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820 ABA Journal Columns articles.

Old MacDonald’s divorce is a case of ‘E-I-E-I-Oh no’

We all know Old MacDonald had a farm. And we all know that on his farm, he had an assortment of animals, including chickens, horses and ducks. But little is known about his wife, Edna.

Jan 8, 2026 10:14 AM CST

Chemerinsky: Supreme Court moves into new year with potential landmark cases

The matters already on the docket, as well as those likely to arrive, promise many blockbuster decisions that will shape American government and directly affect people’s lives in a myriad of ways. Here are some of the stories to look for.

Jan 5, 2026 9:22 AM CST

Prompting Prose: When used correctly, AI in legal writing can be a useful tool

Although we hear a lot of talk about artificial intelligence, a large segment of the legal profession knows little about it and hasn’t tried it. Some bemoan this technological revolution, fearing it will cause human skills to shrivel. My own conviction is that whatever harm bad actors might do with it, in good hands, it’s a tool that can benefit people. For the lawyer, it’s like having a superb assistant who is remarkably efficient.

Jan 1, 2026 1:00 AM CST

Federal Student Loan Update: Key changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill that affect lawyers

Enactment in the summer of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act ushered in landmark changes to the federal student loan system. The act will require prospective law students to plan differently for financing their education and will affect lawyers’ repayments of their student debt.

Jan 1, 2026 12:15 AM CST

Legal tech GCs, chief legal officers reflect on 2025, share vision for 2026

Legal industry analyst Ari Kaplan hosted his inaugural Ari Kaplan Advisors Legal Tech GC/CLO Roundtable to reflect on the legal industry in 2025 and discuss key challenges, trends and opportunities likely to affect strategic priorities in 2026.

Dec 23, 2025 1:10 PM CST

Holiday meals in jail? Prison food: the good, the bad and the glorified

The holidays are a time for reflection: what we have, what we’ve lost, and what we hope to find. For people who’ve lost their freedom, that contemplation and those memories likely hit hard. Incarcerated or free, it’s still the holidays.

Dec 22, 2025 1:43 PM CST

Chemerinsky: A look back at the Supreme Court in 2025 reflects its conservative leanings

What will be the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in the midst of a presidency that is challenging constitutional limits, and at a time when the country is deeply ideologically divided? The court provided initial answers to those questions in 2025.

Dec 22, 2025 9:18 AM CST

‘Am I the Drama?’ What Cardi B can teach the legal profession

When rapper Cardi B released Am I the Drama? just weeks after winning a high-profile assault lawsuit, she turned legal adversity into cultural commentary. From narrative framing and courtroom conduct to trial publicity and client counseling, her experience offers practical lessons for lawyers and law students on managing reputation, evidence and ethics in the court of law and the court of public opinion.

Dec 17, 2025 9:01 AM CST

The legal tech stories that defined 2025

There was nothing typical about the past year. The only constant was change. Legal technology announcements rolled out nonstop, making it nearly impossible to stay on top of all the updates. Investment from venture capital and private equity firms was record-breaking. Artificial intelligence advanced faster than any of the technologies that preceded it, and the number of new legal tech AI startups launched in 2025 was so high that it felt like a game of whack-a-mole.

Dec 15, 2025 2:16 PM CST

Why state bars are struggling to keep pace with AI in legal practice

Walk into any law firm today, and you’ll likely find attorneys using artificial intelligence tools for everything from contract analysis to brief writing. Yet if you walk into most state bar associations, you’ll find regulatory frameworks that haven’t caught up to this new reality.

Dec 15, 2025 12:31 PM CST

Pro bono work is the epitome of the holiday spirit

It may a be little-known fact to those outside the legal community, but attorneys give a significant amount of time and energy over the course of a year doing pro bono work.

Dec 11, 2025 9:25 AM CST

Why employers are the missing voice in the public service loan forgiveness debate

Few federal programs sit more squarely at that intersection of policy, workforce sustainability, and access to justice like Public Service Loan Forgiveness. While borrower experiences have shaped the public narrative, a critical voice has been largely absent from congressional debate: the employers who rely on PSLF every day to recruit and retain the public sector professionals that keep our justice system moving.

Dec 10, 2025 1:45 PM CST

Interested in watching Kim Kardashian’s new legal series? This lawyer suggests that you don’t

In addition to starting on the path to be a lawyer, Kim Kardashian plays one on TV, in Hulu’s All’s Fair. Lawyer and columnist Adam Banner watched two episodes, so you don’t have to watch any.

Dec 8, 2025 12:58 PM CST

How to address financial challenges in a law firm succession plan

Many law firms have to plan for the eventual departure of increasingly large numbers of aging partners. Having a strong financial plan for these departures will help smooth the transition of leadership roles and operational responsibilities.

Dec 8, 2025 10:18 AM CST

Are you thinking about retirement? Now what?

Retirement is a significant life event that often inspires a mixture of fear, excitement and uncertainty. The ABA Senior Lawyers Division recently aired Stephen Herman’s documentary, Retirement on Trial: A Documentary and Panel Discussion for Lawyers Thinking About Their Next Stage, which examines retirement through the lens of lawyers who are both apprehensive and optimistic about this transition.

Dec 3, 2025 2:33 PM CST

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Old MacDonald's divorce is a case of 'E-I-E-I-Oh no'

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