Podcasts about big law

Some of the nation's biggest law firms have found themselves in Trump's crosshairs and have pledged pro-bono legal service to maintain their security clearances and access to government buildings. Others, however, are trying to fight back. Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the nation's biggest law firms have found themselves in Trump's crosshairs and have pledged pro-bono legal service to maintain their security clearances and access to government buildings. Others, however, are trying to fight back. Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of the nation's biggest law firms have found themselves in Trump's crosshairs and have pledged pro-bono legal service to maintain their security clearances and access to government buildings. Others, however, are trying to fight back. Guest: Ankush Khardori, attorney and former federal prosecutor in the US Justice Department. Want more What Next? Join Slate Plus to unlock full, ad-free access to What Next and all your  other favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the What Next show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/whatnextplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Elena Schwartz, Paige Osburn, Anna Phillips, Madeline Ducharme, Ethan Oberman, and Rob Gunther. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shout out to everyone in the streets yesterday saying Trump Must Go NOW! After a short recap from Sam of the terrifying events of the past week (Trump is directly flaunting the Supreme Court ruling that Kilmar Abrego Garcia must be brought home, and threatening to send “homegrown” people to the torture prison / death camp in El Salvador that he's been disappeared to), we share an interview with Rachel Cohen. Rachel was a lawyer with “Big Law” firm Skadden who publicly resigned over her firm's collaboration with the regime. Find links to her open letter and ways to follow her on refusefascism.org.Next weekend: Refuse Fascism Emergency Assemblies Sunday April 27 in NYC, Chicago and LAWe are on TikTok officially now! Follow ⁠@refusefashism⁠ (that spelling is intentional to get around TikTok censors).Send your comments to samanthagoldman@refusefascism.org or find Refuse Fascism on all the socials, usually spelled correctly. Connect with the movement at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ RefuseFascism.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and support: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/refusefascism⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Music for this episode: Penny the Snitch by Ikebe Shakedown

OA1151 - We're (kind of) live from New York! Thomas, Matt, and OA regular Liz Skeen meet up in person for the first time on Liz's home turf to review the state of the law three months into the second Trump administration. We begin with a brief update on some  recent developments in Trump's war against Biglaw before turning to some encouraging developments in two of the most significant federal civil cases of our lifetimes. Finally, Matt cedes today's footnote to a New York minute from Liz about a welcome legal setback for Andrew Cuomo's mayoral campaign.  Letters from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sent to major law firms demanding data on DEI hiring policies (3/17/2025)  DC District Court Judge James Boasberg's 46-page findings of probable cause for criminal contempt against defendants in JGG v Trump (4/16/2015) Fourth Circuit Judge J. Harvey Wilkinson's order in JGG v. Trump (4/17/2025) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! To support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.

John is joined by Courtney Bowman, the Global Director of Privacy and Civil Liberties at Palantir, one of the foremost companies in the world specializing in software platforms for big data analytics. They discuss the emerging trends in AI regulation.  Courtney explains the AI Act recently passed by the EU Parliament, including the four levels of risk it assesses for different AI systems and the different regulatory obligations imposed on each risk level, how the Act treats general purpose AI systems and how the final Act evolved in response to lobbying by emerging European companies in the AI space. They discuss whether the EU AI Act will become the global standard international companies default to because the European market is too large to abandon. Courtney also explains recent federal regulatory developments in  the U.S. including the framework for AI put out by the National Institute of Science and Technology, the AI Bill of Rights announced by the White House which calls for voluntary compliance to certain principles by industry and the Executive Order on Safe, Secure and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence which requires each department of the federal government to develop its own plan for the use and deployment of AI.  They also discuss the wide range of state level AI legislative initiatives and the leading role California has played in this process.  Finally, they discuss the upcoming issues legislatures will need to address including translating principles like accountability, fairness and transparency into concrete best practices, instituting testing, evaluation and validation methodologies to ensure that AI systems are doing what they're supposed to do in a reliable and trustworthy way, and addressing concerns around maintaining AI systems over time as the data used by the system continuously evolves over time until it no longer accurately represents the world that it was originally designed to represent.Podcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

In this engaging conversation, Andrea Sager shares her journey from a high-paying job in Big Law to founding her own law firm and legal tech company, Legalpreneur. She discusses the importance of legal protections for entrepreneurs, including LLCs, contracts, and intellectual property. Andrea emphasizes the need for education in legal matters and how her services aim to empower small business owners. The discussion also covers common misconceptions about legal processes and the importance of being proactive in legal preparedness.   Resources ▶️ Website https://PublicHealthEntrepreneurs.com ▶️ Grab your copy of: Top 10 Tips For Finding Clients ▶️ Grab your copy of: Top 10 Tips For Getting Started ▶️ Submit a question you'd like us to answer on this podcast here. ▶️ Learn more about the Public Health Entrepreneurs Mastermind group program here.

While one cannot control the external environment, one can control the progress and direction of their legal career. As this BigLaw partner has learnt, putting one's best foot forward on any given client matter and making the biggest difference one can is the best way to get ahead and open new professional doors. In this episode of The Lawyers Weekly Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Clifford Chance partner David Clee about his professional journey, the idea of not always following commonly trodden pathways in one's career, the importance of being open to different pathways, how he has remained open-minded about opportunities while also following a guiding light for what he has wanted in his career. Clee also delves into the need to “maximise the return” on any client matter one works on, being clear about where one wants to end up while also not looking too far ahead, mitigating the “natural inclination to be in a hurry”, finding greater purpose, overcoming environmental uncertainty, adopting the right mindset, and the importance of seeking feedback. If you like this episode, show your support by  rating us or leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (The Lawyers Weekly Show) and by following Lawyers Weekly on social media: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. If you have any questions about what you heard today, any topics of interest you have in mind, or if you'd like to lend your voice to the show, email editor@lawyersweekly.com.au for more insights!

US News and World Report released its most recent law school rankings with a side of chaos, but the big takeaway is the scrambling and erosion of the "T14" as an organizing concept. Is it time to dismiss the rankings as arbitrary? At least until law schools agree to cooperate again. Also, Surrendergate continues and the "we'll do some pro bono for veterans" deal has turned dramatically, with the White House now claiming the authority to "assign" Biglaw firms to work on administration projects. Sound familiar? Along the way, firms are starting to lose senior lawyers fulfilling critical firm roles while the most recent defectors alienate the overwhelming majority of their team. Finally, the Supreme Court has issued some unanimous rebukes in defense of due process and the administration does not seem to care.

As a former partner and practice group leader in BigLaw, I have a few thoughts about Trump going after large law firms and their response (in many cases, capitulation) to his threats. In today's episode, I'm breaking down what's happening, how the past can inform the present and the future, as well as some action items you can take right now.    Chapters 00:29 - Introduction 03:05 - Trump goes after BigLaw  05:32 - History of women in BigLaw 17:45 - What changed…  24:29 - Progress & DEI in BigLaw 31:16 - Follow the money 39:45 - Blame, shame, and personal accountability  45:05 - On The Matter of Race   If you're interested in learning more about the next On The Matter of Race cohort led by Dr. Lynne Maureen Hurdle and Justin Nai'im Hurdle-Price, visit http://www.theconflictcloser.com/otmr   For prior podcasts mentioned on today's show, visit:  Episode 4 - Don't Blame It on the Kids - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQAlctmSNJI Episode 9 - The Numbers Don't Lie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWJMkUytNsg Episode 34 - “Meeting the Challenge" Update - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iycr3rhirLU   For more content and a daily dose of inspiration, follow me on Instagram at https://www.Instagram.com/HeatherJoyHubbard  

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comIt isn't easy being a criminal-defense attorney. Your clients are counting on you, often with their liberty on the line. You work your heart out for them. And in the end, at least once your client has been charged, the odds are high that they'll end up convicted—whether through pleading guilty or losing at trial. In the federal system, fewer than one percent of defendants get acquitted. But some defense lawyers manage to beat the odds, time and time again—like David Oscar Markus, founding partner of Markus/Moss PLLC. Over his almost three decades in practice, he has scored numerous trial victories. In 2023, he and his partner Margot Moss secured an acquittal for Andrew Gillum, the former mayor of Tallahassee and Florida gubernatorial candidate, after nearly three weeks of trial. (The jury acquitted Gillum of making false statements to the FBI; it hung on other counts, which the prosecution later dismissed.)And just last month, David and his partner Lauren Krasnoff won an across-the-board acquittal for businessman Diego Sanchez, in a complex case involving allegations of a $65 million healthcare fraud. The trial lasted for almost a month—and in the end, the jury found Sanchez not guilty on all seven counts.How did David pull off this challenging win? What does he view as the most important skill for a trial lawyer? When does he put his client on the stand? How does he handle the media in a high-profile case? David and I tackled all of these topics and more, in a wide-ranging and candid conversation.Thanks to David for joining me, and kudos to him on his recent trial victory—far from his first, and definitely not his last.Show Notes:* David Oscar Markus bio, Markus/Moss PLLC* Southern District of Florida Blog, by David Oscar Markus* For the Defense, by David Oscar Markus* Miami Jury Returns Defense Verdict in $36M Health Care Fraud Case, by Tommaso Baronio for Law.comPrefer reading to listening? For paid subscribers, a transcript of the entire episode appears below.Sponsored by:NexFirm helps Biglaw attorneys become founding partners. To learn more about how NexFirm can help you launch your firm, call 212-292-1000 or email careerdevelopment at nexfirm dot com.

Chicago's largest law firm has no formal agreement backing the deal it reached with the Trump administration. Crain's reporter Mark Weinraub and host Amy Guth discuss why the deals with Big Law are nowhere to be found.Plus: Durbin pushes to save DOJ's Chicago antitrust office from chopping block, Chicago names a City Hall vet as acting aviation commissioner, Raoul joins state AGs urging Congress to break up pharmaceutical middlemen and new stores slated for shuttered Dom's in Old Town, Whole Foods in River North.

In this episode, I share the top five misconceptions I see lawyers make—even the most brilliant ones—about working in Big law firms. These aren't just abstract ideas. They're real misunderstandings that I've seen derail careers, slow down progress, and create unnecessary frustration for talented attorneys. Whether you're aiming for equity partnership or trying to better understand the business side of firm life, this episode will help you avoid common pitfalls and make smarter decisions. I unpack why revenue doesn't automatically equal profit, why strong legal skills alone won't win you clients, and why firm culture matters more than many attorneys realize. I also challenge the assumption that every client is worth keeping and share the overlooked business and interpersonal skills that set successful lawyers apart. At a Glance: 00:00 Introduction to Big Law Life 01:20 The five biggest misconceptions lawyers make about firm life 02:41 Why revenue does not equal profit—and how high billables can still hurt the bottom line 04:31 Real-world examples of high-revenue, low-profit partners losing firm support 04:57 Why legal talent alone won't win clients—and what actually builds lasting relationships 06:21 Personal branding: Why your firm's bio isn't enough 07:44 If you avoid business development, firm life may not be for you 08:28 Firm culture isn't the same everywhere—key differences that impact your daily work 09:50 What leadership structures say about your firm's values 11:03 Not every client is a good client—and how to assess whether to let them go 12:02 What non-paying and discount-demanding clients cost you 13:01 When long-term loyalty no longer makes financial sense 14:09 If your client puts your ethics at risk, they're not worth keeping 14:29 Great legal and business skills aren't enough—you also need leadership and relationship management 15:38 Why strategic planning, delegation, and feedback matter just as much 16:26 Law firms now train lawyers on client business issues—because clients expect it 16:54 Your internal reputation isn't just about legal wins—it's about how people feel working with you Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life?  Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.  For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here!  For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com  laura@lauraterrell.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/  Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast  

US News and World Report released its most recent law school rankings with a side of chaos, but the big takeaway is the scrambling and erosion of the "T14" as an organizing concept. Is it time to dismiss the rankings as arbitrary? At least until law schools agree to cooperate again. Also, Surrendergate continues and the "we'll do some pro bono for veterans" deal has turned dramatically, with the White House now claiming the authority to "assign" Biglaw firms to work on administration projects. Sound familiar? Along the way, firms are starting to lose senior lawyers fulfilling critical firm roles while the most recent defectors alienate the overwhelming majority of their team. Finally, the Supreme Court has issued some unanimous rebukes in defense of due process and the administration does not seem to care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early this month, Harvard Law School students participated in a “Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon” workshop. Students were asked to "gather data to edit the Wikipedia pages of Big Law firms to reflect cases they have recently argued," according to The Washington Free Beacon. What actually happened? Several students singled out and warped the Wikipedia pages of big law firms who previously that they would cut back recruitment from universities that did not curb the spread of anti-Semitism on-campus following the Oct. 7 Hama terror attacks. What are we getting at? For decades, America's elite law schools have degraded their standards in the pursuit of social justice and have become wholly dependent on foreign money. Now, it's finally catching up to them, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today's edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.”

Early this month, Harvard Law School students participated in a “Wikipedia Edit-A-Thon” workshop. Students were asked to “gather data to edit the Wikipedia pages of Big Law firms to reflect cases they have recently argued,” according to The Washington Free Beacon.   What actually happened?   Several students singled out and warped the Wikipedia pages […]

Discover how legal research giants like LexisNexis and Westlaw are being disrupted by low cost AI tools like ChatGPT. Smart solo lawyers are ignoring overpriced AI tools favored by BigLaw in favor of cheaper, more innovative options. Listen to find out which AI-powered legal research options that deliver speed, savings, and simplicity without bloated price tags. Resources from this Episode Carolyn Elefant's LinkedIn Post  ChatGPT  Google NotebookLM  Midpage  Westlaw  LexisNexis CoCounsel (Thomson Reuters / Casetext AI assistant) Fastcase Vincent AI (Fastcase's AI research tool) Clearbrief Microsoft 365 Copilot Other Resources The 80/20 Principle (my techlaw newsletter) The 5 Pillars of a Tech-Powered Law Practice The Inner Circle (my online community for lawyers)   Follow and Review: I'd love for you to follow me if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. I'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Thanks to the sponsor: Smith.ai Smith.ai is an amazing virtual receptionist service that specializes in working with solo and small law firms. When you hire Smith.ai, you're hiring well-trained, friendly receptionists who can respond to callers in English or Spanish. And they have a special offer for podcast listeners where you can get an extra $100 discount with promo code ERNIE100. Sign up for a risk-free start with a 14-day money-back guarantee now (and learn more) at smith.ai.

The Yaron Brook Show---

On this week's Amicus, autocratic creep in high and low gear. In high gear: The Supreme Court finally issued its order in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case, requiring that the government “facilitates” Abrego Garcia's return from the El Salvadoran prison to which he was illegally and accidentally reditioned, but also recognizing the limits on its authority to direct the executive branch. Dahlia Lithwick talks to Slate senior writer  Mark Joseph Stern about the ways in which the High Court's attempts to avoid a showdown with the Trump administration may be futile. Next, Dahlia turns to the autocratic creep in low gear that is President Trump's buyout of Big Law.  Jesse Weber, managing partner at Brown Goldstein and Levy, shares her view from a firm that has no intention of capitulating government bullying.  Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For weeks, President Trump has been targeting certain law firms with executive orders. Some have fought back, but others have cut deals to avoid the damage. For our weekly Reporter's Notebook series, we dive into this legal drama with NPR's Justice Correspondent Ryan Lucas, to see how this use of executive power is changing the landscape of the American legal system. For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

On this week's Amicus, autocratic creep in high and low gear. In high gear: The Supreme Court finally issued its order in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case, requiring that the government “facilitates” Abrego Garcia's return from the El Salvadoran prison to which he was illegally and accidentally reditioned, but also recognizing the limits on its authority to direct the executive branch. Dahlia Lithwick talks to Slate senior writer  Mark Joseph Stern about the ways in which the High Court's attempts to avoid a showdown with the Trump administration may be futile. Next, Dahlia turns to the autocratic creep in low gear that is President Trump's buyout of Big Law.  Jesse Weber, managing partner at Brown Goldstein and Levy, shares her view from a firm that has no intention of capitulating government bullying.  Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week's Amicus, autocratic creep in high and low gear. In high gear: The Supreme Court finally issued its order in Kilmar Abrego Garcia's case, requiring that the government “facilitates” Abrego Garcia's return from the El Salvadoran prison to which he was illegally and accidentally reditioned, but also recognizing the limits on its authority to direct the executive branch. Dahlia Lithwick talks to Slate senior writer  Mark Joseph Stern about the ways in which the High Court's attempts to avoid a showdown with the Trump administration may be futile. Next, Dahlia turns to the autocratic creep in low gear that is President Trump's buyout of Big Law.  Jesse Weber, managing partner at Brown Goldstein and Levy, shares her view from a firm that has no intention of capitulating government bullying.  Want more Amicus? Join Slate Plus to unlock weekly bonus episodes with exclusive legal analysis. Plus, you'll access ad-free listening across all your favorite Slate podcasts. You can subscribe directly from the Amicus show page on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Or, visit slate.com/amicusplus to get access wherever you listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

OA1149 - Even as most of the Biglaw establishment falls to Trump's whims, lawyers from smaller firms are stepping up to do the most necessary work  on the most important issues of our times. We're here to tell you a little more about some of them! But first: The House passes the “No Rogue Rulings Act” and we rip into some fascist nonsense from MAGA legal “thinker” Mike Davis defending the President's absolute  right to call anyone a terrorist and send them to hell without a hearing. Also: DHS's “evidence”(?) in support of Mahmoud Kahlil's deportation,  SCOTUS ‘s surprise mid-episode ruling ordering the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia from a Salvadoran gulag, and more on the truly inspirational lawyers who are aggressively pushing these fights forward. In today's footnote: can you sue ChatGPT for “hallucinating” terrible stories about you? One heavily-armed Georgia talk show host is gunning to find out. The “No Rogue Rulings Act”  (HR 1526)  Amicus brief filed in Korematsu Center et al in Perkins Coie v. DOJ (4/9/25) DHS “evidence” filed in Mahmoud Kahlil's deportation proceedings (4/10/25) U.S. Supreme Court's order in Noem v. Abrego Garcia (04/10/2025) Plaintiff's complaint in Walters v OpenAI   “SCOTUS must stop leftist judges' lawless sabotage of Trump agenda | Fox News, Mike Davis (3/31/25) Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! To support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law! This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.

Kathryn Rubino chats with Joann Rezzo who shares her unconventional journey from aspiring CIA agent to law school, through big law, and eventually to mediation. Joan highlights the power of empathy, her knack for negotiation, and how varied experiences helped shape her career, enriching both her mediation skills and her personal growth. Hear Joann's vibrant anecdotes, including a clever courtroom victory involving an unexpected witness. A must-listen for insights on navigating a diverse legal career path and finding fulfillment.   Highlights Choosing law school over CIA. Navigating a nepotistic law school environment. Career path: From Big Law to small firm. Transition to plaintiffs and defense work. Benefits of trial experience in Big Law. Conflicts check process at a small firm. Importance of understanding both plaintiffs and defense perspectives. Motivation to transition to mediation. Financial readiness enabling career shifts. Knowing when to jump into new opportunities. Traits for a successful mediator: empathy and listening. Memorable litigation story: Using a surprise rebuttal witness. Episode Sponsored By  https://www.lexisnexis.com/lexisplus    Links and Resources https://signatureresolution.com/neutral-CPT/joann-rezzo/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/joann-rezzo-62396449/     Subscribe, Share and Review To get the next episode subscribe with your favorite podcast player. Subscribe with Apple Podcasts Follow on Spotify Leave a review on Apple Podcasts

This Day in Legal History: Fair Housing ActOn this day in legal history, April 11, 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law, a pivotal expansion of civil rights protections in the United States. Commonly referred to as the Fair Housing Act, the legislation was enacted just days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose legacy of nonviolent activism heavily influenced its passage. The law made it illegal to discriminate in the sale, rental, financing, or advertising of housing based on race, color, religion, or national origin.It aimed to dismantle the systemic barriers that had long segregated American cities and suburbs, including redlining, racially restrictive covenants, and other discriminatory practices. Title VIII of the Act directly addressed these inequities and empowered the federal government to enforce fair housing standards for the first time. Though political resistance to housing integration had stalled similar legislation for years, the national mourning following Dr. King's death shifted public and congressional sentiment.Johnson, in a nationally televised address, described the signing as a tribute to Dr. King's life and a necessary step toward realizing the full promise of civil rights in America. Subsequent amendments expanded protections to include sex, disability, and familial status, making the Fair Housing Act one of the most comprehensive civil rights laws on the books. Enforcement mechanisms, however, remained a challenge, and litigation over housing discrimination has continued into the present day.The law has been central to major legal battles over zoning laws, gentrification, and access to affordable housing. It also laid the groundwork for subsequent legislation aimed at combating economic and racial segregation. While the Act did not instantly eliminate housing discrimination, it marked a legal turning point that recognized the home as a critical site of equality and opportunity.A small team from the Department of Government Efficiency (DGE), created under Elon Musk's initiative to reduce government spending and staffing, has arrived at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC), according to an internal email from the agency. While the team is working with FDIC leadership to identify internal efficiencies, it does not have access to sensitive or confidential bank data, including resolution plans, deposit insurance records, or examination materials. The FDIC emphasized that the DGE operatives are full-time federal employees working under formal interagency agreements and have not sought access to confidential information.DGE has previously drawn concern from industry participants during its visit to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau due to fears over data exposure. The FDIC oversees highly sensitive information about major U.S. banks and their failure plans, which regulators rely on during crises. The number and identity of DGE team members at the FDIC have not been disclosed, and the agency declined to comment further.The agency is also preparing for staff reductions, following the Trump administration's deferred resignation program that has already led to the loss of 500 FDIC employees. Additional buyouts and formal layoffs are expected soon. The timing of DGE's involvement comes as global markets react to new tariffs announced by President Trump, prompting concerns from former officials about weakening regulators' ability to respond to potential financial instability.DOGE Arrives at FDIC but Doesn't Have Access to Bank Data (2)At least three major law firms—Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett—are in talks with the Trump administration to reach a joint agreement that would commit over $300 million in pro bono services to causes favored by the White House. The potential deal is also intended to resolve federal investigations into the firms' diversity programs, which the administration has scrutinized for alleged discriminatory practices. If finalized, the arrangement would bring the total pledged in pro bono services from various firms to at least $640 million.President Trump, speaking at a Cabinet meeting, hinted that a handful of firms remain in negotiations, emphasizing that many firms have already paid significant sums or made concessions. He stated that he expects lawyers from participating firms to assist with policy efforts such as implementing tariffs and expanding coal mining.The administration has previously targeted several firms with executive orders for representing causes or clients viewed as oppositional to Trump's agenda. These orders have included punitive measures such as revoking security clearances and restricting federal access. Some firms—like Perkins Coie and Jenner & Block—have successfully blocked these actions in court, while others like Paul Weiss settled by agreeing to pro bono contributions. Firms such as Skadden and Milbank preemptively negotiated similar deals.Trump Talks Deal With Three Massive Law Firms as Others FightA U.S. immigration judge is set to rule today on whether Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian student activist at Columbia University, can be deported. Khalil, who holds Algerian citizenship and became a lawful U.S. permanent resident last year, was arrested last month at his New York City apartment and transferred to an immigration jail in rural Louisiana. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called for Khalil's removal under the 1952 Immigration and Nationality Act, arguing that his presence in the U.S. poses foreign policy risks due to his role in pro-Palestinian campus protests.Rubio's letter to the court claims Khalil was involved in “antisemitic protests and disruptive activities” but does not accuse him of any crimes. Instead, Rubio argues the government can revoke legal status based solely on speech or associations if deemed harmful to U.S. interests. Khalil's attorneys say the case is an attempt to punish constitutionally protected speech and have called the letter politically motivated and authoritarian in tone.They are requesting to subpoena and depose Rubio as part of their defense. The immigration court hearing the case operates under the Department of Justice and is separate from the federal judiciary. Khalil is also suing in a New Jersey federal court, alleging that his arrest, detention, and transfer far from his legal team and family were unconstitutional.US immigration judge to decide whether Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil can be deported | ReutersPresident Trump signed a bill nullifying a revised IRS rule that would have broadened the definition of a “broker” to include decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges, or DeFi platforms. The rule, finalized in the final weeks of the Biden administration, was part of a broader IRS effort to tighten crypto tax enforcement and was rooted in the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It would have required DeFi platforms to report user transactions to both the IRS and the users themselves.The crypto industry strongly opposed the rule, arguing that DeFi platforms do not function like traditional brokers and lack access to user identities, making compliance impossible. Centralized exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken, by contrast, already meet these reporting requirements as intermediaries. Both the House and Senate voted in March to repeal the IRS rule through the Congressional Review Act, which allows Congress to overturn recent federal regulations with a majority vote.Trump, who has positioned himself as a pro-crypto candidate, had campaigned on promises to support digital asset innovation. Since taking office, he has formed a federal cryptocurrency working group and signed an executive order to establish a national bitcoin reserve.Trump signs bill to nullify expanded IRS crypto broker rule | ReutersThis week's closing theme takes us back to April 13, 1850, when Richard Wagner's opera Lohengrin premiered in Weimar under the baton of his friend and supporter, Franz Liszt. Wagner, one of the most influential and controversial figures in classical music, was then in political exile, and unable to attend the debut of what would become one of his most iconic works. Known for his revolutionary approach to opera—melding music, drama, and mythology—Wagner crafted Lohengrin as a sweeping, mystical tale of a knight of the Holy Grail who arrives in a swan-drawn boat to defend the innocent Elsa of Brabant. The opera's shimmering textures, leitmotif-driven score, and spiritual overtones would set the stage for his later monumental works like Tristan und Isolde and the Ring Cycle.Lohengrin remains best known for its third-act bridal chorus—“Here Comes the Bride”—but the opera's deeper themes of identity, trust, and the cost of forbidden questions give it lasting emotional and philosophical weight. Set in a quasi-medieval world laced with mystery, the opera tells of a hero who must depart the moment his name is asked, leaving love suspended in silence. Wagner's orchestration in Lohengrin is luminous and patient, often evoking shimmering water and distant prophecy, with long-breathed phrases that seem to float above time.As a closing theme for this week, Lohengrin invites reflection—on belief, on leadership, and on how history so often pivots on names, silence, and the tension between loyalty and doubt. Its premiere on April 13th marks not only a moment in Wagner's evolution as a composer but also a cultural point of departure, where German Romanticism began leaning toward something darker and more transcendental. We end the week, then, with the slow unfurling of Lohengrin's prelude: a gentle, ascending shimmer that begins almost imperceptibly, and rises—like the swan on the river—toward the unknown.This week, we close with the prelude to Lohengrin by Richard Wagner—music of undeniable beauty from a composer whose legacy includes both brilliance and deeply troubling beliefs. We share it for its artistry, not its ideology. Without further ado, Richard Wagner's Lohengrin, the prelude. Enjoy! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

A few hours before he announced a 90-day pause on tariffs, the president posted “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!! DJT” on social media. Why has this led to accusations he manipulated the market for his own gain? The popularity of companion AI chatbots is rapidly increasing, but what safety nets are in place to protect young people? How have Big Law firms in America reacted to Trump 2.0?Rebecca Moore is joined by Hashi Mohamed, Patricia Clarke and Katie Riley, as they battle to pitch the top story of the day.**Join us at the next edition of the News Meeting Live on Tuesday 29th April here: https://www.tortoisemedia.com/our-events/the-news-meeting-live-2 Get in touch and let us know what you think should lead the news. Send a voice note to newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.com Read more about the team's guilty pleasure news stories here:Did Scientist really bring back the Dire Wolf? Who is joining Katy Perry and Gayle King in space? Bulgarian footballer honoured with minute's silence … despite not being dead Listen to Patricia's Slow Newscast episode, 'My AI Girlfriend' here: lnk.to/MyAIGirlfriend Follow us on Social Media: @tortoise on IG and X, @tortoisemedia on tiktok @tortoisemedia.bsky.social on bluesky Host: Rebecca Moore, executive producer at Tortoise Email: newsmeeting@tortoisemedia.comProducer: Casey MagloireExecutive Producer: Rebecca Moore Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Steve Fretzin and Alex Geisler discuss:Building long-term client loyalty in legal practiceStructuring legal work around client expectations and needsImproving legal service delivery through lean process thinkingDeveloping deeper relationships through proactive, strategic communication Key Takeaways:Long-term client loyalty is built through the TREE approach: Transparency in communication, Reliability in service, Efficiency in delivery, and clear Expectations that align with the client's goals.Lawyers can create stronger, “stickier” client relationships by going beyond transactional work and offering value through strategic thinking and curiosity.A structured approach to legal work—planning, executing, reviewing, and improving—can lead to better results, stronger client trust, and greater efficiency.Understanding the client's definition of success early on, and tailoring the legal approach accordingly, is key to exceeding expectations and retaining business. "There's no substitute for knowing yourself and knowing your purpose. There's no substitute for knowing your client. And just keep checking in on yourself and checking in on your client." —  Alex GeislerGot a challenge growing your law practice? Email me at steve@fretzin.com with your toughest question, and I'll answer it live on the show—anonymously, just using your first name! Thank you to our Sponsors!Rankings.io: https://rankings.io/ Ready to grow your law practice without selling or chasing? Book your free 30-minute strategy session now—let's make this your breakout year: https://fretzin.com/ Episode References: Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu: https://terebess.hu/english/tao/mitchell.htmlAbout Alex Geisler: Alex's career was spent in three environments: in-house, at Big Law, and with manufacturers. He then harnessed these experiences to create Lean Law, a consultancy devoted to helping lawyers turn new business into repeat business. In addition to personal coaching, his ideas can be accessed through the acclaimed Lean Adviser online curriculum, his Lean Briefing—which receives 40,000 hits each week—and his books and papers. Connect with Alex Geisler:  Website: https://www.leanlaw.co/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-geisler-05b5761a/ Connect with Steve Fretzin:LinkedIn: Steve FretzinTwitter: @stevefretzinInstagram: @fretzinsteveFacebook: Fretzin, Inc.Website: Fretzin.comEmail: Steve@Fretzin.comBook: Legal Business Development Isn't Rocket Science and more!YouTube: Steve FretzinCall Steve directly at 847-602-6911Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

And now we have a tracker for that! ----- After a few weeks of watching some law firms stand up to facially illegal demands from the Trump administration... and more law firms rapidly cave to those same demands, we put together a helpful tracker to keep clients, potential laterals, and law students fully aware of where firms currently stand. But we depend on you out there to keep us up-to-date! Meanwhile, more associates have taken a stand against their surrendering firms and some law students have already told the firm recruiting events that they aren't interested in firms that can't stand up for themselves. Also the February bar exam numbers were terrible.

In today's episode, I discuss more of the pressing questions and challenges that associates in BigLaw frequently face, including how much you should be checking in when you're out on vacation; how much face time is enough; what to consider before requesting a transfer to another office; and whether you should stay in your law firm if you're less than thrilled with life in BigLaw after less than a year. At a Glance: 00:00 Introduction: Big Law Associate Advice 01:19 Should you check emails while on vacation? 03:25 Why even a 5-minute daily check-in matters 03:52 How often should you be in the office? 05:18 Matching your office presence to your career goals 06:29 What to consider before requesting an office transfer 07:20 Personal vs. professional reasons for switching offices 08:17 Managing office transfer logistics and stakeholder buy-in 09:55 Who pays for relocation—and what bar requirements matter 11:21 Should you stay in Big Law if you're unhappy a few months in? 12:19 Distinguishing tough adjustments from toxic environments 13:14 Why staying a year or more improves future options 14:06 What you're learning—even when it doesn't feel like it 15:17 Big Law as training ground: why it's still worth it Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life?  Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.  For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here!  For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? Here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com  laura@lauraterrell.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/  Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast  

This Day in Legal History: Senate Approves Alaska PurchaseOn April 9, 1867, the United States Senate voted to ratify the Treaty with Russia for the Purchase of Alaska, approving the acquisition of the territory for $7.2 million. The deal, championed by Secretary of State William H. Seward, added over 586,000 square miles to U.S. territory. At the time, many Americans viewed the icy, remote land as a barren wasteland, mocking the transaction as “Seward's Folly” or “Seward's Icebox.” Despite public ridicule, Seward pursued the deal partly to prevent British expansion from neighboring Canada and to extend American commercial interests into the Pacific. Russia, for its part, saw little strategic or economic value in Alaska and feared it might lose the territory without compensation in a future conflict.The treaty passed in the Senate by a vote of 37 to 2, reflecting support among lawmakers despite popular skepticism. Legal authority for the purchase came through the treaty-making power of the executive branch, with Senate ratification required under Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution. Once finalized, the transfer of sovereignty occurred in October 1867 in Sitka, with a formal ceremony marking Russia's departure.Criticism of the purchase subsided decades later following the Klondike Gold Rush and, eventually, the discovery of significant oil reserves. These developments drastically changed the public's perception of Alaska from frozen liability to strategic asset. The purchase also helped lay the groundwork for America's growing influence in the Pacific and Arctic regions.President Donald Trump announced that major law firms pledging $340 million in pro bono work would assist his administration with coal industry initiatives and international tariff negotiations. Speaking at a White House event, Trump said these firms—such as Paul Weiss, Skadden, Milbank, and Willkie—would provide legal support for leasing and regulatory issues in coal mining, as well as in talks with foreign countries on trade. While he didn't specify which firms would take on specific tasks, Trump emphasized their legal talent and claimed they were offering services “for the right price.”The announcement coincided with Trump signing executive orders invoking the Defense Production Act to increase coal mining and directing investments into advanced coal technology. He also said the Department of Justice would be tasked with challenging state and local regulations he views as harmful to miners. The law firm agreements came after Trump targeted several legal firms with directives that threaten their business, prompting lawsuits from Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block. Trump posted the agreements on Truth Social, stating the firms would work on causes like veterans' rights and combating antisemitism, although details on how their roles will be determined remain unclear.Trump Says He'll Enlist Big Law Dealmakers for Coal, TariffsA group of 67 former top legal executives from companies like Microsoft, Intel, and Eli Lilly filed a legal brief condemning President Trump's executive orders targeting several major law firms. They argue that the orders violate the Constitution and threaten the independence of corporate legal counsel by coercing political loyalty through federal contract threats. The brief supports a lawsuit by Perkins Coie, one of the firms impacted by the orders, which claims the directives bar its attorneys from government buildings and jeopardize its clients' federal contracts.The former general counsels contend that Trump's actions don't just punish individual firms, but undermine the principle that companies should be free to choose their legal representation without fear of political retaliation. The brief highlights how the orders signal to businesses that hiring lawyers linked to Trump's critics could lead to government sanctions. Trump issued similar orders against WilmerHale and Jenner & Block, and all three firms have secured temporary legal blocks against the measures.While some firms like Paul Weiss struck deals with Trump to avoid penalties—agreeing to provide pro bono work for causes aligned with his administration—others have pushed back. Four days prior, hundreds of law firms submitted their own brief supporting Perkins Coie. Trump's administration defends the orders as efforts to stop perceived political bias in Big Law.Former top lawyers at major companies decry Trump orders against law firms | ReutersAn immigration judge has given the U.S. government through today to present evidence justifying the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and lawful permanent resident. Khalil was arrested in New York and transferred to a detention facility in rural Louisiana, sparking concern over due process and free speech rights. At Tuesday's hearing, Judge Jamee Comans made it clear that if the government cannot prove Khalil is deportable, she will dismiss the case by Friday. She also criticized delays in sharing evidence and emphasized the importance of Khalil's due process rights.Khalil's lawyer, Marc Van Der Hout, claims the deportation effort is politically motivated and violates the First Amendment, suggesting that Khalil is being targeted for speaking out in support of Palestinians. The government argues Khalil should be deported under a Cold War-era law that allows removal if an immigrant is deemed a threat to U.S. foreign policy, and also accuses him of omissions on his green card application—charges he denies.The case has drawn national attention, including a crowded virtual courtroom. A separate habeas petition is also under consideration in federal court, and Khalil cannot be deported while that process plays out. His wife, a U.S. citizen who is expecting their child this month, has been unable to visit him due to her pregnancy.US given one day to show evidence for deporting Columbia University protester Khalil | ReutersA federal judge has ordered President Trump's White House to temporarily lift access restrictions on the Associated Press (AP) while a lawsuit challenging the ban moves forward. The Trump administration had barred AP journalists from events like Oval Office briefings and Air Force One trips after the agency refused to adopt Trump's preferred term, "Gulf of America," instead continuing to refer to the "Gulf of Mexico." U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee, ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the government from excluding journalists based on viewpoint.The ruling, which takes effect Sunday to allow time for appeal, restores the AP's access to White House press events. McFadden emphasized that if some journalists are granted access, others cannot be denied for their editorial stance. The AP sued three senior Trump aides in February, claiming the restrictions were unconstitutional retaliation against protected speech and lacked due process.AP reporters testified that the ban hindered their ability to cover the president, while Justice Department lawyers argued that access to presidential spaces is a privilege, not a right. Press freedom groups and the White House Correspondents' Association welcomed the decision, calling it a win for independent journalism. The case remains ongoing, with a final ruling expected in the coming months.Judge lifts Trump White House restrictions on AP while lawsuit proceeds | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

And now we have a tracker for that! ----- After a few weeks of watching some law firms stand up to facially illegal demands from the Trump administration... and more law firms rapidly cave to those same demands, we put together a helpful tracker to keep clients, potential laterals, and law students fully aware of where firms currently stand. But we depend on you out there to keep us up-to-date! Meanwhile, more associates have taken a stand against their surrendering firms and some law students have already told the firm recruiting events that they aren't interested in firms that can't stand up for themselves. Also the February bar exam numbers were terrible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the Supreme Court weighs in on the president's use of the Alien Enemies Act, Mary and Andrew approach this week's developments with both concern and relief. While relieved at the unanimity of the High Court's belief that due process is a necessity, the concern lies with the Trump administration's response to a court order directing them to arrange the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the man who was wrongfully deported to El Salvador. They also see cause for alarm after the government retaliated against their own lawyer in this case. Andrew and Mary then take a beat to spotlight the DC circuit upholding a judge's decision related to scope of Trump's J6 pardons. And before closing out this week's episode, they detail the lawsuit brought by the conservative leaning NCLA over the constitutionality of the sweeping tariffs the president has announced.Further reading: This is Mary's recent op Ed in the Washington Post: The White House war on Big Law hits some speed bumpsAnd please vote for your favorite MSNBC podcasts in this year's Webby Awards:Prosecuting Donald Trump in the Podcasts - Crime & Justice category: VOTE HEREWhy Is This Happening? With Chris Hayes in the Podcasts - Interview/Talk Show category: VOTE HEREInto America: Uncounted Millions in the Podcasts - News & Politics category: VOTE HEREVoting closes April 17th.Want to listen to this show without ads? Sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.

John is joined by Marc Elias, the attorney whom Donaled Trump has cast as his bete noire in the legal profession, to discuss the president's war on the judiciary, the bar, and the rule of law itself. Elias explains why the executive order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections” is designed to do just the opposite, making it the most dangerous of Trump's myriad power grabs; why we aren't yet in a constitutional crisis but soon could be; and why Trump's threats have caused so many prestigious law firms to bend the knee. Marc also tells John why he hasn't done the same despite being plenty worried by Trump's singling him out as a “very bad" person and a “thug". To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you break into Big Law while building a brand that empowers others? This week, I'm joined by Steph Lartey, Associate at White & Case, Founder of Success with Steph and Co-Founder of Doceo.Steph shares her journey from law student to global markets lawyer, the barries young professionals face and how to build resilience in the face of rejection. If you're looking for career insights, success strategies and real talk about making it in law, this episode is for you.So why should you be listening in? You can hear Rob and Steph discussing:- Resilience and Persistence in the Legal Industry- Authentic Networking and Building Key Relationships- How to Break Out of Imposter Syndrome- Steph, Doceo and How They Achieve Social Impact- Maintaining an Effective Work-Life BalanceConnect with Steph here - https://www.whitecase.com/people/steph-lartey

President Trump has signed several Executive Orders targeting law firms who have challenged his agenda or hired his political enemies. Many in the legal community worry about the impact this could have on the overall legal system.

Today on The McCarthy Report, Andy and Rich discuss the latest news on the Venezuelan deportation case, Trump's fight against Big Law, and much more. This podcast was edited and produced by Sarah Colleen Schutte.

John is joined by Susheel Kirpalani, partner in Quinn Emanuel's New York office and founder and Chairperson of the firm's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group. They discuss restructuring litigation, including fraudulent transfer litigation and valuation disputes, and how it differs from commercial litigation.  They also discuss the importance of building alliances with other stakeholders in the company, how much the practice is based on relationships and trust, and the opportunities that exist to design creative securities that allow a company to survive but also allow its creditors substantial recoveries. Podcast Link: Law-disrupted.fmHost: John B. Quinn Producer: Alexis HydeMusic and Editing by: Alexander Rossi

A great divide is developing. ----- Following the Paul Weiss surrender we discussed last week, Skadden preemptively followed suit agreeing to commit $100M in pro bono payola to the MAGA cause. Bringing to light some embarrassing email policies in the process. But other Biglaw firms showed a little more life, with Jenner & Block and WilmerHale suing the administration over its retaliatory executive orders. And a major firm announced an end to on-campus recruiting, which seems like a bad policy for both students and the firm.  

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit davidlat.substack.comDemocrats and progressives are on the defensive. Preoccupied with responding to the “shock and awe” of the Trump administration, they're having a hard time putting forward an affirmative agenda of their own.At some unknown point in the future, however, Democrats will return to power. When they do, what actions should they take?According to my former Above the Law (ATL) colleague Elie Mystal, the left needs to take a page from the right's playbook and “come in with the hammer.” Instead of focusing on repairing what Trump has broken, Democrats need to rally the people around destroying what deserves to be destroyed.And Elie has thoughts on where they should start. In his new book Bad Law: 10 Popular Laws That Are Ruining America, he identifies 10 laws that he believes need to be ended, not just amended.What federal and state laws are on Elie's chopping block? What are his thoughts on the first two months of the Trump administration, especially the executive orders targeting law firms? And—this is the question I'm asked most frequently about Elie—does he actually believe the controversial, occasionally outrageous things he says?Show Notes:* Elie Mystal bio and archives, The Nation* Elie Mystal, Bluesky* Bad Law: 10 Popular Laws That Are Ruining America, AmazonPrefer reading to listening? For paid subscribers, a transcript of the entire episode appears below.Sponsored by:NexFirm helps Biglaw attorneys become founding partners. To learn more about how NexFirm can help you launch your firm, call 212-292-1000 or email careerdevelopment at nexfirm dot com.

McDermott, Will & Emery is a leadership factory. They are career accelerators. This is their special sauce. It's what helps separate them from other elite, big law firms. It's why they are a talent magnet and have a unique, fun-loving, hard-working culture.Find out why firm Chair, Ira Coleman, still enjoys interviewing law students – and doesn't even get upset (in fact he gets excited) when candidates – who haven't even been hired yet – talk about their lives post-McDermott. Ira loves it when candidates ask, "what's my exit strategy?"

In today's episode, I sit down with Gretta Rusanow, Head of Law Firm Group Advisory Services for Citi Global Wealth at Work, to break down the findings of the 2025 Citi Hildebrandt Client Advisory. This annual report is one of the most closely watched analyses in the legal industry, providing insights on market trends, firm growth strategies, and the evolving business model of law firms. We explore some of the biggest challenges and opportunities law firms are facing, including the slow but inevitable adoption of generative AI, shifting leverage models, the expansion of non-equity partner tiers, and how firms are approaching lateral hiring in an increasingly competitive market. If you're a law firm leader, an aspiring partner, or simply want to stay ahead of where the legal industry is headed, this episode is packed with valuable insights. At a Glance: 00:00 Introduction: The Future of Big Law  01:20 Overview of the Citi Hildebrandt Client Advisory and its influence on law firm strategy 04:03 How law firms are responding to generative AI and why spending remains low 08:20 The challenge of recouping AI investment costs while maintaining profitability 10:46 How AI may reshape associate leverage models and impact billing structures 16:07 The role of lateral partner hiring and why success rates remain modest 20:56 The rise of the non-equity partner tier and its impact on law firm economics 27:21 The risks of an overgrown income partner tier and how firms can manage it effectively 30:51 Growth markets and law firm consolidation trends in 2025 A Few Takeaways: Generative AI Adoption Is Slow, But Inevitable: Despite all the buzz, law firms spent less than 1% of their revenue on generative AI tools in 2023. Firms are still in the assessment phase, but large-scale investment is coming. Those that successfully integrate AI will need to balance efficiency gains with sustainable billing models. Leverage Models Will Shift, But Not Disappear: While AI may reduce the need for first- and second-year associates to perform certain tasks, firms are more likely to reshape their leverage models than abandon them. Many firms expect a shift toward mid-level and senior associates who can refine AI-generated work rather than a dramatic cut in junior hiring. Lateral Hiring Is a Gamble: The success rate of lateral hires remains low, with many firms finding that promised books of business don't always materialize. Firms that succeed in lateral hiring have rigorous integration strategies, ensuring new partners are fully embedded in firm culture and client relationships. The Non-Equity Partner Tier Is Expanding for Retention: More firms are embracing the income partner model as a way to retain senior associates who might otherwise leave. While this strategy can strengthen talent pipelines, firms must carefully manage this tier to avoid the inefficiencies seen in past decades. Market Consolidation Is Expected to Continue: The cost of running a law firm is rising, from AI investments to partner compensation. In an environment of modest demand growth, firms will increasingly turn to mergers and strategic consolidation to remain competitive, particularly in high-cost legal markets like New York, California, and London. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Do you enjoy listening to Big Law Life?  Please consider rating and reviewing the show! This helps support and reach more people like you who want to grow a career in Big Law.  For Apple Podcasts, click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode! Also, if you haven't done so already, follow the podcast here!  For Spotify, tap here on your mobile phone, follow the podcast, listen to the show, then find the rating icon below the description, and tap to rate with five stars. How to reach Gretta Rusanow: gretta.rusanow@citi.com Interested in doing 1-2-1 coaching with Laura Terrell? Or learning more about her work coaching and consulting? - here are ways to reach out to her: www.lauraterrell.com  laura@lauraterrell.com   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralterrell/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraterrellcoaching/  Show notes: https://www.lauraterrell.com/podcast  

Kara is joined by Jen Psaki, the host of MSNBC's "Inside with Jen Psaki," to talk all things Signalgate, Trump taking on Big Law, and what's going on with the latest pardons. Then, Elon says the "destiny of humanity" rests on the outcome of the Wisconsin judicial election, and his AI company xAI acquires X. Plus, Jen weighs in on The White House Correspondents' Association cancelling comedian Amber Ruffin's appearance at the annual dinner, and possible changes coming to the White House briefing. Follow Jen at @jenpsaki.msnbc.com Follow us on Instagram and Threads at @pivotpodcastofficial. Follow us on Bluesky at @pivotpod.bsky.social Follow us on TikTok at @pivotpodcast. Send us your questions by calling us at 855-51-PIVOT, or at nymag.com/pivot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sarah and Beth examine the ripple effects of President Trump's recent executive orders targeting law firms, businesses, and universities and how these policies have created a 'fight or flight' response among institutions. They explore the consequences for the legal system and higher education and the path toward meaningful resistance in this challenging landscape. Topics Discussed Big Law Meets the Trump Administration The Resistance Grows Up Outside of Politics: April Fools Visit our website for complete show notes, premium shows, show merchandise, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam and Emma are joined by Rachel Cohen, lawyer formerly of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, to discuss the country's largest law firms bending the knee to Donald Trump. First, they run through updates on today's elections in Wisconsin and Florida, Trump's attack on the US public health regime, tomorrow's tariff deadline, the Senate GOP's budgetary sleight of hand, legal pushback to Trump over voting restrictions and his reclassification of protected Venezuelan migrants, Trump's ongoing renditioning of Latin Americans to an El Salvadorian gulag, the mobilization of far-right militia's to protect Musk's businesses, Trump's targeting of Harvard, Cory Booker's filibuster, and dwindling Canadian tourism to the US, also watching Jesse Watters explain exactly why he (and the rest of the right) doesn't care about due process. Rachel Cohen then dives Trump's successful effort to cow some of the biggest law firms in the US – including her former firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom – unpacking precisely what makes these law firms so “important” to Trump (wealthy clients, billions in profits), and the intimate relationship they have with the political elite, before walking through the actual contents of Trump's threats to these firms' contracts and access to federal buildings (e.g. courts), and why, unlike others, Skadden seemed to capitulate without even facing an Executive Order, including handing over $100m in pro-bono work to the administration. Expanding on this latter element, Cohen tackles the Trump Administration's underlying aims for this authoritarian push against these attorneys elite, with the push against DEI policies, the takeover of pro-bono work, and the Executive Orders chilling pushback to Trump's anti-migrant and anti-trans agenda coming at a time where he and his goons are undercutting due process for migrants and criminalizing trans identity. After touching on the mix of hubris and cowardice driving the executive capitulation in the world of corporate law, and what the internal pushback looks like among Cohen's peers, Rachel, Sam, and Emma wrap up by reemphasizing the real goal of Trump's project – a fascist takeover – and the importance of organized dissent. And in the Fun Half: Sam and Emma talk with Ronald Raygun about the precarious state of immigration law, dissect Elon Musk's blatant and manipulative lies about Social Security fraud, and watch as Sen. Bill Cassidy accidentally gets blunt about the GOP's plan to gut Medicare. Mike Lindell teases a run for the Governorship of Minnesota, and the MR Team dives deep into Ezra Klein's poor response to anti-Oligarchical critiques of his “Abundance” doctrine, plus, your calls and IMs! Become a member at JoinTheMajorityReport.com: https://fans.fm/majority/join Follow us on TikTok here!: https://www.tiktok.com/@majorityreportfm Check us out on Twitch here!: https://www.twitch.tv/themajorityreport Find our Rumble stream here!: https://rumble.com/user/majorityreport Check out our alt YouTube channel here!: https://www.youtube.com/majorityreportlive Gift a Majority Report subscription here: https://fans.fm/majority/gift Subscribe to the ESVN YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/esvnshow Subscribe to the AMQuickie newsletter here: https://am-quickie.ghost.io/ Join the Majority Report Discord! https://majoritydiscord.com/ Get all your MR merch at our store: https://shop.majorityreportradio.com/ Get the free Majority Report App!: https://majority.fm/app Go to https://JustCoffee.coop and use coupon code majority to get 10% off your purchase! Check out today's sponsors: Liquid IV: Embrace your ritual with extraordinary hydration from Liquid I.V. Get 20% off your first order of Liquid I.V. when you go to https://LiquidIV.com and use code MAJORITYREP at checkout. That's 20% off your first order when you shop better hydration today using promo code MAJORITYREP at https://LiquidIV.com. Babbel: Let's get more of you talking in a new language. Babbel is gifting our listeners 60% off subscriptions at https://Babbel.com/MAJORITY.  Get up to 60% off at https://Babbel.com/MAJORITY. Rules and restrictions may apply. Follow the Majority Report crew on Twitter: @SamSeder @EmmaVigeland @MattLech @BradKAlsop Check out Matt's show, Left Reckoning, on Youtube, and subscribe on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leftreckoning Check out Matt Binder's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/mattbinder Subscribe to Brandon's show The Discourse on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/ExpandTheDiscourse Check out Ava Raiza's music here! https://avaraiza.bandcamp.com/ The Majority Report with Sam Seder - https://majorityreportradio.com/

President Trump is known for going after his political opponents. And for the past month or so, one target has been certain powerful lawyers and law firms. But why is he going after these lawyers and firms? Will courts let him get away with intimidating law firms he doesn't like with threats and executive orders? And how does it all fit into Trump's broader efforts to tilt the legal system to his advantage? Today we hear from one of the lawyers named in the recent flurry of White House orders and memos that aim to limit law firm's ability to represent clients. Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Connect with us. Listen to 1A sponsor-free by signing up for 1A+ at plus.npr.org/the1a.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

*** Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code OPENING at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: http://incogni.com/opening *** OA1143 - In the past month, Donald Trump has issued a series of truly fascist orders targeting some of the country's best-known law firms for crimes ranging from hiring people Trump doesn't like personally to doing some favors for special counsel Jack Smith to flagrantly hiring non-white non-men. What is actually in these orders, and how bad is it that one of leading litigation firms in the country gave in to Trump's demands without  a fight? And what will it mean for the already-overloaded immigration court system when they start going after immigration lawyers as they have also promised? Former NYC Biglaw associate (and current NYC public defender) Liz Skeen joins to help us to understand this uniquely un-American moment in American legal history. (UPDATE: This episode was recorded shortly before news broke about the Trump administration taking action against major US law firms Wilmer Hale and Skadden Arps.) Addressing Risks From Jenner & Block (3/25/25) Addressing Remedial Action by Paul Weiss (3/25/25) Preventing Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court (3/22/25) Addressing Risks From Paul, Weiss (3/14/25) Addressing Risks from Perkins Coie LLC (3/6/25) Suspension of Security Clearances and Evaluation of Government Contracts (Covington & Burling LLP)(2/25/25) “Complicity in the Perversion of Justice: The Role of Lawyers in Eroding the Rule of Law in the Third Reich,” Cythnia Fountaine, St. Mary's Journal of Legal Ethics (2020)  Check out the OA Linktree for all the places to go and things to do! To support the show (and lose the ads!), please pledge at patreon.com/law!

The White House is waging a pressure campaign against some of the country's most prominent law firms. WSJ's Erin Mulvaney on how the firm Paul, Weiss came to the decision to make a deal with President Trump. Further Reading: -Trump Signs Order Targeting Law Firm Jenner & Block  -Law Firms Scramble to Avoid Being Trump's Next Target  -Why Law Firm Paul Weiss Pleaded Its Case With Trump, and Not With a Court  Further Listening: -Trump 2.0: A Showdown With the Judiciary  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For weeks, President Trump has been issuing executive orders and memos that levy or threaten sanctions on major law firms.The moves suspend security clearances, cancel government contracts, bar employees from federal buildings — and other actions that threaten their ability to represent their clients.While Trump complains the law firms employed "very dishonest people," legal experts say Trump is retaliating against firms who have represented his political opponents or, in one case, rehired an attorney who had left his position to help prosecute a case against Trump.We hear from Rachel Cohen, who publicly resigned from her law firm in protest.For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.Email us at considerthis@npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

P.M. Edition for Mar. 24. As President Trump ramps up his attacks on the legal industry, law firms are split on how to respond. WSJ national legal-affairs reporter Erin Mulvaney discusses the implications for the industry. Plus, Trump recalibrates his plans for tariffs on goods from particular sectors and says he might soften reciprocal tariffs on some nations, though the back-and-forth is hard on U.S. small businesses. Senior special writer Ruth Simon joins to talk about how small businesses are responding. And shares in Tesla, a longtime stock-market highflier, are down more than 30% this year. Reporter Hannah Erin Lang explains why. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for the WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After engaging in a campaign of retribution against his enemies within the federal government, President Trump is turning to those outside of it.Michael S. Schmidt, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, explains what that retribution has looked like for a single law firm — and the impact it has had on the entire legal profession.Guest: Michael S. Schmidt, an investigative reporter for The New York Times, covering Washington.Background reading: The law firm Perkins Coie has sued the Trump administration over an executive order that would make it all but impossible for the firm to advocate for its clients.The president's use of government power to punish law firms is seen by some experts as undercutting a basic tenet: the right to a strong defense.For more information on today's episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. Photo: Maansi Srivastava for The New York Times Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.