Above the Law
Breaking legal news, commentary, and analysis on the business and culture of law.
Articles from Above the Law
Court Finds Fake Citations Blamed on AI Were Human Error
A court probe revealed that fake legal citations thought to be AI 'hallucinations' were actually due to human paralegal mistakes, challenging current AI risk narratives in law firms.
Kirkland Becomes First $10B Law Firm, Wachtell Sets Profit Record
Kirkland & Ellis surpasses $10B revenue and Wachtell posts record profits, according to the 2026 Am Law 100 report, reflecting ongoing shifts in U.S. law firm economics.
Morgan Lewis Tops Vault's 2027 Law Firm Quality of Life Rankings
Morgan Lewis claims the top spot in Vault's 2027 'Best Law Firm to Work For' rankings, offering fresh insights for legal recruitment and retention strategies.
Wachtell Tops BigLaw Profits at $6.6M Per Equity Partner for FY23
Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz leads BigLaw with $6.6M profits per equity partner for fiscal 2023, outpacing top rivals Quinn Emanuel and Paul Weiss. Key takeaways for legal professionals.
Centerbase Debuts AI Tool for Citation-Backed Law Firm Insights
Centerbase launches Centerbase IQ, an AI-powered business intelligence tool offering citation-backed answers from law firms' own data, debuting at the ALA 2026 conference.
Anthropic's Mythos AI Exposes 1,500+ Software Zero-Days in Weeks
Anthropic's Mythos AI uncovered over 1,500 zero-day vulnerabilities across major operating systems and browsers, escalating legal and compliance risks for enterprises.
Ashurst, Perkins Coie Partners Approve $2.8B Transatlantic Merger
Partners at Ashurst and Perkins Coie have approved a $2.8 billion merger set to create a top-20 global law firm by revenue and geographic reach.
Vault Reveals 2027 BigLaw Rankings for California Firms
Vault's 2027 law firm rankings spotlight Latham & Watkins and Cooley as California's most prestigious BigLaw firms, with notable shifts in national standing.
BigLaw Survey: Record Salaries, But Associates Log 13-Hour Days
Above the Law data reveals first-years make $225K, while associates at major firms like Milbank average over 13-hour days despite high pay.
BigLaw Cools Hiring Amid Deal Slump and Leans Into Tech Upskilling
BigLaw firms slow hiring as M&A and private equity deals decline, pivoting to litigation, compliance, and tech-driven associate training.
AI Sanctions, ABA Recusal Rules Mark New Era in Legal Ethics
A roundup of 2026's key legal ethics updates: record-breaking AI sanctions, judges embracing AI, and ABA clarifying lawyer duties on judicial recusal.
K&L Gates Sued for Firing Manager Soon After Disability Leave
A former K&L Gates IT manager alleges wrongful termination and a hostile work environment linked to her disability leave, raising compliance questions for BigLaw HR leaders.
Yale Loses Top Spot in U.S. News Law School Rankings After 36 Years
Yale Law School drops from No. 1 in the 2026 U.S. News rankings for the first time in 36 years, with Stanford taking the lead. Find out what this means for legal education.
UK Judge Orders Review of WilmerHale’s $35M Estate Arbitration Fees
A UK court orders WilmerHale's $35M legal bill to be assessed after rate hikes and limited client updates raise concerns. Details on BigLaw billing risks for GCs.
Justice Sotomayor Lifts Curtain on Supreme Court Divisions
Justice Sotomayor details Supreme Court discord and dissent, shedding light on judicial rifts and personal dynamics that shape legal precedents impacting all legal sectors.
Audit: AI Hallucinations Pose Ongoing Risks in Legal Research Platforms
Independent reviews confirm AI hallucinations are common in legal research tools, raising risks of errors and sanctions as firms add these systems to core workflows.
More Top Litigators Exit BigLaw for Boutique Litigation Firms
Elite litigators are leaving BigLaw for boutique firms, seeking better workload balance and client engagement, reshaping talent strategies for law firm leaders and legal recruiters.
Justice Sotomayor Warns Future Lawyers: Master AI, Heed the Ethics
Justice Sonia Sotomayor urges law students to master artificial intelligence tools but warns of ethical pitfalls and legal consequences as AI transforms the profession.
Legal Teams Face Growing Risk from AI Hallucinations
Court sanctions and state AG warnings highlight the need for legal professionals to actively oversee and manage AI hallucination risks in legal practice.
First-Gen Law Student Enrollment Drops 7% Post-Affirmative Action Ruling
Law schools saw a 7% decline in first-generation enrollment after the Supreme Court ended race-based admissions. Legal employers may face a less diverse talent pool.