Career Practice News Today

If Biden approves loan forgiveness, what could it mean for law school debt?     President Joe Biden spoke at a February town hall that included student debt. Photo by Evan Vucci/The Associated Press. People with law school loans could benefit if President Joe Biden authorizes a plan to forgive all or a portion of student debt, but it could exclude those who owe private lenders and impose limits based on income, experts say. Forgiving private school loan debt “would require the government to...

Legal vendors have had mixed experiences with virtual conferences amid COVID-19   Image from Shutterstock.com. In previous years, when the team from online bankruptcy software company NextChapter would operate expo hall booths at in-person legal conferences, they would sometimes bring a skillet and hand out fresh grilled cheese sandwiches to hungry attendees. Offering consumables rather than swag such as pens or notebooks has been one way the company has tried to attract attention and spark in...

Law Firms Holland & Knight in merger talks to create 1,600-lawyer firm; does it portend next wave of mergers?   Image from Shutterstock.com. Holland & Knight and Thompson & Knight are discussing a merger that could close this summer, the law firms announced Friday. The combined firm would have about 1,600 lawyers in 30 offices, report Reuters Legal, Bloomberg Law and Law.com. Thompson & Knight is the smaller firm with about 300 lawyers. Combined revenues would be more than $1.2 billion, puttin...

Yale Law Women has named the top 2021 law firms for gender equity, inclusion and family-friendly practices in a number of categories, including the best law firm for a COVID-19 response and the best law firm for racial justice contributions.

ABA president, other leaders will volunteer for Free Legal Answers   Image from Shutterstock.com. ABA President Patricia Lee Refo will join other leaders from the ABA in volunteering for ABA Free Legal Answers, a virtual legal advice clinic that allows income-eligible users to ask volunteer attorneys civil legal questions. As part of the ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice’s spring council meeting, Refo will volunteer April 15 with Pauline Weaver, secretary of the ABA; Kevin Sheph...

U.S. District Judge Sandra Feuerstein of the Eastern District of New York was struck and killed in Boca Raton, Florida, on Friday when a car drove onto the sidewalk where Feuerstein was walking.

Biden has an opportunity to reform and diversify federal courts Shutterstock America’s third branch of government has been at the epicenter of the news cycle in recent years, with the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, high-profile battles over U.S. Supreme Court nominations, and controversy over election results putting the power and influence of the bench into full focus. We have seen that courts can be an instrument for social and political change; they can be the sword and the shield. ...

Law Firms Womble Bond Dickinson sees savings opportunity in flexible work, aims to cut office space by up to 50%   Image from Shutterstock.com. Womble Bond Dickinson aims to reduce square footage for U.S. offices by up 50% as lawyers and staff members spend more time working from home. Law.com spoke with Womble’s United States CEO Betty Temple about the law firm’s plans. Womble will cut space as leases for its 18 U.S offices come up for renewal, although not all of the offices will cut spa...

Law firms are offering signing bonuses and quickly extending job offers in a bid to lure corporate-transactions associates in a hot hiring market, according to a report by Law.com.

There are three levels of positive responses to suffering. The first, sympathy, is merely the mental recognition that suffering is present. The second, empathy, includes an emotional component, with the effect that we feel for the person who is suffering. The third, compassion, includes the desire or motivation to do something about that person’s suffering.