The legal landscape in Washington has exploded under Trump’s second term, with over 400 lawsuits filed against his administration—most of them in the capital. As top firms buckle under political pressure, public interest groups like Democracy Forward and the ACLU have stepped up, rapidly expanding their legal teams to meet the demand. Lawyers describe a …
On June 10, 2025, ABA President William R. Bay sent a formal letter to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi expressing deep concern over the Department of Justice’s decision to restrict the ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary from accessing judicial nominees and relevant information—an unprecedented move after 72 years of collaboration. Bay emphasized that …
On June 10, 2025, the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and Lawyers for Lawyers condemned the arbitrary detention and reported torture of Ugandan lawyer Agather Atuhaire and Kenyan activist-journalist Boniface Mwangi by Tanzanian authorities. The two were arrested in Dar es Salaam while observing the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Although …
A judge in El Salvador has ordered Ruth Leonora López, a prominent human rights and anti-corruption lawyer, to be jailed for six months pending trial on charges of illegal enrichment. López, head of the Anti-Corruption Unit at Cristosal, has been a vocal critic of President Nayib Bukele’s emergency powers and alleged government corruption. Her arrest …
Four high-profile litigators — Karen Dunn, Bill Isaacson, Jessica Phillips, and Jeannie Rhee — have left elite law firm Paul Weiss to start a new firm unencumbered by restrictions stemming from the firm’s recent deal with the Trump administration. Their departure follows internal tensions over an agreement that critics say could limit the firm’s independence …
As former President Donald Trump begins a second term, Washington is witnessing the rapid emergence of new law firms aimed at defending civil servants and government critics caught in the administration’s sweeping crackdown. In just two weeks, at least three firms have been launched by former Justice Department lawyers and litigators. These firms—including the Civil …
In a landmark move for the legal profession, the Council of Europe has opened for signature the first-ever international treaty dedicated to protecting lawyers: the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer. The announcement came during a ministerial meeting in Luxembourg amid rising concerns about threats, harassment, and political interference targeting legal professionals …
The election for president of the D.C. Bar Association—a traditionally administrative position—has become unexpectedly heated, drawing record voter turnout and national attention. Candidates Brad Bondi, a prominent securities lawyer and brother of Trump’s former attorney general, and Diane Seltzer, a small-firm employment lawyer, offer contrasting visions. Seltzer emphasizes defending the rule of law and protecting …
On May 1, 2025, attorneys across California rallied in defense of judicial independence as part of the national Law Day of Action. In cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento, lawyers gathered to oppose the Trump administration’s attacks on the judiciary, chanting slogans like “Hands off our courts” and reaffirming their oath to uphold …
On May 2, 2025, prominent attorney Abbe Lowell—known for representing Hunter Biden—announced the launch of Lowell & Associates, a new law firm dedicated to defending former government officials and institutions facing politically motivated investigations under the Trump administration. The firm includes former lawyers from Skadden Arps and Winston & Strawn who left over concerns about …