legal profession

  • 20-Partner Team Leaves Holland & Knight For Rival Law Firm Polsinelli

    Law firm Polsinelli announced on Tuesday that it has opened an office in Philadelphia with a group of at least 20 partners from Holland & Knight. This new office marks the third that Kansas City, Missouri-founded Polsinelli has launched since June. Last month, Polsinelli opened offices in Fort Worth, Texas, and Park City, Utah. Polsinelli…

  • Los Angeles Court Closed After Ransomware Attack

    The Los Angeles Superior Court, the largest single unified trial court in the country, closed on Monday due to a ransomware attack that affected its systems late last week. The court announced on Sunday that all 36 courthouse locations in the county would remain closed Monday as court personnel and security experts worked to repair…

  • California Forges Ahead With Plan To Give Its Own Bar Exam In 2025

    The State Bar of California plans to administer its own bar exam as early as February 2025, parting ways with the national attorney licensing test. On Thursday, the state bar’s board of trustees authorized officials to finalize and execute an $8.25 million, five-year contract with Kaplan Test Prep to develop bar exam questions. This decision…

  • Alaska Judge Scandal Prompts Referral To DOJ Watchdog

    The U.S. Department of Justice on Friday referred a judicial misconduct investigation of a federal judge in Alaska to its internal watchdog. This investigation concerns conflicts prosecutors who appeared before the judge may have faced. The department revealed the referral after Alaska’s top federal public defender, Jamie McGrady, requested that the Justice Department’s inspector general…

  • Study Recommends US Judiciary Improve Workplace Misconduct Systems

    The federal judiciary should award monetary damages to employees who suffer workplace misconduct at the hands of judges and increase transparency regarding how courts handle worker complaints internally, according to a congressionally directed study released Wednesday. The study’s 34 recommendations appeared in a 200-page report by the judiciary’s research arm and a congressionally chartered academic…

  • Prosecutor In 2017 Anti-Trump Protest Cases Faces Attorney Ethics Charges

    A U.S. federal prosecutor faces disciplinary charges for allegedly using deceptively edited videos as evidence against people arrested during protests at Republican President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration. Jennifer Kerkhoff Muyskens edited videos recorded by a conservative activist group to remove footage that could have helped clear the protesters of criminal charges, according to a complaint…

  • Former Alaska Judge Had Potential Conflicts In 23 Cases, Prosecutors Say

    Federal prosecutors in Alaska have identified 23 criminal cases where attorneys appearing before a federal judge, who resigned last week amid sexual misconduct accusations, may have had undisclosed conflicts of interest. A top federal prosecutor sent the list in an email on Friday, which Reuters reviewed. This occurred four days after the 9th Circuit Judicial…

  • Judiciary To Consider New Ethical Guidance For Law Clerk Hiring

    The federal judiciary is considering whether it needs new ethical guidance on hiring law clerks following controversy involving two judges who hired a clerk accused of racist conduct while at a conservative advocacy group. The clerk later secured a prestigious clerkship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The U.S. Judicial Conference, the judiciary’s policymaking…

  • Busting Law School Myths: Why You Shouldn’t Let Misconceptions Hold You Back

    Considering law school? Whether you’re fresh out of undergrad or contemplating a career change, the decision can feel daunting, especially when surrounded by myths and misconceptions about the process. In this blog, I’ll dive into some common myths about law school, debunk them with real examples and data, and ultimately encourage you to pursue your…

  • How To Write Law School “Why Us” Essays

    When applying to law school, it can be a bit overwhelming with all of the information and writing you have to do. Especially when it comes to the “Why Us” essay. You may wonder how you can perfect your essay to convince your first choice law school in accepting you to their program. In short,…