Legal Ethics

  • March 20, 2026

    Where Calif. State Courts Landed On Generative AI Use Rules

    The majority of California's 58 superior courts — together making up the country's largest trial court system — have decided to greenlight the use of generative artificial intelligence in their work this year, a Law360 investigation found.

  • March 20, 2026

    Cooperator Rechnitz Can't Avoid Jail At SDNY Resentencing

    A Manhattan federal judge on Friday hit Jona Rechnitz, a prolific cooperating witness who testified at three trials, with a five-month prison sentence for corruption crimes he committed over a decade ago, despite saying "you have done all you can" to atone.

  • March 20, 2026

    No Federal Discipline For Disbarred Conn. Civil Rights Atty

    A Connecticut federal judge has refused to punish a Black civil rights attorney suspended and disbarred by a state superior court judge, saying a similar move in federal court "would result in a grave injustice," and that he found the state judge's decision "puzzling."

  • March 20, 2026

    Beasley Allen Can't Halt DQ Ruling In J&J Talc Litigation

    A New Jersey state appeals court has refused to pause its decision disqualifying the Beasley Allen Law Firm from representing plaintiffs in multicounty litigation over Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder, according to a court order.

  • March 20, 2026

    Morgan & Morgan Wants To Probe Derailment Atty Fee Split

    The firm Morgan & Morgan PA asked an Ohio federal court Friday to reopen discovery in the East Palestine derailment litigation and delve into the decision-making behind the attorney fees for Norfolk Southern's $600 million settlement, after the Sixth Circuit gave the firm a chance to double-check whether it had received its fair share.

  • March 20, 2026

    DOJ Rebuked Over Lack Of Candor For 'Imperious Client'

    A Florida federal judge has rebuked government attorneys for failing to be up-front about legal authority that contradicts their position in a habeas case, warning them not to let their "imperious client" get between them and their ethical obligations.

  • March 19, 2026

    Fired 'Arctic Frost' Agents Accuse FBI Of Political Retribution

    Two former FBI agents who worked on the "Arctic Frost" investigation into President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss have accused the government of abruptly firing them in an unconstitutional act of "political retribution."

  • March 19, 2026

    Ex-Judges Say Anthropic Case Doesn't Merit Court Deference

    Nearly 150 former judges are backing Anthropic's fight against its designation as a "supply chain risk" by the U.S. Department of Defense, telling the D.C. Circuit in an amicus brief that the judiciary shouldn't simply defer to the executive just because it invokes national security.

  • March 19, 2026

    Ga. Court Upholds $3M Judgment In Sibling Trust Dispute

    A Georgia appeals court upheld a more than $3 million judgment against a man who allegedly slow-walked his late mother's trust administration in an attempt to help his daughter get need-based financial aid for college, finding that his malicious conduct justified putting him on the hook for damages and attorney fees. 

  • March 19, 2026

    No Proof Of Discrimination In Ann Arbor Vax Suit, Judge Says

    A Michigan federal judge ruled on Wednesday that three former Ann Arbor employees suing the city because it did not grant them religious exemptions from its COVID-19 vaccine directive did not provide direct evidence of discrimination.

  • March 19, 2026

    Judge Digs Into Counsel Over 'Astronomically High' Fee Bid

    Attorneys who represented classes of people who say they received harassing phone calls from real estate agents in violation of federal telemarketing laws are asking for way too much of the $20 million settlement, according to the California federal judge who tore into them Wednesday.

  • March 19, 2026

    Anatomy Of A Citation Hallucination: AI Edit, Associate Review

    Counsel for consumers in a supplement labeling lawsuit against Amazon responded Wednesday to a Seattle federal judge's order to explain an AI-hallucinated citation, saying the error was introduced by a generative artificial intelligence tool used to "harmonize" drafts of a brief, then missed by a fifth-year Boies Schiller associate tasked with checking the citations.

  • March 19, 2026

    Maya Kowalski Says Atty Made Her 'Uncomfortable'

    The attorney who persuaded a jury to award $261 million to Netflix documentary subject Maya Kowalski also provided unsolicited dating and sex advice to his 18-year-old client and arranged an advance funding loan for the Kowalski family in violation of Florida Bar rules, according to a statement Kowalski filed.

  • March 19, 2026

    Calif. Bill Seeks Legal Aid For Residents Facing Deportation

    California residents facing federal deportation proceedings would receive legal representation under a new bill introduced by state Assemblymember Mia Bonta. 

  • March 19, 2026

    Feds Say Atty Used Stolen Nonprofit Funds To Buy Crypto

    An attorney and former president of the nonprofit preserving Pittsburgh's Duquesne Incline has been indicted, accused of embezzling nearly $1.4 million from the organization, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.

  • March 19, 2026

    Sitting Judges Take Stand Over Threats Growing 'Ordinary'

    On the heels of an ethics opinion giving them wider latitude to speak publicly, sitting federal judges brought attention Thursday to the increasing threats against them and their family members, warning about the dangers of such threats becoming "ordinary."

  • March 19, 2026

    Plaintiff's Attys Withdraw From Michigan Atty Retaliation Case

    Counsel for an attorney pursuing sexual harassment discrimination and retaliation claims against her former firm and ex-mentor have filed to withdraw their representation, citing a "breakdown in the attorney-client relationship."

  • March 19, 2026

    Suspended Conn. Atty Hit With $1M Client Fund Complaint

    A Connecticut attorney who is suspended for failing to comply with overdraft audits was hit Wednesday with a new disciplinary presentment accusing him of not returning $1 million in escrow funds to a client, despite numerous demands.

  • March 19, 2026

    Jackson Walker, US Trustee Reach Deal On Fee Settlements

    The Office of the U.S. Trustee and law firm Jackson Walker LLP on Wednesday resolved the bankruptcy watchdog's opposition to a series of settlements tied to a romantic relationship between a former Jackson Walker attorney and a now-retired bankruptcy judge.

  • March 19, 2026

    Civil Rights Groups Back Creek Freedmen's Citizenship Battle

    Civil rights groups are looking to back two members of the Muscogee Creek Freedmen Band in their bid to postpone a May 30 special tribal election until they're approved for citizenship, arguing that the delay in processing their applications is legally indefensible and risks invalidating the results of the election itself.

  • March 18, 2026

    With Warrants, Good Faith Worth More Than Legality: DC Circ.

    It doesn't matter if the warrant that a D.C. magistrate judge issued to pinpoint the location of a man who was later convicted on drug trafficking and firearms charges was legal because law enforcement thought that it was, the D.C. Circuit has ruled.

  • March 18, 2026

    Texas Judge Blasted After Jailing Truant Student's Mother

    The Texas judicial ethics commission issued a public reprimand against a state judge after he threw the mother of a truant student in jail for contempt without holding a show cause hearing, finding that Judge Jared Shaw failed to comply with the law.

  • March 18, 2026

    Kenyan Firm's Boeing Crash Fee Dispute Largely Proceeds

    An Illinois law firm couldn't escape claims that it owes a Kenyan law firm upward of $1.5 million as part of a fee-sharing agreement stemming from a settlement with Boeing over the 2019 Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max crash, with an Illinois federal judge refusing to call the oral agreement unenforceable.

  • March 18, 2026

    Split 2nd Circ.: NY Officials Belong In Inmate Mental Health Suit

    A split Second Circuit has revived a man's lawsuit alleging state prison officials unconstitutionally placed him in solitary confinement, worsening his mental health condition and ultimately causing him to stab his mother after his release.

  • March 18, 2026

    Ill. Panel Suggests Suspension Of Atty Over Fraud

    An Illinois attorney disciplinary panel has recommended a five-month suspension for a southern Illinois criminal defense lawyer after finding that he knowingly participated in fraudulent real estate loan transactions and helped another attorney carry out the scheme.

Expert Analysis

  • 9 Considerations For Orgs Using AI Meeting Assistants

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    When deciding to use artificial intelligence meeting assistants, organizations must create and implement a written corporate policy that establishes the do's and don'ts for these assistants, taking into account individualized business operations, industry standards and legal and regulatory requirements, say attorneys at Faegre Drinker.

  • A Reminder On Avoiding Improper Venues In Patent Cases

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    A Texas federal court's recent decision in the Symbology and Quantum cases shows that baseless patent venue allegations may be subject to serious Rule 11 sanctions, providing venue-vetting takeaways for plaintiffs and defendants, say attorneys at Bond Schoeneck.

  • 7 Tips For Associates To Thrive In Hybrid Work Environments

    Excerpt from Practical Guidance
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    As the vast majority of law firms have embraced some type of hybrid work policy, associates should consider a few strategies to get the most out of both their in-person and remote workdays, says James Argionis at Cozen O’Connor.

  • Series

    Playing Beach Volleyball Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    My commitment to beach volleyball has become integral to my performance as an attorney, with the sport continually reminding me that teamwork, perseverance, professionalism and stress management are essential to both undertakings, says Amy Drushal at Trenam.

  • How Law Firms Can Counteract The Loneliness Epidemic

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    The legal industry is facing an urgent epidemic of loneliness, affecting lawyer well-being, productivity, retention and profitability, and law firm leaders should take concrete steps to encourage the development of genuine workplace connections, says Michelle Gomez at Littler and Gwen Mellor Romans at Herald Talent.

  • 5 Keys To Building Stronger Attorney-Client Relationships

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    Attorneys are often focused on being seen as the expert, but bonding with clients and prospects by sharing a few key personal details provides the basis for a caring, trusted and profoundly deeper business relationship, says Deb Feder at Feder Development.

  • What SDNY Judge Can And Can't Do In Adams Case

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    The federal judge in the Southern District of New York overseeing the criminal case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams deferred making a decision on the government's motion to dismiss the indictment, and while he does have limited authority to deny the motion, that would ultimately be a futile gesture, says Ethan Greenberg at Anderson Kill.

  • Series

    Racing Corvettes Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The skills I use when racing Corvettes have enhanced my legal practice in several ways, because driving, like practicing law, requires precision, awareness and a good set of brakes — complete with the wisdom to know how and when to use them, says Kat Mateo at Olshan Frome.

  • Opinion

    Attorneys Must Act Now To Protect Judicial Independence

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    Given the Trump administration's recent moves threatening the independence of the judiciary, including efforts to impeach judges who ruled against executive actions, lawyers must protect the rule of law and resist attempts to dilute the judicial branch’s authority, says attorney Bhavleen Sabharwal.

  • Rethinking 'No Comment' For Clients Facing Public Crises

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    “No comment” is no longer a cost-free or even a viable public communications strategy for companies in crisis, and counsel must tailor their guidance based on a variety of competing factors to help clients emerge successfully, says Robert Bowers at Moore & Van Allen.

  • How Design Thinking Can Help Lawyers Find Purpose In Work

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    Lawyers everywhere are feeling overwhelmed amid mass government layoffs, increasing political instability and a justice system stretched to its limits — but a design-thinking framework can help attorneys navigate this uncertainty and find meaning in their work, say law professors at the University of Michigan.

  • Series

    Competitive Weightlifting Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    The parallels between the core principles required for competitive weightlifting and practicing law have helped me to excel in both endeavors, with each holding important lessons about discipline, dedication, drive and failure, says Damien Bielli at VF Law.

  • Opinion

    Inconsistent Injury-In-Fact Rules Hinder Federal Practice

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    A recent Third Circuit decision, contradicting a previous ruling about whether consumers of contaminated products have suffered an injury in fact, illustrates the deep confusion this U.S. Supreme Court standard creates among federal judges and practitioners, who deserve a simpler method of determining which cases have federal standing, says Eric Dwoskin at Dwoskin Wasdin.

  • In-House Counsel Pointers For Preserving Atty-Client Privilege

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    Several recent rulings illustrate the challenges in-house counsel can face when attempting to preserve attorney-client privilege, but a few best practices can help safeguard communications and effectively assert the privilege in an increasingly scrutinized corporate environment, says Daniel Garrie at Law & Forensics.

  • Applying ABA Atty Role Guidance To White Collar Matters

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    The American Bar Association’s recently published guidance, clarifying the duties outside counsel owes to both organizational clients and those organizations' constituents, provides best practices that attorneys representing companies in white collar and other investigative matters should heed, say attorneys at MoFo.

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