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#legal-ethics
Law
fromAbove the Law
21 hours ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Billing 34.5 Hours In A Day, New ABA Recusal Opinion, Shortcomings In SCOTUS Ethics Rules, Pro Se AI Sanctions, Extra Time For Bar Exam, Purging Immigration Judges & More - Above the Law

Lawyers must disclose information that could lead to a judge's disqualification, balancing this with client confidentiality obligations.
Law
fromAbove the Law
21 hours ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Billing 34.5 Hours In A Day, New ABA Recusal Opinion, Shortcomings In SCOTUS Ethics Rules, Pro Se AI Sanctions, Extra Time For Bar Exam, Purging Immigration Judges & More - Above the Law

Lawyers must disclose information that could lead to a judge's disqualification, balancing this with client confidentiality obligations.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 day ago

Morning Docket: 04.13.26 - Above the Law

White House ballroom construction has resumed, while various legal and corporate developments unfold across the country.
Law
fromAbove the Law
22 hours ago

Biglaw Firm Sued For Firing Staffer A Month After Returning From Disability - Above the Law

Firing an employee shortly after disability leave, amid claims of a hostile work environment, can lead to legal repercussions.
fromSlate Magazine
2 weeks ago

DOJ Lawyers Just Had to Make One of Their Most Embarrassing Confessions Yet

The Department of Justice offered a startling confession to a court on Tuesday, acknowledging that it repeatedly made a 'material mistaken statement of fact' while defending Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests of noncitizens at immigration court.
US politics
#ai
Law
fromTheregister
1 day ago

AI spread through law. Here's what happened next

AI's rapid advancements in coding are overshadowed by significant downsides, particularly in legal systems where hallucinations lead to unreliable outputs.
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago
Law

Morning Docket: 03.30.26 - Above the Law

AI associates should not be blamed for failures, raising questions about their necessity.
Law
fromTheregister
1 day ago

AI spread through law. Here's what happened next

AI's rapid advancements in coding are overshadowed by significant downsides, particularly in legal systems where hallucinations lead to unreliable outputs.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.30.26 - Above the Law

AI associates should not be blamed for failures, raising questions about their necessity.
US Elections
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.23.26 - Above the Law

Robert Mueller's investigation revealed significant criminality within Trump's circle, including potential obstruction charges against Trump.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

Lawyers Should Stay Away From A Client's Office Politics - Above the Law

Attorneys should avoid office politics when representing clients to ensure effective communication and minimize internal conflicts.
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
3 weeks ago

The best recent crime and thrillers review roundup

Killing Me Softly and Whidbey explore complex themes of trauma, morality, and systemic failures in healthcare and society.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 days ago

What The Legal Industry Can Learn About AI Hallucinations From Auditors - Above the Law

AI-generated legal documents can contain convincing errors, necessitating stronger governance and review processes in law firms.
Philosophy
fromAbove the Law
4 weeks ago

You Can't Salvage A Bad Judge By Calling Them Postmodern - Above the Law

Postmodern analysis offers useful concepts for understanding contemporary disenchantment with traditional meaning systems, exemplified by judicial figures like Lawrence VanDyke who adopt unconventional approaches to legal writing.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

Morning Docket: 04.10.26 - Above the Law

A Texas judge ordered a lawyer to court for criticizing the judge's behavior, prompting a response from fellow lawyers.
#supreme-court
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago
Law

Morning Docket: 01.14.26 - Above the Law

Multiple major legal developments span Supreme Court actions, DOJ controversy, high-profile trials, academic integrity issues, and judicial procedural disputes.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago
Law

How Appealing Weekly Roundup - Above the Law

Legal developments cover FBI internal changes affecting safety, Alien Enemies Act litigation, IRS gambling-record scrutiny, and consequential Supreme Court debates on race and presidential limits.
Law
fromAbove the Law
4 days ago

How Appealing Weekly Roundup - Above the Law

Supreme Court's actions and decisions are increasingly scrutinized, revealing issues of transparency and significant impacts on civil rights and electoral processes.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.06.26 - Above the Law

Right-wing legal academics are attempting to justify the Supreme Court's actions without accountability.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

Morning Docket: 03.18.26 - Above the Law

Chief Justice Roberts calls for ending personal attacks on judges, while questions arise about presidential official acts; meanwhile, legal developments span judicial conduct, cryptocurrency regulation, Section 230 reform, and national security concerns.
Philosophy
fromAbove the Law
4 weeks ago

Pigs Can Fly!: The Sins Of Legal Scholars - Above the Law

Academic integrity requires honest representation of facts and findings; misleading titles, fabricated evidence, and misrepresentation undermine scholarship and damage disciplines.
Arts
fromwww.npr.org
1 month ago

'Scarpetta' is a captivating murder mystery and a high-wire balancing act

Scarpetta alternates between two timelines with different actresses portraying Kay Scarpetta, supported by strong ensemble performances from established television actors.
Law
fromAbove the Law
6 days ago

What Does Competence Mean When Litigation Happens In Real Time? - Above the Law

Competence in law is evolving as technology changes the speed and precision of decision-making in litigation.
Television
fromSlate Magazine
1 month ago

Nicole Kidman's New Crime Show Is Surprisingly Captivating-and Goes Unexpected Places

Nicole Kidman stars as Kay Scarpetta in Amazon Prime's new series adaptation, blending family drama with forensic investigation as Kay confronts a murder matching a serial killer she caught 25 years ago.
Law
fromAbove the Law
5 days ago

The Quiet Signals We Miss - Above the Law

Mental health struggles can be subtle and may not always present as distress, making it crucial to recognize changes in behavior.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Morning Docket: 03.13.26 - Above the Law

CFTC failing already a solid bet. Government says tariff refund system 40 percent to 80 percent complete which is quite the spread. Almost a they're just making stuff up kind of estimate.
US Elections
Books
fromThe New Yorker
1 month ago

Patricia Cornwell on Crime and Creativity

Fear is the primary obstacle to creativity; overcoming it and persisting through rejection enables successful creative work.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.07.26 - Above the Law

The new US News law school rankings have been released and are notably controversial.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Bondi Out, Bove Recusal, 'Strip Law,' 60% Judges Use AI While Sanctions Continue For Lawyers, Viral Judge Videos & More - Above the Law

AI-generated errors in legal documents are leading to increased sanctions against attorneys.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Why 'Helpful' Legal AI Is Often The Least Trustworthy - Above the Law

Lawyers distrust legal AI not due to safety concerns, but because it often feels inattentive and overly polite.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Discovery As Truth-Seeking: Win Hard Without Playing Hide-The-Ball - Above the Law

Effective discovery requires more than compliance - it requires strategy. Litigators can balance expansive discovery rights and privacy concerns without slowing cases down through practical, results-focused approaches that consider proportionality, electronically stored information management, and the specific discovery rules applicable to their jurisdiction.
Intellectual property law
US politics
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Lindsey Halligan Under Investigation And The DOJ Is Big Mad About It - Above the Law

The DOJ proposed a regulation granting Attorney General Pam Bondi authority to block state bar ethics investigations into government lawyers, eliminating a remaining check on DOJ misconduct and preventing bar discipline as accountability.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

The Price Of Justice And The Promise Of AI - Above the Law

Rising legal service costs and declining access-to-justice funding widen the gap for those needing legal protections, with AI presenting potential solutions.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.02.26 - Above the Law

DOJ has prioritized deporting law-abiding individuals over prosecuting serious criminal cases.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Judge Who Embarrassed Himself With IT Outrburst Doubles Down - Above the Law

Judge Nathan Milliron's behavior has sparked outrage, revealing a pattern of bullying and retaliation against staff and lawyers in the Texas legal community.
fromIPWatchdog.com | Patents & Intellectual Property Law
1 month ago

When Lawyers Need Help: Supporting Colleagues While Protecting Clients

The legal profession rewards endurance, precision and control. It also quietly normalizes stress, isolation and overextension. For patent practitioners and other IP lawyers, the pressures are uniquely acute: compressed prosecution deadlines, high-stakes litigation exposure, often unrealistic client-driven budget constraints, regulatory whiplash at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), and increasingly complex technologies layered with global filing and prosecution strategy.
Intellectual property law
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 week ago

Morning Docket: 04.01.26 - Above the Law

Trump is involved in legal matters, including birthright citizenship arguments and a recent criminal conviction.
Books
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Who Better To Write A Legal Thriller Than A Trial Attorney? - Above the Law

A Tampa attorney published a legal thriller about a charter captain on Anna Maria Island accused of murder amid 1970s drug smuggling and death‑penalty conflict.
Law
fromPoynter
1 week ago

Like journalists, prosecutors shaped a distorted view of crime. They can help fix it, too. - Poynter

Prosecutors and journalists both contribute to misleading public perceptions of crime, but prosecutors possess crucial data to tell a more accurate story.
Poker
fromIntelligencer
1 month ago

Tom Goldstein Just Lost the Case of His Life

Supreme Court lawyer Tom Goldstein was convicted on 12 of 16 federal charges for tax and mortgage fraud related to hiding poker winnings from his wife, law firm, lenders, and the IRS.
#judicial-conduct
Law
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 weeks ago

Get Out of My Courtroom!' Clip of Judge Viciously Berating IT Worker Ignites Trial by Fury on Social Media

A Texas judge faced backlash for berating an IT worker during a courtroom incident, highlighting issues of professionalism and respect in authority.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

'We Are Better Than This,' Say Ninth Circuit Judges Despite All Evidence To The Contrary - Above the Law

Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the Ninth Circuit has authored inflammatory and unprofessional dissents using crude language and personal attacks against colleagues, contradicting the ABA's initial assessment of his qualifications.
Law
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 weeks ago

Get Out of My Courtroom!' Clip of Judge Viciously Berating IT Worker Ignites Trial by Fury on Social Media

A Texas judge faced backlash for berating an IT worker during a courtroom incident, highlighting issues of professionalism and respect in authority.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

'We Are Better Than This,' Say Ninth Circuit Judges Despite All Evidence To The Contrary - Above the Law

Judge Lawrence VanDyke of the Ninth Circuit has authored inflammatory and unprofessional dissents using crude language and personal attacks against colleagues, contradicting the ABA's initial assessment of his qualifications.
Careers
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

I Didn't Set Out To Write A Series And Yet It Happened - Above the Law

Too many lawyers are surviving careers they should be shaping; intentional joy, boundaries, and preparation create sustainable, fulfilling legal careers.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 weeks ago

Judge Throws IT Worker Out Of Courtroom For Doing His Job - Above the Law

Judges must balance their authority with humility and public service to avoid abusive behavior in courtrooms.
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

The best recent crime and thrillers review roundup

Obnoxious jewellery dealer Rodney Manderson has been killed outside the Bowery auction rooms, stabbed through the eye with the Victorian hatpin that his boss, Rose Bowery, has brandished in front of the nation on Bargain Hunt. As she discussed the pin's virtues as a deadly weapon as well as its millinerial uses, the fiercely loyal Rilke decides while feeling grateful to have skipped lunch and trying not to think of jelly to remove it before calling the police.
LGBT
Information security
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Law Firm Sent Out Fake Christmas Vouchers. Staff Want To Ram Coal Up Leadership's Chimneys. - Above the Law

Phishing tests that mimic promised internal rewards risk alienating employees and undermining trust; clear verified communication and targeted education strengthen cybersecurity.
Film
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

Sham review Takashi Miike revisits infamous murder teacher' trial in unflinching courtroom drama

Takashi Miike's Sham adapts a 2003 Fukuoka child-abuse case into a courtroom drama that ultimately vindicates the accused teacher while employing sensationalist, horror-tinged tropes.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Writing Like A Lawyer Without Sounding Like A Lawyer - Above the Law

Here's the good news: writing isn't a talent. It's a skill. And skills respond to the same cure as every other skill: reps. Not glamorous reps. Not the kind that gets applause. The kind you do in small rooms, when no one is watching, when you're a little uncomfortable, when you want to quit halfway through because the sentence you just wrote feels like wet cardboard. That's the work.
Writing
Television
fromwww.theguardian.com
2 months ago

I'm a crime writer. Here's why we make the best Traitors contestants

Crime fiction specialists' observational, empathetic, and deceptive-character skills make them natural contestants and formidable analysts on The Traitors.
Law
fromABA Journal
3 weeks ago

Drug convictions bar lawyer from bench but not from practicing law

Felony drug convictions prevent lawyer from becoming a judge but allow him to continue practicing law in Montana.
Law
fromABA Journal
3 weeks ago

Fake lawyer who used real bar number to practice law pleads guilty

A man in Las Vegas pleaded guilty to impersonating a lawyer using another attorney's bar number.
fromEsquire
2 months ago

Is 'The Lincoln Lawyer' Coming Back for Season 5?

It was a real struggle for Haller to escape being framed for murder. But thanks to a complicated work around involving the mob and the FBI, Mickey is eventually freed and cleared of all charges in the season 4 finale. Even though he's able to return to work as Los Angeles's most in-demand defense attorney moving forward, his latest brush with the law and its ineptitude still haunts him as we head into season 5.
Television
Books
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

The best recent crime and thrillers review roundup

Two contemporary novels probe suburban domesticity, revealing secrets, manipulation, and moral ambiguity through slow-burn suspense and darkly comic plotting.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

The Perp Walk Is The Point - Above the Law

The Justice Department sought to publicize an image of Don Lemon in handcuffs while prosecuting protesters and attempted to suppress public docket records.
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

People Often Confuse One Attorney For Another - Above the Law

Lawyers can minimize mistaken identity issues by clarifying their location and practicing due diligence in communication.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Judicial Candidate Learns The Hard Way That Extortion Is Not A Campaign Strategy - Above the Law

Incumbent Judge Lauren Reeder successfully removed challenger Kimberly McTorry from the ballot after a court found allegations of coercion, coordinated social-media pressure, and forged or invalid signatures.
fromwww.mediaite.com
3 weeks ago

Jake Tapper Cracks Up at Cop Who Testified, I Don't Know,' When Asked if His Wife Was Cheating on Him

In 2022, Adams County police executed a search warrant at the home of Afroman, whose real name is Joseph Foreman. The police were supposedly looking for signs of drug trafficking and kidnapping, but found no such evidence. In response, Foreman recorded an album about the incident called Lemon Pound Cake, which features songs titled The Police Raid, Why You Disconnecting My Video Camera, and Will You Help Me Repair My Door, among other tracks.
Law
Law
fromFuturism
3 weeks ago

Absurd AI-Powered Lawsuits Are Causing Chaos in Courts, Attorneys Say, "Clogging the System" and Driving Up Costs

A Florida couple used generative AI to file escalating legal claims in an HOA fee dispute, eventually invoking RICO conspiracy allegations in hundreds of pages of increasingly unhinged court documents.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

DOJ Lawyer Asks To Be Held In Contempt So She Can Sleep - Above the Law

The situation in Minnesota continues to prove an abject nightmare. The Trump administration continues to ignore and flagrantly undermine judges. If the administration put half as much effort into honoring its legal obligations as it places into attacking judges on social media, perhaps they wouldn't be staring down a massive staffing crisis - a crisis they're trying to resolve by asking people on Elon Musk's pornification site to sign up as AUSAs.
US politics
Law
fromAbove the Law
3 weeks ago

New Tool Catches AI Hallucinations In Legal Briefs - Above the Law

BriefCatch's RealityCheck tool automatically detects AI hallucinations and citation errors in legal filings, addressing a critical problem as law firms increasingly misuse AI in legal documents.
Law
fromwww.mediaite.com
1 month ago

Lawyer Arrested for Allegedly Extorting Client He Successfully Got a Trump Pardon For

A lawyer who secured a presidential pardon for a tax fraud client was arrested for allegedly attempting to extort $500,000 from that same client.
US politics
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

There Goes Lindsey Halligan - See Also - Above the Law

Multiple legal, criminal, university, and legal-technology developments unfold: judicial shooting, immigration protest at a career fair, Trump IEEPA question, LexisNexis workflow tool, bench reprimands.
US politics
fromwww.mediaite.com
2 months ago

No One Should Be Above the Law': Jack Smith Torches Trump in Blistering Opening Statement

Evidence established that President Trump willfully broke the law to overturn the 2020 election and unlawfully retained and concealed classified documents.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Fright Makes Right - See Also - Above the Law

The DOJ's actions against law firms, weakening of the Hatch Act, law school pipeline expansion efforts, and major scholarship funding represent significant shifts in legal institutions and governance structures.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Morning Docket: 03.10.26 - Above the Law

Major legal developments include Anthropic's Defense Department lawsuit, judicial rulings on illegal appointees, law firm mergers, antitrust settlements, AI legal services expansion, Supreme Court shadow docket debates, and ChatGPT litigation over legal advice.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Ethics Whiplash Over Executive Orders + FL Bondi Complaint, DOJ Takes On State Discipline, Spike In Judicial Conduct Complaints & More - Above the Law

Judicial misconduct complaints against federal judges spiked nearly 23% last year to over 1,850, potentially driven by increased public criticism of judges and courts.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Morning Docket: 03.09.26 - Above the Law

After about-face on withdrawing lawsuits against law firms, Justice Department uncorks almost 100 pages of vitriol against federal judges for ruling against the administration generally.
Law
Law
fromABA Journal
1 month ago

Attorney indicted for trying to kill her husband of more than 25 years

Alabama attorney Sara Baker was indicted for allegedly attempting to poison her husband of 30 years with fentanyl on three separate occasions in September 2025.
Law
fromABA Journal
1 month ago

Florida Bar reverses itself, says it is not investigating Lindsey Halligan

The Florida Bar reversed its position, stating it is not investigating Lindsey Halligan after initially claiming an investigation was pending.
fromAxios
1 month ago

DOJ backs down in legal fight with law firms Trump targeted

Our partnership is proud to have stood firm on behalf of its clients. The DOJ's decision to withdraw its appeals makes permanent the rulings of four federal judges that the executive orders targeting law firms were unconstitutional.
Law
Law
fromTruthout
1 month ago

Department of Justice Drops Defense of Trump's Orders Punishing Law Firms

The DOJ abandoned legal cases against law firms that resisted Trump's executive orders targeting firms representing Democrats, demonstrating that legal resistance to executive overreach can succeed.
Law
fromwww.theguardian.com
1 month ago

US DoJ drops legal case against law firms that stood up to Trump's executive orders

The Justice Department dropped legal proceedings against four law firms that resisted Trump's retaliatory executive actions targeting firms representing disfavored clients or causes.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Legal Ethics Roundup: Ethics Of AI Glasses In Court, Gambling Lawyer Guilty, SCOTUS Restricts Access to Counsel, Judge's Novel Recusal & More - Above the Law

Legal ethics headlines cover lawyer and judge responsibilities, including AI misuse sanctions, security threats to justices, and professional misconduct cases.
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Lawyers Usually Should Not Open Their Own Practices Right After Graduating From Law School - Above the Law

New law graduates should avoid opening their own practice immediately after law school and instead gain several years of practical experience in legal work first.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Tom Goldstein Called Government's Bluff And Now Jeffrey Toobin Has To Litigate It - Above the Law

The DOJ subpoenaed journalists over reporting about Tom Goldstein, raising First Amendment and press-freedom concerns about compelling reporters to testify and chilling journalism.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

A Guide To Conducting Discovery - Above the Law

Effective discovery shapes litigation by building leverage, forcing admissions, and methodically narrowing the opponent's options to win cases pretrial.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Threading The Needle: How To Win The Case That Can't Be Won (At Least Not The Obvious Way) - Above the Law

Win messy cases by accepting client imperfection, avoiding absolutism, and focusing ruthlessly on the single pivotal issue that defines where responsibility ends.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Tomorrow: Tales From The Witness Stand - What 'Winning' Expert Testimony Looks Like - Above the Law

Effective expert testimony requires credibility, clear translation of jargon, strategic cross-examination, and preparation incorporating technology to persuade judges and juries.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Morning Docket: 01.28.26 - Above the Law

Legal and political institutions face competing pressures from ICE operations, private equity priorities, and accountability demands, reshaping firm behavior and public responses.
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Courtroom Competence Isn't Included With A Law Degree - This Program Pays Law Students To Get It Right - Above the Law

Lindsey Halligan, the former insurance attorney who spent some time "masquerading" - to use a federal judge's words - as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia attempted to ramrod criminal cases against Donald Trump's political enemies and failed spectacularly. Halligan botched the grand jury process, submitted an indictment that the full grand jury never saw, and got two cases dismissed simultaneously.
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Am Law 100 Firm Accused Of Filing Brief Riddled With AI Hallucinations... AGAIN! - Above the Law

Law firm Gordon Rees faces renewed allegations of fabricated citations and AI-related errors, risking sanctions and intensified scrutiny of its filings and AI-check policies.
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

On-Demand Webinar: What Winning Expert Testimony Looks Like - Above the Law

Effective expert testimony balances credibility with openness to opposing perspectives, clear translation of technical concepts for factfinders, and resilience under rigorous cross-examination.
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Running Your Cases - Above the Law

They don't drive it. They don't manage it. They don't control it. They let it control them. And then one day, they look up and realize discovery closed last week, the client is asking why nobody has taken the key depo, the adjuster wants a status report "by the end of the day," and the partner is asking the question that makes your stomach drop: "Where are we on this file?"
Law
fromAbove the Law
1 month ago

Morning Docket: 02.19.26 - Above the Law

* Biglaw lawyers are charging $3400/hour and clients are paying. Because no matter how much they gnash their teeth, they always do. [ WSJ] * Remember the episode of JAG where the military lawyer paradropped into a Minnesota habeas mess and instantly got held in contempt for failing to comply with court orders? No? Well, it's real life now. [ Fox 9] * The Artist Formerly Known as Prince... Andrew arrested in connection with Epstein investigation. Meanwhile, our [ CNN]
Law
Law
fromAbove the Law
2 months ago

Morning Docket: 01.22.26 - Above the Law

ICE and courts face controversies over enforcement tactics and civil liberties, while legal industry and prominent figures draw scrutiny for lobbying, clemency requests, and ethics.
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