Above the Law - Thinking Like a Lawyer

On the latest episode of Thinking Like A Lawyer, Kathryn is joined by Above the Law assistant editor Chris Williams while Joe heads to the latest legal tech conference. Chris and Kathryn discuss the English lawyer who died from COVID, but not before he took to social media to decry the vaccine and downplay the risk of COVID. They also chat about the law professor (from ASS Law, because of course) that sued over a vaccine mandate. And, seriously, why is it so damn hard for law professors to avoid saying the N-word?? Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

As demand for transactional lawyers continues to rise, one firm is reportedly offering big bonuses to attorneys willing to stick it out in key practice areas. Rudy Giuliani is now on Cameo in case you were looking for the gift no one wanted. And in-house counsel didn’t have as good a year as they’re used to. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

Joe and Kathryn chat about the lawsuit against George Mason University brought by GMU Law School -- better known by their unfortunately chosen name "ASSLaw" -- law professor Todd Zywicki over his refusal to get vaccinated. It's a remarkably unimpressive complaint. Cravath, in the midst of many changes, announces a new flexible office work policy based around a floating 6 remote work days per month. Could this become the new normal? And Rudy Giuliani is still broadcasting to the world that he works at Greenberg Tarurig. Maybe he means Greenberg Traurig Total Landscaping? Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

Joe and Kathryn discuss bar exam horror stories. The last -- hopefully -- pandemic bar exam continued to bring calamity and examiners seem largely unfazed that applicants are being put through glitches and computer crashes over it. Amy Chua remains in the headlines, but this time because rumors suggest that the school might punish students for meeting with her. And we talk about more Biglaw firm reopenings after one firm announced that they'll be cutting off building ID cards for the unvaccinated. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

Irritating judges isn't recommended, but it really went off the rails for a couple of lawyers in the past few days. In Missouri, an attorney told off a judge and landed himself a week in jail. In NY, a lawyer kept picking at a federal judge long enough that the judge absolutely lost it on him. We also talk about the pervert calling libraries across the country asking them to read him a Supreme Court case while he masturbates. And we talk about firm office reopenings -- is it time for firms to pull the trigger and start mandating vaccines? Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

There are limits to the customer always being right. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

Why spend all that money on fancy legal research tools? Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

Get used to this out of the Supreme Court. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

This was a doozy of an ethical issue spotter. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

That wasn't even close. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

In case you were doubting how hot the legal market is. Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

They tried to keep a student from graduating... next year they'll be writing your laws! Special thanks to our sponsors, Lexicon and Nota.

The legal industry is changing in unexpected ways this year. Special thanks to our sponsors, LexisNexis® InterAction®, Lexicon and Nota.

Firms changing up vacation policies worrying associates. Special thanks to our sponsors, LexisNexis® InterAction®, Lexicon and Nota.

You'd think after a year of this, people would be better at it. Special thanks to our sponsors, LexisNexis® InterAction®, Lexicon and Nota.

At a certain point, you have to wonder why he's willing to keep charging up this hill. Special thanks to our sponsors, LexisNexis® InterAction®, Lexicon and Nota.

Obviously, we're not advocating for spoliation of evidence or obstruction of justice, but... shouldn't Rudy Giuliani of all people known not to keep evidence of crimes around? He used to run the DOJ office that's investigating his buddies! Meanwhile, the California bar exam gets caught breaking its own rules and the Pennsylvania bar president gets caught trying to protect himself from extortion. Special thanks to our sponsors, LexisNexis® InterAction®, Lexicon and Nota.

And if you do, can we interest you in this souvenir hat? Special thanks to our sponsors, LexisNexis® InterAction®, Lexicon and Nota.

It probably depends on who we're talking about. Special thanks to our sponsors, LexisNexis® InterAction®, Lexicon and Nota.

Yale Law School seems to have a recurring issue.

US News drops Georgetown from top tier.

Keeping up with the competition matters.

The party continues.

The former federal judge resigned in disgrace... but he's still a media darling.

Each half of the former firm has a new phone number.

Seriously, we told you people you can't do that.

200th Episode Spectacular!!!

We're not live but also not cats.

Everything wrapped into one.

Adventures in impeachment linguistics!

When will all of this election fallout finally end?

The second impeachment of Trump's tenure raises easily answered questions.

Too bad it was such a slow news week...

The firm says Cleta Mitchell went rogue, but that's only the start of their issues.

Things have to get better from here, right?

You can have a second act, but you don't get a consequence-free mulligan.

It's made-for-cable holiday movie season, so we tackle the burning question.

Also, what to get for the lawyer that has no time for anything.

Biglaw, law school, and firing squads all in one show.

As it turns out, there are a lot of better ideas out there.

Could this be the beginning of a mass exodus?

Sometimes, you just need to protect your IP better.

Someone screwed up bigly.

Time flies when you're surveying the apocalypse.

Joe chats with Clio CEO Jack Newton in the midst of his virtual conference.

Courts, law firms, and bar exams, oh my!

Obviously Trump's biggest mistake with ACB involved causing a White House superspreader event, but we didn't know that when we recorded this week's show. So we spend some time talking about his other mistake -- nominating ACB before the election and giving "never Trumpers" everything they want and leaving them with zero incentive to reelect him. We also discuss the wave of Fall bonuses among Biglaw firms and more importantly, the firms that aren't joining the party and what it means for the legal landscape

A conversation with Neal Katyal about the late justice.

What was a nice trickle has turned into a tsunami. Law firms are falling over themselves to hand out big time bonuses to associates to show the world how they've weathered COVID. And yet some firms are being forced to admit that they aren't able to keep up with the Biglaw Joneses. Speaking of Joneses, we also check in on a Jones Day associate likely bound for the federal bench despite all normal rules of the profession.

Professor Rick Hasen of UCI Law and the Election Law Blog joins us to talk all things election. Following up on his new book Election Meltdown we cover dangerous media expectations, vote-by-mail rules, how ballots are processed, the "Blue Shift" and the impact COVID is having on an already strained election system.