In this Above the Law column, legal commentator Mark Herrmann offers a provocative defense of Big Law firms that chose to settle with the Trump administration rather than fight its executive orders. While acknowledging the reputational and ethical costs of capitulation, Herrmann argues that it was a rational, even necessary move to protect firms from …
Facing pressure from President Trump’s administration, nearly two dozen top U.S. law firms have quietly removed references to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from their websites and adjusted descriptions of pro bono work to align with the administration’s political priorities. The changes—ranging from deleting DEI-related language to cancelling diversity events—reflect a broader trend of legal …
Nearly a dozen of America’s top law firms have pledged a staggering $940 million in pro bono legal services to Donald Trump, with commitments expected to grow. These firms, including giants like Latham & Watkins and Kirkland & Ellis, are offering support for conservative legal causes after facing pressure from the former president, who has …
On April 9, 2025, Law Dork published the full DOJ memo in which Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche formally prohibited Justice Department employees from participating in American Bar Association (ABA) events in any official capacity. Citing the ABA’s involvement in litigation against the government and its support for positions contrary to DOJ policy, Blanche emphasized …
On April 9, the U.S. Department of Justice, under the Trump administration, announced it will no longer allow its attorneys to attend or speak at events hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA). In a memo, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche criticized the ABA for supporting what he called “activist causes” that conflict with the …
In a February 28, 2025 letter, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi called on the American Bar Association’s Council of the Section of Legal Education to eliminate its diversity and inclusion requirements for law schools. Bondi warned that if the ABA fails to repeal the standard—which mandates that law schools demonstrate diversity efforts among faculty and …
UC Berkeley Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky led an effort urging law school deans to condemn President Trump’s use of government power to retaliate against law firms, warning it threatens democratic principles and chills dissent. While nearly 80 deans joined the statement, many declined, reflecting growing fear in academia and the legal field of becoming political …