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.

July 26, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Class of 2023 Shatters Records in Historic Year as NALP Celebrates 50 Years of Employment Reporting," 07.25.24.
   NALP released Employment for the Class of 2023 — Selected Findings yesterday, which shows that the Class of 2023 crushed four of the primary metrics that NALP has been tracking over the past five decades, setting new records for the overall employment rate, employment in bar passage required/anticipated jobs, and median and average salaries. In addition, private practice employment was at the highest level in more than 30 years. Read the full report, press release, national summary chart, and salary distribution curve on the Class of 2023 page.
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

2. "Is this a key moment for the bar exam?" 07.25.24.
   ABA Journal considers the fate of the bar exam in the face of a sea change, noting, "Driving the changes are a constellation of factors: measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of the NextGen bar exam, increased exam costs, equity efforts, demographic shifts, concerns about access to justice and concerns about whether new attorneys are practice-ready, experts contacted by the ABA Journal say." (Subscription required.)
   
   
3. "U.S. News Replaces Ordinal Ranking Of Medical Schools With Tiers Due To Boycott. Are Law Schools Next?" 07.24.24.
   TaxProf Blog features this story from The Chronicle of Higher Education, which reports, "U.S. News & World Report's annual 'Best Medical Schools' lists were published on Tuesday, and, for the first time, the schools don't have ordinal ranks. Instead, they're organized into four tiers. Within each tier, the schools are listed in alphabetical order."
   
   
4. "CLE Shouldn't Be the Only Mandatory Training for Attorneys," 07.24.24.
   This op-ed at Law.com argues that lawyer training should be ongoing and outlines the most effective types of training and professional development for different career stages.
   
   
5. "Biden's SAVE Plan Blocked by Federal Court," 07.19.24.
   Inside Higher Ed reports, "A federal appeals court, in an unsigned order, blocked the Biden administration's new income-driven student loan repayment plan Thursday, putting on hold a suite of benefits such as lower monthly payments for more than eight million borrowers nationwide."
   
   




Law Firms

6. "'Harder to Justify' Counsel Tiers in Big Law, Amid Focus on Nonequity Partners, Lateral Recruiting," 07.25.24.
   The American Lawyer reports, "As law firms focus more on using the nonequity partner position as a stepping stone between associate and equity partner and focus on lateral partner recruiting, the need for the counsel rank is becoming less obvious and some promotion opportunities in the counsel ranks are diminished, industry observers say."
   
   
7. "Forget everything you think you know about law firms," 07.24.24.
   Jordan Furlong asserts, "[we] need to recognize and accept that the legal world has changed, that 'the future' is now here. Law firms will never again be what they used to be. So now you need to reconsider everything you thought you knew about law firms."
   
   
8. "Anglo American GC: 'Maybe Partners Should Make Less Money and Associates Should Make More'," 07.23.24.
   Law.com International reports, "In a wide-ranging interview, the mining giant's company secretary Richard Price expresses concerns about the effects of soaring associate pay and the erosion of the rule of law."
   
   
9. "Haynes and Boone Hires First-Ever Pro Bono Counsel," 07.23.24.
   "Haynes and Boone has expanded its pro bono commitment by hiring Rachel Elkin, formerly director of legal services at Genesis Women's Shelter & Support, as the firm's first pro bono counsel to oversee the Dallas-founded firm's global pro bono program," reports Texas Lawyer.
   
   
10. "Summer Associate Programs Remain 'a Special Place to Build a Career,'" 07.23.24.
    New Jersey Law Journal analyzes data on summer associates at law firms in the state.
    
    
11. "Am Law 50 Law Firms See Uptick in Partner Hiring, With Focus on Funds and White-Collar Practices," 07.23.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Lateral partner hires among Am Law 50 and Magic Circle firms in four major markets are up 9% through the first half of the year, recruiting firm Macrae found. Moves in New York and London, in particular, surged."
    
    
12. "'Fake Partners': These Holdout Law Firms Are Sticking With Single-Tier Partnerships," 07.22.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "While most law firms in the Am Law 100 have created and expanded a nonequity partnership tier, several law firms in the Second Hundred are retaining the single-tier model, as least for now."
    
    
13. "Debevoise, Cleary Expand San Francisco Space, Seeing Opportunity in City Resurgence," 07.19.24.
    "New York law firms Debevoise & Plimpton and Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton see opportunity in San Francisco, which felt the impact of the pandemic as much as any other in the United States. While its effects linger, the firms — and others — see a comeback for the city and are investing resources to make sure they are a part of it," according to The American Lawyer.
    
    
14. "A&O Shearman Targets 2,000-Hour Mark for Associate Bonuses," 07.19.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "A&O Shearman will require its US-based associates and counsel to hit at least 2,000 'billable' hours in order to qualify for year-end bonuses."
    
    
15. "Does Work-Life Balance Apply To BigLaw Partners?" 07.16.24.
    Law360 asks, "Have initiatives and programs to address work-life balance reached the equity partnership, or is it still the exception in the legal industry?" (Subscription required.)
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

16. "Hidden Talent Pool in Plain Sight: Corporate America wants you — for nonlegal roles," 07.25.24.
    A consultant, writing for ABA Journal, discusses the advantages of the J.D. skillset in the corporate world and asserts, "talent executives should be actively seeking to hire lawyers for open nonlegal jobs where they'd never thought of them in the past." (Subscription required.)
    
    
17. "Where (and Why) Law Firm Lateral Partner Activity Is Surging," 07.25.24.
    "The largest firms in the largest cities have been 'picking their heads up' again on the lateral market, and they're seeing opportunities in corporate, finance, white-collar and investment management and funds work," reports the American Lawyer.
    
    
    1. "Lateral Partner Hiring in DC Among Am Law 50 Firms Slow Down," 07.25.24.
       From that data, The National Law Journal reports, "Lateral partner hires in Washington, D.C., among Am Law 50 and Magic Circle firms were down by about 6% in the first half of the year, even as partner moves in other markets boomed, recruiting firm Macrae found."
       
       
18. "Big Law Firms Aren't Downsizing Their Office Space in New York," 07.25.24.
    New York Law Journal reports, "Despite trends showing that many firms in certain areas of the U.S. are reducing their office space, seven out of 10 of Am Law 200 firm relocations in New York since the beginning of 2023 were for similar or more space, according to new data from commercial real estate firm Cresa. This means that only 30% of those moves were for less space."
    
    
19. "Class of 2020 moves jobs, has less debt and is concerned about mental health, study says," 07.25.24.
    The NALP Foundation and NALP released data from the Law School Alumni Employment and Satisfaction study for the Class of 2020 this week, and ABA Journal has the story.
    
    
20. "Chicago-Founded Firms Itching to Start Talent War on Home Turf," 07.25.24.
    Bloomberg Law's Big Law Business column looks at the Chicago legal employment market.
    
    
21. "Navigating Ethical Concerns for Young Lawyers," 07.25.24.
    The Young Lawyer Editorial Board of The Legal Intelligencer discusses some ethical dilemmas young lawyers might face and how to navigate them.
    
    
22. "London Lateral Hiring Has Busiest First Half in 5 Years," 07.23.24.
    "The first six months of 2024 has been the busiest first half for partner hiring at top London law firms for five years," reports Law.com International.
    
    
23. "Fostering the Development of Junior Lawyers: Embracing Feedforward and Reframing Feedback," 07.23.24.
    This column at Slaw draws on research into human learning to suggest "more effective strategies for developing associates."
    
    
24. "Pelotons, Gym, Napping Rooms: Latest Law Firm Renovations 'Draw People' In with Home Amenities," 07.22.24.
    "As Big Law seeks to coax lawyers to return and stay in the office, more law firms are adding unconventional features to their renovated offices, such as fitness spaces, wellness areas, dedicated napping rooms and other amenities found at home," reports New York Law Journal.
    
    
25. "My Nonpracticing Law Job: Career And Wellness Coach," 07.22.24.
    "Tara Rhoades at The Sanity Plea shares how she went from BigLaw partner to legal industry career and wellness coach, and explains how attorneys can use their capabilities, knowledge and professional networks to pursue coaching themselves, or bring refreshed meaning and purpose to their current roles," at Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    
26. "Is the Hiring Market Under Threat?" 07.21.24.
    This op-ed at Law.com International contemplates the effects of punitive clawback provisions on the legal employment market.
    
    
27. "Why Morrison & Foerster Is Transitioning Into a Hybrid Office Model in Miami," 07.19.24.
    Daily Business Review reports, "Because the firm uses Miami as a springboard into Latin America, its nine local attorneys will work remotely and use WeWork offices whenever they need to meet in person. Although the move to have lawyers be almost fully remote is rare, several other firms have also downsized office spaces recently to try maximizing efficiency."
    
    
28. "San Francisco and Los Angeles are seeing a shakeup in law firm leases," 07.17.24.
    ABA Journal reports, "Law firms in both San Francisco and Los Angeles are increasingly moving their offices out of downtown areas, according to Jones Lang Lasalle's recent report on law firm commercial leasing." (Subscription required.)
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

29. "Canada unveils employment strategy to close job gap for persons with disabilities by 2040," 07.24.24.
    "The Government of Canada has introduced the Employment Strategy for Canadians with Disabilities to tackle employment barriers and create inclusive workplaces," reports Lexpert.
    
    
30. "'Issues That Have to Be Addressed': New Study Finds Flaws in Reporting Federal Judicial Sexual Misconduct," 07.24.24.
    The National Law Journal provides data and commentary related to research released this month on workplace practices in the federal judiciary.
    
    
31. "Most Atlanta Firms See Rankings Slip for Hiring, Promotion of Women," 07.19.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Many homegrown Atlanta Big Law firms saw their rankings slip for hiring and promotion of women in 2023 amid sluggish growth in percentages of female lawyers nationwide, as reflected in The American Lawyer's annual Diversity Scorecard."
    
    
32. "Walking the talk on accommodating lawyers with disabilities," 07.15.24.
    Law Times reports on three lawyers who have been "recognized by the Ontario Bar Association for setting the bar for accommodation and creating a space where all lawyers can thrive."
    
    

July 19, 2024

Top Stories

1. "To boost lawyer numbers in 'legal deserts,' Arizona adopts apprentice plan for bar exam failers," 07.18.24.
   Reuters reports, "Law school graduates who fall just short of passing Arizona's bar exam will soon have the option to become licensed attorneys after spending two years working under the supervision of an experienced lawyer in a rural area or a government or non-profit law setting. The Supreme Court of Arizona on Wednesday established the first-of-its-kind effort, dubbed the Arizona Lawyer Apprentice Program, to bolster the number of lawyers practicing in the state's 'legal deserts' and to help prosecutors, public defenders and legal aid offices recruit and retain attorneys."
   
   
2. "Frustrated DEI Officers Risk Tackling Workplace Bias in Court," 07.17.24.
   Bloomberg Law takes a deep dive into recent lawsuits brought by DEI professionals which "highlight the broader, recurring concerns of many DEI managers: they often lack power, financial resources, and access to top executives, undermining companies' commitments to addressing inequality, [according to] legal scholars and talent development."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "California State Bar Reaches Agreement With Kaplan to Produce New Bar Exam," 07.18.24.
   "California state bar leaders on Thursday approved in concept a five-year, $8.2 million contract with Kaplan North America to write a new multiple-choice bar exam that can be administered to test-takers starting in February," according to The Recorder.
   
   
4. "Are Law Schools Now Teaching Students How to Practice Law?" 07.18.24.
   NALP member Jill Backer, writing for Daily Business Review, outlines the difference between professional responsibility and professional identity formation and discusses how law schools are addressing both.
   
   
5. "Florida becomes the largest state to adopt overhauled bar exam," 07.18.24.
   "Florida will switch to the new version of the bar exam in July 2028, officials said on Thursday, making it the largest bar exam jurisdiction so far to unveil its plans for the updated attorney licensing test," according to Reuters.
   
   
   1. "A Change Is Coming to the Bar Exam — And Some Lawyers Are Skeptical," 07.18.24.
      Daily Business Review reports that some in Florida have doubts about the new exam.
      
      
6. "Biden's Student Debt Relief Plan Blocked by Eighth Circuit," 07.18.24.
   "A Biden Administration debt relief plan that could cancel billions in student loans was temporarily halted Thursday by the Eighth Circuit," reports Bloomberg Law.
   
   
7. "How a Second Trump Term Could Turn Up the Heat on Higher Ed," 07.18.24.
   Inside Higher Ed takes a look at the possible impact of a second Trump term, noting, "Higher education wasn't high on Trump's priority list the first time around, but an increasing anti-higher education sentiment among Republicans and sectors of the public has shifted the political winds. That could open the door to more radical policy options."
   
   
8. "Harvard: Building Legal Careers," 07.18.24.
   TaxProf Blog features links to the July/August issue of Harvard Law's The Practice magazine, which focuses on "the structures of lawyers' careers, the strategies lawyers use to navigate their careers, and inequality in the profession."
   
   
9. "AccessLex: Undergraduate GPA Growth Is A Superior Metric In Law School Admissions," 07.15.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights this article from AccessLex which compares "the predictive power of UGPA [undergraduate GPA] growth to that of final UGPA and LSAT scores in law school admissions."
   
   
10. "How are things looking for the upcoming law school admissions cycle?" 07.14.24.
    Hillary Mantis, writing for National Jurist, explains how pre-law students can use data from LSAC, NALP, and the ABA to inform their decisions on where to apply for law school.
    
    
11. "Law Schools Should Provide More Realistic Career Instruction," 07.12.24.
    Steven Shapiro of American University, Washington College of Law, argues at Bloomberg Law that "intentional and honest conversations about the realities and possibilities of the profession would produce better outcomes for everyone: students, their future clients, employers, and the schools themselves."
    
    




Law Firms

12. "Big Law's New York Offices More Than Doubled Am Law 100 Head Count Gains," 07.18.24.
    New York Law Journal reports, "Most of the 100 largest law firms in New York grew their attorney headcount in the state last year, as associate attrition slowed and firms relied on litigation and restructuring practices for office growth."
    
    
13. "The Problem With Partner Autonomy: When Strength Becomes Weakness," 07.17.24.
    This op-ed at The Legal Intelligencer explores strengths and weaknesses of partner autonomy, noting that law firm leaders are often outspoken but, "When partners pursue strategies that diverge from the firm's overall direction, it creates dissonance within the organization."
    
    
14. "Troutman Pepper, Locke Lord Aim to Wrap Merger by End of Year," 07.17.24.
    "Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders' merger with Locke Lord is looking to wrap up by the end of 2024, according to several sources with knowledge of the discussions," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    
15. "Kirkland Partners Who Quit Risk Forfeiting Pay Under New Policy," 07.17.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports on a new policy at Kirkland & Ellis and its implications.
    
    
    1. "New Kirkland Policy For Withholding Pay of Departing Partners Creates 'Pain Point' for Laterals," 07.17.24.
       The American Lawyer has more.
       
       
    2. "The Law Firm Disrupted: A New Opportunity Isn't a Betrayal," 07.18.24.
       Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column also discusses this type of policy.
       
       
    3. "Stricter Lateral Exit Policies Become More Common Across the Legal Industry," 07.19.24.
       The American Lawyer reports, "Legal industry sources say the kind of clawback implemented by Kirkland & Ellis this week already is 'not uncommon' and that the type of firm that makes use of such disincentives 'runs the gamut' of the Am Law 200 and beyond, though the specific policies vary and perhaps lean toward firms that already hand out more substantial pay packages."
       
       
16. "Treat your top lawyers like royalty," 07.16.24.
    Precedent offers "seven strategies that leaders in the profession — including small-firm owners and senior partners in Big Law — can deploy to keep the most coveted lawyers on the payroll."
    
    
17. "Shifting Between Guarantees and Fixed Shares, Law Firms Get Flexible in Lateral Pay," 07.16.24.
    The American Lawyer reports that "law firms are becoming more flexible in how they recruit lateral partners by offering fixed amounts of compensation as well as shares or units in the firm. Some are also shifting between the two structures for their lateral approach, or using a blend of both for the same lateral."
    
    
18. "Leveraging Law Firm KPIs for Business Success," 07.16.24.
    This article at Law.com examines key performance indicators (KPIs), noting, "Tracking indicators such as billable hours, utilization rate, realization rate, client retention rate, revenue per lawyer, turnaround time, and marketing success can provide valuable insights into areas of strength and weakness, ultimately guiding strategic decision-making to enhance efficiency, revenue generation, client satisfaction, and firm culture. Each firm needs to determine which metrics are most important for its specific goals and strategies."
    
    
19. "'Deeply Reactive': Are Law Firms Becoming Increasingly Hostile to Leavers?" 07.16.24.
    "Top [London] partners, ex-lawyers and support staff talk about the averse situations law firms designed to make their exit difficult and how it speaks to the wider issue of clawback in present-day partnerships," at Law.com International.
    
    
20. "Am Law 100 Firms Struggle to Meet Plans for Office Efficiency," 07.15.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Despite Am Law 100 law firms' stated plans to adopt efficient office utilization, legacy office configurations and lack of occupancy have prevented firms from translating those plans into lower square footage per attorney ratios, according to a new report by property advisers at Savills. With that said, forward-looking trends compiled by Savills indicate that recently executed leases and floor plans in the legal industry have greater efficiency in mind."
    
    
21. "Kirkland Hands Out $50,000 Referral Bonuses as Demand Picks Up," 07.15.24.
    "The bonuses for employees who successfully refer lawyers to the firm indicates the world's largest firm by revenue is seeing strong demand for associate hours," according to Bloomberg Law.
    
    
    1. "Kirkland Renews $50,000 Referral Bonuses, as Associate Demand Ramps Up," 07.17.24.
       The American Lawyer picks up this story as well, noting, "With Kirkland's latest moves, other firms will follow suit and give out referral bonuses soon, if they are not already."
       
       
    2. "A&O Shearman Implemented $50,000 Referral Bonus on Merger Completion," 07.18.24.
       "On the May completion of the merger of Magic Circle firm Allen & Overy and New York's Shearman & Sterling, A&O Shearman kicked off its hunt for lateral talent with a substantial incentive: $50,000 referral bonuses for the successful placement of associates and counsel," reports The American Lawyer, noting that Kirkland is not the only firm offering such bonuses.
       
       
22. "Law Firm Numbers: They're Not All That They Seem," 07.14.24.
    Law.com International's Global Lawyer column argues that "for an industry so fixated on numbers, rankings and bottom-line profits, there are also a lot of subtle, numberless measures that should be considered."
    
    
23. "Effectively Executing a Succession Plan in a Time of Crisis," 07.12.24.
    Two consultants, writing for The Recorder, outline the role of succession planning in dealing with any crisis, especially a crisis of leadership, and provide strategies for effective succession.
    
    
24. "Dechert's Exit and Alston's Arrival Underline Chicago's Ultra-Competitive Market," 07.12.24.
    The American Lawyer examines law firm trends in Chicago.
    
    
25. "How DC Pay Transparency Law May Or May Not Impact Firms," 07.12.24.
    "As Washington, D.C., joins a national movement to require job postings to include pay ranges and to ban employers from asking for salary histories, recruiters predict an uneven effect in the district's legal market," according to Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    
26. "A Wall Street Law Firm Wants to Define Consequences of Israel Protests," 07.08.24.
    The New York Times reports, "Sullivan & Cromwell, a 145-year-old firm that has counted Goldman Sachs and Amazon among its clients, says that, for job applicants, participation in a protest — on campus or off — could be a disqualifying factor."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

27. "Federal Judges Walk Ethics Tightrope With Clerk Boycotts," 07.18.24.
    Law360 reports, "Federal judges may be running afoul of ethics rules in boycotting law clerks from certain schools over political activity related to the Israel-Hamas war, a move that could erode confidence in the courts, exacerbate inequities in the clerk-hiring process, and ripple out to law firms and their clients, experts say."
    
    
28. "Rainmakers Are Not the Answer to Transformational Growth: Here's Why," 07.18.24.
    A leadership coach and former recruiter, writing for Law.com International, wonders "if the current focus, sometimes obsession, of achieving financial growth through hiring rainmakers is the right one."
    
    
29. "Ex-Reed Smith Partner Gets Candid About the Back End of Legal Careers," 07.16.24.
    A former partner speaks with The American Lawyer about his new book, which "pushes firms to help support aging attorneys as they come to 'embrace irrelevancy.'"
    
    
30. "US judiciary to consider new ethical guidance for law clerk hiring," 07.15.24.
    Reuters reports, "The federal judiciary is considering whether new ethical guidance on the hiring of law clerks is needed after two judges hired a clerk who was accused of racist conduct while at a conservative advocacy group and went on to land a prestigious clerkship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas."
    
    
    1. "Judicial system fails at policing workplace misconduct, study finds," 07.17.24.
       NPR also has this story, noting, "The 30,000 people employed by the federal judicial branch are not protected by federal anti-discrimination laws, unlike other workers across the American landscape."
       
       
    2. "Study recommends US judiciary improve workplace misconduct systems," 07.17.24.
       "The federal judiciary should consider awarding employees who are the victims of workplace misconduct at the hands of judges monetary damages and increase transparency about how courts address worker complaints internally, according to a congressionally directed study released Wednesday," reports Reuters.
       
       
31. "Firms See Stable Lateral Hiring, Corporate Rises In Q2," 07.12.24.
    Law360 reports, "After a slower first quarter, lateral recruitment at law firms appeared to find more solid footing in the second quarter, with both associate and counsel hires showing signs of recovery from the previous quarter, according to recent data provided by legal data company Firm Prospects LLC." (Subscription required.)
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

32. "ANALYSIS: Law Firms Chosen for DEI Framework Rise Above the Rest," 07.18.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports on its 2024 DEI Framework, which shows "there's been an incremental movement in law firms toward increased diversity at all levels — associates through partners."
    
    
33. "Research: 4 Ways Employees Respond to DEI Initiatives," 07.17.24.
    Harvard Business Review outlines recent research into how employees respond to diversity initiatives which "suggests that rather than assuming that employees are either purely 'for' or 'against' DEI initiatives, managers could benefit from leveraging the nuances in their responses." (Subscription required.)
    
    
34. "Many Attorneys Of Color Are Feeling Used," 07.15.24.
    Law360 reports, "Many lawyers of color say they are included in their law firm's client pitches but are not assigned to the resulting work, pointing to some firms' 'window dressing' approach to diversity and inclusion, according to a report reviewed by Law360 Pulse that will be released publicly on Tuesday." (Subscription required.)
    
    
35. "Reclaiming the Narrative: The Truth About DEI," 07.15.24.
    Danielle Carr, President of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, writing for Law.com, explains, "Lost in the cultural warfare around DEI and related topics is an understanding of who exactly benefits from DEI initiatives and that tearing down DEI initiatives will hurt everyone."
    
    
36. "Racial Diversity Ticks Upwards at Florida's Largest Law Firms, But Only 3 Increased Diversity On Executive Committees," 07.15.24.
    "Firms whose largest offices are in Florida last year boosted their racially and ethnically diverse lawyer head counts by 1.5%. But the level of diversity at the partner and executive committee level failed to budge," according to Daily Business Review.
    
    
37. "Inside The ABA Campaign To Count Lawyers With Disabilities," 07.12.24.
    Robert Dinerstein, chair of the American Bar Association's Commission on Disability Rights, joins Law360 Pulse for "an in-depth conversation about the organization's #BeCounted campaign." (Subscription required.)
    
    
38. "Law Firms Have Abandoned Their Underrepresented Junior Attorneys," 07.12.24.
    This Law.com op-ed argues, "The hands-off attitude toward the development and retention of junior attorneys has resulted in significant disparate impacts against women and attorneys of color," and suggests a solution.
    
    




Technology

39. "AI Isn't Meeting Legal's Expectations, New Research Finds," 07.11.24.
    Corporate Counsel reports, "Amid the initial burst of excitement around generative AI, companies invested vast sums into the technology. But now many say the results are falling short of expectations, according to a quarterly survey by Bain Research. And the biggest disappointment of all is in legal, where satisfaction with AI's performance declined sharply in just a five-month span."
    
    

July 12, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Law Student Mental Health And Wellness By Year," 07.09.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights research from Bloomberg Law that shows "a correlation between the year of law school a student is in and the type of health issue they are most susceptible to."
   
   
   1. "ANALYSIS: Which Law School Year Is Worst for Students' Health?" 07.05.24.
      Read the full article at Bloomberg. (Subscription required.)
      
      
2. "'Resources Are a Huge Issue': Law Firms Struggle to Fully Back DEI Goals," 07.10.24.
   "A law firm's diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are only as effective as the amount of resources, thought and collaboration put into them. Given the political stressors on DEI efforts at the moment, as well as overall law firm financial priorities, however, pursuing diversity is often easier said than done, with DEI professionals and consultants noting disconnects between law firm resource allocation and the diversity goals firms espouse," reports The American Lawyer.
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Group slams NCBE for 'scattershot' approach to offering NextGen bar exam information," 07.11.24.
   ABA Journal reports, "As the draft outline for the NextGen bar exam's family law content was posted for comment on July 8, members of the legal education community criticized the National Conference of Bar Examiners' 'piecemeal' release of 'incomplete and inconsistent' messaging about the new exam." (Subscription required.)
   
   
4. "Colleges Risk Talent Loss With Pushback on Diversity Initiatives," 07.11.24.
   This deep dive at Bloomberg Law examines recent efforts to limit diversity programs and notes that diversity advocates argue that "institutions that cut back such programs risk hampering efforts to hire and retain diverse faculty and staff and undermining employee morale and freedom of expression."
   
   
5. "As The Percentage Of Accommodated Students In A Law School Increases, Its First-Time Bar Pass Rate Decreases," 07.10.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights this Oregon Law Review article that examines the difference in performance between students who receive accommodations and those who do not.
   
   
6. "States Ask High Court to Stop Biden's Student Debt Relief Plan," 07.09.24.
   Bloomberg Law reports, "A small group of Republican-led states want the US Supreme Court to step in and block President Joe Biden's second attempt to forgive billions of dollars in student loan debt."
   
   
7. "Many universities are abandoning race-conscious scholarships worth millions," 07.09.24.
   "In the year since the Supreme Court ruled colleges could no longer consider an applicant's race as a factor in admissions, a growing number of schools have also applied the principles underlying the ruling to financial aid," reports The Washington Post.
   
   




Law Firms

8. "$20M and Still Going: Is Partner Pay a Bubble?" 07.11.24.
   According to The American Lawyer, "It's conceivable that pay increases could slow down or temporarily reverse, said law firm leaders, recruiters and other industry observers, but they mostly agreed that the going price for star lawyers is not some kind of bubble. It will keep rising as law firm profits soar and as law firms diversify their practices to hedge against any downturns, the sources said."
   
   
9. "Another US law firm touts fully remote option, bucking post-pandemic trend," 07.09.24.
   Reuters reports that Fennemore Craig "is launching a new formal program to hire lawyers in locations where it does not have offices, joining a small number of traditionally brick-and-mortar firms that now allow full-time alternatives to in-person work."
   
   
10. "'Still Some Work to Do': Pro Bono Hours Creeping Toward Pre-Pandemic Levels," 07.09.24.
    The American Lawyer released the 2024 Pro Bono Scorecard, which shows, "Total pro bono hours grew overall at Am Law 200 firms in 2023, but activity in the legal industry still has not returned to the level achieved in 2019 before the pandemic."
    
    
    1. "The 2024 Pro Bono Scorecard: National Report," 07.09.24.
       
       
11. "The Intersection of Law Firm Management and Temporary Lawyering," 07.08.24.
    This article at The Legal Intelligencer outlines "the ethical obligations and associated risks that flow from engaging the services of a temporary attorney, including areas such as billing for services and adequate disclosure to clients."
    
    
12. "Lockstep Compensation Isn't Just for the Most Elite Law Firms," 07.08.24.
    New York Law Journal reports, "Lockstep partner pay compensation is increasingly under pressure in Big Law, as law firms ditch traditional compensation systems to attract and retain high-performing partners. But the lockstep system — in which partner pay is mostly determined by seniority — is still in favor in some corners of the legal industry," including mid-size firms.
    
    
13. "3 Things That Have Surprised Firm Leaders So Far In 2024," 07.08.24.
    "Law firm leaders approached 2024 with caution as economic and political uncertainties loomed large. Yet, the first half of the year still brought unanticipated developments, with artificial intelligence continuing its rapid proliferation and a competitive lateral hiring market among the surprises that unfolded," according to Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    
14. "The Political Dilemmas Facing Law Firm Leaders," 07.07.24.
    "As several law firms close offices, the Global Lawyer examines how leaders are navigating intense pressure to perform amid challenging conditions, mirroring the quandaries faced by political leaders," at Law.com International.
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

15. "The Law Firm Disrupted: More Choices for Lawyers Sick of the Office," 07.11.24.
    Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column says, "For lawyers who question being pressured into onerous commutes made simply to send emails to colleagues sitting down the hall and video calls that could just as easily be handled from their remote offices, the alternatives have expanded beyond just a handful of so-called 'distributed' firms."
    
    
16. "Exit Strategy: The Return From Government to Big Law," 07.10.24.
    "Already in 2024, several government lawyers have returned to their prior firms or firms that they have ties to. However, returning isn't always a given, particularly after long stints in the government," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    
17. "'Law Moms' Share Tales Of Juggling Family And Careers," 07.10.24.
    "From mental health and substance abuse to feelings of grief and guilt, a 'Law Moms' book from eight attorneys offers candid accounts of balancing their roles as mothers and lawyers, with the hope that the stories will remind other women facing similar struggles that they're not alone," at Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    
18. "Misconduct Findings Against Judge Prompt Clerk Safety Questions," 07.10.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "An Alaska federal judge's resignation following abusive conduct toward his clerks is raising concerns about whether some of the judiciary's most vulnerable employees are properly protected from hostile workplaces, even as new measures have been put in place."
    
    
19. "The race against time to reinvent lawyers," 07.10.24.
    On his blog, Jordan Furlong posits, "Our legal education and licensing systems are turning out lawyers whose competence profiles simply won't match up with what people will need lawyers to do."
    
    
20. "A Career as a Judge Advocate Officer in the Military Services," 07.09.24.
    In this piece at The Legal Intelligencer, a lawyer outlines the duties of a judge advocate officer and shares his own experience in that position.
    
    
21. "Legal Jobs Continued To Tick Up In June," 07.05.24.
    Law360 reports, "The U.S. legal sector added 1,400 jobs in June, continuing an uptick that began this spring, according to preliminary data released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics." (Subscription required.)
    
    
22. "A Tale of 2 Associates: What Really Pushes Top Talent From Big Law?" 07.05.24.
    Based on a presentation at NALP's Professional Development Institute, this op-ed at The American Lawyer outlines the career trajectories of two new associates who are "talented, motivated and committed to long and successful careers at their firm. But like so many junior lawyers, they're on track to leave their firm within five years."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

23. "Three Challenges Facing Junior Female Associates," 07.11.24.
    A junior lawyer, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, outlines three types of challenges she faced in her first year as a young female lawyer and concludes, "junior female associates need junior female associates. We need to lean on each other, and we need to discuss our shared experiences with one another so we can learn how to handle, and hopefully one day fix, the situations we too often find ourselves in because of our gender and our experience levels."
    
    
24. "Business Case for DEI Is Still Strong, Experts Say, but Many Companies Approach Topic Clumsily," 07.11.24.
    "[T]here's a business case to be made for DEI, said a panel of experts at a webinar hosted by Berkeley Law, and it's becoming an increasingly important factor for companies to remain competitive on the international stage," according to Corporate Counsel.
    
    
25. "'Not Nearly Enough': Incremental DEI Gains by Legal Departments Leave No One Satisfied," 07.10.24.
    Corporate Counsel reports on the Law Department Management Benchmarking Report, from the Association of Corporate Counsel and Major, Lindsey & Africa, which shows, "The percentage of legal departments striving to track and improve diversity internally and at their outside laws is increasing only marginally, and even departments that do track their outside firms are increasingly wary of holding them to account for underperformance."
    
    
26. "Government of Canada publishes a report to tackle anti-Black racism in the justice system," 07.09.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports on "the publication of a report by the external steering group on developing Canada's Black Justice Strategy to address anti-Black racism and systemic discrimination in the criminal justice system."
    
    
27. "American Bar Association launches campaign for lawyers with disabilities," 07.05.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports on the American Bar Association's new #BeCounted campaign that "encourages lawyers with disabilities to add themselves to a US map to express their disability pride."
    
    




Technology

28. "5 Ways AI Strengthens Client Relationships and Revenue Generation," 07.11.24.
    This op-ed at Law.com outlines some ways that artificial intelligence tools can improve business processes and provides practical steps that law firms can use to integrate these tools into client relationship management.
    
    
29. "Small And Midsize Firms Plan To Invest In AI, Meritas Reports," 07.09.24.
    Law360 reports, "A majority of responding small and midsize business law firms within the international legal network Meritas are planning to invest more in technology in the next five years, according to a survey published Tuesday." (Subscription required.)
    
    
30. "American Bar Association survey highlights growing integration of AI in legal education," 07.09.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports on a new study from the American Bar Association (ABA) and the ABA Task Force on Law and Artificial Intelligence that shows "a trend toward integrating AI literacy across various legal disciplines, from legal writing to clinical practice."
    
    
31. "New AI guidelines are only a starting point for Canadian legal professionals," 07.05.24.
    This op-ed at Canadian Lawyer examines the existing guidance for Canadian lawyers on the use of artificial intelligence and notes, "Guidance from legal regulators, though a good starting point, is not enough for lawyers using AI in their daily practice. Licensees must remain abreast of developments in AI, including new releases, the statutory framework around it, and the direction provided by the courts."
    
    

July 5, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Pay for Lawyers Is So High People Are Comparing It to the N.B.A.," 07.01.24.
   The New York Times takes a look at rising lawyer compensation and notes, "Numerous people compared it to a star-centric system like the N.B.A., but others worried that higher and higher pay had gotten out of hand and could strain the law firms forced to stretch their budgets to keep talent from leaving."
   
   
2. "'More Extensive' Vetting: How Law Firms Are Picking Laterals," 07.03.24.
   New York Law Journal reports on recent trends in lateral hiring, noting, "Overall, law firms are taking a month or more to vet partner candidates, they said. The process now entails firms calling more of a candidate's clients to check their business, a candidate meeting more partners at a firm, and firms meeting candidates more face-to-face instead of mostly via Zoom, recruiters say, as firms seek to obtain a more comprehensive outline of laterals' books of business."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "ABA Legal Ed Council To Vote In August On Proposed Revisions To Diversity Accreditation Standard," 07.01.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights a story from Inside Higher Ed on the status of the ABA's diversity standard for accreditation.
   
   




Law Firms

4. "What 10 Years of Experience Costs in the Am Law 100 Today," 07.05.24.
   "Ten-year lawyers at some firms can charge more than three times that of peers with the same experience in the Am Law 100, bankruptcy billing records indicate," reports The American Lawyer.
   
   
5. "Underperforming Partners Hurt Law Firm Profits, Survey Finds," 07.03.24.
   The American Lawyer looks at results from a recent survey that shows law firm leaders are concerned about the impact of underperforming partners and notes, "The emphasis on partner performance management coincides with the evolution of partner compensation models industrywide due to intense competition to grow through lateral hiring."
   
   
6. "Bucking trend, three law firms pull back from US cities," 07.03.24.
   "Three major law firms have separately confirmed in the last week that they are closing offices in U.S. cities where they previously expanded, pulling back from markets that saw an influx of firms in recent years," reports Reuters.
   
   
7. "There's no such thing as non-billable hours," 07.03.24.
   This blog post from Jordan Furlong asserts, "Everything lawyers do in a law firm is either directly billable to a client today, or it's laying the foundations for billable work tomorrow. There are 'immediately billable' hours in a law firm, and there are 'future investment' hours in a law firm, and both are important. By using a negative, exclusionary term like 'non-billable hours,' law firms fracture the mental and emotional pipelines that connect investment to revenue."
   
   
8. "Few Big Law Firms With Single-Tier Partnerships Are Left. They Aren't Talking About It," 07.02.24.
   The American Lawyer reports, "Some law firms with a single-tier partnership structure say they aren't moving away from it, at least for now. Still, many single-tier firms don't want to openly discuss their structure."
   
   
9. "Which Law Firms Are On Course to be in the Global Elite?" 07.02.24.
   "A breakaway group of law firms will need scale, profitability and geographical reach — but not many have all three," according to The American Lawyer.
   
   
10. "After Law Firm Merger Activity Rose Again, Combinations Expected to Increase Into 2025," 07.01.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Law firm mergers continued to accelerate during the second quarter and are expected to keep escalating through the second half of the year and into 2025, [Fairfax Associates] said Monday."
    
    
    1. "Few big law firm combinations loom as merger pace picks up," 07.01.24.
       Reuters also reports on the Fairfax Associates data.
       
       
11. "Is the 'Magic Circle' Dead, Or Just Different?" 06.30.24.
    Law.com International examines the status of the U.K.'s "Magic Circle."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

12. "Firm Leaders Adapt to Shifting Workplace Preferences of Young Lawyers," 07.01.24.
    "After a realigning of workplace norms due to the COVID-19 pandemic, law firms are still grappling with how to handle remote-work expectations. While offering flexibility may work for some firms, others still seem reluctant to offer fully remote options," reports Law.com Pro Mid-Market. (Subscription required.)
    
    
13. "Gen-Xers Are Anxious About Retirement — and Want Employers to Help," 06.28.24.
    Inc. reports on recent data that shows "many members of Generation X are anxious about retiring comfortably" and "83 percent of respondents say companies should be responsible for helping employees achieve retirement security."
    
    
14. "That job you applied for might not exist. Here's what's behind a boom in 'ghost jobs,'" 06.27.24.
    CBS News explores what's behind the proliferation of fake job listings and some of the reasons employers give for posting them.
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

15. "Race was once factored into college admissions. Now, it's factored out," 06.29.24.
    The Washington Post takes a deep dive into the likely implications of SFFA on this year's incoming college classes.
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

16. "Should Mental Health Be Included in Partner Compensation?" 07.01.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Partner compensation systems that overemphasize competition and profit are hurting lawyers' mental health, a recent American Lawyer survey found."
    
    




Technology

17. "Law Clerk vs. AI? Courthouse Test Highlights Judicial Curiosity," 07.03.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports on an experiment by a Texas judge in which he has had law clerks and artificial intelligence researching the same case: "While only the human-powered work will become part of the court record, Rodriguez plans to publish results on how well and how quickly an artificial intelligence tool performed the summarization and analysis compared to trained young lawyers and law students, he told Bloomberg Law."
    
    
18. "Covington Creates AI Director Role Focused on 'Demystifying' Tech for Lawyers," 07.02.24.
    Legaltech News reports that Covington & Burling has "created a new AI-focused role — director of artificial intelligence and e-discovery solutions."
    
    
19. "AI Accuracy in Legal Research Remains in 'Check Your Work' Phase," 07.02.24.
    Bloomberg Law looks at whether generative artificial intelligence is becoming advanced enough to do accurate legal research and notes, "When many law firms evaluate legal AI tools, they're looking at accuracy and speed, said Jesse Klee, who works on knowledge management and innovation at Cleary Gottlieb. Even though legal research tools are much faster than human lawyers at finding cases, the time it takes to check their work can make time savings a wash, he said."
    
    

June 28, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Law grads' median earnings of $72,000 after debt show 'vast gulf' in pay, study finds," 06.25.24.
   Reuters reports on new research from Georgetown University's Center on Education and Workforce that shows "law school graduates four years into their careers earn a median $72,000 after subtracting their debt payments, a new study has found. But that figure varies wildly depending on which law school graduates attended."
   
   
   1. "A Law Degree Is No Sure Thing," 06.25.24.
      Read the full report here.
      
      
   2. "Where Do Law Grads Get the Most Bang for Their Buck?" 06.25.24.
      Law.com takes a look at which schools' graduates earn the highest salaries.
      
      
   3. "Most New Attys Don't See 'Flashy Lawyer Salary,'" 06.26.24.
      Law360 reports, "While some new attorneys earn top dollar right out of their Juris Doctor program, that isn't actually the norm, according to a new study from Georgetown University, which found that when factoring in student loan debt, the median earnings for all law graduates land at just $72,000 four years after graduation." (Subscription required.)
      
      
   4. "Is law school worth it? At 33 low-tier schools, median income after student debt is $55K or below," 06.26.24.
      ABA Journal also has this story. (Subscription required.)
      
      
2. "Slow But Steady: Law Firm Diversity Gains Continued in 2023," 06.25.24.
   The American Lawyer released their 2024 Diversity Scorecard, which shows that "The pace of growth slowed for representation of diverse attorneys in 2023, but every underrepresented group still made gains."
   
   
   1. "The 2024 Diversity Scorecard: Women's Scorecard," 06.25.24.
      
      
   2. "Amid Sluggish Growth and 'Significant Leaks' in the Pipeline, Top Firms Invest in Women Associates and Partners Alike," 06.25.24.
      
      
   3. "'Committed to Talent,' Firms Strengthen LGBTQ+ Representation in Attorney Ranks," 06.25.24.
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Purdue Global will add full-time JD program, while 2 small California law schools will close," 06.26.24.
   "Purdue Global Law School, described as the oldest wholly online law school, received approval from the California regulators to add a full-time online JD program in January 2025 to its part-time program," reports ABA Journal. (Subscription required.)
   
   
4. "Law students support free speech but want LSAT and bar exams gone, new survey says," 06.25.24.
   ABA Journal reports on a recent student survey from the Buckley Institute that asked law students "to weigh in on free speech, the American legal system, and the 2024 election." Among other things, results showed that "the major tests impacting law school acceptance and bar admissions were considered unfair by the majority of respondents. Of the students surveyed, 54% agreed that the LSAT should be disregarded, and 57% agreed that the bar exam should be eliminated and replaced by other types of evaluation." (Subscription required.)
   
   
   1. "Buckley Institute Releases First National Law Student Survey," 06.20.24.
      Read the full report on the Buckley Institute website.
      
      
   2. "US survey reveals law students believe bar exams should be abolished," 06.27.24.
      Canadian Lawyer also has this story.
      
      
5. "Minority law school applications increase after ruling against affirmative action," 06.24.24.
   Reuters reports that the number of diverse law school applicants rose this year: "The number of Hispanic applicants is up 8.9% compared with the same time last year, according to data from the Law School Admission Council. Black applicants are up 6.7%, and Asian applicants are up 6.1%, the numbers show. White applicants, by contrast, posted the smallest year-over-year increase at 3.1%."
   
   
6. "Biden's Student Loan Debt Relief Program Halted in Two Courts," 06.24.24.
   "Two federal judges on Monday separately ordered a temporary halt to parts of a flagship Biden administration program to reduce student debt payments and speed up loan forgiveness for some borrowers," reports Bloomberg Law.
   
   
7. "Despite IP Concerns, CA Bar Continues Efforts to Develop State Exam," 06.21.24.
   The Recorder reports, "The State Bar of California's plans to launch a new state bar exam are still in the works even though Kaplan North America, which had been chosen to develop the exam, recently asked to withdraw from participating, citing intellectual property concerns raised by the National Conference of Bar Examiners."
   
   




Law Firms

8. "Battle for Talent Pushes Big Law into Uncharted Territory," 06.27.24.
   The Law.com Barometer newsletter examines the multitude of changes in the legal industry, including those to compensation systems, leadership titles, and partnership tiers and asks, "Where will the free-agent system of Big Law take us?"
   
   
9. "Sullivan & Cromwell Resists 'Radical' Partnership, Compensation Changes," 06.27.24.
   "Leaders of the Wall Street giant detail how they believe their approach to running a law firm — one that is increasingly unique among Big Law elite — is the best path forward for generational success," at The American Lawyer.
   
   
10. "Pro Bono: Potential Rainmaker or Nemesis to Billable Hours?" 06.27.24.
    Daily Business Review reports, "While some firms might view pro bono work as a wedge between billable hours and charitable efforts, many South Florida attorneys are increasingly finding it a valuable tool for firm growth and increased profitability by attracting more clients, better attorneys, and networking that grows business."
    
    
11. "Law Firms Embrace Illinois District's Trial Bar Pro Bono Duties," 06.26.24.
    The state of Illinois has a new requirement for trial lawyers to represent indigent litigants, and Bloomberg Law reports, "The cases provide younger associates with real trial and case management experience they'd otherwise miss, and keeps older partners exposed to trial work at points in their careers when trial appearances may decrease."
    
    
12. "How To Decide If BigLaw's Partner Track Is Right For You," 06.26.24.
    "Not every BigLaw associate is interested in making partner, and there comes a time in each associate's career when they need to begin deciding whether they want to pursue the partner track, or branch off in another direction with their professional lives," reports Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    
13. "'That Hurts Our Credibility': GCs' Frustration Over Lack of Law Firm Transparency Boils Over," 06.26.24.
    "General counsel say they've grown exasperated by law firms' continued lack of transparency, especially related to billing, a shortcoming that's making it increasingly difficult for them to justify hefty outside counsel spending internally," according to Corporate Counsel.
    
    
14. "Billing Rate Hikes 'Not Slowing Down,' With Pricing Surges Expected in 2024," 06.26.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "New survey results show 86% of large firms in the U.S. and U.K. expect to increase billing rates over the next 12 months, with nearly a fifth of respondents expecting them to increase by between 41% and 60%."
    
    
    1. "The Law Firm Disrupted: Rising Billing Rates, Rising Partner Compensation," 06.27.24.
       Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column examines the confluence of increased billing rates and higher lawyer compensation, noting, "The connection between surging law firm billing rates and escalating pay packages for top producers at elite firms isn't necessarily a direct one, but it's bound to raise clients' hackles nonetheless."
       
       
15. "Marketing vs. Business Development: What's the Difference and Why Do You Need Both?" 06.26.24.
    A marketing consultant, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, outlines the differences between marketing and business development and explains why both are necessary.
    
    
16. "Small Firms Put Unique Spin On Summer Associate Programs," 06.25.24.
    Law360 reports, "As the competition for sought-after BigLaw summer associateships continues to ramp up, some small firms and boutiques are seeing an opportunity to develop their own programs to attract law students looking to gain valuable experience." (Subscription required.)
    
    
17. "More Lawyers Are Giving Up Big Law Pay to Move to Midsize Firms. What's Driving Their Departures?" 06.24.24.
    Law.com Pro Mid-Market reports, "Although working at a large firm has its benefits, smaller firms are making a value proposition based on lighter billing rates, less bureaucracy and more meaningful work. And as lawyers weigh the benefits of moving downstream with a potential pay cut, more are taking that pay cut to work at smaller firms."
    
    
18. "Midyear Associate Bonuses Are Catching Big Law Attention, but Will Other Firms Actually Follow?" 06.24.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Some observers say recent summer bonuses from litigation boutiques could 'definitely' get Big Law firms thinking about whether to match, or increase, end-of-year offerings," but others are more skeptical.
    
    
    1. "BigLaw Unlikely To Follow Suit On Midyear Bonuses," 06.26.24.
       "Litigation-focused firms McKool Smith PC and Hueston Hennigan LLP have kicked off the summer by offering midyear bonuses to their hardworking attorneys. However, given the uneven demand across legal services, recruiters do not anticipate that major law firms will immediately follow suit," reports Law360. (Subscription required.)
       
       




Employment Market/Return to Office

19. "Big-Picture Scenarios Guide Law Associates' Critical Thinking," 06.28.24.
    This op-ed at Bloomberg Law discusses the importance of mock assignments in associate development.
    
    
20. "Bosses are using 'silent layoffs' and 'quiet firing' to get rid of employees. It could backfire," 06.26.24.
    Business Insider looks at the new trends of "silent layoffs" and "quiet firing," noting these "could be the most harmful [trends] to date."
    
    
21. "Lawyers Can Make Big Career Jumps by Tapping Creativity, Resolve," 06.26.24.
    This op-ed at Bloomberg Law, written by a former general counsel, offers advice to lawyers on how to pivot to keep your career interesting.
    
    
22. "From Big Law or In-House: Who's the Best Hire for Your Legal Department?" 06.21.24.
    A legal search consultant, writing for Law.com, explores the types of experience that will make successful in-house lawyers.
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

23. "Concessions or 'More Buy-In'? Law Firm Diversity Leaders Weigh Opening Programs to All Applicants," 06.25.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "A slew of lawsuits prompted some law firms to open diversity-focused opportunities to everyone, but diversity leaders believe specific programming is still necessary for progress."
    
    
24. "Embracing Diversity in the Face of Challenges: How Law Firms Can Attract and Retain Diverse Talent," 06.25.24.
    This op-ed at Law.com provides "proactive steps law firms can take to ensure a talented and diverse workforce in the current landscape."
    
    
25. "DEI Attacks Betray Professionals Striving for Workplace Fairness," 06.25.24.
    A Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion officer, writing for Bloomberg Law, argues that DEI programs are about more than politics and provides tips for supporting DEI professionals and their work.
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

26. "The Case For BigLaw Being More Transparent About Suicides," 06.26.24.
    Law360 reports, "While BigLaw's suicide prevention efforts emphasize open communication around mental health, firms are largely less transparent about how they'd respond to the suicide of an employee." (Subscription required.)
    
    
27. "New Fla. Bar Prez Focused On Atty Health In 'Pressure Cooker'," 06.21.24.
    Law360 reports, "Incoming Florida Bar president Roland Sanchez-Medina Jr. promised Friday to prioritize the mental health and well-being of attorneys during his yearlong term, noting that the legal profession 'can be a pressure cooker.'" (Subscription required.)
    
    
28. "The depressing reality of quiet vacationing," 06.20.24.
    Business Insider examines the new trend of "quiet vacationing," noting, "The problem isn't really that people are working from elsewhere, especially if it's not hurting their productivity. The greater issue is what it signifies about their relationship with work and the incentives that have been fostered at their companies."
    
    




Technology

29. "ABA's artificial intelligence task force releases law school survey," 06.25.24.
    ABA Journal reports on a recent survey of law schools that showed, "Law schools are overwhelmingly integrating emerging artificial intelligence technology into their curriculums, but they're still not sure about specific AI policies." (Subscription required.)
    
    
    1. "US law schools integrate AI into curriculums but remain uncertain on specific policies," 06.27.24.
       Canadian Lawyer also has this story.
       
       
30. "As Law Firm Tech Options Grow, Keep It People-Focused, Accessible, Urge Tech Experts," 06.21.24.
    This editorial at The American Lawyer asserts, "As law firms seek to join in on the AI revolution, it's worth remembering that they are still a people business."
    
    
31. "'This Is Not Science Fiction': Inside Legal Departments That Parlayed AI Experimentation Into Real ROI," 06.21.24.
    Corporate Counsel reports on some of the uses of generative artificial intelligence, noting, "While legal teams are looking to AI to help ease the burden of crushing workloads, the more ambitious and creative among them are using AI to do things that weren't possible a year ago."
    
    
32. "Law Students 'Level The Playing Field' By Creating AI Tools," 06.21.24.
    Law360 reports, "With the arrival of generative artificial intelligence in the legal profession, a few law students have taken it upon themselves to use this new technology to create tools that help fellow law students with legal studies." (Subscription required.)
    
    
33. "AI Gold Rush: Are We Repeating the Dot-Com Bubble?" 06.18.24.
    This op-ed at Legaltech News examines "parallels between the dot-com boom and the current AI boom are striking, characterized by a cycle of technological innovation, consumer enthusiasm, and speculative investment that often characterizes transformative eras in tech history."
    
    

June 21, 2024

Top Stories

1. "19 states defend ABA law school diversity rule amid Republican warning," 06.20.24.
   "Attorneys general from 19 Democratic-led states on Thursday pledged to help defend the American Bar Association's requirement that law schools advance diversity goals, after a coalition of Republican-led states attacked the ABA accreditation standard earlier this month," according to Reuters.
   
   
2. "How Law Firms are Reducing Redundant Real Estate by Bringing Onsite Support Services Back to the Office," 06.21.24.
   As law firms continue to prioritize in-office work, Law.com says many firms are seeking to update their operation strategies by "maximizing space and revitalizing operations by bringing administrative, word processing, and billing services back onsite."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Over 100 Law Deans Sign Letter Encouraging 'Vital' Training to Preserve Democracy," 06.18.24.
   Law.com reports, "The American Bar Association published a letter Tuesday signed by more than 100 U.S. law school deans, in partnership with the ABA's Task Force for American Democracy, pushing the legal community to prioritize training necessary for the next generation of lawyers to sustain constitutional democracy and the rule of law."
   
   
4. "Universities Revise Policies Surrounding Campus Demonstrations," 06.18.24.
   "Indiana University and the University of Pennsylvania are the latest schools to adopt or consider temporary procedures for campus events and demonstrations following a string of protests held on college campuses earlier this year in response to the war in Gaza," reports Law.com.
   
   
5. "Sullivan & Cromwell Threatens Student Funding Over Antisemitism," 06.18.24.
   Bloomberg Law reports, "Sullivan & Cromwell asked law school student groups to confirm they don't support harassment or risk losing funding from the firm amid a surge of pro-Palestine protests on college campuses earlier this year."
   
   
6. "Eliminating Law School Admissions Tests Won't Help DEI Challenges," 06.17.24.
   A representative from JD-Next, writing for Bloomberg Law, asserts, "To maintain diversity and validity — the accuracy in identifying which applicants will be successful if admitted — law schools should incorporate more innovative approaches into their admissions processes."
   
   
7. "LSAC president reflects on challenges facing legal ed as she shifts to lead Association of American Law Schools," 06.17.24.
   ABA Journal interviews Kellye Testy, who is leaving LSAC to become Executive Director at AALS, about "the changes and the challenges facing legal education." (Subscription required.)
   
   




Law Firms

8. "Latham Mulls 'Super' Points for Partner Pay, as Industry Makes 'Tectonic' Comp Changes," 06.20.24.
   The American Lawyer explores the concept of "points" and "super-points" in relation to partner compensation.
   
   
9. "New report shows Yale Law School students prioritize firm culture in job decisions," 06.20.24.
   Canadian Lawyer reports, "Yale Law Women+ (YLW+) has published its nineteenth annual Top Firms Report, revealing that culture is the most critical factor for Yale Law School students when deciding which law firm offer to accept."
   
   
10. "With 'Fractional' C-Suite Advisers, Midsize Firms Balance Expertise With Expense," 06.20.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Some midsize firms looking to leverage Big Law experience for a lower price point are taking advantage of a 'fractional' leadership model" which "entails outsourcing marketing and strategic needs to industry veterans."
    
    
11. "Who made it to the 2024 list of top pro bono law firms?" 06.18.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports on their list of 5-Star Pro Bono Firms.
    
    
12. "Dentons' Project Golden Spike Reaches the End of the Line," 06.18.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Dentons' growth initiative targeting overlooked U.S. markets, which sought to 'do for law and commerce in the 21st Century what the transcontinental railroad did for transportation and commerce 150 years ago,' has been discontinued, sources familiar with the firm confirmed."
    
    
    1. "Dentons' Project Golden Spike Had Bold Ambitions. Did it Meet Them?" 06.20.24.
       This follow-up article provides insights from industry experts and observers into whether the project was successful or not.
       
       
13. "The 2024 NLJ 500: Headcount Growth Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels," 06.18.24.
    "Attorney headcounts at the 500 largest law firms in the United States continued to grow in 2023, though growth rates subsided to pre-pandemic levels after accelerating in 2022," according to The National Law Journal.
    
    
    1. "For Law Firms, There's No Substitute For Associate Growth," 06.18.24.
       The National Law Journal explores growth in the associate market in comparison with the trending growth in the numbers of nonequity partners.
       
       
14. "The Goldilocks Solution to Law Firm Growth: Large Group Liftouts Prove 'Just Right'," 06.17.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Group hires are having a moment, as one-off laterals often fail to attract clients while whole-firm acquisitions carry significant risks."
    
    
15. "Dear Dan: Blunt Advice from Top Law Firms About Legal Recruiters — Part Four: Bringing it All Together," 06.14.24.
    The final installment of Dan Binstock's series on working with third-party recruiters, at The American Lawyer, summarizes "how your choice of a recruiter can reflect on you in ways you might not anticipate."
    
    
16. "Pro Bono Hours Ticked Upward in 2023, But Still Trail Pre-Pandemic Participation," 06.14.24.
    "Total pro bono hours at 120 firms participating in the Pro Bono Institute's annual challenge ticked up by 2.5% in 2023 when compared with 2022, as the industry makes progress in returning to pre-pandemic participation," reports The American Lawyer.
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

17. "What Firms in Australia Are Doing to Attract and Retain Lawyers in a Competitive Market," 06.20.24.
    Law.com International reports on some things law firms in Australia are doing to attract and retain lawyers in a very competitive market, including work-from-home policies, secondments, and well-being programs.
    
    
18. "What Attorneys Really Think About Their Profession," 06.18.24.
    "Law360 Pulse asked respondents to our Lawyer Satisfaction Survey for their thoughts on misconceptions about being a lawyer, what the best parts of the job are and what they would tell newer lawyers. Here's what they said." (Subscription required.)
    
    
    1. "Are Attorneys Happy On The Job?" 06.18.24.
       
       
    2. "Collegiality Is Now The Norm At Law Firms," 06.18.24.
       
       
       
19. "Let's talk about recruiters," 06.17.24.
    "Lawyers struggle to attract talent who are both capable and a good fit for a firm's culture," according to this column at Law360 Canada. (Subscription required.)
    
    
20. "NYC Bar Association Condemns Federal Judges Over Letter to Columbia," 06.17.24.
    "The New York City Bar Association released a statement Monday condemning a group of federal judges for what the organization called 'improper use of the judicial offices' over the judges' recent letter stating they would no longer hire law clerks from Columbia University over its handling of the pro-Palestinian protests on campus earlier this year," reports New York Law Journal.
    
    
21. "Talks Advance to Form First Attorney Union at Justice Department," 06.17.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Environmental lawyers are attempting to form the first known union of litigating attorneys in Justice Department history, a campaign sparked by return-to-office mandates and fears of political intervention, employee and labor organizers said."
    
    
22. "Anatomy Of A Remote BigLaw Office: Lessons From The Link," 06.14.24.
    Law360 reports, "Four years since it launched in 2020, Husch Blackwell LLP's remote office, called The Link, has grown from 50 attorneys and business professionals to more than 700, with around a quarter of the law firm's attorneys practicing as part of the office." (Subscription required.)
    
    
23. "How to keep lawyers from quitting," 06.14.24.
    CBA/ABC National reports on attrition and retention data from the NALP Foundation.
    
    
24. "Making Legal Cents: Engaging A Remote, Evolving Workforce," 06.13.24.
    "In the face of a dispersed and changing workforce with Generation Z entering the scene, law firms should consider some practical strategies to revitalize their cultures, provide meaningful mentorship and safeguard their knowledge bases, says Shireen Hilal at Maior Strategic Consulting," at Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

25. "Small and Mid-Sized Firms Can Effectively Deploy DEI Initiatives," 06.21.24.
    Two lawyers writing for Bloomberg Law argue that "Small and midsize law firms should recognize they're well-positioned to effect change and advance DEI efforts."
    
    
26. "Banks, Law and Consulting Firms Are Watering Down Their Diversity Recruiting Programs," 06.20.24.
    The Wall Street Journal reports that many white-collar companies are moving away from diversity programs, noting, "For some applicants who felt the programs excluded them, the changes may be welcome. Some minority job seekers worry they could erode a path for diverse candidates to find internships and entry-level roles."
    
    
27. "Most Americans approve of DEI, according to Post-Ipsos poll," 06.18.24.
    The Washington Post reports on a recent poll that shows "most Americans approve of companies taking steps to address the historic inequalities in their ranks."
    
    
28. "Tribune Special Report: Why the Blackout in Philly's Big Law," 06.15.24.
    The Philadelphia Tribune takes an in-depth look at data on diversity in law firms in Philadelphia (and nationwide) and reasons behind the lack of Black lawyers in that city and beyond.
    
    
29. "Retirement for young and old lawyers: The final chapter," 06.12.24.
    At Law360 Canada, Murray Gottheil examines the idea of retirement for lawyers. (Subscription required.)
    
    
30. "How In-House Teams Use E-Billing Tools To Track DEI Metrics," 06.12.24.
    Law360 reports, "A pair of legal operations professionals shared during a panel Wednesday that they use their companies' electronic billing systems to collect diversity, equity and inclusion data from retained U.S.-based outside counsel." (Subscription required.)
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

31. "A Little Thank You Goes a Long Way," 06.20.24.
    The Young Lawyer Editorial Board of The Legal Intelligencer points out recent news about lawyer mental health and argues, "We should be focusing on one key aspect of the report that can be changed: lawyers feel underappreciated. Nearly 60% of the lawyers surveyed reported having decreased satisfaction and sense of accomplishment. So, instead of dwelling on what seems unlikely to change, or the biggest mountains to overcome — like the 'boogieman' known as the billable hour and always-on culture, let's all just look around to our colleagues and show a little bit of honest appreciation." (Emphasis in original.)
    
    
32. "How Mentoring Helps Combat Imposter Syndrome in Young Lawyers," 06.18.24.
    A young lawyer, writing for Daily Business Review, explores imposter syndrome and asserts, "One thing that imposter syndrome will not tell you is this: Every attorney starts at the beginning, at page one, and that is precisely why a mentor who can empathize and assist with their own experience is vital for many new attorneys who get caught in this rut."
    
    
33. "Helping Students Unlearn 'Learned Helplessness,'" 06.17.24.
    Inside Higher Ed explores the concepts of "learned helplessness" (in students) and "empathy fatigue" (in faculty and staff) and how institutions can work to combat both problems.
    
    




Technology

34. "'Everyone Is Swamped': In-House Lawyers Hopeful Gen AI Will Help Them Come Up for Air," 06.20.24.
    Corporate Counsel reports on a recent survey that showed "57% [of respondents] said AI could alleviate job dissatisfaction" if used for "some low-value, routine work such as extracting and surfacing data analytics and insights — leaving lawyers more time for more rewarding, higher-value work."
    
    
35. "Law schools boost their AI offerings as industry booms," 06.18.24.
    Reuters reports, "More than half of law schools now offer classes on AI, according to a recent American Bar Association survey, with the number of those courses accelerating since ChatGPT made its splashy debut in November 2022. At least two law schools are launching special degree programs focused on AI."
    
    
36. "As Law Firms Embrace AI, Will Dedicated Executive Roles Give Them An Edge?" 06.14.24.
    This Daily Business Review interview with Major, Lindsey & Africa's Carlos Pauling asks, "will the rise of AI create a need for executives solely tasked with AI, or will that just fall under the umbrella of an already existing role?"
    
    

June 14, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Don't Say 'Elite': Corporate Firms' New Pitch Is Meritocracy," 06.10.24.
   The New York Times reports, "McKinsey, Accenture and other big firms want to recruit with a wider net, focusing more on skills than on pedigree."
   
   
2. "LSAT alternative gains popularity as more law schools sign on," 06.13.24.
   "The American Bar Association has granted five law schools permission to use the alternative admissions program JD-Next, pushing the number of campuses that allow applicants to bypass the Law School Admission Test or GRE to 57," reports Reuters.
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Learning The Rural Practice of Law," 06.14.24.
   TaxProf Blog features this Wyoming Law Review article exploring "how law schools can better educate students about the possibilities and opportunities presented by rural practice and prepare them with the skills to succeed."
   
   
4. "Preparing Law Students For Real-World Practice," 06.13.24.
   TaxProf Blog also highlights this paper which "describes problems with legal curricula, pressures to improve because of the NextGen bar exam and some states' plans to use alternative mechanisms for licensing, and successful techniques for improving the realism in law school courses."
   
   




Law Firms

5. "'It's All About Building Relationships': Phila. Firm Leaders Foster Community Ties Via Investments and Service," 06.12.24.
   The Legal Intelligencer examines some of the ways local Philadelphia firms are building relationships with clients.
   
   
6. "Skadden Hires First Chief People Officer as More Law Firms Take Holistic Approach to Talent," 06.12.24.
   "Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom has hired its first chief people officer, Annemarie Crouch, the firm said Wednesday, the latest law firm to adjust its C-suite to focus more on talent matters," reports The American Lawyer.
   
   
7. "How Attorney Titles in Big Law Can Mean Everything, and Nothing, All at Once," 06.10.24.
   The American Lawyer discusses the recent "flurry of new leadership titles in Big Law" and whether their primary importance is for leadership or for marketing.
   
   
8. "Law firm culture beats pay when choosing where to work, Yale survey says," 06.10.24.
   Reuters reports, "Culture, compensation and advancement opportunities top the list of factors Yale Law School students weigh when choosing which law firm to join, according to a new study [from Yale Law Women+]."
   
   
9. "Young People are Setting the Political Agenda. Can Law Firms Cope?" 06.09.24.
   "Social media has given a voice to young people who are setting the political (and moral) agenda — law firms are struggling to keep up, writes The Global Lawyer," at Law.com International.
   
   
10. "Culture Key to Remaining Competitive for Talent at Midsize Firms," 06.07.24.
    The Legal Intelligencer reports, "Struggling to compete with larger firms when it comes to compensation, midsized firms can look to culture, including hybrid working arrangements, as a way to bring in and retain talent, according to a roundtable with Alevistar Legal Search founder and managing partner Brian Levinson hosted by the Philadelphia Bar Association."
    
    
11. "Dear Dan: Blunt Advice from Top Law Firms About Legal Recruiters — Part Three," 06.07.24.
    The third installment of Dan Binstock's series on working with recruiters, in The American Lawyer, "provides additional quotes and from law firms regarding the dos and don'ts of managing the process with your recruiter."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

12. "Oregon's alternative pathway to the bar proves popular," 06.13.24.
    ABA Journal reports, "Oregon's new Supervised Practice Portfolio Examination that allows ABA-accredited law school graduates to join the state's bar by working closely with a supervising attorney instead of taking the bar exam is gaining traction with candidates and potential employers." (Subscription required.)
    
    
13. "Anticipating Annual Reviews: Advocating for Your Advancement," 06.13.24.
    This op-ed at The Legal Intelligencer advises young lawyers to "remember that a review is not only an opportunity to receive constructive feedback about your performance, but also an opportunity to advocate for yourself, particularly as you progress in your career path."
    
    
14. "The 2024 Summer Associates Survey," 06.11.24.
    Law360 provides insights into this year's summer associate classes. (Subscription required.)
    
    
    1. "These Firms Are Where Summers Want To Work," 06.11.24.
       
       
    2. "Law Firms Roll Back Summer Programs In Tight Legal Market," 06.11.24.
       
       
    3. "What Are Summer Associates Saying?" 06.11.24.
       
       
    4. "How Firms Can Effectively Evaluate Their Summer Associates," 06.11.24.
       
       
15. "Canadian In-House Counsel Salaries Up 9%, Report Shows," 06.09.24.
    Law.com International reports on a new study by The Counsel Network, now part of Caldwell, and the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association (CCCA) that shows "the national base salary in Canada for in-house counsel increased by almost 9% to CA$196,000 compared to $180,000 in 2022."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

16. "My Journey From a Low Socio-Economic Background to Big Law," 06.13.24.
    A London lawyer, writing for Law.com International, shares the advantages and disadvantages of being a lawyer from a working-class background.
    
    
17. "Title IX Rule Expanding LGBTQ Rights Barred by Federal Court," 06.13.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "A Biden Education Department Title IX rule that aims to strengthen protections for transgender students was blocked by a federal court in four states Thursday."
    
    
18. "Backing Diversity as First Amendment Expression Comes With Risks," 06.13.24.
    "Invoking the First Amendment to defend initiatives aimed at boosting workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion has the potential to set precedent that provides legal ammunition to undercut other civil rights goals," reports Bloomberg Law.
    
    
19. "DEI Risk Calculus Tests Corporate Counsel as Pressures Mount," 06.10.24.
    This Bloomberg Law special edition "brings you perspectives from leaders in government and companies, chief DEI officers, academics, and lawyers."
    
    
    1. "Workplace DEI Breaks Down Barriers With Flexible Benchmarks," 06.10.24. (by EEOC Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal)
       
       
    2. "How GCs Should Prepare the Board to Decide DEI's Next Phase," 06.10.24. (by Bloomberg Law columnist Rob Chesnut)
       
       
    3. "New Paradigm Shifts DEI From Box-Checking to Mindset-Building," 06.11.24. (by NYU Law's Kenji Yoshino and David Glasgow)
       
       
    4. "Tailor the Next Stage of DEI to Your Company's Unique Workforce," 06.11.24. (by KPMG US's Chief DEI Officer Elena Richards)
       
       
    5. "Corporate DEI Isn't Dead. It's an Existential Moment for Change," 06.13.24. (by Rutgers Law School Professor Stacy Hawkins)
       
       
    6. "To Manage DEI Risk, Gain Buy-In With Coaching, Consensus Building," 06.13.24. (by Stinson's Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Ann Thomas)
       
       
    7. "Don't Be Afraid to Experiment — and Even Fail — to Make DEI Advances," 06.14.24. (by Amy Yeung, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at a Fortune 1000 public company)
       
       




Mental Health/Well-Being

20. "New Manitoba law society president to tackle bullying, mental illness among licensees," 06.10.24.
    Law360 Canada reports, "The new president of Manitoba's law society is on a mission to improve the mental health of lawyers and eliminate bullying and harassment in the profession. Gerri Wiebe, named Law Society of Manitoba (LSM) president on May 16, recently sat down with Law360 Canada to discuss some of the items she ultimately wants to check off during her term." (Subscription required.)
    
    




Technology

21. "Gen AI Is Eliminating Legal Research and Internal Work Product Silos," 06.13.24.
    The Law.com Barometer newsletter this week examines how generative AI is helping create a world where lawyers "no longer have to toggle between two silos of important precedent in drafting documents or creating workflows."
    
    
22. "How Legal Gen AI Is Better Preparing Law Students for the Real World," 06.13.24.
    The op-ed at Legaltech News, written by a vice president at LexisNexis, outlines six ways that generative artificial intelligence tools are helping law students become better prepared for legal careers.
    
    

June 7, 2024

Top Stories

1. "State AGs Warn Bar That Its Law School DEI Rules Are Illegal," 06.05.24.
   Bloomberg Law reports, "More than 20 Republican state attorneys general warned the American Bar Association of potential discrimination violations over diversity requirements in the Bar's law school accreditation system in a letter."
   
   
2. "Law Firms Start Training Summer Associates on Using Generative AI," 06.04.24.
   "K&L Gates, Dechert, and Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe have incorporated training on the technology for this year's class of summer associates, teaching them how to use research and chatbot tools now being used by the firms. The programs offer a window into what some firms believe artificial intelligence will mean for those now entering the profession," reports Bloomberg Law.
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "College students with these majors crush the LSAT. End of logic games may change that," 06.04.24.
   "Law students with a background in science, tech, engineering and math tend to have strong Law School Admission Test scores and are in short supply compared with the thousands of applicants coming out of humanities and social science majors…. But STEM majors looking to become attorneys could lose some of their competitive edge with the August removal of the 'logic games' portion of the LSAT," reports Reuters.
   
   
4. "NCBE Releases Results of NextGen's First Pilot Test," 06.03.24.
   The National Conference of Bar Examiners has released results from the first pilot test of the NextGen bar exam, in which "participants answered drafts of new types of questions being developed for the NextGen exam, and then provided feedback on the questions and on their overall experience taking the pilot test."
   
   
5. "Report: Toronto Law Students Did Not Breach School's Code of Conduct With Pro-Palestinian Letter," 05.31.24.
   Law.com International reports, "Toronto law school students who wrote an 'aggressive' and 'harsh' letter to their deans calling on the school to be more actively pro-Palestinian after the Hamas attacks last October did not breach their school's non-academic code of conduct, an external review has found."
   
   
6. "Meet Jennifer Rosato Perea, who'll lead ABA accreditation and legal ed as managing director," 05.29.24.
   ABA Journal introduces the managing director for accreditation and legal education at the ABA. (Subscription required.)
   
   
7. "U.S. News & World Report's law school rankings 'irrelevant' to applicants, study finds," 05.28.24.
   Reuters reports on recent research that "found little to no correlation between ranking changes and the behavior of applicants. That is, schools that jumped in the rankings didn't generally bring in stronger classes, and those that fell didn't necessarily enroll weaker ones."
   
   
   1. "Frye & Ryan: Entering Law Students Do Not Rely On The U.S. News Rankings In Choosing A Law School," 05.28.24.
      TaxProf Blog has a link to the research paper.
      
      
   2. "Once A Standard, US News Rankings Now 'Entirely Irrelevant,'" 05.29.24.
      Law360 reports, "Once 'the bellwether of the legal academy,' the annual law school rankings published by U.S. News & World Report don't matter to today's prospective law students, a pair of law professors say in a new study."
      
      
   3. "U.S. News Law School Rankings Aren't Useful Anymore to Applicants," 06.05.24.
      In his column at Bloomberg Law, David Lat shares his observations on the new study.
      
      
8. "'Raising Up' Student Parents," 05.28.24.
   Inside Higher Ed examines a new docuseries on "the lives of student parents and the supports they need to thrive in college."
   
   




Law Firms

9. "Amid Law Firm Merger Frenzy, Former Leaders of Wilmer and Hale Offer Insights," 06.06.24.
   At The National Law Journal, leaders from WilmerHale share their experiences with merging two firms and discuss their thoughts on why their merger was successful.
   
   
10. "Lateral Leaps Are Far From Solo Endeavors — Even Among Young Lawyers," 06.06.24.
    Three young lawyers, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, reflect on their experience of making a lateral move as a group from a mid-size firm to a Big Law firm.
    
    
11. "For Law Firm Succession Planning, GCs Take Matters Into Their Own Hands," 06.04.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "The question of succession planning within law firms doesn't haunt corporate counsel when they look to select their outside counsel. Instead of fearing an unexpected departure or retirement and relying on an attorney's own succession plan, they cultivate their own lines of succession for their outside lawyers, ensuring there is a backup in place to take care of the company's work."
    
    
12. "4 Ways Young Attys Can Balance Pro Bono And Billable Hours," 05.29.24.
    Law360 shares insights from experts on "how lawyers can commit to meaningful volunteer work while keeping up with their regular responsibilities." (Subscription required.)
    
    
13. "Largest Law Firms Increase Partner Pay Spread, as Comp Models Hit 'Inflection Point,'" 05.28.24.
    The American Lawyer reports that the pay ratio at Am Law 100 firms went up in 2023, while "the average spread among Second Hundred firms fell a bit, as that segment arguably focused on building leverage and increasing lawyer head count last year."
    
    
    1. "It's Not Just the Spread. Big Law Is Making More 'Business-Driven' Pay Choices," 06.03.24.
       "Big Law isn't just increasing the spread between its highest- and lowest-paid partners — it's evolving on compensation in several ways, according to observers and recent industry analysis. Those include increasing bonus pools, redrawing lines between equity and nonequity partners and expanding credits to go beyond origination," according to The American Lawyer.
       
       
14. "Is There a Maximum Number in This Salary Race?" 05.27.24.
    This Law.com International editorial reports that "In the last five years junior lawyer salaries have increased by about 50%," and suggests, "Surely this process cannot continue forever. At some point it will become too costly to pay such numbers."
    
    
15. "Dear Dan: Blunt Advice from Top Law Firms About Legal Recruiters — Part One," 05.24.24.
    Recruiter Dan Binstock, writing for The American Lawyer, shares the inside scoop on working with third-party recruiters. This first installment is called "Yes, Your Choice of Recruiter Can Directly Help or Hurt You."
    
    
    1. "Dear Dan: Blunt Advice From Top Law Firms About Legal Recruiters — Part Two," 05.31.24.
       The second installment "provides detailed (but anonymous) quotes and advice on selecting the right legal recruiter."
       
       
16. "Soaring Salaries Force Tough Decisions by Big Law Leaders," 05.23.24.
    Bloomberg Law's Big Law Business column explores "the management headache associated with tweaking compensation policies."
    
    
17. "Mid-Law Heads Focus On Fundamentals Amid BigLaw Raiding," 05.23.24.
    Law360 reports, "With several Mid-Law firms losing large groups of attorneys to BigLaw in 2024, firm leaders say they are focused on growth, maintaining their culture and implementing their strategic plans, rather than fixating on BigLaw's potential efforts to recruit their talent." (Subscription required.)
    
    
18. "Is The Sky The Limit For BigLaw Billing Rates?" 05.21.24.
    "Data continues to pile up demonstrating large law firms' success in raising their billing rates at a historic pace while also continuing to command ever-larger portions of in-house legal departments' spending, which seems to point to a seemingly unfettered ability to raise rates," according to Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

19. "The Law Firm Disrupted: With an Office Status Quo Established, Full Steam Ahead on Real Estate Decisions," 06.06.24.
    Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column looks at return-to-office policies and amenities and concludes, "even if firms may overestimate the value of an extravagant office, top firms locked in a talent fight that also want bodies on site can't sit on the sidelines."
    
    
20. "'Recruitment and retention crisis' leading to potential strike for New Brunswick Crown prosecutors," 06.05.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports, "The New Brunswick Crown Prosecutors Association (NBCPA) has the greenlight from its membership to strike if upcoming talks with the province fail to produce a resolution to their concerns about retention, recruitment, and the resulting overwhelming workload."
    
    
21. "Group urges US judiciary to halt conservative judges' clerk boycotts," 06.05.24.
    Reuters reports, "A government watchdog group on Wednesday urged the U.S. judiciary to rein in the recurring practice of conservative judges boycotting the hiring of law clerks from specific schools over protests and disruptions on their campuses."
    
    
22. "Why So Many GCs Are Jumping To Law Firm Partnerships," 05.31.24.
    "What started as a trickle of general counsel retiring and then finishing out their careers at law firms has expanded into a growing number of senior in-house counsel leaving their companies for private practice. And not only in part-time, of counsel positions, but often as full partners," according to Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    
23. "Inside Track: Career Path for Aspiring GCs Becoming More Daunting," 05.31.24.
    Law.com reports on how the job of general counsel has changed and what that means for aspiring GCs, noting, "few lawyers encompass the broad range of skills needed to thrive in such a role — a reality that is causing companies to hire battle-tested lawyers who already were GCs elsewhere over up-and-comers who are overflowing with promise but ultimately unproven."
    
    
24. "Quality Development Programs Are Key to Legal Staff Retention," 05.30.24.
    Corporate Counsel reports, "Offering high quality development programs is key to developing and retaining lawyers and legal staff."
    
    
25. "How Do We Know Who 'Wins' the War for Talent?" 05.30.24.
    The American Lawyer examines "what 'success' in the lateral market means and whether that definition can vary from firm to firm or even partner to partner."
    
    
26. "Fully Human Lawyer: The Secret Thoughts of Lateral Partner Hires," 05.30.24.
    Executive coach Lauren Krasnow, writing for The American Lawyer, discusses the delicate balance of communication (or non-communication) that happens in the early stages after a lateral hire, noting, "While firms often believe they're doing everything they can to ensure their lateral partners' success, I observe that the two to three years in which it takes most firms to write off new laterals as 'underperforming' is the same two to three years in which laterals fester with concerns that they are (rationally) afraid to voice."
    
    
27. "Hiring New Grads During Israel-Hamas War Risks Pitfalls for GCs," 05.28.24.
    A lawyer, writing for Bloomberg Law, "reviews in-house counsels' options as they consider hiring students from schools with active war protests."
    
    
28. "'Acceptance' of Return-to-Work Policies Permeates Big Law," 05.28.24.
    This editorial at The American Lawyer reports, "A recent survey of large law firm employees found 57% were 'satisfied' with their office attendance policies while 29% were 'neutral.' Only 13% registered as 'not satisfied.'"
    
    
29. "Will an earlier big law firm recruiting calendar change the market for prospective law school transfer students?" 05.10.24.
    Derek Muller at Excess of Democracy discusses the impact of earlier recruiting cycles on transfer students.
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

30. "New Federal Pregnancy Regulations: Five Key Takeaways and Five Key Action Steps for Employers," 06.05.24.
    This op-ed in Daily Report outlines five takeaways from the EEOC's newly published final regulations and interpretive guidance for the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA).
    
    
31. "Eleventh Circuit Grants Injunction Against Nonprofit for Excluding Women Not of Color From Entrepreneurship Contest," 06.05.24.
    "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued an opinion June 3 upholding a ruling against a nonprofit organization finding an entrepreneurship funding competition open only to Black female business owners to be discriminatory," according to Daily Report.
    
    
32. "Conservative Duo Wants to Take Down DEI One Bias Claim at a Time," 06.05.24.
    Bloomberg Law takes a deep dive into the two conservative organizations that are fighting diversity programs.
    
    
33. "The Surge of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills and How We Can Protect Ourselves," 06.04.24.
    This op-ed at The Legal Intelligencer outlines the "unprecedented upsurge of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced across the United States" and provides advice on protecting yourself and your family.
    
    
34. "Standards Are Murky As Legal Employers Vet Protesters," 06.03.24.
    "As violence in Gaza rages on, law firms have vowed not to employ pro-Palestinian lawyers whose conduct they deem unacceptable. But unacceptable is in the eye of the beholder, and that makes it difficult for law students and lawyers who advocate for a ceasefire to navigate the workplace and the job market," reports Law360. (Subscription required.)
    
    
35. "From Refugee To Shareholder: A Call For Inclusive Law Firms," 06.03.24.
    At Law360, "A Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard PC shareholder recently shared her experiences advancing as a woman at a law firm, and why businesses must create an inclusive workplace culture." (Subscription required.)
    
    
36. "Companies Quietly Ramp Up DEI Efforts Amid Political Turmoil," 06.03.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "most companies plan to invest more in DEI initiatives over the next two years, according to survey results released Monday by global executive head-hunting firm Bridge Partners. Uncertainty over the outcome of the November presidential election — and its repercussions — means executives may make these investments quietly, however, said Tory Clarke, co-founder and partner of Bridge Partners."
    
    
37. "Ex-Judge Tatel Regrets Focusing Clerk Hiring on Applicants from Elite Law Schools," 05.31.24.
    Law.com previews an upcoming memoir by a former federal judge, who "shares problems with the ultra-competitive and increasingly ideologically driven clerk-selection process, including his own focus on applicants from top-ranked law schools."
    
    
38. "NYU law school dodges white man's lawsuit claiming law review discrimination," 05.30.24.
    Reuters reports, "A Manhattan federal judge on Thursday dismissed a race and sex discrimination lawsuit challenging the selection process for New York University School of Law's flagship law review, saying the anonymous white male plaintiff lacked standing to sue and that his complaint lacked facts to support his allegations."
    
    
39. "Foley Sued for Revoking Job Over Israel-Palestine Comments," 05.29.24.
    "Foley & Lardner is being sued for scrapping a recent law school graduate's job offer over her comments about the Israel-Hamas war," reports Bloomberg Law.
    
    
    1. "Arab American lawyer sues firm that revoked job offer over Gaza comments," 05.31.24.
       The Washington Post has more.
       
       
40. "Efforts To Improve Diversity On State High Courts Stagnating," 05.29.24.
    Law360 reports, "A lack of publicly available data is hampering efforts to make state Supreme Courts more representative of the populations they serve and diversity pushes appear to have stalled out, according to a recent report." (Subscription required.)
    
    
41. "US law clerks in rare anonymous statement decry 'genocide' in Gaza," 05.29.24.
    "Twenty-five federal law clerks on Wednesday issued a public statement criticizing restrictions the judiciary has placed on their ability to speak out against the treatment of Palestinians by Israel during its war with Hamas in Gaza," according to Reuters.
    
    
    1. "Statement By Federal Law Clerks Regarding the War In Gaza," 05.29.24.
       Read the full statement at Balls & Strikes.
       
       
    2. "Anonymous Law Clerks Claim Forced Silence on Israel-Hamas War," 05.29.24.
       Bloomberg Law has more.
       
       
42. "Gen Z Women Are Shunning BigLaw Partnership. Here's Why," 05.17.24.
    Law360 reports, "A recent survey of Generation Z lawyers at large law firms found that significantly more men than women say their ultimate career goal is to make partner, while far more women than men say their goal is to transition in-house." (Subscription required.)
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

43. "5 Day-to-Day Factors That Make Work a Grind: A Partner's Guide to Revitalizing Work," 06.05.24.
    Tracy LaLonde of Joychiever, writing at Law.com, provides tips for any manager of people on how to "champion an environment where your team members are actively engaged and deeply invested in the work they do."
    
    
44. "Talking Mental Health: Life As A Lawyer With OCD," 06.03.24.
    Over at Law360, "Kelly Hughes at Ogletree discusses what she's learned in the 14 years since she was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder, recounting how the experience shaped her law practice, what the legal industry and general public get wrong about the disorder, and how law firms can better support employees who have OCD." (Subscription required.)
    
    
45. "Mental Health in the Legal Industry: How to Mitigate Systemic Challenges and Boost Individual Resilience," 05.31.24.
    The LegalSpeak podcast at The American Lawyer discusses "how law firms and lawyers can mitigate systemic challenges and boost individual resilience to help create safer spaces for struggling individuals to get the help they need."
    
    
46. "Legal Profession's Mental Health Woes Start to Take Root in Law School, Many Attorneys Say," 05.30.24.
    "The way law schools teach and the pressure-cooker environment many proudly embrace carry over into the workplace, legal observers say, contributing to the high levels of depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other mental health challenges that practicing attorneys experience," reports Corporate Counsel.
    
    
47. "Disability claims involving toxic workplace allegations surge with return to office: injury lawyer," 05.29.24.
    Law Times speaks with a personal injury lawyer in Canada who says that most of his "long-term disability cases have a mental health component, and in most of those cases, the workplace environment either caused or contributed to mental illness."
    
    
48. "Are Organizations All Talk and No Walk When It Comes to Mental Health Benefits?" 05.28.24.
    The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) reports "a gap between the mental health resources companies offer and the level of comfort employees feel in using these benefits. Employees often face obstacles preventing them from using the available resources, such as feelings of uncertainty, difficulty getting time off, and an overall lack of awareness of what's offered."
    
    




Technology

49. "Ontario Bar Association Launches Novel AI Initiative to Boost Use in Everyday Practice," 06.06.24.
    Law.com features an interview with Canadian legal tech visionary Colin Lachance, who "will be the association's innovator-in-residence, leading a year-long program to get lawyers to better understand and implement artificial intelligence."
    
    
50. "Does the Duty of Competence Extend to Developments in Technology?" 06.03.24.
    This Daily Report op-ed encourages lawyers to stay abreast of technological developments.
    
    
51. "GPT-4 didn't ace the bar exam after all, MIT research suggests — it didn't even break the 70th percentile," 05.31.24.
    Live Science reports, "a new study has revealed that the much-hyped 90th-percentile figure was actually skewed toward repeat test-takers who had already failed the exam one or more times — a much lower-scoring group than those who generally take the test. The researcher published his findings March 30 in the journal Artificial Intelligence and Law."
    
    
52. "The Real Issue Beyond the Stanford Study's Gaffes: Where Are Legal Tech's Benchmarks?" 05.29.24.
    Legaltech News reports on a recent study on generative AI hallucinations, noting that the study "received pushback from the industry for flawed methodology. But the real issue may lie within the lack of transparency from legal tech providers into how exactly their tools work."