Above the Law
Breaking legal news, commentary, and analysis on the business and culture of law.
Articles from Above the Law
Susman Godfrey’s 2026 Salaries Competitive but Vary vs. Market Raises
Susman Godfrey’s 2026 salary scale offers competitive pay above market for mid-level associates but aligns or trails at entry level amid BigLaw raises.
SpaceX Files $75B IPO Prospectus, Musk Keeps 82% Voting Control
SpaceX files amended IPO prospectus targeting $75 billion offering with Musk retaining majority voting power; Nasdaq listing planned for June 2026.
D.C. Boutique Wilkinson Stekloff Matches New Big Law Pay Scale
Wilkinson Stekloff LLP raises associate salaries to match big law firms' new 2026 market rates, heightening competition in elite litigation recruiting.
Survey Shows Complex Self-Censorship Patterns Among Law Professors
New data reveals nuanced self-censorship in law faculty, highlighting ideological divides and impacts on legal education debates in the U.S.
Federal Court Sanctions Four Lawyers for AI Misuse in Mississippi Case
A federal court in Mississippi sanctioned four attorneys with fines and bans for submitting AI-generated briefs with fabricated citations in a city contract dispute.
BigLaw Firms Shift from Lockstep to Market-Based Partner Pay Models
Top BigLaw firms like Debevoise and Cravath adopt market-driven partner compensation, reshaping partnership dynamics and talent strategies.
Legal Industry Tech Spending Climbs 9.7% Amid Rising AI Adoption
Law firms increase tech budgets 9.7% in 2025, driven by AI adoption and shifting client demands, boosting profits and reshaping operations.
Ken Paxton’s Impeachment Lawyer Endorses His Senate Rival, James Talarico
Dan Cogdell, who defended Ken Paxton in his impeachment trial, endorses Democrat James Talarico in the Texas Senate race, shaking up political dynamics.
Ninth Circuit Denies Qualified Immunity to San Francisco Cops in Evidence Fabrication Case
On June 6, 2026, the Ninth Circuit denied qualified immunity to SF police officers accused of fabricating evidence, impacting civil rights litigation.
Illinois Law Firm Tests New Models for Nonlawyer Investment
An Illinois law firm explores novel structures for nonlawyer financial participation amid HB 5487's recent regulatory changes, signaling shifts in law firm ownership.
Lawyers Share Strategies to Stay Relevant Amid AI Disruption
Explore how lawyers can adapt careers and develop skills to thrive as AI reshapes the legal profession.
BigLaw Equity Partner Pay Gap Widens with 40-to-1 Ratios
2025 data reveals growing pay disparities among BigLaw equity partners, with the highest PEP hitting $12.15M and average pay ratios at 12.3-to-1.
Milbank Raises Salaries to $235K, McDermott Matches Promptly
Milbank raises associate salaries to $235,000–$455,000 effective July 2026, prompting quick match by McDermott Will & Emery in BigLaw pay battle.
LawGeex Founder Launches Superlegal, an AI-Powered Legal Firm for SMBs
Noory Bechor launched Superlegal in 2021, integrating AI with attorney oversight under a Utah Supreme Court license to serve SMB legal needs efficiently.
Sidley Austin Promotes 52 Partners via New Nonequity Tier
Sidley Austin announces largest partner class with 52 promotions, leveraging a nonequity partnership model that signals a shift in BigLaw structures.
Trump Signs Voluntary 30-Day AI Frontier Model Review Order
President Trump issues executive order for voluntary 30-day AI model reviews, impacting legal compliance and cybersecurity risk management.
Wiley Rein Sued Over 11-Month Data Breach, Delayed Client Notification
Wiley Rein faces a class-action lawsuit after hackers accessed client data for 11 months, raising cybersecurity and compliance concerns for law firms.
Massachusetts AG Sues UnitedHealthcare for $100M Medicaid Fraud
Massachusetts AG accuses UnitedHealthcare of $100M Medicaid fraud via inflated risk scores in Senior Care Options plan.
OpenAI Hires Ironclad Co-Founder Jason Boehmig to Lead Legal Tech Push
OpenAI hires Jason Boehmig, co-founder of Ironclad, to lead its new AI-driven legal tech division, signaling a major entrance into the legal market.
Florida AG Sues OpenAI Over ChatGPT’s Role in Suicide, Mass Shooting
Florida Attorney General sues OpenAI over ChatGPT's alleged role in 2025 suicide and Florida State University shooting, raising AI liability concerns.