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.

November 22, 2024

Top Stories

1. "New report spotlights rise of women lawyers," 11.18.24.
   The American Bar Association this week released its sixth annual Profile of the Legal Profession report, which shows that a majority of law students and law firm associates are now women. You can read the full report here. (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
   1. "It's the 'Decade of the Female Lawyer,' ABA report says," 11.18.24.
      Reuters has this story, noting, "Overall, male lawyers still outnumber women attorneys in the U.S. at 59% to 41%, the ABA found. But the proportion of women has increased from 36% in 2014 — a five percentage-point gain over the past decade. If current trends hold, the U.S. will have as many women lawyers as male ones within 20 years, according to the ABA."
      
      
   2. "Where Women Are And Are Not Getting Ahead In Law," 11.18.24.
      "Women now make up the majority of law school graduates, law firm associates, lawyers in the federal government and will likely soon make up the majority of law school faculty, according to a report from the American Bar Association out Monday, however the proportion of women in certain positions of power within the profession continues to lag," says Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   3. "Male lawyers may no longer outnumber female lawyers within 20 years: American Bar Association," 11.19.24.
      Canadian Lawyer also has this story.
      
      
2. "Law Firms Are 'Pinching Themselves' Amid Double-Digit Profit Growth and Billing Rate Hikes," 11.19.24.
   The American Lawyer reports on Wells Fargo's Legal Specialty Group Nine-Month 2024 Survey, which shows, "Billing rate growth continues to drive law firms' ascent in 2024, particularly for the top 50 firms, which could see double-digit profit gains by year-end."
   
   
   1. "Law Firms Set To Close Out 2024 With Near-Record Billing," 11.19.24.
      Law360 also has this story. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   2. "Battle for Top Talent Accelerates Amid Profit and Demand Surge," 11.22.24.
      The American Lawyer predicts, "With the legal industry seeing at least a 12% revenue gain and some firms seeing double-digit profit hikes, look for the trend of firms acquiring top partners and associates to continue or even increase in the new year, recruiters and consultants say."
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Breaking The Cycle: Rethinking Bar Exam Scoring And Portability For NextGen Examinees," 11.22.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights this article from UNT Dallas Law Review in which the authors argue "for a shift from score-based models to a standards-based, rubric-driven assessment" and "one national score to qualify for legal practice."
   
   
4. "ABA approves Penn State's plan to combine its two law schools," 11.20.24.
   "Pennsylvania State University has won the American Bar Association's blessing to consolidate its two separate law schools into one, capping off a two-year bid to unify the schools," reports Reuters.
   
   
5. "LSSSE Releases New Report On Trends In Legal Education Over The Past 20 Years," 11.20.24.
   TaxProf Blog shares a press release from the Law School Survey of Student Engagement (LSSSE) which looks at "changes and trends in legal education from 2004 to 2024."
   
   
6. "At 17, She Just Passed the State Bar of California," 11.19.24.
   The New York Times has the story of a 17 year old who "is believed to be the youngest person to pass the California State Bar Exam, besting the previous record-holder: her older brother."
   
   
7. "Professional Identity Formation And The NextGen Bar Open Opportunities For Law Student And Law School Success," 11.19.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights this article by Neil Hamilton, which asserts, "Both the 2022 changes to ABA accreditation Standard 303 and the ongoing implementation of the NextGen Bar starting in five states in 2026 and ten more states in 2027 open substantial opportunities for law students and law schools to achieve more success…."
   
   
8. "LSAT competitor sold amid push for alternative law school admissions," 11.19.24.
   Reuters reports, "Aspen Publishing has bought alternative law school admissions program JD-Next from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law, the company said on Tuesday."
   
   
9. "25% Through The Fall 2025 Law School Admissions Season: Applicants Are Up 26% (Black Applicants Are Up 42%)," 11.18.24.
   TaxProf Blog reports on LSAC application and admissions data.
   
   




Law Firms

10. "Billables and Bad Partners: Why Associates Are Still Not Happy," 11.22.24.
    Law.com International shares results of a recent survey of London associates that shows, "A large number of the participants from some of the U.K.'s largest law firms feel their efforts are undervalued, particularly given the industry's demanding hours and high-pressure environment. While many associates praised their firms' culture and the quality of work, persistent challenges like long hours and mental health struggles remained a recurring theme."
    
    
11. "Don't Blame Inflation for Big Law's Record High Billing Rates," 11.21.24.
    Bloomberg Law's Big Law Business column "debunk[s] the idea that law firm billing rate increases are correlated with inflation."
    
    
12. "Texas Firms Battling Flat Demand Amid Crowded Market In '24," 11.21.24.
    Law360 reports, "Texas law firms are lagging behind the rest of the country in revenue growth nine months into 2024 thanks to out-of-state firms eating into the demand for legal work, according to a report this week from Wells Fargo Private Bank." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
13. "DC Law Firm Growth Falls Behind Big Firms in Other Regions," 11.20.24.
    The National Law Journal reports, "As transactional work in other markets began to rise in 2024, revenue growth and demand for law firms in Washington, D.C. trailed behind the industry in the first nine months of this year, according to new bank data. It's a contrast to how D.C. law firms led the market last year."
    
    
14. "Big bonuses spread at large US law firms after Milbank, Cravath moves," 11.20.24.
    "The 2024 bonus outlook at top U.S. law firms is coming into focus, with Cravath, Swaine & Moore, Paul Hastings and other firms promising payouts totaling $140,000 for their most senior associates," reports Reuters.
    
    
    1. "Big Law Hedges Associate Bonuses to Protect Partner Profits," 11.21.24.
       Bloomberg Law also has this story, noting, "the stagnant scale for year-end bonuses exposes a shift among top firms toward cutting costs and protecting partner profits as revenue surges."
       
       
    2. "More Big Law Firms Rush to Match Associate Bonuses, While Some Offer Potential for Even More," 11.21.24.
       "At least six Am Law 100 firms have matched Milbank's 'special bonuses' so far," according to The American Lawyer, while some firms are offering even more.
       
       
    3. "More BigLaw firms match Milbank's year-end and special bonuses for associates, make no mention of pay hikes," 11.20.24.
       ABA Journal also reports on bonuses, while noting, "So far, no BigLaw associates are getting raises next year, however." (Subscription may be required.)
       
       
15. "Pa. Firms Set to Finish Year Strong, Thanks to Demand Uptick, Shorter Collections Cycle," 11.18.24.
    "Pennsylvania law firms have boosted revenue by 7.9% through the third quarter of 2024, the culmination of a marginal increase in demand and a 2.2% hike in attorney productivity. Combine that with a shrinking collections cycle and moderating expense growth, said Citi Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group senior specialist Gloria Gomez, and firms in the state are in a prime position [to] finish out the year strong," according to The Legal Intelligencer.
    
    
16. "How to Support Law Firm Profitability: Train Partners Up," 11.17.24.
    The American Lawyer explores law firm training for partners, because "if law firms want their partners to think and act like owners, firms need to educate them on the business of law and give them that financial background to act like an owner."
    
    
17. "Legal service demand up in Q3: Thomson Reuters report," 11.13.24.
    Lexpert reports on data from the Thomson Reuters Law Firm Financial Index (LFFI).
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

18. "Federal judiciary releases first-ever report on workplace misconduct," 11.21.24.
    ABA Journal reports on findings from the federal judiciary's first workplace report, which was released this week. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
19. "Becoming a Changemaker Requires Patience, Planning — and Courage," 11.20.24.
    In his column at Bloomberg Law, David Lat shares his thoughts on "the most effective career path for early-career attorneys who seek advocacy work, saying that a Big Law or corporate role is the best place to start."
    
    
20. "Where have all the lawyers gone? 25% are in these 2 states with higher pay than $176K average," 11.19.24.
    "Twenty-five percent of all lawyers live in California and New York, states that include five of the top 10 metropolitan areas for attorney pay," reports ABA Journal. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
21. "Is Professional Development for Partners the Missing Link to Talent Retention?" 11.19.24.
    A consultant, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, asserts that lawyers need to learn leadership skills: "Leadership skills are emerging as the lynchpin to engagement, development and retention. Leadership skills include the ability to motivate a team, spearhead an initiative, manage conflict, create enthusiasm for a firmwide strategy, demonstrate the courage to make difficult decisions, and more."
    
    
22. "What Practices Are Driving Law Firms' 'Remarkable' Performance in 2024?" 11.18.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Specific litigation areas are driving demand for Big Law. Meanwhile, IP is the only law firm practice that saw a slowdown by Q3, according to one report."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

23. "In-House Female Attys Say They Prefer Work Culture, Balance," 11.18.24.
    Law360 reports, "In a first-of-its-kind survey by the National Association of Women Lawyers, in-house female attorneys report finding their work-life balance, work substance and workplace culture superior to that of law firms." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
24. "NextGen Lawyers report offers vital insights on how to stay ahead of multigenerational trends," 11.18.24.
    Canadian Lawyer has released their NextGen Lawyers 2024 report, which examines the values and priorities of four generations in the workplace and "underscores the urgent need for structural and cultural reform to attract, retain, and inspire talent."
    
    
25. "Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Law Firms Shrink From 'Performative' Statements," 11.15.24.
    "Compared with the flood of messaging offered by firms in the wake of the death of George Floyd or the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, firms are stepping away from talking about divisive topics, instead focusing on offering resources to support those impacted by current events," according to The American Lawyer.
    
    
26. "What Comes Next for DEI," 11.15.24.
    Associations Now, the magazine of the American Society of Association Executives, examines the status of diversity initiatives in the current climate and concludes, "The second Trump administration will almost certainly provoke changes in how organizations structure and talk about DEI. But the importance of the principles of fairness won't change. It'll be up to leaders to decide how they'll fit a commitment to diversity into their culture and actions — and do more than pay it lip service."
    
    
27. "Ohio law schools stop race-based scholarships, programs," 11.14.24.
    The Center Square reports, "Pressure from a Columbus-based policy group has forced five university-based Ohio law schools to stop race-based scholarship or internship programs."
    
    




Technology

28. "Building the lawyer of the future," 11.20.24.
    In his latest blog post, Jordan Furlong discusses his ongoing attempts to define the activities and skills of lawyers in the age of artificial intelligence, asserting, "we don't have a lot of time to figure all this out. AI is catching up with lawyer competence at breakneck speed, and the day is drawing near when it pulls even and then accelerates past us."
    
    
29. "Symposium: Roadmap For Law School Modernity — Teaching Technology Competence," 11.19.24.
    TaxProf Blog features this set of articles from University of St. Thomas Law Journal discussing technology competence.
    
    
30. "With Rise Of Gen AI, Firms Advised To Rethink Billable Hours," 11.14.24.
    Law360 reports, "As legal professionals continue to use generative artificial intelligence tools in their work, law firms need to reconsider billable hours and how they train associates, legal industry consultant Jordan Furlong said during an American Bar Association webinar [last week]." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    

November 15, 2024

Top Stories

1. "No LSAT to get into law school? ABA opens door to bypass standardized test," 11.11.24.
   "The ABA's Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar on Friday voted to create a new variance process by which individual law schools may apply for permission to bypass the existing admission test requirement for up to 100% of their incoming classes for a period of three to five years," reports Reuters.
   
   
   1. "Aspiring law students could skip standardized admissions testing under new ABA variance," 11.13.24.
      ABA Journal reports that the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, at their meeting last week, "approved a variance permitting law schools to accept applicants who did not take a 'valid and reliable admissions test,' as now required by Standard 503. Once the schools receive the variance, they can admit up to 100% of its students without an admissions score." (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
2. "'Strength of the Market': Big Law Revenue, Demand Continue to Climb," 11.13.24.
   The American Lawyer reports, "The Citi Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group found demand up 3.2% across the industry, revenue up 11.9% and productivity up 2.2% at the nine-month mark of the year."
   
   
   1. "Law Firm Revenue Soars 12% as Lawyers Get Back to Being Busy," 11.14.24.
      Bloomberg Law also has this story, commenting, "The figures are a welcome sign for an industry that struggled over the past two years to match the rapid pace of work during the pandemic."
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Bar pass rates climb nationwide for July exam," 11.12.24.
   ABA Journal reports, "The national mean scaled score was 141.8 for the Multistate Bar Examination, an increase of about 1.3 points from the July 2023 mean of 140.5, according to the National Conference of Bar Examiners." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
4. "The Bosses Who Don't Care About Your Ivy League Degree," 11.10.24.
   The Wall Street Journal reports, "Traditionally a springboard to the top of the résumé pile, a degree from a prestigious university can now prompt questions about its value or even work against job seekers. In extreme cases, it's disqualifying."
   
   
5. "Pass Rate on California's July 2024 Bar Exam Ticks Up to 53.8%," 11.09.24.
   The Recorder reports, "Like California, states across the country saw their July bar exam pass rates jump year over year. Sixty-nine percent of those who sat for the New York exam passed, an 11-year high. Texas' pass rate inched up to 74.5% from 71%. Georgia's overall pass rate of 70.4% was the highest in a decade."
   
   




Law Firms

6. "Herbert Smith Freehills to Merge with Kramer Levin," 11.11.24.
   Law.com reports, "Herbert Smith Freehills and New York-headquartered Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel have agreed to a trans-Atlantic merger that will create a $2 billion revenue firm with more than 2,700 lawyers, the firms said Monday."
   
   
   1. "HSF-Kramer Levin Merger: Insiders, Rivals and Experts React," 11.12.24.
      Law.com International has this analysis of the merger.
      
      
   2. "HSF-Kramer Levin Deal Offers 5 Insights Into Modern-Day Mergers," 11.13.24.
      Law.com International outlines "a set path that is becoming the norm for modern-day law firm mergers."
      
      
7. "Milbank Hands Out Year-End Associate Bonuses Ahead of Rivals," 11.11.24.
   Bloomberg Law reports, "Milbank LLP kicked off Big Law's year-end bonus season Monday, announcing extra payments ranging up to $115,000 for its most senior associates."
   
   
   1. "Milbank's Year-End Bonuses Bring Pressure on Big Law to Match," 11.12.24.
      "The stage is now set to see what the rest of the Big Law firms do when it comes to associate bonuses," says Bloomberg Law.
      
      
   2. "Big Law Expected To Follow Milbank's Lead With Associate Year-End Bonuses," 11.13.24.
      The American Lawyer reports, "legal industry insiders say they anticipate hearing similar announcements elsewhere from top firms soon as the year winds down to a close, particularly given the healthy economic indicators currently emanating from Big Law."
      
      
   3. "The Law Firm Disrupted: It's Bonus Time," 11.14.24.
      Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column speculates as to when and how much associate bonuses will be.
      
      
8. "Law firm profits soared in third quarter of 2024, report finds," 11.11.24.
   Reuters reports, "Higher lawyer productivity, strong billing rates and relatively modest increases in direct and overhead expenses suggest that 2024 will be a highly profitable year for firms, according to the Thomson Reuters Institute's Law Firm Financial Index, released on Monday."
   
   
   1. "Law Firms Gain Demand and Productivity Momentum in Q3," 11.11.24.
      "Already in a position of strength in 2024, Big Law firms continued to pick up financial momentum in the third quarter, according to new industry reports, with firms themselves optimistic about performance and profitability heading into the end of the year," says The American Lawyer.
      
      
   2. "Why Litigation Demand Might Break Firms' Boom-and-Bust Cycle," 11.12.24.
      The AmLaw Litigation Daily reports, "Law firm litigation practices were once again a leading driver of strong economic performance in the third quarter of 2024. And with corporate practices seeing a comparable rise in demand growth, the industry is poised to close the year out on strong financial footing."
      
      
9. "As Associate Business Development Gains Steam in Big Law, Mayer Brown Expands Networking Program," 11.10.24.
   The American Lawyer examines Mayer Brown's new associate business development program, noting, "As Big Law marketing budgets grow, law firms are pouring more resources into business development budgets for associates, finding the expense here worth the investment for junior lawyers."
   
   




Employment Market/Return to Office

10. "The New Battleground: Wall Street Law Firms Pursue London Growth," 11.14.24.
    "New York may be an ultra-competitive legal market but many of its leading law firms are becoming increasingly focused on taking market share in a different city: London," according to Law.com International.
    
    
11. "In-House Counsel Less Wary Of Making BigLaw Jump," 11.12.24.
    Law360 reports, "While most in-house counsel aren't actively looking to shift to private practice, a Tuesday survey reveals there may be an increasing openness to that career lane shift if certain conditions — such as better salaries, work-life balance, and firm culture — are met." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
12. "Cons, pros of unlimited paid time off policies," 11.11.24.
    An employment lawyer, writing for Law360 Canada, explores issues related to unlimited paid time off. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
13. "After Trump's Win, DC Recruiters See Surge In Gov't Atty Calls," 11.12.24.
    "Legal recruiters in the nation's capital, used to seeing a bump in activity around presidential elections, say they have been fielding a rush of calls from government attorneys in the aftermath of President-elect Donald Trump's victory over Vice President Kamala Harris last week," according to Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
14. "The Power of the Concrete: Tips for Effective Public Speaking," 11.08.24.
    This piece at Texas Lawyer offers tips for effective public speaking.
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

15. "Newly Formed DEI Practices Expect Heightened Demand During Trump Administration," 11.12.24.
    The American Lawyer predicts that law firm DEI practice groups, recently formed in response to the conservative backlash against DEI programs, will remain busy for the next four years.
    
    
16. "Supreme Court's Ruling in 'Students for Fair Admissions' and Its Impact on DEI Initiatives in the Workplace," 11.08.24.
    Two lawyers, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, argue, "While recognizing that the current legal landscape for DEI policies is challenging, it is important for employers to be reminded of the value of a diverse workforce and understand that they can implement numerous strategies to navigate these obstacles in furtherance of a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace."
    
    
17. "'What Is Certain Is Uncertainty': Patchwork Title IX Rules Face Expected Changes in Second Trump Administration," 11.08.24.
    "Observers specializing in higher education law predict another round of Title IX changes to begin when President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, causing further disruption and uncertainty as universities attempt to sort through an existing patchwork of regulation," according to Law.com.
    
    
18. "How the End of Affirmative Action Is Affecting Indigenous Students," 11.08.24.
    Inside Higher Ed examines data on law school admissions and reports, "advocates worry the Supreme Court decision risks exacerbating the already staggering downward trend in Native American participation in higher ed."
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

19. "Supporting Wellness in Law School," 11.08.24.
    University of Virginia School of Law's Admissible podcast speaks with the school's psychotherapists about "how individual counseling can help law students navigate challenging periods and achieve success in legal practice."
    
    




Technology

20. "AI Hiring Bias Laws Limited by Lack of Transparency in Tools," 11.12.24.
    "State lawmakers crafting statutes to fight artificial intelligence-based bias in employment decisions are struggling to pry open the black box of private companies' AI tool usage," reports Bloomberg Law.
    
    
21. "How Gen AI Is Changing Legal Work for In-House Counsel," 11.08.24.
    Legaltech News reports, "Legal chiefs said they want collaboration and transparency from outside counsel when it comes to deploying generative artificial intelligence during a recent Association of Corporate Counsel event."
    
    

November 8, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Big Law Seizes on Promotions That Bring Big Tax Bill, No Profits," 11.05.24.
   There has been a lot of news recently about the growth of the nonequity partner tier in law firms. Bloomberg Law reports, "Several Big Law firms treat nonequity lawyers as full partners for tax purposes. That means they saddle them with Medicare, Social Security and health levies the lawyers didn't face as associates. With the added costs, financial planner Eric Scruggs said his nonequity lawyer clients' take-home pay is only marginally better than associate wages."
   
   
2. "Law Firm Diversity Pros Fear for Future of DEI Efforts Under Trump Presidency," 11.06.24.
   "Big Law has made strides in recent years with diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, but some observers now worry about the rolling back of some of those efforts post-election," says The American Lawyer.
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "What Trump's Victory Means for Higher Ed," 11.06.24.
   Inside Higher Ed explores the possible impact that Donald Trump's second term may have on higher education, noting, "A second Trump administration will likely ramp up scrutiny of colleges and universities and empower advocates for sweeping reform of the sector during a historically unstable time for American higher education."
   
   
4. "The Case For Teaching Industry Self-Regulation In Law, Business And Public Policy Schools," 11.06.24.
   This op-ed in Forbes asserts, "Law schools, business schools and public policy programs have a unique opportunity to shape the future of corporate behavior by teaching students the importance of soft law and independent industry self-regulation."
   
   
5. "What Law Schools Can Learn From Medical Schools: Tuition-Free: No. Two-Year JD: Yes," 11.06.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights two recent articles on medical schools: an October piece from The Atlantic on the results of NYU's experiment with making med school tuition free, and one published this week in Inside Higher Ed about the outcomes of accelerated programs.
   
   
6. "No bar exam? Utah considers it," 11.05.24.
   Reuters reports, "The Utah Supreme Court on Monday released a plan to allow graduates of American Bar Association-accredited law schools to practice in the state after completing 240 hours of practice under the supervision of an experienced attorney, along with other requirements. Law graduates could still opt to sit for the bar exam."
   
   
   1. "Utah considers allowing law grads to choose apprenticeship rather than bar exam," 11.07.24.
      ABA Journal also has this story. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
7. "ABA walks back plan to remove 'race and ethnicity' from law school diversity rules," 11.04.24.
   "The American Bar Association is aiming to keep references to 'race and ethnicity' in its diversity rules for law schools, following pushback from legal educators who said a proposed revision of the rule that struck those terms could hobble efforts to recruit diverse students and faculty," says Reuters.
   
   
   1. "ABA Proposes New Changes to Diversity Rules for Law Schools," 11.04.24.
      Bloomberg Law also has this story.
      
      
   2. "ABA Tweaks Planned Changes To Law School Diversity Rules," 11.05.24.
      "The American Bar Association is revising the language of its diversity standards for law schools after its August decision to remove references to race, ethnicity and other identities in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision striking down affirmative action in higher education was met with pushback from legal professionals," reports Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      




Law Firms

8. "The Law Firm Disrupted: Big Law Profits Vs. Political Values," 11.07.24.
   Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column asks, "Does the phrase 'work-life balance' extend to the ability to compartmentalize? Specifically, is it possible to separate the personal alarm tied to implications from a seismic political event, from enthusiasm about the impact of that same event on one's business interests?"
   
   
9. "Big Law Risks Sharp Elbows as Firms Heap Massive Pay on Stars," 11.07.24.
   The Big Law Business column at Bloomberg Law explores some of "the bad behavior surging compensation packages might produce."
   
   
10. "Beyond billables: Patrick McKenna on best practices for evaluating partner performance," 11.05.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reviews Patrick McKenna's chapter in a new book, which addresses how to evaluate partners and address underperformance.
    
    
11. "Closing argument: Texas-based corporate law firms are vanishing thanks to mergers," 11.04.24.
    The Dallas Morning News reports, "Over the last dozen years, more than 30 business law firms headquartered in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio have merged with or been swallowed up by larger, more profitable corporate law firms seeking to enter the thriving Texas business market or expand specific practice areas. Legal industry analysts predict that more Texas legacy firms — small, medium and large — will be takeover targets within the next 18 months."
    
    
12. "Latham, Kirkland Alums Land the Top GC Posts — Here's What It Means for Business Generation," 11.04.24.
    The American Lawyer reports on law firm alumni programs, noting, "While an alumni relationship is not the only factor in a client's engagement of a law firm, it's clear the web of referrals becomes even more tightly knit and can further solidify relationships."
    
    
13. "Sink or Swim: The Evolving State of Law Firm Administrative Support," 11.01.24.
    A vice president of RR Donnelley, writing for Law.com, discusses his company's recent report on law firm administrative support, pointing out that law firms are "reevaluating how they structure and deploy their administrative resources" and concluding, "For firms to thrive in this evolving landscape, a multi-faceted approach is required — one that includes upskilling administrative staff, embracing technology, and rethinking traditional support structures."
    
    
14. "Top Tips for Lateral Partners," 11.01.24.
    Dan Binstock, writing for The American Lawyer, shares tips for lawyers considering a lateral move.
    
    
15. "Leveraging Partner Training To Recruit and Retain," 11.01.24.
    Two leaders at Foley & Lardner discuss "how the firm's new partner training program can help benefit lawyers throughout their careers," on Law.com's Legal Speak podcast.
    
    
16. "The legal profession must support public legal education for youth," 11.01.24.
    This opinion piece at Canadian Lawyer argues, "A remarkable surge of youth activism is transforming our country's social justice landscape, with young people championing causes from climate change to racial justice to human rights. This trend highlights an urgent need to enhance public legal education for students, beginning in grade 4 and extending through high school."
    
    
17. "Firms' Hiring Strategies Are Evolving In Fight For Top Spot," 10.31.24.
    "Competition for top talent among elite law firms shows no signs of slowing down, even amid economic uncertainty, with financially strong firms deploying aggressive strategies to attract and retain skilled professionals to solidify their market position," reports Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

18. "You're a Newly Barred Attorney…Now What?" 11.06.24.
    A new lawyer, writing for Daily Business Review shares advice for coping with networking and impostor syndrome.
    
    
19. "Addressing employee turnover in law firms," 11.06.24.
    Law360 looks at how "lack of retention and the overall issue of employee turnover" can impact a firm's ability to grow. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
20. "Cracking Canada: How International Law Firms Penetrate the Country's Legal Market," 11.05.24.
    Law.com International reports, "None of the U.S. or global giants has much of a presence in the North American country. A&O Shearman and Sheppard Mullin, with their distinct approaches to the market, illustrate how differently firms are servicing clients' Canadian needs."
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

21. "DEI Drops 'E' to Shield Diversity Efforts. Can It Mute Outrage?" 11.04.24.
    This diversity piece at Bloomberg Law reports that companies are trying to avoid accusations of reverse discrimination by changing the way they refer to DEI initiatives: "A majority of executives recently surveyed by the Conference Board said 'equity' is the most triggering term of the three, and the one they're looking to rebrand."
    
    
22. "Dozen major law firms had new partnership classes with 50% or more women for at least 4 years," 10.31.24.
    ABA Journal reports, "Female lawyers made up at least half of new partner promotions in 82 major law firms this year, despite an overall decline in female representation among new partner classes, according to the Diversity & Flexibility Alliance. Overall this year, 41.6% of US-based new partners at the 196 major firms in the survey were women, compared with 43.7% last year." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
23. "Legal Employment Equity Gaps: Hard Work Remains for Law Schools, Employers," 10.31.24.
    Writing for LSAC, former NALP Executive Director James Leipold discusses NALP's Class of 2023 employment data, commenting, "One might expect gaps in outcomes to grow in a tight job market, but it was shocking, to me at least, to see them grow during one of the strongest legal job markets on record."
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

24. "The Impact Of Mindfulness Education On Law Students," 11.08.24.
    TaxProf Blog highlights this UBC Law Review article discussing the impact of a mindfulness class on the mental health of law students.
    
    
25. "Taking a break from perfectionism," 11.06.24.
    Law360 Canada has this reflection from a lawyer working to overcome perfectionism. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Technology

26. "How will you spend your AI Dividend?" 11.08.24.
    Jordan Furlong's blog post this week looks at the productivity revolution that AI will bring, noting, "we will have to deal with the rapid diminishment of the average lawyer's supply of billable hours. Those hours will no longer be used to complete legal work. What will they be used for?"
    
    
27. "As Tech-Focused Roles in C-Suite Expand, Newcomers Embrace Big Law Opportunities," 11.07.24.
    The American Lawyer discusses the non-attorneys who are "arriving from technology or business backgrounds with little or no law firm experience" but who soon learn "that the nitty gritty of the work is generally not so different from the corporate world."
    
    
28. "What About the Old Partners Who Have No Interest in AI?" 11.07.24.
    Reluctance among older lawyers to use new technology can present a problem, says Legaltech News, but training may help.
    
    
29. "It's Too Early To Say Gen AI Will Kill The Billable Hour," 11.06.24.
    Law360 examines the intersection of billable hours with generative artificial intelligence. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
30. "AI Gives Legal Departments New Leverage to Demand Speed, Efficiency From Law Firms," 11.04.24.
    "As artificial intelligence reshapes how businesses operate, legal departments are increasingly pressing their outside counsel to deliver work at a faster pace, according to a new study" by Law.com Pro Fellows and reports in Corporate Counsel.
    
    
31. "Inside Travers Smith's AI Training, Development Efforts," 11.04.24.
    Legaltech News shares this Q&A with leaders at U.K. firm Travers Smith discussing the firm's goal "to expose its employees to gen AI through experimentation and training modules as a way to stay up to date with the fast-evolving technology."
    
    
32. "What happens to junior associates in the Age of AI?" 10.28.24.
    This op-ed at Canadian Lawyer examines the impact of artificial intelligence on law students and junior lawyers, arguing that junior lawyers will not be displaced but that they will need new skills and urging law schools and law firms to embrace new opportunities.
    
    

November 1, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Only 36% of young legal professionals say work has positive impact on mental health, new survey finds," 10.28.24.
   ABA Journal reports on this week's The State of Wellbeing in Law 2024 report, which shows that work impacts different gender and age groups in different ways. Notably, "Only 30% of associates said they trust the senior leaders in their firms to make decisions that are in the best interests of employee mental health and well-being, compared to 45% of partners." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
2. "'Only When They Have No Choice': Has Big Law's Remote Hiring Wave Run its Course?" 10.31.24.
   The American Lawyer reports that "in late 2024, legal industry insiders say the more common preference is for associates, especially those in their first-through-third years, to be back in-office for a minimum of three days per week."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Deo: Equity In Legal Education," 11.01.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights this article from Santa Clara Law Review "proposing an equity-focused overhaul of legal education."
   
   
4. "How Legal Education Must Evolve In The Age Of AI: Insights From An In-House Legal Innovator ," 10.31.24.
   Olga Mack, writing at Above the Law, discusses "the need for a radical rethinking of legal education" and provides three actionable insights into how legal education should adapt in the current age of technology.
   
   
5. "International Bar Association launches global legal practice program with top law schools," 10.31.24.
   Canadian Lawyer reports, "The International Bar Association (IBA) has launched a new online training initiative, the International Legal Practice Program, in partnership with three leading law schools. The program…aims to equip legal professionals with an in-depth understanding of international legal frameworks, cross-border transactions, and dispute resolution."
   
   
6. "Univ of Washington law school gets $45 mln gift, largest for legal ed in 2024," 10.30.24.
   Reuters reports, "University officials said on Tuesday that the gift from the estate of Stan and Alta Barer will go toward a program that funds masters degrees for lawyers from developing countries."
   
   




Law Firms

7. "Partner Pay Transparency Is Eroding, Even if 'Black Box' Systems Haven't Caught On," 11.01.24.
   The American Lawyer reports on the recent trend of law firms providing less transparency around partner compensation.
   
   
8. "Partners, Associates Have Totally Different Views on Long Hours," 10.31.24.
   Bloomberg Law's Big Law Business column explores the relationship between billable hours and satisfaction levels for partners and for associates, noting, "Partners are compensated for a wide range of behaviors, like experience, expertise, and the ability to land clients. But associate pay is very closely linked to the number of hours they bill to clients."
   
   
9. "How Mayer Brown Is Shaking Up Early Career Networking," 10.30.24.
   "For many lawyers in the earlier stages of their careers, activities like networking and business development don't come naturally. But with Mayer Brown LLP's NextGen platform, they may not have to," according to Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
10. "The Psychology Of Top Firms' Growing Partner Pay Spreads," 10.29.24.
    Law360 talks with Dan Binstock about partner compensation. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
11. "From Guaranteed Comp to Ethics Screens, How Big Law Navigates the Revolving Door," 10.29.24.
    The National Law Journal explores ethics considerations and other restrictions related to lateral lawyers who join law firms from government agencies.
    
    
12. "Are More Canadian Lawyers Bailing on Big Law to Found Their Own Firms?" 10.28.24.
    According to Law.com International, "No formal studies have been conducted so far, but many in the legal profession say it appears that anecdotally, at least, more Canadian practitioners have hung out their own shingles in 2024 than ever before — and a huge percentage of them are women."
    
    
13. "Wilmer to Become 12th U.S. Firm in Past 18 Months to Close Office in Greater China," 10.28.24.
    Law.com International reports on Wilmer's withdrawal from China and notes, "Since the middle of last year, 11 other U.S.-headquartered law firms have either closed or announced the closure of their Greater China offices."
    
    
14. "Freshfields Leader Plots New Cities as US Powers Firm's Growth," 10.28.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Freshfields is considering expanding into Texas and Boston as the UK-founded law firm looks to continue its stateside revenue surge, according to senior partner Georgia Dawson."
    
    
15. "Guarantees Are Back, Whether Law Firms Want to Talk About Them or Not," 10.28.24.
    "Lateral partner pay guarantees have a long history in Big Law compensation schemes. But some legal industry observers, including consultants and top industry recruiters, say they've seen more use of them in recent years, especially as guarantee controversies fade from memory," according to The American Lawyer.
    
    
16. "Clifford Chance Further Modifies Lockstep to Better Reward Top Performers," 10.25.24.
    "Clifford Chance, the U.K.'s largest law firm by revenue, has become the latest major legal institution to soften its lockstep, as law firms continue to refine remuneration processes in order to best retain senior talent," reports Law.com International.
    
    
17. "Average Partner Pay in D.C. Is Climbing — but Not as Fast as Billing Rates," 10.25.24.
    The National Law Journal reports, "The average pay for Am Law 200 partners in the Washington, D.C., market has climbed compared to two years ago — however, not as much as average billing rates in the district, which saw a 31% jump during the same period, according to a new report."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

18. "From Courtroom to Cradle: Practical Advice for Young Attorneys About Parental Leave," 10.31.24.
    The Young Lawyer Editorial Board at The Legal Intelligencer provides advice on planning for parental leave.
    
    
19. "Why Retirement Might Be Increasingly Top-of-Mind for Older Attorneys," 10.31.24.
    "Generational trends driving a need for succession planning and a rapidly moving technological goal post are spurring some elder attorneys to ask themselves whether now is the right time to retire," says Law.com's Barometer newsletter.
    
    
20. "UK law firms report record growth despite market volatility and rising concerns over cybersecurity," 10.31.24.
    "PwC's 2024 Law Firms' Survey revealed that 97 percent of the UK's top 100 law firms posted fee income growth and 84 percent increased profits, despite rising concerns over cybersecurity and adapting to technological advances like Generative AI," reports Canadian Lawyer.
    
    
21. "Big Law Firms Increased First-Year Associate Hiring in 2024," 10.29.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Average class sizes in the Am Law 50 grew by 14% while the median change in class size was an 11% increase, among firms providing data."
    
    
22. "Right To Disconnect Plan May Erode Firms' Long-Hours Culture," 10.25.24.
    Law360 reports, "The [U.K.] government's softened plan to grant employees the right to disconnect out of hours could gradually erode the legal sector's entrenched long-hour culture, but it's unlikely to make major changes anytime soon, employment experts predict." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

23. "Intersectional Bias Claims Poised to Grow After California Law," 10.30.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "A first-of-a-kind California law codifying protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of two or more protected traits adds momentum to the spread of 'intersectional bias' as a legal claim even beyond state lines."
    
    
24. "Female GCs Joining Corporate Boards in Large Numbers, Overcoming Biases and Stereotypes Along Way," 10.30.24.
    "Women lawyers are landing seats on boards of directors at unprecedented rates, but those securing the roles, or aspiring to, say a host of stereotypes and biases — about both females and attorneys — are preventing the trend from playing out at full tilt," reports Corporate Counsel.
    
    
25. "These White Male CEOs Got Wealthier From Diversity-Linked Pay," 10.29.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "White men make up the majority of 28 chief executive officers who were paid bonuses for meeting their company's diversity, equity and inclusion goals last year, according to analysis by Farient Advisors, an executive compensation consulting firm."
    
    
26. "Share Of New Partners Who Are Women Decreased This Year," 10.29.24.
    Law360 reports, "More than 80 major law firms had new partner classes in 2024 made up of at least 50% women, according to an analysis released Tuesday by a think tank focused on diversity and workplace flexibility. However, the analysis also found that the proportion of new U.S.-based partners who are women decreased." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
27. "Conservative Assault on LGBTQ Rights Rattles Corporate America," 10.26.24.
    Diversity, equity, and inclusion advocates worry that "hard-won gains are slipping away" as a result of the recent lawsuits related to these programs, according to Bloomberg Law.
    
    
28. "Nova Scotia Barristers' Society releases racial equity survey report," 10.25.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports on a new study from the Nova Scotia Barristers' Society (NSBS) that looks at the experiences of diverse lawyers in Nova Scotia: "The survey's findings point to a challenging environment for racialized members of the legal profession, detailing experiences of discrimination and harassment."
    
    
29. "Neurodiversity in the workplace," 10.24.24.
    Law360 Canada explores some misconceptions about neurodiversity and asserts, "Recognizing neurodiversity in the workplace helps drive inclusivity. All establishments should strive to better understand the impact of people's unique requirements and support their needs so that we can navigate employment relationships equitably." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

30. "Report: Mental Health Disrupts Studying for Most Students," 10.30.24.
    Inside Higher Ed reports, "Almost 90 percent of all students say their mental health disrupts their ability to study or complete assignments at least occasionally, while one in 10 say these disruptions occur every day, according to new survey by Kahoot!, a digital game-based learning platform." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
31. "Pervasive Bullying In Law Is Impacting Young Attorneys," 10.30.24.
    "A report released earlier this month cataloging the experiences of more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers found that one quarter say they have experienced bullying within the last year. Among the youngest lawyers, that number jumps to 39%," reports Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
32. "Federation of Law Societies of Canada highlights mental health challenges in the legal profession," 10.25.24.
    The Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) has released a report on a five-year study of lawyer mental health in Canada, and Canadian Lawyer reports on the findings and recommendations, which include "increasing mental health awareness, enhancing access to support services, and implementing policies that prioritize work-life balance and reduce mental health stigma."
    
    
33. "Associates Say They're Burnt Out — And It's Costing Firms," 10.25.24.
    Law360 reports, "Three-quarters of associates cite burnout and mental health as reasons for leaving law firms amid a higher exposure to stress than colleagues in other roles — and firms are suffering the financial costs, according to a study of U.S. and U.K. firms released Thursday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Technology

34. "Latham's New Academy Starts Associate Training on AI," 10.31.24.
    The American Lawyer outlines Latham's new "AI Academy," which will initially be for junior lawyers but will eventually become available for anyone interested.
    
    
35. "K&L Gates Looks to Extend Gen AI Expertise to Access to Justice Fight," 10.30.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Having made headway in using generative artificial intelligence to serve its broader client base, K&L Gates is also looking to apply the technology to pro bono work, partnering with the Legal Design Lab at Stanford Law School to address the access to justice gap."
    
    
36. "Could AI Investments Be Another Driver of Law Firm Mergers?" 10.30.24.
    "Some law firms have said they are interested in a combination with a larger firm partly 'to have the scale necessary to properly invest in technology,' said one merger consultant," in this piece at The American Lawyer.
    
    
37. "Walking the AI Tightrope: Communicating Innovation Without Undermining Core Values," 10.28.24.
    A consultant, writing for New York Law Journal, reviews the 2021 book The Age of AI and Our Human Future and shares how it can relate to law firm communications related to the use of technology: "Law firms walk a tightrope when communicating about their use of artificial intelligence. On one hand, they need to signal to clients, employees and the market that they are exploring and innovating to take advantage of the technology. On the other, they must reaffirm their commitment to the human skills and judgment that have been the foundation of their business models and client relationships for decades."
    
    
38. "Law Firms 'Still Lacing Up Their Shoes' in Gen AI Race, Report Says," 10.28.24.
    The American Lawyer shares results from a recent Law.com Pro Fellows report, Keeping Pace: Law Firms in the Era of AI-Driven Business, which shows that "the legal field has been slow to adopt newer technologies such as artificial intelligence, a reluctance which can stifle growth and hamper new client prospects."
    
    
39. "How Do We Train Junior Lawyers In The Age of AI?" 10.28.24.
    This piece at Artificial Lawyer outlines a number of questions we should be asking about the role of junior lawyers in an age of generative artificial intelligence, including, "if genAI will increasingly be able to do process-level work, what happens to the most junior associates? What work will they do? Who will train them? Do we even need them?"
    
    
40. "The Price of Time: Should Law Firms Sell Minutes or Value?" 10.25.24.
    Law.com International looks at the clash between billable hours and artificial intelligence, noting, "For years, legal tech experts have predicted the death of the billable hour and a shift to value-based or results-based billing but, despite decades of innovation, hourly billing has held its ground with surprising resilience."
    
    
41. "Legal Sector Is Adopting GenAI, Preparing For Talent Shifts," 10.24.24.
    Law360 reports, "The integration of generative AI is fundamentally transforming how legal professionals manage their daily tasks, with many anticipating that these AI-driven efficiencies will lessen the reliance on billable hours, according to a survey report posted Thursday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    

October 25, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Big Law Firms Build Out Career Coaching and Alumni Programs, Inspired by Consulting Firms," 10.21.24.
   The American Lawyer reports, "Large law firms are building out their alumni programs with events, websites, career development and coaches — taking a page from the playbook of programs at big consulting firms, said firm leaders and industry observers."
   
   
2. "Colleges enrolled fewer freshmen, first decline since the pandemic," 10.23.24.
   The Washington Post reports on a new report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, which shows, "Colleges and universities reported an almost 6 percent drop in 18-year-old freshmen signing up for classes this fall."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Biden Student Debt Relief Plan Faces Skeptical Judges on Appeal," 10.24.24.
   "Eighth Circuit judges scrutinized a Biden student debt relief plan that could lower monthly payments to zero and speed up loan forgiveness, as the administration defended the plan to judges at oral argument Thursday," reports Bloomberg Law.
   
   
4. "California's new bar exam gets court approval to move ahead," 10.22.24.
   Reuters reports, "the new California bar exam has cleared its final administrative hurdles and is on track to debut Feb. 25 and 26 — making California the first jurisdiction to fully break away from the bar exam created by the National Conference of Bar Examiners, which is set to launch its own overhauled exam in July 2026."
   
   
   1. "California Supreme Court Approves Incentives to Test Drive New Bar Exam Questions," 10.22.24.
      You can read California's press release here.
      
      
5. "Ten Years After Splitting Law School Between Two Locations, Penn State To Reunify In Carlisle," 10.22.24.
   TaxProf Blog shares this news release from Penn State announcing that "Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law have entered the critical final steps of reunification."
   
   
6. "15% Through The Fall 2025 Law School Admissions Season: Applicants Are Up 25% (Black Applicants Are Up 45%)," 10.21.24.
   TaxProf Blog highlights new data from LSAC that shows "multiple signs that this year's admission cycle is starting off on a very robust path."
   
   
   1. "Law school applicant numbers surge, end of LSAT logic games is possible factor," 10.22.24.
      Reuters also reports on this, noting, "the current applicant numbers and other key factors suggest that law school will be a hot ticket this year."
      
      




Law Firms

7. "The Law Firm Disrupted: Quality Partner Training — The Exception or the Rule?" 10.24.24.
   Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column examines recent reporting on law firm efforts at partner training and asks whether this is the exception or the rule, noting, "At firms with more than 500 attorneys, 49% of leaders provided responses indicating they were rolling out new training and related initiatives to help upskill partners. For firms under the 500 attorney threshold, only 23% indicated that this was a priority."
   
   
8. "Big Law's Most Profitable Firms Have Cooled on California Hiring," 10.24.24.
   Bloomberg Law analyzes data from Leopard Solutions and reports that lateral partner hiring in California by the 25 largest firms has dropped dramatically over the past two years.
   
   
9. "Average Partner Pay 'Surges' in Both Equity and Nonequity Tiers," 10.23.24.
   "Average pay for Am Law 200 partners, including equity and nonequity, has eclipsed $1.4 million, according to the latest partner compensation survey from Major, Lindsey & Africa. That's a 26% increase since the last survey two years ago, when the number was about $1.12 million, and nearly double the number ($716,000) from 2014," reports The American Lawyer.
   
   
   1. "Legal Fee Tracker: A $24 mln-a-year partner? Billing rates propel historic pay gains," 10.24.24.
      Reuters also reports on the MLA data.
      
      
   2. "BigLaw Partner Pay Soars, But Not At The Same Clip For All," 10.24.24.
      Law360 reports, "Average partner compensation at the 200 largest law firms in the U.S. by revenue has almost doubled in the last decade and has increased by 26% in the past two years alone, according to the results of a survey by recruiter Major Lindsey & Africa LLC that were released Thursday." (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   3. "The Practices with the Highest Jumps in Partner Pay," 10.25.24.
      The American Lawyer looks at which practice areas experienced the biggest jumps in partner compensation.
      
      
10. "Less Investment by Big Law in the Bay Area: Lateral Partner Hiring Falls," 10.23.24.
    The Recorder says, "Top firms have hired 75% fewer lateral partners in intellectual property practices so far this year, Macrae reported."
    
    
11. "When It Comes to Law Firm Mergers, Are Firm Leaders Getting FOMO?" 10.23.24.
    This editorial at The American Lawyer explores whether there is "something like an imperative for firms to look at mergers right now."
    
    
12. "How Law Firms Get And Keep Elite Status," 10.22.24.
    "For decades, a handful of New York-based law firms thoroughly dominated the national consciousness when it came to power, profitability and prestige. But in today's legal market, increased movement of partners and clients from one firm to the next has begun to shake things up and create opportunities for go-getters to ascend the ranks," according to Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
13. "At Least a $5M Book of Business: Partner Expectations Tighten," 10.22.24.
    "More top law firms are setting earnings expectations for partners — seeking to be explicit about origination or business requirements — as firms place more emphasis on profitability now," says The American Lawyer.
    
    
14. "DC Partner Hiring at Elite Law Firms Lags Behind Other Key Legal Markets," 10.21.24.
    The National Law Journal reports, "Lateral partner hiring in Washington, D.C., at elite law firms was down in the first three quarters of 2024 compared with last year and also lagged behind the hiring in other key legal markets, according to new lateral move data."
    
    
15. "It's Time Law Firms Were Upfront About Who Their Salaried Partners Are," 10.20.24.
    "Clients are paying more attention to who is doing the work they're getting billed for; yet the salaried partner tier endures, writes The Global Lawyer," at Law.com International.
    
    
16. "Goodwin Rebuts Layoffs Rumors Head On," 10.18.24.
    "In social media threads about the rumored cuts, the firm's PR looked to quell the ever-present associate layoff rumors that dog the firm," says The American Lawyer.
    
    
17. "Dechert Partners With Wharton School for Associate-Level Business Training Program," 10.18.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Fifty midlevel associates recently completed a three-day, intensive learning experience in which Wharton professors taught program participants about clients' businesses in order to better prepare them for client representation."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

18. "Business etiquette classes boom as people relearn how to act at work," 10.24.24.
    ABA Journal explores the growing demand for business etiquette education in the years since the pandemic.
    
    
19. "Delivery of Legal Services Is Changing as More States Explore Reform Measures," 10.24.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "More states now appear open to the possibility of permitting nonlawyer ownership of law firms, which state regulatory bodies have long prohibited as part of a broader set of rules barring the unauthorized practice of law."
    
    
20. "To Accept or Not to Accept a Nonequity Partner Position," 10.22.24.
    A partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa, writing for The American Lawyer, provides insights and tips for lawyers evaluating an offer for nonequity partnership.
    
    
21. "Skadden's Big China Cuts and What They Mean for the Market," 10.21.24.
    Law.com International reports on recent cuts in China and asks, "But with so many lawyers already on the market, where will they all find new homes?"
    
    
22. "Taking Your Law Firm Remote Has Challenges — But They're Worth It," 10.18.24.
    Two lawyers from a fully remote law firm explore some of the benefits and concerns of virtual offices, including diversity, retention, and technology, along with labor and employment law and tax implications.
    
    
23. "Getting Attys To Change Isn't Easy, But Psychology Can Help," 10.18.24.
    Law360 reports, "Convincing lawyers to adopt new tools often comes with a lot of resistance, but law firms can alter their approach to get lawyers to comply with almost anything, a leading legal industry expert said Friday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

24. "Stigma Of Disability In Legal Industry Is 'Very Real,' Panel Says," 10.22.24.
    Law360 reports, "People with disabilities still face challenges when pursuing a legal career, but law firms, law schools, bar associations and corporate legal departments can take steps to help advance disability equality, according to panelists speaking Tuesday for National Disability Employment Awareness Month." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
25. "First Openly Transgender Lawyer to Argue at Supreme Court," 10.21.24.
    Bloomberg Law profiles Chase Strangio from the ACLU, who "will become the first openly transgender lawyer to argue at the US Supreme Court, making his high court debut on Dec. 4."
    
    
26. "3 Strategies To Be An Anti-Ableist Ally," 10.18.24.
    The author of this column at Forbes discusses ableism and provides tips for becoming an anti-ableist ally.
    
    
27. "Minority Grants Program Settles With Edward Blum Anti-DEI Group," 10.17.24.
    "A minority grants program has agreed to settle a suit brought by anti-DEI activist Edward Blum's group, American Alliance for Equal Rights, after a federal judge sided with AAER by temporarily prohibiting the program from considering race when it issues grants via its Texas program," reports Bloomberg Law.
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

28. "More Young Lawyers Are Entering Big Law With Mental Health Issues. Are Firms Ready to Accommodate Them?" 10.23.24.
    The American Lawyer reports that many law students and young lawyers have mental health issues that started in undergraduate school or earlier and notes, "The number of first-year associates with existing mental health issues is likely to rise in the coming years, based on reports from 2024 summer associates and data from law schools and undergraduate programs."
    
    
29. "Achieving balance," 10.18.24.
    Law360 Canada interviews a lawyer and athlete about the benefits of physical activity, noting, "Finding physical activities that get you out of the office not only improves your fitness, it will also improve your mood and enhance your mental performance. Activities shared with family and friends can make the activity more enjoyable and help you achieve the balance we all seek." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Technology

30. "In-house legal teams are adopting legal tech at lower rate than law firms: survey," 10.25.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports, "Law firms are adopting generative artificial intelligence tools at a higher rate than in-house legal departments, but both report similar levels of concerns about data security and ethical implications, according to a report on legal tech usage released Wednesday."
    
    
31. "Law Firms, Legal Departments Lean Into Gen AI Adoption to Attract Talent," 10.24.24.
    Legaltech News reports on Wolters Kluwer's 2024 Future Ready Lawyer Survey, which shows that "73%, of organizations surveyed said they have attracted talent by investing in the latest legal technologies. Other popular strategies organizations used to attract talent include providing professional developments and training, competitive compensation, and prioritizing work-life balance."
    
    
    1. "Wolters Kluwer's 2024 Future Ready Lawyer Survey: Legal professionals confident in managing AI-driven changes to business of law," 10.24.24.
       The Wolters Kluwer website has their press release and an executive summary of the report.
       
       
    2. "Legal Sector Is Adopting GenAI, Preparing For Talent Shifts," 10.24.24.
       Law360 also reports on this. (Subscription may be required.)
       
       
32. "Can AI Beat the Billable Hour? Legal Tech Firms Say Selling AI Products to Law Firms Still a Challenge," 10.24.24.
    "Legal tech firms specializing in streamlining processes using AI say they struggle to sell their products to large law firms, which work on the billable hour model and have little incentive to adopt AI technologies despite increasing pressure from their clients to do so," according to Law.com International.
    
    
33. "'The Calculator Mistake': Denial, hostility won't help lawyers deal with emergence of AI," 10.23.24.
    A law professor, writing for ABA Journal, considers the future of artificial intelligence and lawyering and concludes, "I see a significant amount of evidence that AI will eventually best us at writing legal briefs. But I see little evidence that AI will be able to offer anything close to the kind of support, counseling and empathy that lawyers routinely offer clients that come to them for help." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
34. "Two Years In, Law Firms See Real Results From Generative AI," 10.18.24.
    Law360 reports, "Law firms are reaping the benefits of generative artificial intelligence two years after this technology was publicly unleashed, despite some external challenges, a panel of BigLaw technology leaders said at a legal conference on Thursday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    

October 18, 2024

Top Stories

1. "NALP Marks 50 Years of Law School Employment Reporting as Class of 2023 Achieves Historic Milestones; Yet Equity Gaps Remain," 10.16.24.
   NALP released employment outcomes from the Class of 2023 this week. Read the press release here.
   
   
   1. "Racial, ethnicity gaps in new lawyer jobs persisted in 2023, amid robust job market," 10.16.24. (Reuters)
      
      
   2. "2023 Minority Law Grads Are Still Finding Jobs At Lower Rates," 10.16.24. (Law360 — Subscription may be required.)
      
      
   3. "2023's Booming Hiring Market Had A Clear Demographic Skew," 10.17.24. (Above the Law)
      
      
   4. "NALP: Class Of 2023 Achieved Record Jobs Results, But Racial/Ethnic Disparities Persisted," 10.17.24. (TaxProf Blog)
      
      
2. "As Partnerships Evolve, Law Firms See Ongoing Partner Training as Recruiting and Retention Tool," 10.17.24.
   "Law firm training doesn't stop at the associate ranks anymore. Now more than ever, firms are investing in ongoing partner training, such as lessons on business development, billing, ethics, and associate team management," reports The American Lawyer.
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "Can attorney licensing reform survive Calif's rebuff of bar exam alternative?" 10.17.24.
   "California's recent rejection of a proposal to allow law graduates to become lawyers without taking a bar is a loss for the national attorney licensing movement. But several legal experts said it's not a lethal blow — citing growing momentum in other states," according to Reuters.
   
   
4. "California Supreme Court shoots down portfolio bar exam proposal but clears path to state-specific exam," 10.11.24.
   ABA Journal reports, "Amid the flurry of proposed changes to the California licensing process, the Portfolio Bar Exam allowing law school graduates to demonstrate competency via supervised practice, graded work and a performance has been stopped cold while the plan to create a [proprietary] exam received a nod." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
5. "California to allow its new bar exam to be taken from anywhere," 10.11.24.
   "California bar examinees will be able to take the attorney licensing test from outside the Golden State once the new exam gets final approval for a February launch," reports Reuters.
   
   
6. "No physical law school in Alaska? No problem," 10.10.24.
   Alaska's News Source (KTUU) reports, "The University of Alaska Anchorage and Seattle University School of Law are moving forward with a partnership in what they're calling the Alaska Hybrid Hub. Once established, the hub will give students the opportunity to attend law school without being required to relocate out of the state while getting their education."
   
   




Law Firms

7. "What's behind the rise in law firm non-equity partnerships?" 10.18.24.
   Reuters examines the recent rise of non-equity partnership tiers in law firms.
   
   
8. "Rates Will Go Up (Again), But Here's Why Profitability Might Not Be Maximized," 10.18.24.
   "A recent survey of law firms provides additional evidence that much of Big Law will again increase billing rates at a significant clip in 2025. But additional results suggest firms may still have trouble getting the most out of those increases and still achieve profitability, and that clients are feeling fatigued by the ongoing increases," according to The American Lawyer.
   
   
9. "A&O Shearman Adopts 3-Level Lockstep Pay Model Amid Shift to All-Equity Partnership," 10.17.24.
   Law.com International reports, "A&O Shearman has put in place a three-level modified lockstep partner remuneration system, which follows the firm's adoption of an all-equity partnership structure, according to sources close to the firm."
   
   
10. "'Utterly Bewildering': GCs Struggle to Grasp Scattershot Nature of Law Firm Rate Hikes," 10.17.24.
    The American Lawyer reports on the "scattershot nature" of law firm rate increases and the frustrations felt by corporate counsel in trying to predict or understand the reasoning behind these rate hikes.
    
    
11. "Lawyers' $2,000 Hourly Rates Crimp Big Law's Appetite for Risk," 10.17.24.
    Bloomberg Law's Big Law Business column this week examines law firm economics and "why large firms are reluctant to take on contingency fee cases."
    
    
12. "From Roadblock to Opportunity: Rethinking Client Conflict Processes in Lateral Partner Recruiting," 10.15.24.
    This op-ed at Law.com suggests ways to avoid roadblocks to lateral hiring caused by conflicts of interest, noting, "the late identification of conflicts adds considerable stress and work to an already demanding hiring process for both lateral candidates and law firms."
    
    
13. "Are Single-Tier Partnership Law Firms Fighting the Wind?" 10.14.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Single-tier partnership firms may now be at a competitive disadvantage with peers because they don't have the same flexibility in hiring talent and lateral groups and in the promotion of senior associates, industry observers say. Still, several firms in the single-tier crowd appear to be using the structure to enhance their reputation and culture."
    
    
14. "Cutting Partner Compensation Becomes Routine in Big Law," 10.14.24.
    "These days, anywhere from 10% to 30% of partners within one firm may be moving down in compensation, according to law firm management consultants, and some firms are producing faster moves down, helping them pay their top performers. This is a departure from the more collegial days of partnerships, when it was unheard of to cut a partner's compensation, unless a firm sought their ouster, industry observers said," according to The American Lawyer.
    
    
15. "Partner Cuts: The Grim Reality of Post-Merger Integration," 10.11.24.
    The American Lawyer reports that "the grim reality of law firm economics has started to bite" at A&O Shearman, which is cutting about 10% of its equity partnership.
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

16. "With Election in Sight, DOJ Moves to Law Firms Accelerate," 10.17.24.
    The National Law Journal reports, "Amid the election year, the number of attorneys moving from the government, especially the Department of Justice, to law firms picked up pace in the first nine months of 2024 compared with last year, according to new lateral move figures. There's typically a flurry of government moves to firms toward the end of presidential administrations, but this election cycle may be different than others in motivating lateral moves, some observers say."
    
    
17. "Overturning 45-year precedent, New Jersey gives disbarred lawyers second chance," 10.16.24.
    "Former New Jersey lawyers who are disbarred will in most cases be allowed to apply for reinstatement after five years, the New Jersey Supreme Court has decided," reports ABA Journal. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
18. "Unlocking Your Lawyers' Rainmaking Potential: A Coaching Guide," 10.16.24.
    Law.com "explores the complexities of coaching lawyers in business development, offering insights and strategies to unlock their full rainmaking potential."
    
    
19. "In defence of staying put," 10.15.24.
    This column in Precedent Magazine advises lawyers to consider their reasons before deciding on a lateral move.
    
    
20. "About to Become a Partner? Here's What to Know About Your Newfound Wealth," 10.15.24.
    This piece at The American Lawyer offers "seven strategies that any attorney who is about to become a partner should explore with their financial adviser."
    
    
21. "'Get Laid Off With Me' on TikTok: What Employers Must Know About This New Trend," 10.14.24.
    This Daily Report op-ed provides advice to employers on being prepared for employees who try to record terminations or layoffs for posting on social media.
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

22. "Four Reasons Why First-Generation Attorneys Need Mentors," 10.17.24.
    A first-generation lawyer, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, explains why mentors are especially helpful to this group of new lawyers.
    
    
23. "The University of Michigan Doubled Down on D.E.I. What Went Wrong?" 10.16.24.
    The New York Times Magazine has this long piece on the ups and downs of the DEI program at The University of Michigan.
    
    
24. "Promoting Diversity in the Business of Law Is Good for Business," 10.15.24.
    This op-ed at Corporate Counsel makes the case that "Increased diversity provides clear benefits to law firms and the businesses that hire them, just as in other areas of commerce; these benefits extend from decision-making and innovation to representation that aligns with the world we live and work in."
    
    
25. "Special Section: 2024 Women in Law," 10.15.24.
    The Legal Intelligencer has this series of articles on women in the legal profession.
    
    
    1. "2024 Women in Law Roundtable Discussion," 10.15.24.
       
       
    2. "How Does She Do It All?: Tips and Insights for the Rising Female Attorney," 10.15.24.
       
       
    3. "Navigating the Sandwich Generation: Women in Dual Caregiving Roles and the Power of Planning," 10.15.24.
       
       
    4. "Time to Act: A Call for Accountability Amid a Crisis of Female Representation," 10.15.24.
       
       
    5. "How Do You Define Success? Four Women Lawyers Share Their Thoughts," 10.15.24.
       
       
    6. "Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office. Why Not?" 10.15.24.
       
       
    7. "How to Develop Your Emerging Leaders," 10.15.24.
       
       
26. "'But We Exist': The Stigma Around Disability and Neurodivergence in Law Firms Persists," 10.14.24.
    Law.com International interviews lawyers with disabilities to "discuss how physical disabilities and neurodivergence are issues that continue to be ignored, especially as many disabilities are not visible, and…what can be done to address it."
    
    
27. "Turning Down the Rancor Around DEI: Re-embracing the Value of — and Values Behind — Workplace Diversity Programs," 10.10.24.
    This op-ed at Daily Business Review asserts, "It's time to step back and re-evaluate exactly what diversity, equity and inclusion mean for the workplace and for America's business communities."
    
    
28. "Law schools, firms create programs to build pipeline of diverse attorneys," 10.08.24.
    The Indiana Lawyer highlights diversity pipeline programs in Indiana's law firms and law schools.
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

29. "Law Students Aren't Alright," 10.16.24.
    TaxProf Blog highlights this paper from Loyola Law School which aims "to help explain why law student mental health is deteriorating."
    
    




Technology

30. "Law Firms Are Turning to Online Training Platforms as Apprenticeship Model Falters," 10.17.24.
    Law.com's Barometer newsletter reports, "While the pandemic showed the potential of training employees through online platforms, law firms are finding they can still embrace that method as new pressures continue to make more traditional training less viable."
    
    
31. "A 'Trend To Embrace': Attys Shifting Tasks To AI Is A Win-Win," 10.15.24.
    "To some, a recent report's finding that nearly 60% of legal department leaders expect a reduced reliance on outside legal service providers due to GenAI might be gloomy, but many lawyers view the innovations as a way for clients and counsel to strengthen their relationships," according to Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
32. "How Many Legal Jobs Will Be Affected by AI? Law Firms Can't Agree," 10.14.24.
    Law.com reports on a recent survey that showed U.K. law firms are in disagreement over the reach and impact of generative artificial intelligence, noting, "This is affecting the way firms are implementing the technology, with some firms continuing to trial generative AI programmes while others remain more sceptical of adopting the tech firmwide."
    
    

October 11, 2024

Top Stories

1. "High LSAT demand points to competitive law school admission cycle, more interest in legal issues," 10.08.24.
   "The current law school admission cycle kicked off with an 18% surge in people registering to take the LSAT entrance exam — a jump that likely favors schools competing for top talent and suggests increased interest from young people in careers focused on U.S. legal affairs," according to Reuters.
   
   
2. "As Law Firms Set Partner Comp and Budgets for 2025, Leadership Manages Expectations," 10.09.24.
   This editorial at The American Lawyer takes a look at predictions for the end of 2024 and beyond, noting, "so far, analysts, industry observers and law firm leaders are bullish about 2025, with strong revenue returns through most of 2024 and large billing rate spikes at top firms remaining 'easy to justify' with clients. Still, many firm leaders are expected to take a conservative approach to their 2025 budget."
   
   




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "California alternative lawyer licensing plan rejected by state high court," 10.10.24.
   Reuters reports, "The Supreme Court of California on Thursday rejected a proposed alternative pathway that would have enabled law school graduates to become licensed after spending four to six months working under the supervision of an experienced attorney and submitting an acceptable portfolio of legal work."
   
   
4. "California Supreme Court clears the way for major changes to State Bar exam," 10.01.24.
   The San Francisco Chronicle reports, "Over the objections of law school deans, the California Supreme Court agreed Thursday to allow the State Bar to revamp its bar exam, with questions that are intended to focus more on legal skills than theory, while helping the bar dig itself out of a financial hole."
   
   
5. "How Law Schools Are Preparing Students for the New World of Work," 10.10.24.
   "Law schools have always taught students to 'think like lawyers,' but increasingly schools are being called upon to train students to act like lawyers, as well," says Bloomberg Law.
   
   
6. "Connecticut allows fully online law school grads of Purdue Global to take bar exam," 10.08.24.
   "Graduates of the Purdue Global Law School, described as the oldest wholly online law school, can now take the bar exam in a third state, as the Connecticut Bar Examining Committee voted Oct. 4 to follow the lead of California and Indiana," reports ABA Journal. (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
7. "Kaplan Survey: Law Schools Lag on Official Policies on How Applicants Can Use AI in Admissions Essays, Potentially Leaving Them in Limbo," 10.08.24.
   Kaplan released results of a recent survey of law school admissions officers that show "the vast majority of law schools still have no official policies regulating how prospective students can use artificial intelligence" on their admissions essay.
   
   
   1. "This law school is among the 1% that allow use of AI to write admissions essays," 10.09.24.
      ABA Journal has more. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      
8. "Law School sees drop in diversity post-affirmative action," 10.04.24.
   Yale Daily News reports, "In the first Yale Law School class admitted post-affirmative action, the share of students of color decreased by 7 percentage points, or about a 12 percent decrease. The Law School saw a drop in students of color from 57 percent in the class of 2026 to 50 percent in the class of 2027, the lowest since 2022 and coming after an eight-year trend of increasing racial diversity."
   
   
9. "Bar exam pass rates are up in most states as more scores roll in," 10.04.24.
   "The July 2024 bar exam is shaping up to be a strong one for test takers, with pass rates largely trending up — signaling good news for both law graduates and legal employers," reports Reuters.
   
   
10. "SCC judges to visit 5 cities, pick law student contest winner in 2025 as top court marks 150 years," 10.03.24.
    "The Supreme Court of Canada is giving ambitious law students a rare opportunity to impress its nine judges," reports Law360 Canada. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
11. "Anxiety Before Autumn: Considering Why Law Students are Seemingly Stressed Much Earlier in the Semester," 10.03.24.
    The Law School Academic Support Blog has this post that examines why law students seem more stressed this fall than in previous years.
    
    
12. "Biden student loan forgiveness may proceed, federal judge says," 10.03.24.
    ABA Journal reports, "A federal judge will allow a temporary restraining order that prevented President Joe Biden from discharging student loan debt for more than 25 million Americans to expire Thursday, clearing the way for the administration to move forward with the plan." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Law Firms

13. "Setting Partner Comp: Are Law Firms Now Too 'Short-Term Focused'?" 10.11.24.
    "Big Law's competition for lateral talent has elevated partner pay to dizzying new heights, and it's creating further incentives to reward more short-term performance when setting future pay. While the 'industry standard' has been to look at the last three years of a partner's work for setting compensation, it's now more like one or two years, some legal industry observers said. Meanwhile, other firms are more aggressively using a bonus pool to reward short-term performance," says The American Lawyer.
    
    
14. "The Law Firm Disrupted: Playing the Talent Game to Win," 10.10.24.
    Law.com's Law Firm Disrupted column looks at the relationship between a law firm's success and its talent, and the resulting "growing cottage industry of former law firm c-suite figures banding together to offer guidance on talent benchmarking and retention."
    
    
15. "Cleary Gottlieb Adds Non-Equity Partners as Industry Shifts," 10.10.24.
    "Cleary Gottlieb will start naming non-equity partners, following rivals that use the classification to retain top associate talent," reports Bloomberg Law.
    
    
16. "Want to Rock Your Big Law Summer? Sweat the Small Stuff," 10.10.24.
    At Bloomberg Law, a law student writes about her experience as a summer associate and offers "a few basic tips [to] smooth the transition from new hire to summer associate pro."
    
    
17. "Wave of Office Closures Highlights the Weighty Stakes Surrounding Law Firm Growth," 10.09.24.
    "Growth, whether rapid or gradual, is always a risk for law firms looking to expand their market share and boost revenues; but growth without a strategy, without partner consensus or understanding, and without a larger integration effort is where the true danger lies. The current year has proven that to be true in spades, given the number of domestic and international office closures making headlines," says The American Lawyer.
    
    
18. "More Law Firms Want To Merge, But Deals Aren't Skyrocketing," 10.08.24.
    Law360 reports, "Law firm management consultants say they continue to see historic interest among law firms to engage in merger talks, driven further by a spate of big deals announced during the third quarter of the year, but the number of actual combinations inked has remained fairly steady, Law360 Pulse data shows." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
19. "Atlanta Midsize Firms Say Lawyer Business Development Programs' Gains Outweigh Costs," 10.08.24.
    "Some midsize firm leaders say their investment in business development training for associates and young partners pays for itself," according to Daily Report.
    
    
20. "Law Firm Mergers — Does Bigger Mean Smarter?" 10.08.24.
    This piece at Law.com International asserts, "When firms merge without addressing their outdated business models, they often compound their problems. Instead of solving structural inefficiencies, they create a larger entity still reliant on billable hours and resistant to technological change."
    
    
21. "Law Firm Billing Rate Hikes Doubled In 2024," 10.08.24.
    Law360 reports, "Billing rates for the top 100 law firms in the United States surged by 10% from 2023 to 2024, the largest rate hike in the past three years, according to a new research report on Tuesday." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
22. "These Am Law 100 Law Firms Are Expanding Their New York Footprints," 10.07.24.
    "While most big firms in New York have been choosing to relocate offices when their leases were up, some Am Law 100 firms are staying put, motivated by landlord concession and opportunities to grow in their current lease," according to New York Law Journal.
    
    
23. "Regional Law Firms Seize on Second-Tier Markets for Growth," 10.07.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "About 60% of law firm mergers that went into effect in the first three quarters of 2024 involved regional firms expanding in secondary markets such as Denver, Las Vegas, and Seattle, a Bloomberg Law analysis of Fairfax Associates data shows. Three of four mergers announced in the third quarter for 2025 fit the trend, including Womble Bond Dickinson's acquisition of Lewis Roca in Phoenix."
    
    
24. "Navigating The Path To Equity: Tips For Nonequity Partners," 10.07.24.
    "The rapid growth of nonequity partners at major law firms has expanded career options for attorneys, but it also brings distinct challenges as many lawyers in these roles often face extended paths to equity partnership, unclear succession planning, and limited transparency around compensation," according to Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
25. "The Growing Tension — And Opportunity — in Big Law Nonequity Tiers," 10.03.24.
    Law.com's Barometer newsletter examines advantages and disadvantages of law firm nonequity tiers, noting, "Nonequity tiers are likely a business requirement now for many big firms that want to retain rising star talent. But firms are increasingly facing the baggage that comes from maintaining these ranks."
    
    
26. "How a sponsor can help you move up the ranks at a law firm," 10.02.24.
    This article at Reuters discusses the importance of having a sponsor and provides tips for finding the right sponsor for you.
    
    




Public Interest

27. "The cost of access to justice," 10.08.24.
    "In Ontario, the rising cost of accessing the justice system is paid in two ways: time and money. So just how bad is it? And what are creative lawyers and judges doing to address the issue?" asks Law360 Canada. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
28. "Another US state joins legal services reform push, citing lawyer shortage," 10.04.24.
    "Another U.S. state is clearing a potential path to allow alternatives to traditional law firms for delivering some legal services, this time in Indiana," reports Reuters.
    
    
29. "Pro bono's superpower: radical connection," 10.02.24.
    This article at Reuters makes the argument that "In a time of ever-increasing division, pro bono representation of low-income clients offers a rare counterforce of relationship, empathy, and understanding between people of vastly different economic status and sometimes, identities. It also can connect institutions with disparate interests."
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

30. "The Career Evolution: Making strategic moves within the law," 10.10.24.
    This column at ABA Journal provides tips for lawyers seeking to make a change, advising, "before you kick off a professional search, start by answering one critical question: Am I looking to be somewhere different or am I looking to be something different?" (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
31. "A Paralegal's View: Tips for Collaborative Success in Law Firms," 10.10.24.
    "Paralegal Melissa Acosta-Amarante offers tips for a successful attorney-paralegal collaboration, and explains why that's key for your practice," at New Jersey Law Journal.
    
    
32. "Legal industry managers expect pay for lawyers, other industry professionals to rise: report," 10.08.24.
    Canadian Lawyer reports, "As legal industry hiring managers grapple with issues like retention and finding qualified candidates, many say they are highly confident that compensation will rise for legal professionals in 2025, according to employment agency Robert Half."
    
    
33. "Lateral Hiring Softens In Q3 As Partner Moves Slow," 10.04.24.
    Law360 reports, "After a brief period of stability in the second quarter, lateral recruitment at law firms has softened once more in the third quarter of 2024, particularly in the hiring of partner candidates, according to recent data from legal data company Firm Prospects LLC." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
34. "Law Firm Library and Research Roles, Long Endangered, Are Making a Comeback," 10.04.24.
    The American Lawyer looks at data from a new Thomson Reuters report that shows law firms are hiring more library and research staff, noting, "Library and research roles had been on the downslope, with a ratio of staff to lawyers declining and cost per lawyer growing slowly, the report noted. Yet in a reversal last year, they led the way in growth, with costs per lawyer escalating by 12.9% and FTEs per lawyer growing by 5.3%."
    
    
35. "US legal jobs rebound after 4-month slump, Labor Dept says," 10.04.24.
    "The U.S. legal services sector added 1,600 jobs in September, reversing a slide that began in the spring, according to U.S. Labor Department data released on Friday," reports Reuters.
    
    
36. "To Go, Or Not To Go, To A Firm Directly From Law School," 10.03.24.
    "Most legal professionals historically have emphasized the need for young attorneys to gain firm experience immediately after law school. However, that thought is shifting, as more junior lawyers graduate and go directly to a corporate legal team — movement that could eventually take hold as the in-house legal department continues to rise in prominence within businesses," reports Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

37. "ABA strikes 'minority' and 'of color' from clerkship criteria amid lawsuit threat," 10.08.24.
    Reuters reports, "The American Bar Association has revised the criteria for its Judicial Clerkship Program to eliminate references to minority students and 'communities of color' after a conservative legal group alleged that the ABA was illegally discriminating by using racial quotas."
    
    
    1. "ABA Softens DEI Clerk Language After Conservative Challenge," 10.08.24.
       Bloomberg Law also has this story.
       
       
    2. "ABA changes description of Judicial Clerkship Program after conservative group sees 'quotas,'" 10.09.24.
       ABA Journal has more. (Subscription may be required.)
       
       
38. "Merck DEI Program Targeted by Edward Blum Group for EEOC Review," 10.07.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "A Merck & Co. Inc. diverse leadership program unlawfully excludes White and Asian workers, according to an EEOC charge filed by a group tied to the conservative activist who successfully attacked affirmative action in higher education." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
39. "AI Hiring Tools Risk Discrimination, Watchdog Tells Congress," 10.04.24.
    Bloomberg Law has this exclusive on a report from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to Congress that shows "how companies could violate antidiscrimination laws by relying on AI and algorithms."
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

40. "Bullying Is 'Prevalent' in the Legal Profession, New Study Finds," 10.09.24.
    In his column at Bloomberg Law, David Lat takes a closer look at some of the data from last week's report on bullying in the legal profession and encourages legal employers to consider this important research as well, because "While it's possible to imagine overbroad conceptions of bullying or anti-bullying efforts going too far, law school graduates deserve to enter workplaces where they will be treated with civility, dignity, and respect."
    
    
    1. "Illinois Supreme Court Commission releases study on bullying in the legal profession," 10.08.24.
       Canadian Lawyer also has this story.
       
       
    2. "Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Releases Multifaceted Study on Bullying in the Illinois Legal Profession and Recommendations for Prevention," 10.01.24.
       Although last week's digest included links to some articles about this study, you can find an executive summary and the full report on the 2Civility website.
       
       




Technology

41. "To Woo Law Firms, Legal Training Platforms Are Combining Hands-On and Online Learning," 10.10.24.
    Legaltech News reports on new lawyer training platforms, noting, "Over the past few years, legal training for new associates joining firms has moved online, evolving from the traditional apprenticeship-like framework firms have relied on for decades. With potential gaps in law school education, some firms have to teach new hires skills such as contract drafting and review on the job."
    
    
42. "AI and the rise of the Niche Lawyer," 10.10.24.
    In his latest blog post, Jordan Furlong once again explores the impact of generative artificial intelligence on legal careers, predicting, "Artificial intelligence is likely to radically reshape the legal employment landscape, and a lot of lawyer jobs we once took for granted could disappear. But as the nature of the services lawyers provide evolves and upscales with AI, I think the business model for the individual legal professional will also evolve and upscale — to everyone's benefit."
    
    
43. "Next Gen Lawyers Bring AI Chops to the Workplace," 10.10.24.
    "Law schools are embracing AI in the classroom, equipping future lawyers with the courses and skills to spearhead what could be a technological revolution in law. And as those AI-savvy graduates enter the workforce, they're introducing cutting-edge AI techniques to their more experienced colleagues," says Bloomberg Law.
    
    
44. "Legal Employers Say AI Is Affecting Hiring," 10.07.24.
    "A majority of legal industry employers say that artificial intelligence is changing the skill sets they look for in hiring, according to a report released Monday by business consulting firm Robert Half, with the report also finding that employers prefer to train existing employees than hire externally," reports Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
45. "Efficacy versus efficiency: Grappling with AI use in a teaching clinic," 10.07.24.
    Law360 Canada has this story which asks, "Teaching clinics have long prided themselves on ensuring law students learn practical skills while serving the marginalized members of their community. So how do you guide law students in their use of an evolving technology such as artificial intelligence (AI)? And how do you set up guardrails to ensure proper supervision of these tools?" (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
46. "Legal Chiefs Say Gen AI Will Allow Less Reliance on Law Firms," 10.07.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Fifty-eight percent of legal departments expect to rely less on outside service providers because of Gen AI, according to a new report by the Association of Corporate Counsel and Everlaw. This expectation has more than doubled from last year's survey…."
    
    
    1. "Just 11% of Legal Departments Predict Gen AI Will Be 'Transformative,' as Its Honeymoon Phase Fades," 10.07.24.
       Corporate Counsel also reports on the ACC/Everlaw findings, noting, "while 45% of respondents said they expect gen AI to have a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of legal departments, a mere 11% foresee a transformative impact."
       
       

October 4, 2024

Top Stories

1. "Is Big Law's Nonequity Tier a 'Parking Lot' or a 'Ladder'?" 10.01.24.
   The American Lawyer reports, "As more law firms create and expand nonequity partnership tiers, some lawyers are raising alarm bells over the impact on women and diverse lawyers' careers."
   
   
2. "Coalition of AGs Support Updates to ABA's Legal Education Diversity Standard," 10.01.24.
   Law.com reports, "Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington joined Raoul to support the amended standard requiring schools continue to improve access to legal education and the legal profession for all qualified aspiring lawyers."
   
   
   1. "Cutting 'race and ethnicity' from ABA's law school diversity rules goes too far, critics say," 10.02.24.
      Reuters reports, "Eliminating the terms 'race and ethnicity' from the American Bar Association's law school accreditation rules will hobble longstanding efforts to bring in diverse students and faculty, critics warned in public comments on the proposal."
      
      
   2. "Changes to ABA accreditation standard addressing race and diversity meet pushback," 10.03.24.
      "Contentious proposed changes to the ABA's diversity and inclusion standard go too far and could reverse progress made toward making law schools diverse, according to several legal education groups that wrote to the council of the ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar," says ABA Journal. (Subscription may be required.)
      
      




Law Schools/Higher Education

3. "New Semester Brings Renewed Labor Claims From College Protests," 10.02.24.
   Bloomberg Law reports that student unions are filing complaints related to disciplinary actions from last semester's protests, noting, "The complaints could test how far labor protections extend in academic settings when work and study are closely entwined."
   
   
4. "California Bar Examiners Endorse Switch to Kaplan Exam," 09.30.24.
   "A state bar committee on Monday endorsed plans to use a Kaplan-written multiple choice test on the February 2025 bar exam, paving the way for the California Supreme Court to give the proposal a fresh review," says The Recorder.
   
   




Law Firms

5. "Partner Compensation Is Changing. Is Your Top Talent Now Underpaid?" 10.03.24.
   This op-ed at The American Lawyer asserts, "Firms must reassess compensation spread to ensure it covers performance of all partners, especially at the top. But this is easier said than done."
   
   
6. "A Deep Dive Into Law Firm Pay," 10.01.24.
   Law360 reports, "The legal industry may be known for its relatively high pay, but don't tell that to lawyers: Barely half of all attorneys feel satisfied or very satisfied with what they make, according to a new Law360 Pulse report." (Subscription may be required.)
   
   
   1. "Firms Add Nonequity Partners, And Many Aren't Happy," 10.01.24.
      "Nonequity partners make up one of the fastest-growing tiers of lawyers at major law firms — and that tier is the most discontented, according to Law360 Pulse's 2024 Law Firm Compensation Survey."
      
      
   2. "Equity Partners At Smaller Firms Are Most Content With Pay," 10.01.24.
      "Lawyers in private practice are generally happy with their compensation, and BigLaw associates are particularly satisfied, thanks to openly competitive rates of pay. But equity partners at smaller firms are happiest, according to a new Law360 Pulse survey."
      
      
7. "Kirkland Keeps New Partner Promotion Class at 200 Lawyers," 10.01.24.
   The American Lawyer reports, "Kirkland & Ellis has again reached the 200 mark in its latest round of partner promotions, though the total is slightly less than last year's size, making it the first time the class has decreased year-over-year in at least the last eight years."
   
   
8. "'Higher Level' of Law Firm Merger Activity Expected in 2025, but Tie-Ups Remain Steady so Far," 10.01.24.
   "Despite a flurry of law firm merger activity over the last couple of months, the number of completed combinations through the third quarter of 2024 remained "steady," according to an industry report Tuesday, with the total exactly the same as it was last year at this time," reports The American Lawyer.
   
   
9. "Merging Law Firms Face Challenge of Creating New Identity," 10.01.24.
   Bloomberg Law looks at recent and upcoming mergers and some of the issues related to creating a new firm identity and culture.
   
   
10. "In Another Am Law 200 Firm Merger, Spencer Fane Expands in Las Vegas," 10.01.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "Am Law 200 firm Spencer Fane is continuing its westward push with another tie-up, this one in Las Vegas."
    
    
11. "Law firm Fennemore touts AI-fueled fee options with new merger," 10.01.24.
    "U.S. law firm Fennemore Craig said on Tuesday that it has absorbed a small technology-focused law firm as part of a push to integrate artificial intelligence into its work and give clients more alternative pricing options such as flat fees," says Reuters.
    
    
12. "Bedside manner: What they don't teach you in law school," 09.30.24.
    "Many lawyers have a difficult time not only in acquiring clients but also in keeping clients or achieving client referrals. Many times, this is the case despite the quality of the work, the speed produced or even the price charged. One large reason for this comes as a result of a lack of 'bedside manner' — a term typically used for doctors and patients but extremely applicable in the legal industry," says this piece at Law360 Canada. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
13. "Driving Excellence Beyond the Lawyers: How an Inclusive Approach for Business Professionals Benefits Law Firms," 09.30.24.
    NALP member Ryan Galvin and a colleague, writing for The Legal Intelligencer, assert, "Firms that foster and support an environment inclusive of the entire firm community — lawyers and business professionals alike — have a unique potential" to create synergy between lawyers and business professionals.
    
    
14. "Burns & Levinson to Wind Down After 64 Years in Boston," 09.27.24.
    The American Lawyer reports that Burns & Levinson will close.
    
    
15. "The 2024 Summer Associates Survey: Part 2," 09.24.24.
    Law360 has a series of articles detailing the results of their 2024 summer associate survey. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    




Employment Market/Return to Office

16. "Partner Hopefuls Should Consider if They Really Have a Sponsor," 10.04.24.
    NALP member Rachel Patterson, writing for Bloomberg Law, notes, "Too often, associates presume they have a sponsor when they don't, or think that sponsorship will just happen simply because they've been doing good work and have been at the firm awhile," and shares some questions that younger lawyers can ask themselves in considering who is a sponsor and who is not.
    
    
17. "Making Yourself Valuable as a Young Lawyer," 10.03.24.
    The Legal Intelligencer's Young Lawyer Editorial Board offers "a few ways to strengthen and build your value for the next stages of your legal career."
    
    
18. "Build It and They Will Come: Tips to Market Your Practice as a Junior Attorney," 10.03.24.
    Two lawyers, writing for The Recorder, offer advice for junior lawyers: "By treating career development — and the building of one's brand and potential book of business — not as a chore but as the framework, junior attorneys can help take the steps that will lead to future success."
    
    
19. "401(k) Student Loan Match Perk Hindered by Employer Hesitation," 09.30.24.
    Bloomberg Law reports, "Companies have been slow to offer an enticing new perk — a 401(k) match for employees' student loan payments — because of compliance and logistical concerns even as the IRS cleared the way for employers to provide the benefit."
    
    
20. "Putting Culture Front and Center Helps Small Law Firms Thrive," 09.27.24.
    Two lawyers, writing for Bloomberg Law, provide tips on how smaller firms can create a strong culture in order to "create a positive work environment, attract and retain top talent, foster collaboration and innovation, and drive better results for clients."
    
    
21. "Behavioral Data Is Driving Revenue Roles in Law Firms," 09.27.24.
    This op-ed in The Legal Intelligencer advises, "leveraging behavioral assessments and other data-driven tools, [law firms] can improve employee performance and enhance client satisfaction."
    
    
22. "6 Essential Skills For Summer Associates To Land An Offer," 09.27.24.
    "With full-time offer rates at the lowest point since 2012, summer associates must do all they can to distinguish themselves, starting with a few fundamentals - from the importance of asking clarifying questions to being honest about mistakes, says James Argionis at Cozen O'Connor," writing for Law360. (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
23. "As Middle East Conflict Continues, Bar Groups Urge Law Firms to Uphold Inclusive and Fair Hiring Practices During Recruitment Season," 09.26.24.
    "Two Canadian bar groups have released strong statements urging legal employers to keep the principles of equality, diversity, fairness and human rights at the forefront of their interview and hiring process as recruitment for summer students is about to kick off," reports Law.com International.
    
    




Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

24. "From Baby Boomer Lawyers to Gen Z Lawyers — How Do We Communicate?" 10.02.24.
    This piece at Texas Lawyer shares insights on generational communication styles and tips on how to "create an inclusive environment that leverages the strengths of each generation."
    
    
25. "The 'Biden Effect' on Senior Attorneys: Should I Stay or Should I Go?" 10.01.24.
    The American Lawyer interviews a number of attorneys about their plans for retirement, saying, "It's a conversation coming up more often among practicing lawyers who are approaching their 70s or, in some cases, are well into that decade of their life. Many who started practicing decades ago don't want to retire or play golf."
    
    
26. "More Than 360 Law Firms Gain Mansfield Certification, As Firms Remain 'Quietly Committed' Amid DEI Challenges," 10.01.24.
    The American Lawyer reports, "More than 360 law firms gained the Mansfield Certification for 2023-24 for pushing for leadership diversity, up 13% from the 320 firms that were certified the previous year, the organization said Wednesday."
    
    
27. "Tips for Neurodivergent Law Students," 09.20.24.
    This episode of JD Supra's Law School Toolbox podcast discusses "how neurodivergent students can reach their full potential in law school."
    
    




Mental Health/Well-Being

28. "Talking Mental Health: The View From Life After BigLaw," 10.01.24.
    At Law360, "Life coach and author Wendy Tamis Robbins discusses why she left a career in BigLaw to work in the professional well-being space after finding freedom from anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use disorders, and highlights two changes the legal industry should implement to address attorneys' mental health." (Subscription may be required.)
    
    
29. "Workplace bullying affects 1 in 4 lawyers, study finds," 10.01.24.
    "Of the more than 6,000 lawyers surveyed by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, 24% said they had recently experienced bullying on the job. That rate was higher among women, racial minorities, LGBTQ+ and younger lawyers," according to Reuters.
    
    
    1. "Hazed and abused, some lawyers see bullying as part of job while others leave, new study says," 10.02.24.
       ABA Journal has more on this survey. (Subscription may be required.)
       
       




Technology

30. "Best Use of Generative AI in Law Practice Melds Human and Machine," 10.01.24.
    Two leaders from Cleary Gottlieb, writing for Bloomberg Law, examine advantages and disadvantages of generative artificial intelligence, noting, "There's growing appreciation that while this technology isn't magical, it will be meaningfully transformative. However, questions remain around appropriate expectations of its use, and how we should evaluate impact, pace of change, and success."
    
    
31. "New UC Irvine Law Course Explores Practice Management With Help From Gen AI," 09.30.24.
    "This fall, the University of California Irvine Law School offered a Modern Legal Practice Management course, where students learn how to navigate practice management, legal lifecycle matters, and client needs with assistance from generative AI tools," reports Legaltech News.
    
    
32. "More US law firms turn to executives for AI leadership roles," 09.30.24.
    Reuters reports, "Two years into the artificial intelligence boom, more large U.S. law firms are bringing on AI leaders to help them navigate technological advances that some believe will transform the profession."