The 2025 Am Law 100 survey results are out and they show dramatic changes in how BigLaw is structured and operated. These changes are so transformative that the reasonable expectations of lawyers, based on the previous reality, may be unfulfilled. Those lawyers may end up believing that the promises made to them in law school…
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Thinking about coming to California? If so, you’ll have lots of competition, but there also may be lots of opportunities. Of the more than over 1.3 million lawyers in the United States, a quarter of them are in just two states – New York and California. There are about 190,000 active attorneys in California with…
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“Bad actors” refers to lawyers who behave badly, either by engaging in inappropriate conduct (sexual or otherwise) or harassing others on the job. Yet they progress in their legal careers, sometimes earning bigger and better titles and compensation packages, while continuing to behave badly in new settings. What can be done about them? Do recruiters…
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At the beginning of the 21st century, in 2002, the first ‘new model” (aka distributed or virtual) law firm was launched. The firm, FisherBroyles, now ranks 148 on the AmLaw 200. At the start of 2024, 130 lawyers spun off from FisherBroyles to form Pierson Ferdinand, offering changes to the original model. Pierson Ferdinand now…
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It’s typical for attorneys to cycle into and out of government and private practice when there’s a change of administration, especially if there’s a change of political party in the White House. More than 44,000 licensed attorneys serve in the federal government, according to March 2024 data from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Most…
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As Ben Franklin said, “in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” We need trust and estate lawyers to manage both. But there’s a dearth of up-and-coming practitioners, leading to a critical shortage just when we’re anticipating the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history. In the June 2024 episode of the “Trust…
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The legal profession is no playground, so why are schoolyard bullies running rampant? A recent study commissioned by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism found that, of the more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers who responded, almost a quarter experienced bullying within the past year. See Bullying in the Legal Profession: A Study of Illinois…
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What do candidates want from their legal recruiter? The bottom line is that candidates want their recruiter to care, listen, streamline the process, and guide them throughout the career transition. They want their recruiter to push for the best fit for both the candidate and the firm, not just to make a deal. They want…
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Pursuing a passion outside of law might be the best thing you can do for your legal career. In a recent series of articles in Law360, lawyers explored why their hobbies and extracurricular activities made them better lawyers. Their message: Taking time away from law practice to follow your heart is not distraction; rather, if…
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If you’re going to spend the time and money attending a conference, you want to get the most out of it. “Be present in the moment and really immerse yourself in the experience,” recommends Stefanie Marrone, Law Firm Business Development and Marketing Director. But, to do that, you must invest a little thought and planning.…
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