A Valentine to your legal career 💌

Call it a career reset: this edition is about rekindling that spark and paying attention to the things that really matter. We’ve got some practical tips for falling back in love with the work you do, and a recap of the legal tech news that rattled the markets and may reshape how legal work gets done. 

Plus, we highlight a podcast that looks at the law through a real-world, human-impact lens and information on how to get your website seen by potential clients. Consider this edition a Valentine to your career—no chocolates required, but a little reflection encouraged.

But first, Valentine’s Day is almost here, and it’s not too late to name a cockroach after opposing counsel! 

She’s got time to sleep now.
Julie Le, the government attorney who told a judge her job “sucks” and asked to be held in contempt so she “could get 24 hours of sleep,” is no longer detailed to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota. Her assessment of the working conditions is apparently shared by others, as that office is down to just 17 attorneys (they used to have 70).

Hurry! Hard!
Attorney Rich Ruohonen has a shot at a medal and the record for the oldest-ever American to compete in the Olympics.

Iowa considers eliminating judicial review. 
The bill died in committee because lawmakers are secretly afraid Justice John Marshall will come back to haunt them if it passes.

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
Luigi Mangione insists that his being tried in both state and federal court is double jeopardy. In court, he shouted, “It’s the same trial twice. One plus one is two. Double jeopardy by any common sense.” 

What we’re watching. 
"Loving" (2016) tells the story of Richard and Mildred Loving, the Virginia couple whose relationship inspired the Supreme Court to strike down laws banning interracial marriage. Since the movie’s premiere, the jail where the couple was held following their marriage has been added to the National Register of Historic Places. 

Roses are red, prickly pear’s a cactus, here’s how to fall back in love with your practice

The team at Hire an Esquire tackles something nearly every lawyer experiences but rarely talks about: falling out of love with lawyering. The piece acknowledges how long hours, heavy caseloads and the daily grind can blunt the passion that first drew us to the profession. It then suggests some ways to rediscover your passion.  

Why this matters: Rather than suggesting a wholesale career change, the article offers some tips for rekindling enthusiasm within your current practice. But it’s less about quick fixes and more about intentional reflection, a refreshing counterpoint to the “grind harder” mindset. (Hire an Esquire)

Why everyone suddenly cares about legal tech

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a record 50,000 last week, but legal tech stocks tanked after the AI company Anthropic launched a specialized legal AI tool as part of its Claude cowork platform. (The plugin is designed to support tasks like contract review, compliance and risk identification.)

The financial fallout was recognition that the companies that own the AI platforms many legal tech companies build products on could choose to build their own products and compete directly. Now every software company out there (including those outside of legal tech) is taking notes on what happens next. 

Why this matters: The competitive landscape for legal services and the tools that support them is in flux. Should you buy a product or build one yourself? It’s going to depend on what gives you the best control and meets ethical obligations. (Bloomberg / Non-Billable)

Looking at things from a new point of view

If you want a podcast that covers major legal news by looking at its real-world impact, The Legal Lens Podcast, hosted by Angela Reddock-Wright, is worth adding to your rotation. The show, an extension of her long-running legal radio program on KBLA Talk 1580, blends the host’s three decades of experience in employment, labor and Title IX law with accessible conversations about law, policy and the social forces shaping both. 

Why this matters: The show doesn’t just recap today’s headlines. It brings lawyers into dialogue with the broader world, helping you think about how legal strategies influence and are shaped by societal trends, political movements and human experience. (The Legal Lens Podcast)

• The adoption that caused an international incident
  
• Fifth Circuit legalizes mass detentions
  
• You’re not the only one whose clients are asking AI for legal advice
  
• Law firm profits were up in 2025
  
• The NYT has updated its Trump admin litigation tracker

SEO v. AEO v. GEO

There are three distinct yet interconnected strategies for getting more eyeballs on your firm’s website: traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). This article from LawLytics explains what each of these is, and why they all matter.

In short, SEO is still important, but AEO, which focuses on structuring content so answer engines (like Google’s AI Overviews, featured snippets and voice assistants) can directly use it to respond to user questions, while GEO targets generative AI platforms (like ChatGPT, Gemini or Perplexity) that synthesize information into conversational answers. 

Why this matters: The way clients find legal help is fundamentally evolving. As prospective clients increasingly use AI-powered tools rather than scrolling traditional search results, firms need to adapt their online content strategies. (LawLytics)

You're all caught up!

 Thanks for reading today's edition! You can reach the newsletter team at raisethebar@mynewsletter.co. We enjoy hearing from you.

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 Raise the Bar is written and curated by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.