legal profession

  • Biden Nominates Circuit Judge’s Brother, Two Prosecutors To Serve On District Courts

    On Wednesday, President Joe Biden nominated three individuals to serve on federal district courts: Elizabeth Coombe, Sarah Davenport, and Sharad Desai. Coombe, a prosecutor in Albany, New York, and Davenport, a prosecutor in Las Cruces, New Mexico, bring extensive legal experience to their nominations. Desai, a corporate lawyer at Honeywell in Phoenix, is the brother…

  • Panel Upholds Sexual Misconduct Findings Against Ex-Alaska Judge

    A national judicial conduct committee has upheld a panel’s findings that a now-former federal judge in Alaska engaged in misconduct by having an inappropriate sexualized relationship with one of his law clerks and creating a hostile work environment for court employees. On Thursday, the Judicial Conference’s Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability affirmed a decision…

  • WilmerHale Latest Law Firm to Add Non-Equity Partner Tier

    Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr announced the introduction of a non-equity partnership tier, marking a shift from the traditional model where all partners share ownership. This new tier will apply to WilmerHale’s new hires, while the existing 253 equity partners will remain unaffected, according to a firm spokesperson on Thursday. Many U.S. law firms…

  • Wisconsin Bar Can’t Dodge Challenge To Mandatory Membership Over Diversity Program

    A federal judge on Monday allowed a lawsuit to proceed that challenges the mandatory membership in the Wisconsin State Bar, arguing that it violates the free speech rights of members who oppose certain initiatives, including diversity programs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries denied the Wisconsin State Bar’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which was brought…

  • World’s First Lawyer with Down Syndrome Graduates in Mexico, Advocates for Disability Rights

    Ana Victoria Espino De Santiago has made legal history by becoming the first lawyer in the world with Down syndrome. A recent graduate of Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas (BUAZ) in Mexico, De Santiago’s remarkable achievement marks a significant milestone for inclusion and representation in the legal profession. Born on January 30, 1999, Ana Victoria…

  • Bill to Add 66 Judges Would Cost $349M Over A Decade, CBO Says

    A bill passed by the U.S. Senate, which aims to add 66 new judges to understaffed federal district courts across the nation, will increase government spending by $349 million over the next decade, according to new estimates from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO, Congress’ nonpartisan fiscal referee, released its analysis late last week…

  • Navigating the Law School Application Process as a Parent

    Pursuing a law degree while raising children is a unique and demanding challenge. As a parent, you’re not only managing the responsibilities of parenthood but also tackling the rigorous demands of law school applications. Having recently navigated a similar journey myself, balancing a PhD program with parenting two young children, I understand the complexities and…

  • Law School Courses To Become More Uniform Under New ABA Accreditation Rule

    Law schools will soon need to establish “minimum learning outcomes” for every class and ensure consistency across all sections of required courses. On Friday, the American Bar Association’s Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar adopted changes to its student learning outcomes standards, aiming to clarify the obligations of law…

  • California Finalizes Deal To Give Its Own Bar Exam

    The State Bar of California has finalized an $8.25 million deal with Kaplan Exam Services to produce the state’s bar exam for the next five years, the attorney licensing body announced on Tuesday. Starting in February, California will no longer use any test components developed by the National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) and will…

  • Texas Judge In Lawsuit By Musk’s X Against Advertisers Exits Case

    A federal judge in Texas, assigned to hear a lawsuit filed by Elon Musk’s social media platform X against a group of advertisers, has removed himself from the case after reports revealed his ownership of shares in another Musk company, Tesla. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor in Fort Worth, Texas, recused himself in a one-paragraph…