The article discusses the declining reputation of lawyers, law schools, and firms in their ability to engage in principled arguments, notably in the context of political pressures from the Trump administration. It highlights how entities like Paul Weiss and Columbia have capitulated instead of standing firm. In contrast, Perkins Coie and Georgetown have taken substantial steps to defend against these pressures. The American Constitutional Society calls for law school deans to take decisive action, urging them to unite against threats to academic freedom, emphasizing that silence is not an option in current political climates.
Law school deans have a key role right now. They must clear their calendars, stop fundraising, stop meeting with students, get their lawyers ready, tell their Presidents that they are willing to be fired rather than stay silent, coordinate with each other, and come out with a strong and clear statement condemning the attack on the rule of law and refusing to capitulate to any demands from the administration that would undermine their institution's academic freedom or the rule of law.
Everyone has been talking about Paul Weiss's cowardice in the face of the Trump administration, but they aren't the only legal staple that capitulated instead of fighting back.
Institutions and those that lead them must speak up, and there is no more obvious institution than law schools and no leader more obvious than law school deans.
Most law firms and law schools appear to be biting their tongue to see how things pan out before they make a stand.
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