Who tells the senior partner it's time?

Whether you’re running out of it, wasting it or billing for it, time is something lawyers are always thinking about. This week, we are drawing attention to the clock by taking a closer look at the graying of the legal profession and the impact that it is having on firms.

And, because it’s National Library Week, we’re also sharing some info on how long it takes to write a book, and linking to a podcast where John Grisham talks about how his views on the death penalty have changed over time. Finally, you are going to want to check out the estate planning dispute in Oregon, where some eye-popping fines have been levied over AI hallucinations.

Coming soon, find out what skill an Olympic slider is building into his legal practice. 

But first, is it a bigger deal that internal SCOTUS memos detailing the first big “shadow-docket” decision are now public, or that someone with access leaked them? 

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The Purple One’s (non-existent) estate plan. 
Prince’s belief that contracts are immoral means very few recordings from his famous Paisley Park vault have seen the light of day in the 10 years since his death.

He’s got a billion reasons to know this. 
Florida man finds out why surprise wedding day prenups are a no-no.

“I’ve been practicing law longer than you’ve been alive!”
Attorney Esther Estrada struck a nerve when she posted on Instagram about beefing with attorneys over twice her age. 

A family court judge recently flagged concerning behavior.
Attorney and former Virginia lieutenant governor Justin Fairfax killed his wife, Cerina, and then himself. The couple was in the middle of a divorce. 

“When in the Course of human events…”
The Law Library of Congress and the ABA are hosting a free, virtual lecture on the philosophical underpinnings of the Declaration of Independence to celebrate Law Day and America 250.

Staying in touch with your clients has never been more important for law firms in 2026. Zoom provides users with a highly functional and intuitive communication platform that can integrate with your existing workflows. Helpful features include:

Stop living in the past and upgrade your phone system with Zoom Phone.

Know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em
Sometime during the next few months, the Supreme Court is going to decide whether to take up the case of Judge Pauline Newman. The 98-year-old jurist is appealing her removal from practice and wants to get back on the bench.  

Why this matters: While her case is unique, the broader issue of attorneys practicing well into traditional retirement years is one many firms are confronting. Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, Inc., a Massachusetts-based organization, has a helpful three-part series on aging as a legal professional. It covers everything from changes to the brain and ethical risks to law firm succession planning to figuring out what comes after retirement. (All Things Considered / Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers)

What started as a family dispute over who should inherit an Oregon winery has turned into a textbook example of what can happen when attorneys don’t bother reading their filings.  

The San Diego attorney who was representing the plaintiff in the case for free because his son was dating her daughter was fined close to $100,000 for filing AI slop. The judge in the case noted that he suspects the plaintiff was drafting everything and her lawyer was rubber-stamping it. The fine includes attorney fees under Rule 11 and a per-violation fine for 15 references to made-up cases and eight fabricated citations. 

Local counsel in the case was also fined. Not for misuse of AI, but for failing to meaningfully review any of the filings. 

Why this matters: The per-infraction model of fines for AI hallucinations is something the Oregon Court of Appeals pioneered, and Magistrate Judge Clarke, of the U.S. District Court of Oregon, adopts in his opinion. Look for this sanction model to spread. (The Oregonian)

The Pelican Podcast Brief
Before John Grisham sold 300 million books, he was a Mississippi criminal defense attorney. That background is the subject of this episode of the Worklife podcast (part of the TED Audio Collective) in which Grisham walks through how courtroom experience shaped his storytelling instincts. He talks about his first trial, how his work gave him an eye for what's procedurally true versus what plays on the page and why his views on the death penalty have changed over time.

Why this matters: It's National Library Week, which feels like the right moment to spotlight the man who took legal thrillers to the next level. Hear Grisham talk about the connections between practice and the page. (Worklife)

There are few better answers to the question "Why should I hire you?" than "I wrote the book on it." Being a published author can give you instant credibility and help you stand out in a crowded market. 

But publishing is not something you should do on a whim. It takes a significant amount of time and dedication to get published, and that’s all non-billable effort. Once your book is out, you'll need to promote it; otherwise, it's just an expensive business card. 

Why this matters: Writing a book is a marketing tactic that pays off if you have the discipline to get it done. And you make a serious effort to follow up on the publication with promotion. (Attorney At Work / Illinois State Bar Association)

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