The Modern Law Library

Perplexed about AI? Richard Susskind wants to help

For nearly 30 years, Richard Susskind has been asking lawyers to envision the future of the legal profession in ways that stretch the imagination. Now, he’s written a guidebook to help humanity respond to artificial intelligence.

May 7, 2025 8:53 AM CDT

‘Secrets of the Killing State’ exposes realities of lethal injection

Execution by lethal injection is seen by many Americans as a less barbaric alternative than older methods, such as hanging, firing squads and electrocution. It is easy to assume that the process must resemble euthanasia procedures for terminally ill people or pets. The reality is very different, says Corinna Barrett Lain, a law professor and a death-penalty expert.

Apr 23, 2025 8:51 AM CDT

‘Patenting Life’ shares tales from a career on the cutting edge of science and the law

Jorge Goldstein entered the fields of science and patent law at a time of immense change for both. In Patenting Life, he shares the fascinating histories behind some well-known medications, lesser-known scientists and groundbreaking court cases.

Apr 9, 2025 8:45 AM CDT

How thinking like an athlete can make you a better lawyer

Peak performance in high-stress environments. It’s the goal for the basketball players taking the court during March Madness but just as much for players on a different kind of court. Lawyers can and should learn a lot from elite athletes.

Mar 19, 2025 11:00 AM CDT

This Harvard Law prof thinks constitutional theory is a terrible way to pick a judge

What if we are asking the wrong questions when selecting American judges? Mark Tushnet thinks our current criteria might be off.

Mar 5, 2025 9:04 AM CST

‘The Licensing Racket’ takes aim at professional licensing system in America

Should you need a license for that? For law professor and antitrust expert Rebecca Haw Allensworth, there are huge problems with professional licensing in America—and her solutions might not make anyone completely happy.

Feb 19, 2025 9:02 AM CST

Former Watergate prosecutor and friends reflect on life in ‘Legal Briefs’

For some people, retirement is an opportunity to kick back and finally relax. But for Roger M. Witten, it was a chance to finally tackle that book that he'd been thinking about writing. With a little help from longtime friends and colleagues, Legal Briefs: The Ups and Downs of Life in the Law was born.

Feb 5, 2025 3:45 PM CST

When should life sentences be overturned? Judge shares how he decides

A federal judge’s new book is giving readers a rare inside glimpse at how a judge determines which prisoners deserve to have their sentences overturned.

Jan 8, 2025 9:30 AM CST

Tune in to our favorite podcasts of 2024

The ABA Journal staff have conversations with fascinating lawyers every day. But in our podcasts, you get to listen in on some of those discussions. Here are our favorite episodes from 2024.

Dec 23, 2024 9:57 AM CST

Our favorite pop culture picks in 2024

It’s the time of year when The Modern Law Library likes to look back on the media that we’ve enjoyed: our annual pop culture picks episode. From presidential histories to wicked witches, listeners will find ways to occupy the holiday season.

Dec 18, 2024 10:35 AM CST

Horse-loving lawyer left the law to help run a Colorado ranch

In Running Free: An Incredible Story of Love, Survival, and How 200 Horses Trapped in a Wildfire Helped One Woman Find Her Soul lawyer Ami Cullen shares a lightly fictionalized version of the journey that she’s been on for more than a decade.

Dec 4, 2024 4:00 PM CST

What went wrong—and right—with 10 famous trials

In How Would You Decide? 10 Famous Trials That Changed History, J. Craig Williams examines cases and trials from history through the lens of a modern trial lawyer.

Nov 25, 2024 10:25 AM CST

‘Watchdogs’ author has no regrets about choosing civil service over the NBA

Glenn Fine’s career-long crusade against corruption might have its roots in his college days as a point guard for the Harvard basketball team. He played his personal best against Boston College—in a game that he later discovered had been fixed by the mob.

Nov 6, 2024 8:11 AM CST

Meet the sheriffs who believe they are ‘The Highest Law in the Land’

In The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy, lawyer and journalist Jessica Pishko takes a deep dive into the history of this position in American life and at a far-right movement hoping to co-opt it.

Oct 24, 2024 1:30 PM CDT

‘Company’ is the perfect short story collection for spooky season

Most—though not all—of the 13 short stories in Company deal with members of the Collins family. Three generations of narrators bear witness to the changing fortunes of the family, and as with any witness statement, everyone has a different perspective on what actually happened. Also, there are ghosts—and at least one witch.

Oct 9, 2024 4:00 PM CDT