Before you sign that office lease renewal...

The fastest route might not lead you in the right direction. That’s what a Louisiana judge realized when AI perfectly answered his request, but missed the broader point. It’s also one of the messages in a podcast about Ireland’s effort to legalize gay marriage, which was done via referendum rather than lawsuit. And you might want to pump the brakes if you are renewing your lease without looking at recent real estate trends, or if you think an award or recognition is just a wall decoration. 

Coming soon, a tax attorney explains why you should be nervous any time a client uses the word "just."

But first, Saul Goodman wants to make sure you know your rights.

‘Merica!
As you watch all the viral videos of World Cup tourists discovering the wonders of Waffle House and ranch dressing, don’t forget about the German man who sued a New York restaurant because their salsa was too spicy.

“I was rooting for you, we were all rooting for you!”
Tyra Banks, the former host of “America’s Next Top Model”, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix over its docuseries, “Reality Check". She claims the 3+ hour interview she gave for the series was edited to create a false narrative.

The tort law exam writes itself!
An Arby’s employee in Oklahoma has been charged with “poisoning food/medicine with intent to injure” after allegedly giving a customer herpes by spitting on their sandwich.

A real-life Aristocat.
Rumor has it Karl Lagerfeld’s blue-cream Birman cat, Choupette, was one of the famous fashion designer’s beneficiaries. 

Road Trip: Tracing the Declaration’s Journey
To celebrate America’s semiquincentennial, the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia has put together an exhibit showcasing the worldwide impact of the Declaration of Independence. Can’t make it to Philly? WHY, the local PBS station, produced a series of videos to accompany the exhibit that anyone can watch.

Whether you’re looking for new office space or ready to extend your current lease, Colliers 2026 Law Firm Report is worth a few minutes of your time. It has a rundown of average costs per square foot in a bunch of different markets across the country, and some useful information about construction/renovation costs (spoiler alert: they are way up, and expected to keep rising). 

The report also includes the interesting observation that a return to in-office work does not mean a return to the same old offices. Firms are shrinking the space they lease, but spending more on premium finishes, and prioritizing hospitality-oriented spaces that can be used to host clients (with outdoor spaces like terraces and rooftop patios in high demand). Another trend observed is reducing the size of conference rooms to create more smaller breakout rooms and meeting rooms.

Why this Matters: As a company focused on real estate management, Colliers has an incentive to push rents higher and cheer on in-office mandates. But this is still a solid source of information about trends across the country. (Colliers 2026 Law Firm Report)

Judge Scott Schlegel of the Louisiana Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has been testing different AI tools. He recently used one to draft a bench memo that really wowed him:

“The tool followed the instructions to a tee, which is what made the experience so impressive. The bench memo was organized, careful, neutral, and useful. It identified the issues, worked through the record, framed the arguments, and produced analysis that looked very much like the work of a serious research attorney. There were no wild guesses, no obvious hallucinations, and no sense that the machine was trying to take over the decision,” said Schlegel.

Then Schlegel’s law clerk walked in and correctly pointed out that the whole matter was moot.

Why this Matters: Schlegel’s takeaway from this experience is worth a read. He doesn’t think the AI failed. But he does think there’s a difference between asking AI to complete a task and understanding the broader assignment. ([sch]Legal Tech)

In the United States, marriage equality came largely by court rulings. In 2015, Ireland became the first country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage by popular vote. Ireland Said Yes is an in-depth oral history of the decades-long campaign that preceded the vote. Hosted by comedian and activist Shane Daniel Byrne, it tells the story behind the story of how the law was changed.

Why this Matters: As we wrap up Pride Month, this podcast is an entertaining and informative look at the intersection between public sentiment and public policy. For lawyers, it’s a reminder that advocacy comes in many forms. (Ireland Said Yes)

If the only thing you do after winning an award or securing a Chambers ranking is make a generic "I am honored and humbled” post on LinkedIn, you are missing the point. In this blog post, legal marketer Stefanie Marrone offers a handful of concrete tips for maximizing the impact of a ranking or award. 

For example, instead of announcing a ranking in the abstract, Marrone suggests using it as a way to talk about something clients actually care about: the hard problem you solved this year, the market trend keeping your clients up at night, the team that made the result possible. The ranking earns the reader's attention; the story behind it is what earns their interest. 

Why this Matters: Clients don't hire lawyers because of a ranking or award. But these accolades can confirm what clients already want to believe about someone they're considering hiring. Use this opportunity to tell your story and close the deal or deepen that relationship. (The Social Media Butterfly)

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