#legal-profession

#legal-profession

* Maduro's legal team anchored by Julian Assange's lawyer. [ NY Law Journal] * Meanwhile, the DOJ just dropped its claims that Maduro ran the "Cartel de los Soles" after acknowledging that it's not even a real group. Exactly the sort of airtight prosecution you'd expect to see before killing 40-80 people to make an arrest. [ NY Times] * Chamber of Commerce will get an expedited appeal on challenge to Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee. [ Law360]

The US legal profession was just one of the pillars of American democracy that was targeted in the early days of the second Trump administration. At EFF, we were proud to publicly and loudly support the legal profession and, most importantly, continue to do our work challenging the government's erosion of digital rights-work that became even more critical as many law firms shied away from pro bono work.

A 69-year-old Colorado attorney was hospitalized with serious injuries after a man attacked him earlier this week using an "MMA style takedown" before a court hearing. CBS Colorado reports that Daniel Alexander Ashby, 36, has been jailed for investigation of felony assault after he allegedly attacked 69-year-old attorney H. Michael Steinberg.

The lawsuit challenges the government's unconstitutional campaign to pressure law firms and attorneys into silence. Through executive orders, blacklists, canceled contracts and inflammatory public statements, the administration has tried to turn the justice system into an instrument of partisan loyalty.

Each citation, each argument, each procedural decision is a mark upon the clay, an indelible impression. [I]n the ancient libraries of Ashurbanipal, scribes carried their stylus as both tool and sacred trust-understanding that every mark upon clay would endure long beyond their mortal span.

TO BE ANSWERED USING GENERATIVE AI: How much do you use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT right now? What's your prediction for how much you will use them by the time you graduate from law school? Why?

The American Lawyer has compiled a ranking of Am Law 200 firms based on their pro bono work in 2024, focusing on average pro bono hours and lawyer participation.

"I feel incredibly fortunate to be doing work I love," Quinones noted. "It allows me to introduce people from all walks of life to our justice system, to help shape and support rising legal talent, and to mentor future generations of judges, lawyers and leaders."

"Puerto Rico's Supreme Court has introduced a new set of professional conduct rules, notably mandating technology competence for lawyers, reflecting the evolving legal landscape."

In a contentious exchange between two formidable figures, Steve Bannon suggested the need for nationalizing SpaceX, underscoring the tensions surrounding corporate influence in space exploration.

Professional courtesy should not pressure lawyers to waive substantive rights; it’s crucial to maintain integrity in legal matters while also collaborating in existing procedures.

"It was a very hard decision, but it's one of those situations where you're doing something that might be painful in the short term, but in the long term, it will have a much broader impact on the greater good for everybody else."

Self-care isn't just about isolated moments of rest or occasional treats. It's about how I live every day. By making deliberate, practical choices, I've built a daily foundation that supports my well-being, energy, and joy.

The cases highlight a troubling trend where legal professionals rely on AI-generated materials without proper verification, leading to significant inaccuracies in legal brief submissions.

"All of us who worked with him marveled at his astonishing ability to absorb large amounts of highly technical information and quickly produce thoughtful and nuanced analyses."

If you're one of those lawyers toiling away at the firm and dreaming of a nice in-house job, consider the plight of this chief legal officer.