to-office in the legal market and notes, "In a competitive arena for landing and retaining talent, it's tough to put the flexibility genie fully back in the bottle. Given the premium workers now place on the ability to work from home periodically, it would likely take some degree of collusion with peers for most firms to successfully impose a five-day a week mandate…."
    
    
19. "Trump's RTO Mandate May Have Some Gov't Lawyers Polishing Their Resumes," 01.23.25.
    "Some recruiters in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in the country expect an uptick in inquiries from government attorneys curious about opportunities in private practice as a result of President Donald Trump's executive order ending remote work for federal employees, but this policy shift is likely just one of the factors likely to prompt these lawyers to start polishing their resumes," according to The National Law Journal.
    
    
20. "Choosing the right employer for your legal career," 01.22.25.
    At Law360 Canada, Jacob Murad writes, "I am often asked about how to choose the right employer for a legal career. Financial compensation and incentives may be a significant starting point; however, there are often little differences in compensation for the position you are eligible for, so it is difficult to determine the right path. This is not only the case when searching for a position at the start of a legal career but also midway through." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
21. "How will the U.S. focus on border security impact hiring in Canada?" 01.22.25.
    Canadian HR Reporter discusses how Canadian employers may be affected by the Trump administration's focus on border security, especially related to "hiring plans, cross-border travel, and domestic recruitment."
    
    
22. "Trump RTO Mandates Won't Disrupt Big Law Policies — But Client Expectations Might," 01.22.25.
    "Even with one elite firm recently making a subtle move to push personnel back to the office five days a week, law firm leaders and industry observers are skeptical that Donald Trump's executive order ending remote work for all federal employees will put a dent in the hybrid work model that's become established across the legal world over the last five years," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    
23. "What Lawyers Really Think About Working In-House," 01.22.25.
    Law360 Pulse "asked corporate counsel to identify some common misconceptions about working in-house and share their thoughts on the rewards and challenges of their jobs." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
24. "Sunbelt Law Firms Experienced More Moderate Growth Last Year, Alongside Some Job Cuts and Less Merger Interest," 01.21.25.
    "Law firms headquartered in the states of Florida, Georgia and Texas are encountering a period of slowing growth after years of explosive expansion," says Daily Business Review.
    
    
25. "KPMG Wants to Be the First Accounting Giant to Own a U.S. Law Firm. Here's Why," 01.20.25.
    The Wall Street Journal examines the reasoning behind KPMG's move into the legal sector: "KPMG sees this as an opportunity to streamline and expand the work it does for clients, while also allowing it to use artificial-intelligence tools to perform work that would otherwise be outsourced to a traditional law firm."
    
    
26. "Building an Ownership Mindset as a Gen Z Junior Associate," 01.17.25.
    Consultants writing for Law.com provide advice to associates on adjusting from law school to the law firm work environment, noting, "After years of excelling in environments with clear rubrics and defined goals…many junior lawyers find themselves struggling with the more fluid expectations of legal practice."
    
    
27. "Should I stay or should I go?" 01.15.25.
    CBA/ABC National reports on the NALP Foundation's Canadian "Stay Study," Should I Stay or Should I Go? Key Factors Driving Law Firm Associate Retention, which showed that "compensation, followed closely by work-life balance and career path, were the main factors why associates choose to stay at their law firms."
    
    
28. "Even Harvard M.B.A.s Are Struggling to Land Jobs," 01.15.25.
    The Wall Street Journal reports, "Landing a professional job in the U.S. has become so tough that even Harvard Business School says its M.B.A.s can't solely rely on the university's name to open doors anymore."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

29. "What DEI Professionals in Red States Are Thinking," 01.21.25.
    Inside Higher Ed interviews an expert on "the effects of bans on DEI staff members and how they're navigating this politically volatile time." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
30. "Christian Legal Group That Helped Topple Roe Shifts Fight to DEI," 01.18.25.
    Bloomberg Law profiles the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), which "has played a key role in the movement, helping to draft dozens of shareholder resolutions aimed at axing DEI trainings and policies meant to improve representation of racially underrepresented groups at firms."
    
    
31. "Women, Minority Lawyers Continue Incremental Growth," 01.16.25.
    Law360 writes about NALP's new Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms: "Women, people of color and women of color keep setting records for representation in the nation's legal industry, but a smaller percentage of Black summer associates may portend future challenges, according to a report released Thursday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
    1. "Report highlights unprecedented diversity in law," 01.17.25.
       Detroit Legal News picked up the NALP press release.
       
       
32. "You Blamed DEI for Hurting Your Career. Now What?" 01.15.25.
    A column in The Wall Street Journal looks at the flip side of removing diversity initiatives, which has some people "considering whether diversity was a boogeyman."
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

33. "Talking Mental Health: Caring For Everyone As A Firm Leader," 01.23.25.
    At Law360, "Reid Phillips at Brooks Pierce discusses how he manages the pressure of running a law firm, how sources of stress in the legal industry have changed over the past decade, and what firm leaders should do to help manage burnout and mental health issues among employees." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
34. "6 Questions to Find Out How Your Employees Are Really Doing," 12.17.24.
    Harvard Business Review shares six questions that can help managers build rapport and trust with their employees. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Technology

35. "Case Western Law Requires First-Year Students to Pass AI Seminar," 01.23.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Case Western Reserve University School of Law is requiring all first-year law students to earn a certification in legal artificial intelligence in what the school contends is among the first such requirements in the nation."
    
    
36. "Davis Wright Tremaine Turns to Gen AI to Teach Its Associates Legal Writing," 01.22.25.
    Legaltech News reports on a new generative AI writing tool at Davis Wright Tremaine called DWT prose, which "works by providing suggested edits to users based on the writing of Davis Wright's established attorneys, giving users an explanation for the proposed change and providing an example of the relevant guideline in use."
    
    
37. "Avoiding the Great Gen AI Wrecking Ball: Ignore AI's Transformative Power at Your Own Risk," 01.21.25.
    The author of this op-ed at Law.com asserts, "The transformation of legal practice isn't 'coming soon.' It's here, it's now, it's unavoidable, and it's either the greatest threat to or the greatest opportunity for your organization's very existence. You get to decide."
    
    

January 17, 2025

Top Stories

1. "NALP's Latest Report Highlights Unprecedented Diversity in Law, But Summer Associate Data Shows Challenges Could Hinder Representation of Black Lawyers," 01.16.25.
   NALP this week released the 2024 Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms. Based on data from the NALP Directory of Legal Employers, the report showed, "Although women, people of color, and LGBTQ lawyers reached new record levels of representation among lawyers in U.S. law firms in 2024, this year's data show warning signs that some of this progress may be stunted in the years ahead, especially for Black or African American lawyers." You can read the full report and the press release on the Report on Diversity page. Full press coverage will be included in next week's digest.
   
   
2. "KPMG plan to launch US law firm opens new front for Big Four," 01.14.25.
   "KPMG is poised to become the first of the Big Four accounting firms to open a law firm in the United States, taking advantage of loosened law firm ownership rules in Arizona and accelerating the accounting industry's push into U.S. legal services," reports Reuters.
   
   
   1. "KPMG Passes Key Step in Forming Big Four's First US Law Firm," 01.14.25.
      Bloomberg Law reports, "The Arizona Supreme Court should grant KPMG Law US a license, the Committee on Alternative Business Structures found. The court will decide Jan. 28 whether to grant KPMG's license, deny the application, or send it back for more information."
      
      
   2. "KPMG eyes US legal expansion in Big Four first," 01.14.25.
      Canadian Lawyer also has this story.
      
      
   3. "'Big Four Fear' Cycle Ramps Up for Law Firms as KPMG Moves to US," 01.16.25.
      The Big Law Business column at Bloomberg Law discusses the cycles of "Big Four Fear" that the legal market has experienced since the late 1990s.
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Mythbusters: What do we really know about online law schools? 01.15.25.
   ABA Journal reports that the Section on Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar "is considering standards necessary to fully accredit online-only law schools without brick-and-mortar campuses, like Purdue Global Law School. Several steps remain before a proposal would be presented to the House of Delegates for approval." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
4. "Penn State Dickinson Law Dean Named President-Elect of Association of American Law Schools," 01.14.25.
   Law.com reports on the election of Penn State Dickinson Dean Danielle Conway as president of the Association of American Law Schools.
   
   
5. "Some Los Angeles Law Schools Begin Spring Semester Remotely," 01.13.25.
   "UCLA and Pepperdine, both located just outside the perimeter of the Palisades fire, have moved classes online this week," says The Recorder.
   
   
6. "Supreme Court to examine stalled Biden plan cancelling debt for defrauded students," 01.11.25.
   "The U.S. Supreme Court said on Friday it will review a lower court's decision to block a Biden administration rule that helped forgive student debt held by borrowers who were defrauded by their colleges," reports USA Today.
   
   
7. "The Power of Student Prior Knowledge in Legal Education," 01.10.25.
   A dean at New York Law School, writing for New York Law Journal, outlines "a large and comprehensive multi-year empirical study [NYLS is undertaking] to better understand and assess teaching that draws on students' prior knowledge, how it affects student learning and, ultimately, academic and professional achievement."
   
   




Law Firms

8. "Set Up Associates for Success by Making Expectations Compelling," 01.17.25.
   Rachael Bosch from Fringe PD, writing for Bloomberg Law, urges employers to set clear expectations for associates, in order to "create an environment where lawyers choose to excel because they understand the value of doing so — both for their clients and their own professional development."
   
   
9. "Are Counsel Ranks Getting 'Squeezed' as Nonequity and Associate Pay Grows?" 01.16.25.
   "'Special' bonuses in the last month pushed up total associate compensation at many Am Law 50 firms, but it further complicated the pay arrangements for another tier of lawyers in firms: counsel," says this editorial at The American Lawyer.
   
   
10. "Choose-Your-Billable-Hours Model May Be Future of Associate Pay," 01.14.25.
    This episode of Bloomberg Law's On the Merits podcast examines "the benefits of a tiered compensation plan for firms and associates — as well as discussing potential risks."
    
    
11. "Law Firms Grapple With Nonequity Partner Pay 'Friction,'" 01.14.25.
    The American Lawyer reports, "The increasingly blurry pay lines between the lawyer ranks are causing some conflicts. Law firms could lose some nonequity partner talent if firms don't appear to be paying them more than senior associates, or if some nonequity partners are earning as much as equity partners but don't have the benefits that come along with equity ownership, observers say."
    
    
12. "LA-Area Law Firms Offer Support as Region Reckons With Raging Wildfires," 01.13.25.
    "Several law firms have quickly mobilized to help employees and clients affected by the wildfires," says The American Lawyer, including emergency funds for staff, guides to navigating insurance claims, and more.
    
    
13. "As Bonus Pools Expand, Challenges Grow in Partner Compensation," 01.13.25.
    The American Lawyer reports, "While partner bonuses remain a strong and flexible tool to reward lawyers, the more firms lean on them, the more likely it is they can cause confusion or dismay, some observers say."
    
    
14. "2024 Marked Growth On Top of Growth for Law Firm Litigation Practices. Is a Cooldown in the Offing for 2025?" 01.13.25.
    The AmLaw Litigation Daily reports, "According to data released by Thomson Reuters last week, litigation demand grew 3.3% in 2024 after seeing 2.8% growth in 2023."
    
    
15. "Law Firms Launch Alliances When Mergers Are Too Much to Bear," 01.13.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports on some new "unconventional" types of "non-merger alliances" which are providing law firms "some of the advantages of a full combination without sacrificing legacy systems or assuming financial liabilities of a partner."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

16. "Lessons From Five Popular Change Management Concepts: A Guide for Law Firm Leaders in 2025," 01.15.25.
    A consultant, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, discusses change management concepts and theories, "highlighting their relevance to current trends in law firm leadership and management" as well as the changing political climate.
    
    
17. "Justice Department Attorneys Vote to Unionize on Cusp of Trump," 01.14.25.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Civil rights and environmental trial attorneys have voted to form the Justice Department's first two known unions of litigators, the labor group they've chosen to represent them said."
    
    
18. "Ballard Spahr Aims to Balance Hybrid Work With Relationship Building in Training New Associates," 01.14.25.
    The Legal Intelligencer reports on Ballard Spahr's first-year integration program, which "emphasizes coaching and offers additional programming spearheaded and led by the associates themselves."
    
    
19. "Vancouver law firms stick to traditional office spaces: report," 01.13.25.
    "While many industries have adapted to hybrid work arrangements by eliminating single-employee workstations and investing in communal spaces, some Vancouver law firms are sticking to traditional official layouts to attract talent," reports Canadian Lawyer.
    
    
20. "Partnership: Disadvantages of the equity partnership," 01.13.25.
    A column at Law360 Canada explores "the advantages of equity partnership." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
21. "Are Law Firm Office Mandates Missing The Point?" 01.10.25.
    Law360 reports, "Creating a workplace that fosters community, connection, collaboration and a clearly defined culture cannot be accomplished through office mandates alone, and, in fact, a lack of flexibility when it comes to remote work options could backfire on that goal, according to the author of a new book out this month." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

22. "'I Bought a £20 Suit From eBay': How a Social Mobility Scheme Helped Launch a Paul Weiss Associate's Career," 01.17.25.
    Law.com International profiles a lawyer who benefited from a U.K. program called PRIME, which seeks "to improve access to the legal profession for those from less-privileged economic backgrounds."
    
    
23. "Why Costco Isn't Joining the Backlash Against DEI," 01.15.25.
    The Wall Street Journal reports that Costco has not backed away from their DEI policies and their board of directors has "made a vigorous case for how its diversity, equity and inclusion measures contribute to its bottom line."
    
    
24. "Wisconsin Supreme Court to weigh whether diversity training can count as lawyer CLE credit," 01.14.25.
    The Wisconsin Supreme Court will weigh whether to allow lawyers to earn CLE credits for courses on diversity, equity, and inclusion, reports Reuters.
    
    
25. "Three DEI Legal Issues Employers Should Keep Tabs on in 2025," 01.13.25.
    Bloomberg Law explores "three major themes for DEI litigation in 2025."
    
    
26. "Meta Pulls Plug on DEI Programs," 01.10.25.
    Corporate Counsel reports, "Meta has pulled the plug on its DEI initiatives, effective immediately."
    
    
27. "The 'Motherhood Advantage' in Law: Time to Flip the Script," 01.10.25.
    Two moms, writing for The American Lawyer, argue that it's time for law firms to see motherhood as a positive characteristic and assert, "The 'motherhood advantage' is a reality, not a myth. Mothers bring an unmatched skill set to their firms and clients. From emotional intelligence and resilience, to multitasking, the skills honed through motherhood directly translate to success in law."
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

28. "Character and Fitness Review Creates Snag for Prospective Lawyers," 01.10.25.
    A lawyer, writing for Bloomberg Law, advises bar applicants on the shift away from mental health reporting on the New York character and fitness review.
    
    




Technology

29. "The Law Firm Disrupted: Tech Investment Is Necessary Yet Expensive. The Big Four Have a Leg Up," 01.16.25.
    "The latest details on KPMG's bid to deliver legal services in the U.S. arrive in conjunction with a fresh look at how law firms aspire to put generative AI to use," in Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column.
    
    
30. "AI's Place in Big Law Broadens, As Firms Embrace Fresh Uses of the Technology," 01.15.25.
    The American Lawyer explores the status of artificial intelligence tools as we move into 2025 and notes, "The most promising applications range from legal research and deposition summaries to e-discovery, contract review, and even innovative associate training programs."
    
    
    1. "Training Lawyers in AI and Using AI to Boost Training," 01.16.25.
       The second article in this series notes that "some firms are going a step beyond instructing rising lawyers on how to apply the technology safely by also putting it to use in advancing their legal skills."
       
       
31. "AI in 2025: Five Key Predictions on How It Will Reshape Law Firms," 01.15.25.
    Law.com International offers five "predictions for the legal sector and what they mean for law firms, corporate legal teams, and clients."