The old saw "may you live in interesting times" is often considered a curse. And after a decade that encompassed so much turmoil, it's difficult to argue with that interpretation. Even in the legal profession, generally a haven of stability with its comfortable salaries and steady work, tumult seemed to rule.
In this issue, we recount — with no pun intended, Mr. Gore — the events of a remarkable decade for the law and the profession. On Jan. 1, 2000, it would have been difficult to imagine the current state of affairs. The dot-com bubble was still inflating. We were at peace. The world had even ducked the Y2K bug.
So much has changed in the past decade, in fact, that we struggled to whittle down our selections for the defining moments in law to this special issue. In the end, wesettled upon 25 developments that we believe are the biggest legal stories of the decade. Consider this a scrapbook of memories — some pleasant, a few awful — of the 2000s. And as the '10s dawn and the interesting times continue, let us hope the curse turns into a blessing.
1. War on terror tests the limits of law
From telecommunications to transportation, from immigration to interrogation, from detention to rendition, the war on terrorism strained the conventional framework of American law. It triggered new statutes, the expansion of old ones and, in critics' views, transgressed others.
2. For associates, a time of thrills and chills
Between 2000 and 2009, law firms doled out jaw-dropping bonuses, lavished benefits like never before and hiked first-year salaries to a point that drew the envy of federal judges. The decade also featured mass job cuts, pay reductions and a decided shift in power for recent law graduates, many of whom, at the decade's conclusion, were clamoring for even part-time work at living-wage levels.
3. Accounting scandals flood the courts
Lax corporate oversight combined with an intense desire to keep company stock prices high created a climate that allowed executive after executive to cross the line. Faced with a barrage of high-profile scandals, prosecutors responded by making corporate fraud a priority. But in their eagerness to get tough, the government overreached, some argue.
| 4. They blog, they tweet, they friend 5. Seats change at the high court 6. The decade was fun while it lasted 7. Where have all the flowers gone? 8. A law office in every port 9. The ruling that picked a president 10. A time of backlash and disgrace 11. Of politics and prosecutors 12. Really, fewer hourly bills 13. Goodbye to real partners 14. Regulation takes a vacation | 15. Court splits on race and gender 16. Little progress on diversity 17. Prosecutors behaving badly 18. The end of an age of innocence 19. Downloading cases dominated 20. A patently provocative period 21. Death penalty lost some sting 22. Threats went beyond words 23. Pakistani lawyers marched 24. Gay rights battle heats up 25. Corruption cases get bigger |
And, oh yes, they discover electronically. Tech advances redesigned lawyers' lives.
A death and retirements lead to a new chief and the first Hispanic justice.
It's easy now to forget how much money law firms raked in during the mid-2000s.
The financial crisis knocked great cracks in the legal industry's foundations.
American firms opened their doors from London to Dubai to Shanghai.
Supreme Court justices cast the vote that put George W. Bush in the White House.
Tort reform trimmed the trial bar's sails as its leading lights went to prison.
Justice Department leadership falls in scandal over fired U.S. attorneys.
After years of talk, alternative fee arrangements get some action.
A rerouted partnership track leads to more employees and fewer owners.
Lax enforcement could be blamed for several debacles at the end of the decade.
One victory for affirmative action in otherwise weak decade for liberal causes.
High-profile firsts, but still few minority and women partners at Big Law.
Ted Stevens case puts spotlight on abuse of power by government lawyers.
The dot-com crash altered the relationship between firms and associates.
Key copyright rulings targeted services enabling widespread digital distribution.
The high court began to overrule the Federal Circuit; a major decision looms.
Justices, legislators and jurors cut back the chances of capital punishment.
Sometimes it was judicial power under attack, sometimes it was judicial lives.
To save an independent chief justice, they took the hits from police batons.
Advocates get high court win, same-sex marriage becomes ballot issue.
Jack Abramoff buys Washington. Marc Dreier steals $700 million.
