Legal Ethics

  • March 06, 2026

    FCC Wants To Make It Easier To Kick People Out Of USF

    The Federal Communications Commission wants to make it easier to boot people or entities from the Universal Service Fund, the agency's multibillion-dollar subsidy fund, if it believes they aren't following the rules they agreed to when they signed up.

  • March 06, 2026

    Meta, Google Begin Defense As Mental Harm Plaintiff Rests

    Attorneys for the plaintiff in a landmark bellwether California trial in a suit accusing Instagram and YouTube of harming children's mental health rested their case Friday, opting not to call the plaintiff's mother to testify live despite the defense portraying her as the potential cause of the plaintiff's mental health struggles.

  • March 06, 2026

    Calif. Judge Blasts Ex-Venture Capitalist In Axing SVB Suit

    Convicted venture capitalist and self-described "Silicon Valley's party animal" Michael Rothenberg's conduct in his lawsuit against the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., acting on behalf of the failed Silicon Valley Bank, "consisted almost entirely of ignoring or frustrating" his litigation obligations, a California federal judge ruled in throwing out the case.

  • March 06, 2026

    Former Calif. Securities Atty Gets Year For Tax Evasion

    A former Southern California securities attorney Friday was sentenced to a year and a day in prison for evading paying his personal taxes and was ordered to pay over $350,000 in restitution to the IRS.

  • March 06, 2026

    Ex-Girardi Keese Atty Pleads Guilty For Role In Client Scandal

    Former Girardi Keese attorney Keith Griffin pled guilty to criminal contempt in Illinois federal court on Thursday for his role in the firm's failure to pay millions ​in client settlement funds to relatives of victims killed in the crash of Lion Air Flight 610.

  • March 06, 2026

    Courts Aren't Ignoring Justices' TPS Orders, Ex-Judges Say

    Over 175 former federal and state judges have slammed the Trump administration's claim that lower courts "flouted" interim orders from the U.S. Supreme Court in litigation involving the administration's revocation of foreign nationals' temporary protected status, saying they weren't binding.

  • March 06, 2026

    Bank Beats Sanctions Bid In Jail Debit Card Fees Suit

    Central Bank of Kansas City has been ordered to produce more documents related to a prepaid debit card program for formerly incarcerated people in an excessive fee class action, but will not face monetary sanctions for its failure to comply fully with a previous court order.

  • March 06, 2026

    Florida Bar Rescinds Claim Agency Is Investigating Halligan

    The Florida Bar said Friday that it is not investigating controversial former interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan, walking back a previous assertion it had made in a letter to a nonprofit that it was probing Halligan's actions.

  • March 06, 2026

    NJ Talc Suit Will Proceed Amid Beasley Allen DQ Appeal

    The New Jersey Supreme Court has declined to stay multicounty litigation over Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder brought by hundreds of women who allege their ovarian cancer was linked to the product, while Beasley Allen appeals its removal as plaintiff's counsel over a firm partner's collaboration with the pharmaceutical giant's former outside counsel.

  • March 06, 2026

    Suspended Atty Can Become Paralegal After $3M Scheme

    A suspended Connecticut lawyer who pled guilty to moving $3 million in pump-and-dump stock scheme proceeds through his attorney trust account can become a paralegal under the supervision of another lawyer, according to a plan approved by a state trial court judge.

  • March 06, 2026

    Constantine Cannon Defends Handling Of Sutter $75M Fee

    Constantine Cannon LLP pushed back against Schneider Wallace Cottrell Kim LLP's allegations it unfairly reduced Schneider Wallace's share of a $75.4 million fee award in Sutter Health's $228.5 million antitrust deal, arguing in California federal court that the firm "sat on the sidelines" for most of the decadelong fight and isn't entitled to a bigger cut.

  • March 06, 2026

    'Cop City' Protester Sues UNC Law Over Campus Lockout

    A former University of North Carolina law student has sued the school and several administrators alleging that they initiated an unconstitutional disciplinary process that resulted in banning them from campus and blocking graduation attendance based on "baseless" criminal charges stemming from "Cop City" protests in Atlanta.

  • March 06, 2026

    Investors Accuse Alston & Bird Of Aiding $328M Crypto Fraud

    Several investors have brought a Florida federal proposed class action alleging legal malpractice against Alston & Bird LLP, accusing the law firm of drafting joint venture agreements that were used to aid a $328 million cryptocurrency scam. 

  • March 06, 2026

    Louisiana Atty Sanctioned Over AI Hallucinations In Filing

    A Louisiana attorney was fined $1,000 Thursday for his use of artificial intelligence in drafting an error-riddled brief, while three co-counsel were spared penalty.

  • March 06, 2026

    Pa. High Court Snapshot: AG Powers, Gun Parts, CEO Bonus

    The Pennsylvania Supreme Court this month will revisit a ruling on the state attorney general's power over civil suits brought by county-level district attorneys in a case stemming from the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh district attorneys' objections to a $26 billion opioid settlement.

  • March 06, 2026

    Dems Again Push For Independent Immigration Courts

    Democrats have again introduced a bill that would shift the immigration courts from the executive branch to an independent judiciary, following concerns that the Trump administration has "weaponized" the system.

  • March 05, 2026

    Lindsey Halligan Faces Fla. Bar Investigation, Watchdog Says

    The Florida Bar is investigating Lindsey Halligan, the former interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia who pursued controversial indictments against President Donald Trump's political opponents, according to a letter the Campaign for Accountability made public Thursday.

  • March 05, 2026

    OpenAI Practices Law Without A License, Insurer Alleges

    OpenAI is practicing law without a license, according to an insurer's lawsuit filed in Illinois federal court that alleges artificial intelligence platform ChatGPT provided faulty legal advice to a woman seeking disability benefits that led to a breached settlement and a flurry of frivolous court filings.

  • March 05, 2026

    Apple AirTag Judge Compares Fight To Uber Sex Assault MDL

    A California federal judge indicated Thursday that he likely won't certify a class of stalking victims suing Apple for designing AirTags that were susceptible to abuse by stalkers, comparing the case to litigation against Uber Technologies Inc. over driver sexual assaults, which proceeded as coordinated multidistrict litigation rather than a class action.

  • March 05, 2026

    Wash. Lawyer Disbarred For Theft Of Client Funds, False Docs

    Washington's highest court Thursday disbarred attorney Stephen K. Monro, rejecting his argument that a Washington State Bar Association hearing officer applied the wrong standard of proof when considering evidence against him.

  • March 05, 2026

    Colo. Appeals Court Finds Atty's Suit 'Frivolous'

    The Colorado Court of Appeals upheld Thursday a lower court's order of attorney fees as a sanction against a lawyer and his counsel, agreeing that the lawyer's malpractice lawsuit could be considered "substantially frivolous, groundless and vexatious."

  • March 05, 2026

    Hyundai Faces $9.8M Sanction For Car Destruction

    A Pennsylvania court has awarded two car dealerships nearly $9.8 million as a sanction against Hyundai Motor America after finding Hyundai "consciously" crushed cars they acquired before alleging, without evidence, that they intentionally damaged them to exploit Hyundai's vehicle repurchases.

  • March 05, 2026

    Signal 'Never' Regular Biz Practice, Amazon Tells FTC Judge

    Amazon.com Inc. assailed the Federal Trade Commission for accusing the company of using auto-deleting Signal chats and improper privilege claims to hide evidence of rules that created an artificial pricing floor across online retail stores, telling a Washington federal judge that it never hid anything.

  • March 05, 2026

    NY Court Reverses Fraud, Unlicenced Lawyer Convictions

    A New York City man convicted by jury of grand larceny, scheming to defraud, criminal impersonation and practicing law without a license has had his judgments reversed by a New York state appeals court for being based on "duplicitous" charges or being against the weight of the evidence.

  • March 05, 2026

    UK Law Sector's Private Equity Boom Offers Lessons For US

    Private equity money is pouring into the U.K. legal sector, fueling a wave of consolidation in consumer-facing practices and offering a glimpse of what it could look like if outside investment in the U.S. legal industry takes off.

Expert Analysis

  • Prisoners' Access To Health Info Should Have No Bars

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    To safeguard against unnecessary deaths in custody, courts and policymakers should clarify that incarcerated individuals’ constitutional right to medical care also includes access to sufficient information about their medical conditions, lifting current restrictions that can lead to crucial information being withheld, says Jaehyun Oh at Jacob Fuchsberg Law.

  • Series

    Law School's Missed Lessons: How To Start A Law Firm

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    Launching and sustaining a law firm requires skills most law schools don't teach, but every lawyer should understand a few core principles that can make the leap calculated rather than reckless, says Sam Katz at Athlaw.

  • Series

    Hosting Exchange Students Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Opening my home to foreign exchange students makes me a better lawyer not just because prioritizing visiting high schoolers forces me to hone my organization and time management skills but also because sharing the study-abroad experience with newcomers and locals reconnects me to my community, says Alison Lippa at Nicolaides Fink.

  • How A 1947 Tugboat Ruling May Shape Work Product In AI Era

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    Rapid advances in generative artificial intelligence test work-product principles first articulated in the U.S. Supreme Court’s nearly 80-year-old Hickman v. Taylor decision, as courts and ethics bodies confront whether disclosure of attorneys’ AI prompts and outputs would reveal their thought processes, say Larry Silver and Sasha Burton at Langsam Stevens.

  • Navigating Privilege Law Patchwork In Dual-Purpose Comms

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    Three years after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to resolve a circuit split in In re: Grand Jury, federal courts remain split as to when attorney-client privilege applies to dual-purpose legal and business communications, and understanding the fragmented landscape is essential for managing risks, say attorneys at Covington.

  • Considerations In Building Guardrails For AI Use In Arbitration

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    A recent California federal court case involving allegations of artificial intelligence ghostwriting an arbitration award, prior analogous practice on tribunal delegation, and emerging generative AI recommendations all support building a forward-looking framework for arbitration rules to minimize the risk of AI-based challenges, say attorneys at Crowell & Moring.

  • Series

    Fly-Fishing Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Much like skilled attorneys, the best anglers prize preparation, presentation and patience while respecting their adversaries — both human and trout, says Rob Braverman at Braverman Greenspun.

  • 4 Ways GCs Can Manage Growing Service Of Process Volume

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    As automation and arbitration increase the volume of legal filings, in-house counsel must build scalable service of process systems that strengthen corporate governance and manage risk in real time, says Paul Mathews at Corporation Service Co.

  • Series

    The Law Firm Merger Diaries: Forming Measurable Ties

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    Relationship-building should begin as early as possible in a law firm merger, as intentional pathways to bringing people together drive collaboration, positive client response, engagements and growth, says Amie Colby at Troutman.

  • Wis. Sanctions Order May Shake Up Securities Class Actions

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    A Wisconsin federal court’s recent decision to impose sanctions on a plaintiffs law firm for filing a frivolous Private Securities Litigation Reform Act complaint in Toft v. Harbor Diversified may cause both plaintiffs and defendants law firms to reconsider certain customary practices in securities class actions, says Jonathan Richman at Brown Rudnick.

  • 5 E-Discovery Predictions For 2026 And Beyond

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    2026 will likely be shaped by issues ranging from artificial intelligence regulatory turbulence to potential evidence rule changes, and e-discovery professionals will need to understand how to effectively guide the responsible and defensible adoption of emerging tools, while also ensuring effective safeguards, say attorneys at Littler.

  • Series

    Judges On AI: How Courts Can Boost Access To Justice

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    Arizona Court of Appeals Judge Samuel A. Thumma writes that generative artificial intelligence tools offer a profound opportunity to enhance access to justice and engender public confidence in courts’ use of technology, and judges can seize this opportunity in five key ways.

  • Opinion

    The Case For Emulating, Not Dividing, The Ninth Circuit

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    Champions for improved judicial administration should reject the unfounded criticisms driving recent Senate proposals to divide the Ninth Circuit and instead seek to replicate the court's unique strengths and successes, says Ninth Circuit Judge J. Clifford Wallace.

  • 3 DC Circ. Rulings Signal Shift In Search And Seizure Doctrine

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    A trio of decisions from courts in the District of Columbia Circuit, including a recent order compelling prosecutors to return materials seized from James Comey’s former attorney, makes clear that continued government possession of digital evidence may implicate the Fourth Amendment, says Gregory Rosen at RJO.

  • Series

    Muay Thai Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Muay Thai kickboxing has taught me that in order to win, one must stick to one's game plan and adapt under pressure, just as when facing challenges by opposing counsel or judges, says Mark Schork at Feldman Shepherd.

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