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Shop safely this Black Friday and Cyber Monday with our 2020 Gifts for Lawyers guide (gallery)

Regardless of what you’re celebrating this year, it’s plain that the holiday season is going to look a bit different because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean that the joy—and fun—of finding the right present for the lawyer, judge or other legal professional in your life has to take a backseat.

Nov 24, 2020 9:58 AM CST

2020 in review: Legal software for working remotely

2020 was my third year writing this legal technology column for the ABA Journal. When I put pen to paper—so to speak—to write my first column of the year back in January, I had no inkling of the upheaval and disruption that would soon befall our country and the world.

Nov 23, 2020 10:50 AM CST

Pandemic problems may be defense for law schools not meeting bar passage standard

Law schools now must report the number of recent graduates admitted by diploma privilege in their annual questionnaires in addition to those who took and passed a bar exam.

Nov 23, 2020 8:53 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Peremptory challenge curbs allowed; more federal courts halt jury trials

Juror shortages lead to curbs on peremptory challenges

Judges in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, are allowed to ban or reduce peremptory challenges in civil cases to avoid running out of potential…

Nov 20, 2020 4:06 PM CST

Federal inmate tried by all-white jury is executed after Supreme Court lifts execution stay

Federal death-row inmate Orlando Hall was executed Thursday after the U.S. Supreme Court lifted an execution stay issued by a federal judge who said the government needed a prescription for the execution drug.

Nov 20, 2020 9:39 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: COVID-19 cited in halt to execution; ‘not qualified’ Jones Day associate confirmed to bench

Judge delays execution after lawyers contract COVID-19

U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss has delayed the federal execution of Lisa Montgomery because her lawyers contracted COVID-19 after visiting her in prison.…

Nov 19, 2020 4:15 PM CST

Some law firms are tweaking partner compensation models because of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic may push law firms that were already reevaluating their partner compensation systems to go forward with changes.

Nov 19, 2020 2:27 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Bankruptcy judge OKs opioid deal; judge bans immigration arrests at some courts

Bankruptcy judge approves opioid deal

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain in New York has approved a settlement between the government and Purdue Pharma, a maker of OxyContin, to resolve…

Nov 18, 2020 4:17 PM CST

Constant communication has been key amid COVID-19, law school dean says

“We have all gone above and beyond to ensure that we are creating relationships with our students and mechanisms for ensuring they have the ability to contact us, to learn from us, to ask the questions they have,” says L. Song Richardson.

Nov 18, 2020 9:00 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Trump campaign loses ballot access case; ex-Knicks player wins appeal

Top Pennsylvania court rules against Trump campaign

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has reversed an appellate order that gave observers from the Trump campaign closer access to the ballot count in…

Nov 17, 2020 4:48 PM CST

2 justices dissent over Supreme Court’s refusal to restore COVID-19 safety steps at ‘tinderbox’ prison

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied a request by two older inmates at a Texas geriatric prison to reinstate a judge’s order requiring COVID-19 safety measures.

Nov 17, 2020 9:50 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Several states pause jury trials; suit accuses Texas AG of whistleblower retaliation

Several states stop jury trials

A surge in COVID-19 cases has led several states to suspend jury trials. They include New York, Maryland, Texas, New Mexico and Wyoming. (The Nov 16, 2020 4:38 PM CST

The COVID-19 consequence: Emerging talent is at risk

For those students who did not land an entry-level job at a BigLaw firm, the circle is truly vicious as they attempt to launch their careers in an unwelcoming and unstructured environment, write Jonathan Greenblatt and Bryan Parker of Legal Innovators.

Nov 16, 2020 8:52 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Law students pledge not to work for Trump firms; women deported after OB-GYN complaints

Law students pledge not to work for Trump election firms

A group of law students and new lawyers is circulating a pledge not to work or interview with law firms…

Nov 13, 2020 3:55 PM CST

ABA asks Trump for delays in 3 executions, including case in which the lawyers have COVID-19

The ABA has asked President Donald Trump to delay three federal executions amid “a startling surge” in cases of COVID-19, including a case in which the lawyers are sickened by the virus.

Nov 13, 2020 2:10 PM CST