ABA Journal

Barrister’s new mystery novel offers glimpse inside the Inner Temple

Since it was seized from the Knights Templar in the 14th century, the Inner Temple in London has housed acolytes of a different sort: men (and eventually women) who serve as advocates of the law. It’s also the setting of “A Case of Mice and Murder.”

Jun 18, 2025 11:00 AM CDT

BigLaw’s manufactured ‘arms race’ for talent recruitment harms us all

BigLaw has manufactured an “arms race” for talent that is hurting employers, students, recruiters, career counselors and legal educators alike. Like most arms races, the action of one law firm has triggered the reactions of others, all seeking to cultivate the impression of superior strength while instead imposing enormous (and often-absurd) costs on everyone.

Jun 18, 2025 8:36 AM CDT

California Supreme Court OKs provisional licensure—but not for all February candidates

First-time California bar candidates who failed or withdrew from the disastrous February launch of the state bar’s new exam can apply to practice law with the supervision of a licensed attorneys, a move some deem “too little, too late.” That chance came Wednesday after the California Supreme Court approved the State Bar of California’s request to extend the state’s provisional licensure program that was launched in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jun 13, 2025 11:00 AM CDT

Resilience From a Roman: Lessons from Marcus Aurelius on weathering adversity

Lawyers have plenty of reasons to feel overwhelmed these days. Beyond taking on our clients’ problems as our own, technology is roiling the bar, and the courts and politics feels more contentious than ever, sowing anxiety and uncertainty in an already-stressed profession.

Jun 12, 2025 10:51 AM CDT

How ethics reforms in Arizona led to LegalZoom’s law firm

The notion of nonlawyer ownership for law firms has long been a third rail, often resulting in bitter conflict between its proponents and its opponents. LegalZoom is certainly no stranger to this battle.

Jun 11, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

Coco Su helps expand access to justice throughout California

Coco Su has worked with the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s lawyer referral service, SmartLaw, for more than a decade and is now its director. She has been the driving force behind many of its efforts to increase access to justice for underserved communities and low-to-moderate income consumers.

Jun 9, 2025 9:12 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: SCOTUS takes on multiple challenges to executive orders from Trump administration

The first four months of Donald Trump’s second term as president have been unlike anything in American history with the issuance of a large number of executive orders, many of which are of dubious constitutionality and legality.

Jun 4, 2025 12:13 PM CDT

How a Florida murder and an unlikely justice created a ‘criminal procedure revolution’

In Chambers v. Florida and the Criminal Justice Revolution, historian and former ABA Journal editor Richard Brust lifts the veil on a case that laid the groundwork for some much more famous civil rights victories.

Jun 4, 2025 8:45 AM CDT

Horse of a Different Color: In the age of AI, lawyers must set aside resistance to change

“It’s time to stop standing on the sidewalk throwing rocks at whatever new AI capabilities are now available to the public. Sabotaging the roads will not slow the pace of change. … More regulations will likely do little to shape the emerging AI era.”

Jun 2, 2025 2:07 PM CDT

For this lawyer, a blip at law school didn’t translate to a failed career

“What I love about being a lawyer is that at the core, we’re helping people every single day,” says Katie McConnell of Moore & Van Allen. “You have to understand the substance of the law practice, but beyond that, what makes a good lawyer is putting on the extra touches in terms of client services.”

Jun 2, 2025 9:02 AM CDT

Letters: Phone bans

Phone bans Disappointingly absent from “Hold the Phone” (April-May, page 30), an otherwise well-done examination of school restrictions on students’ possession and use of electronic devices while on school property, was any discussion of how such bans might burden students’ First Amendment right to receive information and communicate with each…

Jun 1, 2025 2:50 AM CDT

Why video is the secret weapon for lawyers’ marketing

Video content has emerged as a significant tool for law firms seeking to establish authority and attract clients. While traditional marketing methods remain valuable, video has become increasingly important for legal professionals in building trust, demonstrating expertise and connecting with potential clients.

Jun 1, 2025 2:20 AM CDT

Relationship building is not just a side hustle

We like to think of relationships as optional—a side hustle to the real work of getting deals done, climbing ladders or checking boxes. But here’s the thing: Your skills get you in the room, your experience keeps you at the table, but relationships are what actually move things forward.

Jun 1, 2025 2:10 AM CDT

In legal writing, consistency matters

You want your readers focusing on the content of what you say, not on curiosities of spelling or inconsistencies in your own style.

Jun 1, 2025 2:00 AM CDT

How to conduct an oral argument effectively

Oral argument is the most visible part of appellate practice. So it’s natural to get anxious. Here is a beginning-to-end guide on how to conduct an oral argument effectively.

Jun 1, 2025 1:40 AM CDT