On June 16, 2025, the American Bar Association (ABA) filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, alleging a systematic policy of intimidation targeting law firms and attorneys. The ABA argues that President Trump has used executive power to coerce firms into dropping clients and causes that challenge his administration—violating the First Amendment and the …
President Trump’s proposed FY 2026 budget calls for the elimination of the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), threatening civil legal aid for millions of low-income Americans. If approved, funding would drop from $560 million to just $21 million for close-out costs, effectively ending LSC’s operations. LSC is the largest funder of civil legal aid in the …
Law firms that chose to appease Donald Trump during his pressure campaign are facing serious fallout. While four firms resisted and filed lawsuits—winning all their cases—others that struck deals with the Trump administration are now losing clients, partners, and credibility. Major firms like Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Paul Weiss are seeing high-profile departures and …
A new report by The New York Times reveals that although courts have blocked several of President Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms, the administration may still be achieving its broader goals. Four prominent firms—Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, WilmerHale, and Susman Godfrey—fought back and won in court. But nine other firms, facing pressure and …
Seven litigation partners from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, including leaders of its San Francisco office, have left the firm to join Cooley. This follows internal backlash over Willkie’s controversial agreement with the Trump administration, in which the firm pledged $100 million in pro bono work and other concessions to avoid a damaging executive order. Cooley, …
In June 2025, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele escalated his crackdown on dissent, arresting prominent constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya on contested charges of money laundering. Human rights groups say the move reflects a broader campaign to silence critics — including lawyers, journalists, and civil society leaders — many of whom have fled the country. Bukele, …
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 …
The Trump administration is pressing forward with criminal charges against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping a man evade federal immigration agents in her courtroom. Dugan faces charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest after allegedly escorting the man out a back door. The DOJ argues that dismissing …