New Attorneys

Some law firms delay start of summer associate programs because of novel coronavirus

Some law firms have announced that they are delaying the start date of their summer associate programs and shortening their length because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apr 3, 2020 9:54 AM CDT

Ethics and civil procedure are most important knowledge areas for new lawyers, survey says

A survey of nearly 15,000 lawyers sought to determine what knowledge, skills and abilities are needed by newly licensed attorneys.

Mar 12, 2020 12:04 PM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Utah allows bar admission for DACA immigrants; first openly gay federal judge dies

Utah allows bar admission for DACA immigrants The Utah Supreme Court has approved a new rule that allows immigrants brought to the country illegally as children to gain admission to the state bar. The U.S. Department of Justice had opposed the move, citing the Trump administration’s decision to rescind the…

Feb 4, 2020 3:14 PM CST

BigLaw firm defends its commitment to diversity after Al Sharpton’s criticism

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom is defending its diversity efforts after the Revs. Al Sharpton and Dale D. Dennis II criticized the law firm for having few racial minorities in its Wilmington, Delaware, office.

Jan 7, 2020 3:42 PM CST

What can you learn from a lawyer born the same year that you graduated law school?

In this new episode of Asked and Answered, Senior Writer Stephanie Francis Ward talks to Karen Kaplowitz about ways the experience pairing works well, having more diverse legal teams, and finding better ways to use social media in marketing.

Oct 28, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

Oregon bar considering paraprofessional licensing and bar-takers without JDs

The Oregon State Bar's board of governors took major steps to liberalize rules around paraprofessional licensing and allowing people without law degrees to sit for the bar exam.

Oct 7, 2019 10:49 AM CDT

For Kirkland junior associates, mock trial program creates court experience

The firm created the Kirkland Institute for Trial Advocacy, a lengthy civil mock trial program for associates that includes professional actors as witnesses, partners playing judges and hired jurors.

Sep 1, 2019 1:30 AM CDT

ABA group offers $5K scholarships to support LGBT public interest work

Law students or recent law school graduates who plan to work in the LGBTQ public interest field still have a few days to apply for a new scholarship being offered by the ABA's Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity.

Jun 6, 2019 10:12 AM CDT

30% of young lawyers in this state wouldn’t go to law school in a do-over

Many young lawyers in Florida are having some misgivings about their choice of a legal career or their particular field of practice. A survey by the Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division, released earlier this year, asked the lawyers whether, if they had to do it over again, they would still…

May 9, 2019 10:56 AM CDT

Jobs for Class of ’18 overall see ‘modest increase’ but with fewer graduates than last year

There was a slight uptick in law firm, government and public interest jobs for the Class of 2018, according to employment outcomes released Monday by the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Apr 29, 2019 4:36 PM CDT

Law school group helps first-gen law students get ‘a leg up’

Some say that law school is a game, and you’re at a loss if you come in not knowing how it’s played. “There are times when you don’t know how to associate with the people you’re associating with in the legal profession, and it can feel like a glass ceiling,”…

Apr 23, 2019 11:14 AM CDT

Newly released bar-pass rates show little movement; which law schools did best?

The bar pass rate for 2016 law grads who sat for the exam within two years of graduating is 88.57%, according to ABA data released Friday. The data is for graduates of ABA-accredited law schools.

Apr 19, 2019 3:37 PM CDT

New bill would end ‘bureaucratic nightmare’ for Public Service Loan Forgiveness program

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., have introduced the What You Can Do for Your Country Act of 2019 to bolster the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which Gillibrand says is “failing to meet its obligation” to ease student debt.

Apr 11, 2019 3:59 PM CDT