Professional Development

More 2024 law grads find jobs than in 2023, new ABA data shows

For the third year in a row, law school graduates in 2024 were more likely to find jobs than their peers who graduated a year earlier, according to data released Wednesday by the ABA’s Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar.

Apr 24, 2025 12:57 PM CDT

Hit your stride and strive without strife

Embrace sustainable goals. The start of a new year often inspires lofty resolutions, if not illusions of grandeur, about the habits we’ll develop and professional goals we’ll conquer: more billable hours, bigger matters, rapid career advancement and the like. Yet with the first quarter already behind us, the initial momentum has all but faded, and many attorneys find themselves buried under the weight of their ambitious goals and the pressure to consistently deliver at a high level.

Apr 22, 2025 2:34 PM CDT

Did you default on your student loans? What to know as collections restart

The U.S. government will resume involuntary collections on defaulted federal student loans next month, the Education Department announced Monday, ending a five-year pause that began at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Apr 22, 2025 12:30 PM CDT

Business trial lawyers today through my daughter’s big green eyes

Fourteen years ago, I wrote an article for a business journal that summarized a dinner conversation I had with my 4-year-old daughter. She asked me to explain “What is a re-sezz-ee-un?” By the end of our conversation, her greatest concern shining through her little green eyes was whether Santa Claus himself would be experiencing any effects of that “re-sez-ee-un.”

Apr 16, 2025 2:23 PM CDT

The 16-Pager: How to avoid boredom in retirement with the greatest of ease

What are you going to do when you retire? That's usually the first question after the big announcement comes out. Everyone has plans, but retirees often discover that these were not as sustainable, lasting or rewarding as they'd thought, and they have empty hours to fill. At this point, developing meaningful alternatives can be overwhelming. Time passes, and opportunities are lost.

Apr 9, 2025 2:04 PM CDT

Whistle While You Work: Pursuing passions that elevate your legal career

"Whistle while you work." That's what one of my mentors routinely told me as I trained to become a better football official. He would remind me that, even at your lowest point, when it feels like the whole world is against you, it is important to remember the reason you are there.

Apr 3, 2025 9:24 AM CDT

How law firm leaders can identify cyber threats, leverage artificial intelligence to enhance cybersecurity

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Edward Chick, the chief revenue officer at NopalCyber, a managed security services provider that offers outsourced cybersecurity support while seeking to democratize enterprise-level security for law firms and organizations in other sectors.

Mar 21, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

How to do an appellate oral argument

Oral argument is the most visible part of appellate practice. And while lawyers differ on whether a good argument will change the outcome of your case, we can all agree that it’s the thing your clients and colleagues are most likely to see you doing. Not to mention the thrilling proposition that there may one day be a blurry artist’s rendering of you inside the Supreme Court.

Mar 6, 2025 11:49 AM CST

3 days per week in office won’t be enough at these 2 BigLaw firms

Two BigLaw firms that required lawyers to spend three days per week in the office have changed the goal posts.

Mar 4, 2025 12:11 PM CST

Free virtual boot camp seeks to recruit and educate civil rights advocates

Interested in learning more about civil rights law? The ABA is offering a free two-day virtual summit for all lawyers and law students interested in advocating for justice and equality.

Feb 27, 2025 10:13 AM CST

A lawyer’s thanks can come in many forms

We all appreciate a showing of gratitude when we do good. But how often do we get it from our clients? Let me share some of my experiences that often made my day, while trying to manage the usual three-ring circus most lawyers experience. I’ll start with George. George owned…

Feb 27, 2025 9:45 AM CST

Abraham Lincoln: A model for ethical leadership

Abraham Lincoln had two careers; one as a lawyer and one as a politician—professions known for severe moral and ethical dilemmas. Given the events of the time, Lincoln faced new levels of dilemmas as he made decisions that helped start the Civil War and those that would finally end the conflict—and slavery with it.

Feb 13, 2025 11:31 AM CST

Are you a neurodivergent lawyer? The ABA wants to hear your story

The ABA Commission on Disability Rights is seeking neurodivergent legal professionals for a new project that will highlight their valuable contributions to the workplace.

Feb 12, 2025 10:28 AM CST

Jurist Doctors: These physicians went to law school for new challenges

Established physicians who go to law school are seeking new challenges and opportunities—ranging from facing the demands of law school to earning new credentials to starting a new career.

Feb 12, 2025 8:53 AM CST

Benefits of hybrid work examined in new study, while firms’ quest to bring lawyers back to office continues

Adding a wrinkle to the debate over remote work is new research suggesting that hybrid schedules can increase productivity. In a study published in June, employees who work from home for two days per week were found to be just as productive and as likely to be promoted as their in-person colleagues. In addition, employees with hybrid schedules were less likely to quit.

Feb 11, 2025 1:29 PM CST