The ethical gray zone no one talks about

You bring more than just your credentials to the table. You bring your lived experience, your perspective, and yes, sometimes your blind spots. This week is about recognizing all of that and practicing with greater clarity and intention.

We’re also unpacking the ethical gray areas of representing friends and family—something many lawyers do without a second thought.

But first, looking for a Netflix show to binge this weekend? These crime dramas might be right up your legal alley. 

Bar exam horror. Reddit users are sounding off about reports that a test taker had a heart attack during the bar exam and the proctors discouraged anyone from helping them/refused to pause testing.

Power behind the throne. We all know this lady is who actually runs the courthouse. Bless your heart, Clerk Patsy, aka @andimarietillman.

Not funny. Former judge driving with a naked woman on his lap charged with manslaughter after running over a female comedian. 

Ham sandwich. Leonard Trial Lawyers jumped on the “our Gen Z intern made this marketing video” trend. And it eats like a ham sandwich.

SCOTUS Justices, they’re just like us. Working when they are on “vacation.”

That’s what friends are for

If you’ve ever answered a legal question at a dinner party or helped a family member fight a parking ticket, this article is for you. In it, attorney Stacie H. Rosenzweig unpacks the ethical dilemmas attorneys face when asked to “just take a quick look” at a legal issue outside their typical practice. Should you do a conflict check? (Yes.) Do a good job? (Of course!) Decline something serious that’s totally out of your wheelhouse? (Probably.) And does it matter if the person you are representing is a close friend? (Unclear.)

Why this matters: We’ve got opinions on what to do when your friend is opposing counsel or the judge, but little direction on what to do when your friend is the client. This piece doesn’t claim to have all the answers for what to do when that situation occurs, but it offers a smart, self-aware analysis—and invites you to examine your own practices before a well-meaning favor becomes an avoidable headache. (ethicking.com) 

You’re not imagining it

Does it seem like you hear about (or are cold-called by) a new legal tech company touting its AI capabilities every day? With companies seemingly popping up, merging and disappearing overnight, it's easy to lose track of who is doing what.

Legaltech Hub is trying to impose some order on this chaos by creating a directory of every generative AI technology being offered to law firms. It tracks everything from eDiscovery tools to virtual assistants, and updates its map quarterly. It has also come out with a map of legal tech companies offering AI agents who can assist with more complex tasks. 

Why this matters: It’s tough to know if you’re using the right legal tech tools when you’re not sure what options exist. This directory offers a clear look at what’s available—and how rapidly the landscape is evolving. (Legaltech Hub)

What your paralegals are actually talking about

The "Paralegal Tea Time" podcast was built to support continuing education and open up meaningful conversations across the legal field—from paralegals to partners. Each episode features attorneys, paraprofessionals and legal ops pros weighing in on ethics, current events and firm dynamics. Now in its third season with 5,000+ streams, it’s co-hosted by veteran paralegals Melissa Acosta and Laurie A. Robinson, President of the Paralegal Association of NJ. You'll want to add this to your podcast queue.

Listen and learn

When you’re bogged down in the details of whatever it is you’re working on, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that every move we make is shaped by (and is shaping) the common law. This podcast from Tim Innes, JD, MLIS, a librarian at the Michigan State University College of Law, can help you put your work into perspective. He takes a deep dive into the history of law, covering everything from the ancient legal systems that laid the bedrock for medieval England's common law to how the Civil War altered our understanding of the Constitution. 

Why this matters: It’s interesting to learn how everything from contracts to constitutional rights have been shaped by centuries of political, social and cultural change. While he’s only produced episodes up to the Civil War, Innes plans to take things all the way to the present day. (The American Legal History Podcast)

• Deep dive on the tariff lawsuit President Trump has called “America’s big case”
  
• Judges doubting the DOJ’s honesty
  
• Another judge issues a ruling full of hallucinated law
  
• FTC issues updated warning about jury duty scams
  
• 157-year-old ban on home distilling could be overturned

Message behind the marketing 

The controversy over the American Eagle x Sydney Sweeney “good jeans” ads is a case every lawyer involved in firm marketing—or advising clients in branding, communications or public-facing industries—should familiarize themselves with. It’s a vivid illustration of how something as seemingly innocuous as a denim ad can erupt into a full-scale public debate over race, beauty, genetics and national identity. From the first wave of controversy to federal political figures weighing in, the fallout illustrates that brand speech is never “just speech.”

Why this matters: If you’re involved in shaping your firm’s image or advising others on theirs, you can’t afford to skip this one. It’s a reminder that commercial expression always has consequences. (CNN)

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

Interested in advertising? Email us at newslettersales@mvfglobal.com

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