Natural Disasters

Disaster response news from the ABA Journal, American Bar Association legal resources, volunteering opportunities and disaster helplines.

At these top law firms, profit boosts followed layoffs of lawyers and staff members

Some of the nation’s top law firms posted substantial boosts in profits last year after laying off attorneys or staff members, according to an analysis by Law.com.

Mar 4, 2021 12:33 PM CST

Capacity limits on businesses can be a ‘direct physical loss’ covered by insurance, judge rules in bellwether cases

A federal judge in Chicago has ruled that pandemic-related business closings and capacity limits can qualify as a “direct physical loss” to property that is covered by "business interruption" policies.

Mar 4, 2021 9:54 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Lawyer gives frank reply to Justice Barrett; new site has law school scholarship information

GOP lawyer gives candid answer to Justice Barrett

A lawyer for the Arizona Republican Party gave a frank answer in oral arguments Tuesday when Justice Amy Coney Barrett asked…

Mar 3, 2021 4:30 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Another state plans remote bar exam in July; Texas AG sues electric company over huge bills

So far, 9 jurisdictions have plan for remote bar exam in July

California’s July 2021 bar exam will be remote, the California Supreme Court announced Friday. The first testing day,…

Mar 2, 2021 4:45 PM CST

Difficulties of pandemic should be acknowledged in law school transcript, students say

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on many student population groups, and law students at the University of Minnesota Law School are asking that it be mentioned in the transcript for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Mar 2, 2021 3:10 PM CST

How law firms reacted to racial injustice and the COVID-19 pandemic

Nearly three-fourths of surveyed law firms launched new programs to address racial injustice after Black Lives Matter demonstrations and the death of George Floyd last year, according to a new study.

Mar 2, 2021 11:32 AM CST

What did law firms do that helped them outperform the market in 2020?

Law firms that posted double-digit gains in 2020 revenue and profits per equity partner had a strategic plan and a commitment to a high-performance culture, according to an analysis by two law firm consultants.

Mar 2, 2021 10:53 AM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Judge strikes down CDC eviction moratorium; lawyer’s dogged determination brings cash

Judge strikes down CDC eviction moratorium

U.S. District Judge J. Campbell Barker of Tyler, Texas, has struck down a moratorium on most residential evictions by the U.S. Centers for…

Feb 26, 2021 3:10 PM CST

Pandemic and financial stress could push some lawyers to act unethically, experts warn

Mental health and lawyer ethics experts are warning that financial stress and isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic may push lawyers to act imprudently or unethically.

Feb 26, 2021 12:01 PM CST

Suits multiply over Texas power outages; is power grid operator protected by sovereign immunity?

Lawsuits are already being filed against the operator of the power grid in Texas over lost lives, property damage and business interruption caused by power outages during the winter storm in February.

Feb 24, 2021 12:11 PM CST

Solo practitioners saw steeper revenue declines amid COVID-19, new report finds

Solo practitioners had a harder time weathering the initial economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic than others in the legal industry, according to a new report that cloud-based company Clio released on Tuesday.

Feb 24, 2021 9:19 AM CST

Texas offers makeup bar exam because of deep freeze

Following Texas’ freezing February weather, which led to power outages, disrupted water service and more than 20 deaths, according to CNN, the Texas Board of Law Examiners announced Friday that it would offer a makeup bar exam in March in addition to the test that starts Tuesday.

Feb 23, 2021 10:00 AM CST

ABA’s Practice Forward group puts focus on members’ needs, well-being

The challenges confronting the legal profession as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic have been a prime focus of the 2021 ABA Midyear Meeting.

Feb 22, 2021 4:51 PM CST

ABA is on a ‘promising path forward,’ President Patricia Lee Refo says

Since taking office, ABA President Patricia Lee Refo has maintained a schedule of events that would've once been unimaginable.

Feb 22, 2021 3:46 PM CST

Citing a consumer need, ABA Legal Ed keeps March law school employment reporting deadline

The council of the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar will not be granting a request to push the employment data deadline from March to June.

Feb 22, 2021 10:17 AM CST