#biglaw

#biglaw

Biglaw in particular runs on insecurity. Not only do lawyers work insane hours, they're expected to perform with absolute precision. From day one, the message is clear: Miss a deadline (even if arbitrary) or make an error (however inconsequential), and your career is toast. The culture of extreme perfectionism breeds fear and anxiety, yet it remains the industry standard. The question is what this is doing to lawyers' mental state.

Armed with data from SurePoint Legal Insights about changes in headcount over the last six months, Lat concludes that "the Trump deals might be affecting, but not fundamentally altering, law firms' overall trajectories." Whether coincidence or cause and effect, or some combination thereof, a few stats are worth highlighting: On average, Am Law 100 firms saw attrition of -1.7% The five firms subjected to executive orders that did not capitulate averaged a 2.8% decline in headcount The nine firms that made deals with Trump averaged a 4.9% drop

Associates crave training and mentorship opportunities, but not every Biglaw firm has been able to fulfill their end of the bargain. The American Lawyer just released its midlevel associates survey, and as noted by Dan Roe, "the sheer existence of a mentorship program or formal training doesn't guarantee that midlevel associates are being adequately mentored." He goes on to explain that today's midlevels are seeking out guidance, but that some programs are missing the mark:

shadow docket.

* Google avoids having to spin off Chrome. [Law360] * Lawyers using time saved by AI for more work. [Legal Cheek] * Charging documents for former Biglaw associate arrested in D.C. say someone said hostile things to National Guard troops and a day later they decided it was him. We might have another no bill on our hands. [National Law Journal]

Assuming 52 weeks a year, working 2400 hours means working over 46 hours a week, week in and week out. That's a little over 9 hours a day assuming a five-day week. I know, what big law associate works 5 days a week? At 6 days a week, your daily grind is manageable 7.6 hours a day. Of course, that means working what most people would consider a full day every single Saturday.

Some of the attorneys are resurfacing months later in jobs outside of Big Law, from running for Congress to working at a small firm taking on the Trump administration.

The 6th Circuit cited the U.S. Supreme Court's 1981 decision in Upjohn Co. v. United States, which held that attorney-client privilege applies when companies seek legal advice through internal investigations.

Milbank has taken a lead on attorney compensation for a while now, causing ripples in the old guard "wait and see" approach in Biglaw by issuing earlier bonuses and even cost of living adjustments to keep its team properly valued.

Neal Katyal, a partner at Milbank, typically charges $3,250 per hour, but will charge $300 per hour to defend Newark and Hoboken in immigration policy lawsuits.

Don't bite anyone at work ever again! It's a form of assault, and the fact that she thought it was OK says she probably needs some serious remedial education in how to relate to people at work.

Kirkland's management is seeking feedback from associates regarding adherence to office policies, indicating a desire for improved compliance and engagement within the firm.

A legal secretary at the Big Law firm I worked at knew she was going to be fired, so the day before, she went into a bunch of partners' emails and sent their wives evidence of infidelity, printed out confidential employee evaluations and communications about bonuses/pay and left them in everyone's desk, and then cleaned out the swag closet and dropped several thousand dollars' worth of merchandise with the law firm's name and logo off at a homeless encampment.

"This is often a stressful time for families with autism or sensory issues. So I like to have this event to really bring the families together to experience and hopefully have a core memory around Red, White and BOOM!"

Morris, Manning & Martin is poised for highly strategic and transformational options for growth," Malko said. "We are in advanced discussions with a national Am Law 100 firm...

Typos happen in our digital life; with so much writing done on various platforms, mistakes are inevitable, but it’s important to own them and move on.

The good folks win occasionally, and recently, some Biglaw firms have pushed back against unconstitutional executive orders, signaling resilience and commitment to their clients.

As funders, we must act with urgency and courage commensurate with those we support. I felt we had fallen short.

Despite a perception that $225,000 is the common starting salary in BigLaw, median salaries show a more complex reality with many associates earning less.

Biglaw firms that aligned with Trump are now under fire as recent reports highlight defections in talent and a backlash from the legal community.