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Special Reports
Post-Recession, Southern Law Firms Rise Again
We look at the legal business climate in a dynamic, growing region.
Washington's Managing Partners
View From the Top
Managing partners of Washington firms discuss the state of legal business.
Inside the Judgment Fund
The federal government spent more than $4 billion to resolve lawsuits last year, a $1.3 billion increase from spending in 2011, an analysis of government records shows.
Which law schools are tops for jobs?
The American Bar Association breaks down the types of jobs law school graduates have landed and whether they are full-time, long-term or short-term positions, and identifies the three states where graduates of each law school were most likely to find work.
Midsize Hot List
We showcase 20 of the nation's top midsize law firms based on business strategies that have delivered noteworthy cases and prominent deals to their doors. Winning a spot on the list are law firms that, for their clients' purposes, are not too big, not too small, but just right.
'Gideon' at 50: A Muted Trumpet
Fifty years after the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision Gideon v. Wainwright, the guarantee of right to counsel remains unrealized.
Feds Spend Big on Outside Legal Work
How much does the federal government spend on outside legal services? And who gets the work? Until now, the answers haven't been clear. National Law Journal reporter Andrew Ramonas examined 67,000 records over the last year, and for the first time we lay out the scope of legal spending by federal agencies. We've found who wins the contracts and which vendors, including many top law firms, earned the most.
Explore the Data Behind the Go-To Law Schools
For the first time ever, we are making all of the hiring data from our annual Go-To Law Schools special report available online. Search by law school to find out which NLJ 250 firms hired their 2012 graduates or by firm to see where new associate hires were educated.
The Go-To Law Schools
The NLJ's annual report on law schools that send their graduates to major law firms found prospects just marginally brighter for 2012 grads. Plus, fewer law firms are showing up for on-campus interviews, and midsize firms are benefiting from a more prestigious applicant pool.
Washington Legal Departments of the Year
The National Law Journal recognizes the D.C. metro area's top in-house departments, and their general counsel, in six categories: overall excellence; outside counsel management; technology; diversity and quality of life; pro bono and community service; and corporate compliance.
Litigation Boutiques Hot List
They may be small, but they command attention. The 10 law firms on our Litigation Boutiques Hot List, each fielding no more than 50 lawyers, demonstrate that when it comes to high-stakes cases it's all about skill, not size.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Court revisits core question of what can be patented
The full Federal Circuit will revisit the vexing question of what is patent-eligible subject matter on February 8. Several cases confront whether broadcasters' copyrights give them control over how the shows are distributed. Plus, the IP challenges of 3D printers, a new act expands design-patent rights globally, David Kappos' departure from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the Twitter stars of the IP world.
The Regulation Agenda
At The National Law Journal's first-ever Regulatory Summit, Washington insiders made it clear: If the House and Senate are unable to overcome partisan gridlock, the president will almost certainly use executive orders and rulemaking at federal agencies to advance his second-term agenda.
2013 Pro Bono Hot List
Pro Bono Inc.
This year, for the first time, we include a corporate legal department among the 10 legal organizations profiled for their outstanding pro bono work during 2012.
The Year in Review
The battle over Obamacare dominated the high court. Meanwhile, federal regulators won — and lost — big in 2012, and vacancies continue to multiply on the federal bench.
The 2012 Law Firm Billing Survey
In this year's edition of our annual survey of billing rates nationwide, we look at the continuing tug-of-war between law firms and their corporate clients over hourly billing rates, and how the slow economic recovery plays a role. Plus, a nationwide sampling of law firm billing rights, and billing rates by associate class.
Drilling for Business
In this special report, we examine the potential impact of new energy law legislation for law firms, as well as legal issues related to safeguarding the pipeline infrastructure, and applying new corporate compliance regulations to the energy industry.
ELECTION 2012: A SPECIAL REPORT
As the presidential election looms, speculation continues to mount over what might happen should the White House change hands. In this special look at the 2012 contest, The National Law Journal considers the possibilities of retiring Supreme Court justices, shifting priorities at the Department of Justice, and the fate of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Intellectual Property Trademarks: A Special Report
The Internet spotlight can create a backlash against overaggressive trademark owners, even if they have legitimate claims. In this special report, we examine this trend as well as nontraditional trademarks, injunctions in trademark cases after eBay, plus ten hot issues in trademark law and how to handle them.
WHO REPRESENTS CORPORATE AMERICA
For this year's survey of the law firms who represent America's largest corporations, we've chosen to highlight one example of the longer-term relationships between in-house counsel and the law firms that represent them.
THE PLAINTIFFS' HOT LIST
These 19 firms are at the cutting edge of plaintiffs' work — and are giving defense players a run for their money.
Just Breathe
Research suggests that by the 3L year, 40 percent of law students show signs of depression. Fortunately, educators are responding with programs intended to promote student 'wellness.' In our latest report, we look at the trend and also preview three newly opened law schools, and prominent attorneys offer budding law students the benefit of their experience.
Back to the Land
The lower 48 states just completed the hottest month on record, following the warmest 12-month period on record. The Midwest's farm economy has been left staggering. In our latest regional report card, we examine the implications for the region's legal profession — and took a side trip to Wisconsin to review the profession's role in the political fun and games in that state.
Inside Washington
A by-the-numbers look at law and lobbying in the nation's capital.
• The Legal Times 150
• The Influence 50
• The Hill Hot List
THE 2012 SURVEY OF LAW FIRM ECONOMICS
Law firms, particularly midsize and smaller players, continued to face a challenging revenue picture during the last year, our latest survey of firm finances shows. But they appear to have done a better job of managing expenses to keep profitability and partner compensation high.
The Equity Gap: A Special Report on Women in the Partnership
Are big firms committed to promoting women into the equity partnership? Our study of the largest U.S. firms shows that women represent just 15 percent of equity partners. At just five firms surveyed, women make up more than 25 percent of equity partners.
The Legal Times Awards: Champions & Visionaries
In this fifth annual special section, we honor Washington lawyers in two categories: Champions, those who have upheld the profession's core values through public service, pro bono efforts and advocacy for civil liberties, and Visionaries, attorneys whose business or legal acumen has expanded their firms, improved government or advanced the law.
Health Care and the High Court
The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld the centerpiece of the nation's new health care law — the individual mandate to buy insurance — as a constitutional exercise of Congress' taxing authority. Led by veteran reporters Tony Mauro and Marcia Coyle, NLJ wraps up its coverage of the week's historic events with analysis of what the landmark decision will mean not only for the Court but for health care practitioners as well. Plus, a collection of memorable moments from the term and commentaries from top lawyers on both sides of the health care debate.
The 2012 APPELLATE HOT LIST
We asked our readers to nominate firms with at least one significant appellate win between May 2011 and May 2012 and that had an impressive track record overall. We supplemented the results with our own research to arrive at the list of 16 firms you'll find here.
Why Dewey Died: Three Perspectives
A collection of post-mortems analyzing the possible reasons behind the fall of a powerful law firm.
Law School Innovators
The pressure for change at the nation's law schools can no longer be denied. Law firms, the American Bar Association and not least the students themselves are demanding that legal education be made more relevant to real-world practice. Law schools are stepping up to the challenge in various ways — including reducing enrollment.
Intellectual Property Hot List
Our first intellectual property hot list features 20 law firms that excel in providing patent, copyright and trademark legal services.
Hazy forecast for 2012
Fewer businesses filed for bankruptcy protection during 2011 than they did the year before, reflecting a shift toward out-of-court restructurings using high-yield debt financing — and bearing repercussions for the legal profession.
The 2012 Midsize Hot List
The 20 firms listed here are good at what they do, but they're also good at how they do it.
THE NLJ 250
For the first time since the Great Recession, NLJ 250 firms saw average year-over-year growth, increasing 1.7 percent.
TOP VERDICTS & WINNING
Our special report on litigation includes our annual look at the top 100 verdicts of the year and "Winning," which explores successful trial strategies by top litigators.
THE GO-TO SCHOOLS
It's tough out there
Our annual report on the 50 law schools that NLJ 250 law firms relied upon the most to fill their first-year associate classes during 2011. Plus, the law schools that saw the most alumni promoted to partner at NLJ 250 firms in 2011.
Litigation Boutiques Hot List
Our first Litigation Boutiques Hot List features 10 small firms that take second place to no one in courtroom skill. These are the firms important clients turn to for state-of-the-art advocacy in bet-the-company cases.
E-Discovery: A question of costs
A discovery order in October against KPMG LLP hit the defense bar like a tire iron — the accountancy firm said the expense might run to $100 million dollars. To critics, the order was emblematic of out-of-control electronic discovery costs that litigants are using to bludgeon the opposition into settling.
Intellectual Property: A Special Report
The America Invents Act shifts the U.S. from a system where a patent is awarded to the first person who comes up with an invention to one where it's awarded to the first person who files a patent application.
2012
PRO BONO HOTLIST
It's an ugly situation — pro bono work by large law firms is on a steep decline. This year's Pro Bono Hot List highlights 10 firms that haven't forgotten their professional obligations even — especially — during hard times. Often, at considerable expense or risk to themselves.
The 2011 Law Firm Billing Survey
It appears that modest annual billing rate increases are here to stay. For the third year in a row, law firms showed restraint with hourly rate increases, inching up at a rate only slightly higher than inflation in many cases.
LEGAL TIMES 150
The headcount among Washington firms continued to decline, but not as sharply as it did last year — the biggest recorded drop in 25 years. According to the Legal Times 150, our annual ranking of the Washington area's largest law offices, the number of attorneys employed at Washington firms decreased by 343 — a little more than 2.2 percent of the total market of 14,945 attorneys.
LAW SCHOOLS REVIEW
Rising tuition. Misleading employment statistics. Inadequate skills training. One law school professor has launched a full-scale assault on the legal education system in response to these mounting issues. Are law schools in crisis?
The Minority 40 Under 40
The lawyers profiled here were all born in the 1970s, a decade when law schools and law firms were just beginning to welcome minorities in significant numbers. The thriving careers of these lawyers — at law firms and in government, academia and public interest — attest to the greater opportunities available to them, as well as to their talents.
IP LAW: A SPECIAL REPORT
The sweeping patent reform law enacted last month is expected to create new classes of intellectual property winners and losers as game-changing provisions kick in during the next 18 months.
Small Firms, Big Companies: A Special Report
Profiles of law firms of 50 lawyers and under that represent major corporations.
THE PLAINTIFFS' HOT LIST
These 20 firms are at the cutting edge of plaintiffs' work — and are giving defense players a run for their money.
• Hare Wynn harvests big victory in rice row
• In NYSE case, Labaton created a bull market
• Whatley Drake finds healthy return in insurance fights
MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION: A SPECIAL REPORT
Taming the BP beast
Less than two years after the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, more than 500 lawsuits have been filed against BP and other defendants.
• States get in on the DML action
• Chart: 511 individual claims filed in BP litigation
LAW SCHOOLS: A SPECIAL REPORT
Law schools around the country are launching solo and small firm "incubators" — programs that helps recent graduates establish solo practices while also encouraging free or low-cost legal services to underserved communities.
MIDWEST REPORT
Our survey of market conditions in Midwestern cities finds Detroit firms expanding into other regions to find business, while Chicago ranks as one of the fastest-growing legal centers in the country.
HEALTH CARE LAW: A SPECIAL REPORT
The Affordable Care Act enshrines a hope — that doctors, hospitals and other providers will team up to improve patient care and reduce costs. But there's also a fear — that doctors, hospitals and other providers will team up to stifle competition and raise prices instead.
CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING & BANKRUPTCY: A SPECIAL REPORT
From covering the debate over whether the Supreme Court's ruling in Stern v. Marshall will create inefficiency and increase delays to examining why Chapter 11 business filings are lower than many expected, this special report delves into recent trends in bankruptcy litigation.
THE 2011 MIDSIZE HOT LIST
Twenty firms in the 50- to 150-lawyer range have proven they can continue to thrive in this troubled economy.
CHAMPIONS & VISIONARIES
In this fourth annual special section, we honor Washington lawyers in two categories: Champions, those who have upheld the profession's core values through public service, pro bono efforts and advocacy for civil liberties, and Visionaries, attorneys whose business or legal acumen has expanded their firms, improved government or advanced the law.
SPECIAL REPORT
WASHINGTON'S MOST INFLUENTIAL IN-HOUSE ATTORNEYS
Some on The National Law Journal's list of 20 in-house counsel oversee huge operations. Others are joined by just a few attorneys and work mostly on regional issues. One thing each has in common: They've dedicated themselves to running efficient offices and to providing top-quality service to their clients.
WINNING
Our annual special report highlights 14 litigators whose innovative trial strategies resulted on a big win in the courtroom.
LITIGATION BOUTIQUES: A Special Report
Firms with fewer than 50 lawyers can find success as litigators by focusing on a niche practice or adopting shrewd trial tactics in a range of cases. We profile five firms that demonstrate the strength and flexibility of a smaller business model.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: A SPECIAL REPORT
From the courts to the halls of Congress, our latest special report delves deep into the latest developments in intellectual property law — including an examination of the controversial joint infringement rulings that have divided the Federal Circuit, a look at a case that could restore copyrights to foreign works and how reform legislation could shake up challenges to new patents.
WEST COAST REPORT
Law firms with the largest offices on the West Coast were back in the black for the most part during 2010, with revenues edging up slightly or remaining flat. Many managed to boost profits per partner, largely due to their reduced headcounts.
THE 2011 APPELLATE HOT LIST
Our annual Appellate Hot List recognizes firms that made exemplary contributions to appellate practice during the past year. We asked our readers to nominate firms with at least one significant appellate victory since January 2010 and that had demonstrated an impressive track record overall.
E-DISCOVERY: A SPECIAL REPORT
Until the next rules change, recent case law is the best standard for preservation obligations; state e-discovery rules are all over the map. Other topics covered in this special report include native production, proportionality, "Big Data" and concept searching.
SPECIAL REPORT
MOST INFLUENTIAL LAWYERS
The NLJ profiles 34 lawyers in 10 categories — ADR, financial capital markets, government affairs, health care, in-house lawyers at private companies, law firm leadership, media and entertainment, real estate, trusts and estates, and white-collar crime — whose work has been so consequential that it helped to push the profession or a practice area substantially forward.
The Civil War: 150 Years Later
A special report on the Civil War focusing on notable Supreme Court cases from that era — as well as a movie by Robert Redford about a conspiracy prosecution arising from the Lincoln assassination.
LEGAL AID: A SPECIAL REPORT
The Power of Hope
As Congress considers deep cuts in legal assistance to the poor, The National Law Journal presents an in-depth report examining the impact of legal aid programs on clients and the politics surrounding funding.
TOP VERDICTS OF 2010
A smoking gun was the clue that led to the largest verdict of 2010 — a $1.3 billion infringement payout for Oracle.
LAW SCHOOLS REPORT
The National Law Journal's annual survey of the law schools that NLJ 250 law firms relied on the most to fill their first-year associate classes.
Obama's diverse bench
Obama's successful nominees for district and circuit courts make up the most diverse group ever along racial, ethnic and gender lines, according to an analysis of Federal Judicial Center data.
The death knell for capital punishment?
Death penalty opponents are allowing themselves to contemplate that a major Midwestern state, not known as light on crime, is about to take a dramatic stand against the death penalty.
2011 PRO BONO AWARDS
The National Law Journal recognizes law firms that have displayed an exemplary commitment to access to justice.
2010
The Year in Review
In this special issue, we attempt to make some sense of the year that was and to offer a few thoughts about what's ahead.
2010 Law Firm Billing Survey
The National Law Journal's annual survey of billing rates found that 2010 was the second straight year of growth rates less than 3 percent, a fraction of the rates of the mid-2000s.
Legal Times 150
Washington firms have shed lawyers at a nearly unprecedented clip. Our annual ranking of the largest law offices in the nation's capital reports a 4.5% reduction in headcount — the biggest drop in 25 years.
Special Report: Diversity
Opportunities for disabled attorneys are increasing both through advances in technology and changing attitudes toward the rights and abilities of those with handicaps. In this special report, The National Law Journal profiles disabled attorneys forging successful careers at large law firms, on the bench, as solo practitioners and at one of the nation's most prestigious law schools.
2010
THE PLAINTIFFS' HOT LIST
The fallout from the financial system collapse features prominently in this year's edition of our annual spotlight on firms who've done exemplary, cutting-edge work on the plaintiffs' side.
Special Report: Multidistrict Litigation
The multidistrict litigation caseload has more than doubled since 2001. In this special report, we examine the impact of the mounting number of MDLs, including cases related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and defective Toyota vehicles.
SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
IN FOCUS
Privacy
A B-to-B Carve-Out in Privacy Legislation
The U.S. Supreme Court doesn't recognize a privacy interest for businesses, as opposed to that enjoyed by individual consumers.
Labor & Employment
To Be Actionable, Credit Reports Must Be Flawed
To be actionable, credit reports must be inaccurate, a federal judge has ruled.
E-DISCOVERY: A SPECIAL REPORT
Combing through the Big Data universe
Predictive data analytics "are potentially holy grail in the practice of law," according to one expert.
