The American Lawyer

The American Lawyer is a monthly law journal that focuses on the business of law, covering law firms such as Kirkland & Ellis, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and Latham & Watkins. Founded in 1979 by Steven Brill, it is published by ALM Media Properties, which also publishes other notable legal publications like National Law Journal and The New York Law Journal. The magazine is known for its in-depth coverage of the legal profession, including Supreme Court of the United States decisions, American Bar Association events, and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigations. With a strong focus on corporate law, intellectual property law, and litigation, The American Lawyer provides insights and analysis from renowned legal experts like Alan Dershowitz, Laurence Tribe, and Theodore Olson.

● History

The American Lawyer was first published in 1979, with Steven Brill as its founding editor, and has since become a leading source of news and information for the legal community, including law schools like Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Stanford Law School. Over the years, the magazine has undergone significant changes, including a redesign in 2007, which introduced new features and columns, such as the Am Law 100 and Am Law 200 lists, which rank the top law firms in the United States, including Jones Day, DLA Piper, and Baker McKenzie. The magazine has also expanded its coverage to include international topics, such as European Union law, International Court of Justice decisions, and World Trade Organization disputes, with contributions from experts like Joseph Stiglitz, Paul Krugman, and Nouriel Roubini.

● Overview

The American Lawyer provides comprehensive coverage of the legal profession, including law firm management, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance, with a focus on Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions, Federal Trade Commission investigations, and Internal Revenue Service rulings. The magazine features articles and analysis from prominent legal experts, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Antonin Scalia, and John Roberts, as well as in-house counsel from major corporations like Google, Microsoft, and Apple Inc.. With a strong focus on business development and marketing strategies, The American Lawyer offers insights and advice for law firms looking to expand their client base and increase revenue, including mergers and acquisitions like the Dewey & LeBoeuf and Howrey combinations.

● Notable Columns and Features

The American Lawyer features several notable columns and features, including the Am Law 100 and Am Law 200 lists, which provide an annual ranking of the top law firms in the United States, based on factors like revenue, profitability, and growth, with data from Bloomberg Law and Thomson Reuters. The magazine also publishes the Am Law Daily, a daily newsletter that provides news and analysis on the latest developments in the legal profession, including Supreme Court of the United States decisions, Congress of the United States legislation, and Federal Reserve System policies, with commentary from experts like Ben Bernanke, Janet Yellen, and Jerome Powell. Other notable features include the Law Firm of the Year award, which recognizes outstanding achievement in the legal profession, and the Lifetime Achievement award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the law, such as Thurgood Marshall, William Rehnquist, and Sandra Day O'Connor.

● Awards and Recognition

The American Lawyer has received numerous awards and recognition for its excellence in journalism, including the National Magazine Award for General Excellence, the American Society of Business Publication Editors award for Best Feature Article, and the Society of Professional Journalists award for Excellence in Journalism, with judges from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, University of California, Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, and Medill School of Journalism. The magazine has also been recognized for its coverage of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, including its annual Diversity Scorecard report, which provides data and analysis on the diversity of law firms and corporate legal departments, with insights from experts like Cornel West, Henry Louis Gates Jr., and Angela Davis.

● Editorial Coverage and Focus

The American Lawyer provides in-depth coverage of the legal profession, with a focus on business development, marketing strategies, and regulatory compliance, including Financial Industry Regulatory Authority enforcement actions, Commodity Futures Trading Commission investigations, and Securities and Exchange Commission rulings. The magazine also covers international topics, such as Brexit, trade agreements like the Trans-Pacific Partnership and North American Free Trade Agreement, and global economic trends, with analysis from experts like Niall Ferguson, Joseph Nye, and Robert Kagan. With a strong focus on corporate governance and risk management, The American Lawyer offers insights and advice for in-house counsel and law firms looking to navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of the legal profession, including cybersecurity threats, data protection regulations, and artificial intelligence applications, with contributions from experts like Eric Schmidt, Sundar Pichai, and Satya Nadella.