Professional Development

204 ABA Journal Professional Development articles.

As associate hiring spiked in 2021, how many new hires left within the first year?

Associate hiring and attrition spiked last year, leading to “boomerang” hiring and a greater percentage of associates leaving within one year, according to a survey of law firms released last week by the NALP Foundation for Law Career Research and Education.

May 2, 2022 9:29 AM CDT

One-time jailhouse lawyer creates legal jobs program for the formerly incarcerated

Devon Simmons, co-founder and project director of a new program helping those with past convictions find work as paralegals and other jobs in the legal profession, says there’s a wealth of untapped legal talent among formerly incarcerated people.

Apr 28, 2022 1:07 PM CDT

If you pass the bar on first attempt and want to be a lawyer, you’re likely to get hired, 2021 grads say

Employment data for 2021 graduates shows a vibrant job market for new lawyers, but it’s too soon to predict the 2022 market, says Aaron Taylor, executive director of the AccessLex Center for Legal Education Excellence. Taylor also thinks law school enrollment will be a significant factor.

Apr 28, 2022 12:37 PM CDT

2Civility’s new executive director speaks out against workplace bullying

As the new executive director of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, or 2Civility, attorney Erika Harold wants to use her platform to shine a light on workplace bullying.

Apr 20, 2022 3:02 PM CDT

Lawyers should be able to practice law in any state, says group urging ABA model rule change

The ABA should change its model rules to allow licensed lawyers to provide legal services in any state, according to a proposal by a group of more than 400 lawyers and law professors who provide advice on legal ethics matters.

Apr 20, 2022 12:19 PM CDT

‘Seasoned litigator’ fails to persuade 7th Circuit that sanction was demeaning and too harsh

A federal appeals court has refused to disturb a sanction imposed against a Chicago lawyer for “repeatedly asserting baseless claims” to support personal jurisdiction and then dodging discovery on the issue through his client’s evasive answers.

Apr 14, 2022 9:57 AM CDT

Law firms ‘flush with cash’ are hiring larger lateral groups

Law firms seeking to grow are hiring larger lateral groups of lawyers, acquiring as many as 10 or more lawyers at a time.

Apr 12, 2022 12:54 PM CDT

ABA’s new CLE policy appears to comply with state ban on diversity ‘quotas,’ Florida Bar says

The ABA Board of Governors on Tuesday revised the association’s diversity policy for continuing legal education programs after the Florida Supreme Court banned course credit in the state for programs with panel “quotas.”

Apr 6, 2022 2:38 PM CDT

Lateral hiring rebounded at an unprecedented rate of nearly 111% in 2021, NALP says

Lateral hiring at law firms was up nearly 111% in 2021 following a 30% decline in 2020, according to the National Association for Law Placement.

Mar 30, 2022 10:31 AM CDT

5 tips from a law school librarian for assigning research projects to interns

As a law school reference librarian, I field a lot of questions from law students working at internships, externships and summer jobs. Over the years, I’ve seen some recurring issues with the research assignments given to law students, and I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of them here.

Mar 28, 2022 8:39 AM CDT

Want to be a successful litigator? Come to the office, say 2 BigLaw trial lawyers

For young litigators who want to be considered “a lawyer’s lawyer,” careers spent mostly working from home may not get you to where you want to be, according to two BigLaw partners who have been trying cases for more than 30 years.

Mar 28, 2022 8:38 AM CDT

ABA Young Lawyers Division accepting applications for Leadership Academy

The ABA Young Lawyers Division has launched the Leadership Academy to continue to promote and advance lawyers who have been historically marginalized and underrepresented in the legal profession.

Mar 25, 2022 11:31 AM CDT

Hawaii joins states that mandate lawyers’ competence in technology

Hawaii has become the latest state to adopt the duty of technology competence for lawyers.

Mar 25, 2022 10:33 AM CDT

Mentorship is not all about the mentee

Mentorship. This one word can cause many a tough, battle-worn attorney to cringe. For many seasoned attorneys, the idea of being a mentor just sounds like you are being asked to add more hours of work to an already overloaded schedule. But before you reject the idea, consider the benefits that come with such a role.

Mar 8, 2022 11:12 AM CST

4 Black bar association leaders reflect on historic moment

For the first time, African Americans are leading four major national bar associations at once. “It’s important when there is a spotlight on Black history to show that the four of us have achieved this unique thing,” says Douglas K. Burrell, who heads the Defense Research Institute. “It is incredible for each of us to be president of our organizations. It is even more incredible for four of us to be presidents at the same time.”

Feb 23, 2022 10:41 AM CST

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