Back in 2019, mos
t folks in Biglaw couldn’t imagine the all out assault that would come for the legal profession in just six years. But in the year of our lord 2025, the rule of law is facing an existential crisis. In the face of a direct attack by the Trump administration, the major law firm Paul Weiss cut a deal. In order to curry favor with Trump, they’re cutting diversity efforts and donating $40 million in pro bono efforts to the Trump administration and *everyone* in the legal industry is talking about it. 140+ alumni of Paul Weiss called the move a “craven surrender” and they’re far from the only ones calling out the firm for the capitulation to Trump.
Any Biglaw firm making a deal with Trump would be major news, but it somehow stings more coming from Paul Weiss — a firm that positioned itself as standing up for social justice. To wit, in 2019 Paul Weiss chair Brad Karp was selected as a Distinguished Leader by the New York Law Journal. At that time he gave an interview where he gave some choice quotes that read a lot different six years in the future.
I am most proud of how we are leveraging our platform at Paul, Weiss to pursue crucial social justice initiatives and safeguard the rule of law.
….
Being a leader means being guided by what is right and having the moral courage to lead others to follow. I am fortunate to lead a firm comprised of professionals who are just as committed as I am to do the right thing in every circumstance, to stand up for the rule of law, social justice and human rights.
….
At many firms, a single-minded obsession with the bottom line is eroding core values of pro bono, community engagement, diversity and professionalism.
It’s a lot easier to say the right thing than to do it. A lesson we’re watching Karp learn in real time.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
