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Original Jurisdiction provides analysis and commentary on law and the legal profession, covering free speech controversies at law schools, internal legal community scandals, ideological diversity in law firms, the impact of social media on legal issues, important legal decisions, and high-profile legal cases.

Free Speech and Academic Freedom Legal Community and Professional Conduct Ideological Diversity in Legal Profession Social Media's Impact on Law Supreme Court Decisions High-profile Legal Cases

The hottest Substack posts of Original Jurisdiction

And their main takeaways

In Memoriam: Professor Charles Fried (1935-2024)

550 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal Obituaries Civil Discourse Leadership
  1. Professor Charles Fried was known for his open-mindedness and willingness to change his views over time.
  2. He had a distinguished academic career, including serving as U.S. solicitor general and a justice on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
  3. His ability to reconsider his opinions, embrace civil discourse, and inspire others to be open-minded is a valuable lesson for public life.

Does Biglaw Have A Liberal Bent?

707 implied HN points • 18 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal Ideology Supreme Court
  1. A 2015 study found that lawyers in Biglaw are more liberal than those at smaller firms.
  2. New research analyzed Supreme Court amicus briefs to assess ideological leanings of large law firms.
  3. In controversial cases like abortion and LGBTQ rights, Biglaw firms overwhelmingly supported liberal positions.

6 Video Clips Of Judge Pauline Newman

609 implied HN points • 19 Jan 24
🎙 Podcasts Legal
  1. Judge Pauline Newman is 96 years old and defending herself against allegations of cognitive decline.
  2. She shared video clips of herself to showcase her cognitive ability and vitality.
  3. Despite efforts to remove her from the bench, Judge Newman is determined to continue serving.
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Judicial Notice (01.13.24): In The Hot Seat

569 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal News First Amendment Prosecution
  1. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is facing allegations that could lead to her removal from a high-profile case involving Donald Trump.
  2. The allegations suggest an improper relationship between Willis and one of the special prosecutors appointed in the case, potentially impacting the outcome of the prosecution.
  3. Legal experts believe that while the allegations may not dismiss the charges, they could result in the disqualification of Willis and her office, leading to delays and other complications in the case.

The State Of The Legal Talent Market: A Data-Driven Analysis

294 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
💼 Business
  1. In 2023, law firm hiring was slower compared to 2021 and 2022, with a significant decrease in corporate attorney hires.
  2. Kirkland & Ellis led in entry-level talent hires, while experienced attorney hires decreased in 2023.
  3. Demand for transactional attorneys decreased in 2023, particularly in capital markets and M&A, but there was an uptick in corporate and litigation hiring towards the end of the year.

Who Are The 10 Highest-Paid General Counsel?

491 implied HN points • 11 Jan 24
💼 Business
  1. Highest-paid lawyers at large companies have eight-figure pay packages.
  2. There can be differences in rankings based on total compensation vs. cash compensation.
  3. Some top lawyers receive stock awards and options, not just cash.

Asked And Answered: A New Advice Column

255 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🚌 Education Legal Career development Mentorship
  1. Consider clerking after law school if you're planning to go into litigation - it's a valuable learning experience, helps build relationships, and is prestigious.
  2. If you plan to do multiple clerkships, consider clerking for different types of courts to gain varied experiences.
  3. Clerking might be less valuable if you're aiming to be a transactional lawyer, but clerking at the Delaware Court of Chancery could be more relevant to your career.

Judicial Notice (02.03.24): Musk’s Money Troubles

216 implied HN points • 04 Feb 24
📰 News Legal Politics Finance Law Entertainment
  1. Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package was ruined by lawyers, led by Greg Varallo, Jeroen van Kwawegen, and David Tejtel.
  2. Litigation boutiques like Lehotsky Keller Cohn are achieving significant wins in cases like FedEx's punitive damages.
  3. ChatGPT's suggestion of non-existent legal cases highlights the need for caution when using AI in legal research.

A Brief Programming Note: A Baby Announcement

1179 implied HN points • 21 Jul 23
  1. The author announced the birth of their baby, Chase Baron Lat-Shemtob, sharing the baby's details and the family's gratitude towards the surrogate family.
  2. The author plans to continue working and creating content despite not taking parental leave, asking for understanding due to the parenting challenges.
  3. The author expresses appreciation for the reader's support and financial contributions, highlighting the importance in sustaining their content creation.

Notice And Comment: Biglaw Firm Rescinds Job Offer Over 'Inflammatory' Anti-Israel Email

628 implied HN points • 11 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics
  1. Leaders in the legal profession should consider how to respond to controversies in the news.
  2. Private employers have the right to react to employees' public statements, especially ones generating negative publicity.
  3. It can be beneficial for leaders and institutions to refrain from taking public positions on every issue, focusing instead on the core aspects of running their organization.

Dean Jenny Martinez Speaks Out About The Protest Of Judge Duncan At Stanford Law

904 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education Free speech Policy Changes
  1. Dean Jenny Martinez issued a detailed and courageous statement addressing the protest at Stanford Law School.
  2. She emphasized the importance of academic freedom, free speech, and diversity in a legal profession.
  3. Martinez outlined next steps, including education on freedom of speech and updating policies to protect rights of speakers and protesters.

The Barber Ranen Blowup: 'The Worst Emails I've Ever Seen'

550 implied HN points • 07 Jun 23
💼 Business Corporate culture Public Relations
  1. The emails sent by John Barber and Jeff Ranen were shockingly offensive, sparking a scandal in the legal profession.
  2. Barber and Ranen resigned from the firm Barber Ranen after the offensive emails were revealed, impacting their future in the legal field.
  3. Lewis Brisbois faced criticism for the offensive emails being sent by former partners while in leadership positions, leading to changes within the firm.

Judicial Notice (07.08.23): Elon Musk v. Wachtell Lipton

452 implied HN points • 08 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal News Retirement Judges
  1. The post discusses the representation of individuals involved in legal cases, highlighting a specific lawyer chosen for a high-profile defendant.
  2. There are updates on notable figures in the legal field, including a retiring lawyer who was involved in overturning the 2020 election results.
  3. The mention of a judge's TikTok presence shows that social media is increasingly relevant even in the legal profession.

More Thoughts On Intellectual Diversity In Biglaw

589 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Ethics Diversity Legal analysis Free speech
  1. Big Law firms have a lack of intellectual diversity which is not beneficial for the legal profession.
  2. There is pressure on Big Law firms to conform to certain ideological standards based on clients' expectations.
  3. Encouraging diverse perspectives and civil discourse in the workplace can lead to better outcomes and a more enjoyable environment.

A Free-Speech Controversy... At BYU Law?

491 implied HN points • 14 Apr 23
🚌 Education Free speech
  1. Controversies over free speech can happen at religiously affiliated institutions like BYU Law
  2. Some events may not take place in fear of backlash, affecting intellectual diversity
  3. Law school administrations should allow students to navigate controversies and learn from mistakes

The Law Clerk Boycott Hits Stanford Law School

471 implied HN points • 04 Apr 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legal Education Protest Free speech Judiciary
  1. Federal appellate judges are boycotting Stanford Law School for clerk hiring due to recent disruptive events involving Judge Kyle Duncan.
  2. The boycott is part of a larger pattern of judges withholding clerkship opportunities from law schools due to concerns over free speech issues.
  3. The boycotting judges are advocating for changes in law schools to promote intellectual and ideological diversity as a condition to end the boycott.