'Daily public spanking': Lawyers critical of Trump's handling of top firms fight back

Above the Law — a combative legal news site known for breaking stories about law firm bonuses and offering sharp, irreverent takes on the legal world — has evolved into a rallying point for attorneys critical of President Donald Trump's influence over their profession, the New York Times reported Sunday.

Since Trump's efforts to retaliate against prominent law firms for representing clients or causes he disapproves of, the site has become a platform for lawyers outraged by firms that have chosen to align with him.

"Fueled by a stream of inside-the-conference-room exclusives, Above the Law delivers a daily public spanking to what it calls 'The Yellow-Bellied Nine.' Those are the elite firms who pledged a collective $1 billion in free legal work to Mr. Trump after he signed executive orders threatening to bar their lawyers from federal buildings, suspend their security clearances and cancel their government contracts," the piece noted.

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According to Above the Law, the firms “folded like a damp cocktail napkin” to Trump's demands for “pro bono payola.”

Kevin Carroll, a Washington lawyer who once worked at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, told the Times: “For demoralized people stuck inside these firms, I think this is catharsis."

“I’ve always wondered,” Carroll said, “when pressed, would rich liberal lawyers choose to stay rich or liberal? Now we know.”

The piece featured some prominent headlines from the website:

“Money v. Morals: Which Will Law Students Choose When It Comes to Job Offers From Biglaw Firms That Made Deals With Trump?”

“Biglaw’s Cowards Play Dumb About Pro-Bono Payola”

“This Law Firm Had to Delete A LOT to Purge Its Diversity and Pro Bono Work”

Meanwhile,Washington is seeing the rise of a new generation of law firms created specifically to serve public servants and outspoken critics of the government, Politico reported Friday. This is in response to Trump's retributive actions against law firms.

Experienced trial lawyers and ex-federal attorneys are launching firms focused on defending those caught in the administration’s crosshairs, including individuals facing political retaliation and civil servants affected by sweeping layoffs. Within just the past two weeks, no fewer than three of these specialized firms have begun operations, per the report.

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