Above the Law
Breaking legal news, commentary, and analysis on the business and culture of law.
Articles from Above the Law
BigLaw Partner Roles Shift Amid Hiring Boom and Billing Surge
BigLaw partners face new demands as lateral hiring hits a six-year high and billing rates soar, with non-equity tiers and delayed collections reshaping firm dynamics in 2026.
Skadden Veteran David Eisman Named OnlyFans General Counsel During Sale Talks
OnlyFans appoints ex-Skadden partner David C. Eisman as general counsel amid efforts to sell a minority stake reportedly valuing the platform at over $3B.
Bipartisan Bill Targets Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Delays
A bipartisan House bill seeks to tighten oversight of Medicare Advantage, aiming to reduce care delays, standardize coverage, and increase legal compliance requirements for insurers.
BigLaw Partner Profits Jump at Proskauer, Crowell, and Latham in 2025
Major law firms saw profits per equity partner climb in 2025 as Proskauer Rose, Crowell & Moring, and Latham & Watkins posted industry-leading financial results.
Missing Bullets Cloud Investigation Into D.C. Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting
Bullets from the 2026 White House Correspondents’ Dinner shooting in D.C. have vanished, raising chain-of-custody and legal challenges for prosecutors as trial approaches.
DOJ Brief Challenged for Partisan Tone in $400M White House Ballroom Case
DOJ's April 27, 2026 brief seeking to dissolve White House ballroom injunction faces criticism for partisan rhetoric, raising concerns about legal professionalism and litigation standards.
DOJ Ethics Rule Faces State AG Pushback; California Ups Attorney Standards
DOJ’s bid to limit state bar oversight of federal lawyers faces opposition from 22 attorneys general, as California introduces new rules on attorney oaths, endorsements, and AI sanctions.
Kirkland & Ellis Clinches Top Spot in 2025 Am Law 100 Rankings
Kirkland & Ellis posted nearly 20% revenue growth to top the 2025 Am Law 100, reshaping client and talent dynamics across the BigLaw landscape.
Clio's AI Workspace Opens to All Law Firms With Standalone Access
Clio now lets law firms use its AI-powered Clio Work workspace without a full platform subscription, widening access to advanced workflow automation tools for practices of every size.
Sullivan & Cromwell Flags BigLaw Risk: AI Hallucinations Spark Reputational Fallout
Sullivan & Cromwell admits to AI-generated citation errors in court, spotlighting the reputational risks of unchecked AI hallucinations for leading law firms.
BigLaw Rent Crunch: Associate Moves Home as Attrition, Costs Soar
A Los Angeles BigLaw associate moved back home due to high rents, underscoring rising attrition and multi-million-dollar turnover costs for law firms.
Mississippi Mandates AI Training for Law Students, Sets Statewide Guidelines
Mississippi launches AI certification at MC Law, executive orders for AI inventory, and new legislation, marking a major shift in legal education and public sector policy.
Law Schools Shift Programs as BigLaw Hiring Timelines Compress
BYU Law adapts its Academies Program for earlier BigLaw recruitment, signaling a national trend of law schools revamping curricula to meet changing talent demands.
BigLaw Firms Accelerate AI Adoption Under Client Pressure
BigLaw firms are rolling out AI tools in response to client demands, despite ongoing concerns about hallucination risks and major changes to traditional legal business models.
Legal AI Hits Limits: One-Size-Fits-All Tools Miss Seniority Nuances
AI tools are reshaping law firm workflows, but many fail to accommodate attorney seniority differences—hindering adoption and raising governance challenges.
Eastman Disbarred, Sotomayor Issues Apology Amid Ethics Scrutiny
John Eastman is disbarred over 2020 election actions as Justice Sotomayor apologizes for remarks about Justice Kavanaugh, spotlighting evolving ethical standards.
Am Law 100 PEP, Billing Rate Data Reveal Law Firm Profit, Collection Gaps
New 2026 Am Law 100 rankings show large gaps in partner profits and billing collections, as law firm financial discipline faces tightening client budgets.
BigLaw Partner Pay Soars as Firms Report Record Profits for 2025
BigLaw firms announce major partner compensation increases after record profits in 2025, driving trends in legal talent recruitment, retention, and partnership models.
Legal Tech Ad Spend Splits: Commoditized vs. Competitive Markets, Says New Report
A new FlyTech-LawSites report shows legal tech ad costs diverging, with commoditized product CPLs dropping and competitive segments like personal injury rising sharply.
BigLaw Equity Partnerships Shrink as Multi-Tier Models Take Hold
Fewer BigLaw firms maintain single-tier partnerships, with 46% of partners now non-equity. Industry leaders are adapting to new partnership structures and compensation realities.