Brad Wendel
@bradwendel.bsky.social
LawProf at Cornell - mostly legal ethics but also other stuff. Also following aviation, Texas alt-country music, tacos, and barbecue.
This is correct. The firms are telling students they need to get good grades while simultaneously asking them to come to receptions to schmooze with firm lawyers in the evenings when they should be preparing for exams.
This is so concerning because (as I understand it) the offers are conditional on grades. So the students are distracted from their studies during the most stressful and difficult time in law school and it's not clear to me they benefit from a genuine job offer at the end.
The biggest law firms’ intensive recruiting of first-year students has spread to smaller rivals, with some making offers even before first-semester grades are in.
November 25, 2025 at 4:46 PM
This is correct. The firms are telling students they need to get good grades while simultaneously asking them to come to receptions to schmooze with firm lawyers in the evenings when they should be preparing for exams.
Reposted by Brad Wendel
One of this administration’s core beliefs seems to be that no one would follow a code of conduct for any reason other than fear. Professional ethics, constitutional constraints, basic morality—no one actually *believes* in these things: everyone is just too weak or scared to discard them. 1/3
September 30, 2025 at 3:27 PM
One of this administration’s core beliefs seems to be that no one would follow a code of conduct for any reason other than fear. Professional ethics, constitutional constraints, basic morality—no one actually *believes* in these things: everyone is just too weak or scared to discard them. 1/3
RIP to the great Flaco Jimenez, here singing about him hometown (and mine).
Flaco Jimenez - Ay Te Dejo En San Antonio
YouTube video by juan8221
youtu.be
August 1, 2025 at 5:34 PM
RIP to the great Flaco Jimenez, here singing about him hometown (and mine).
"In all, nearly 1,700 devices were purchased to distribute across the Army’s helicopter fleet. The device, called the Stratus ..."
Something is screwy when the Army is just now buying something I've flown with for years.
Something is screwy when the Army is just now buying something I've flown with for years.
After deadly D.C. plane crash, Army expands use of navigation devices
Officials say they are prioritizing the Black Hawk helicopter unit from Fort Belvoir involved in the midair collision with an American Airlines passenger jet.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 30, 2025 at 12:37 AM
"In all, nearly 1,700 devices were purchased to distribute across the Army’s helicopter fleet. The device, called the Stratus ..."
Something is screwy when the Army is just now buying something I've flown with for years.
Something is screwy when the Army is just now buying something I've flown with for years.
WHY ARE LAWYERS STILL DOING THIS? This issue has been reported on and written about to death and somehow lawyers continue to crank slop out of consumer-grade AI products and FILE IT WITH COURTS. What the actual fuck?
I see federal judges are starting to get serious about attorneys using AI hallucinations
July 28, 2025 at 5:44 PM
WHY ARE LAWYERS STILL DOING THIS? This issue has been reported on and written about to death and somehow lawyers continue to crank slop out of consumer-grade AI products and FILE IT WITH COURTS. What the actual fuck?
Okay, I'll cop to this.
Hundreds Of Years Of Race, Class Privilege Allow Man Extra Legroom theonion.com/hundred...
July 28, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Okay, I'll cop to this.
Trump Admin Making Another EO Appeal, Targeting WilmerHale www.law360.com/bankruptcy/a...
How are the lawyers in the district court proceedings going to decide who takes the lead on the appeal? Rock, paper, scissors? Counsel at trial include two former USSGs.
How are the lawyers in the district court proceedings going to decide who takes the lead on the appeal? Rock, paper, scissors? Counsel at trial include two former USSGs.
July 28, 2025 at 12:33 PM
Trump Admin Making Another EO Appeal, Targeting WilmerHale www.law360.com/bankruptcy/a...
How are the lawyers in the district court proceedings going to decide who takes the lead on the appeal? Rock, paper, scissors? Counsel at trial include two former USSGs.
How are the lawyers in the district court proceedings going to decide who takes the lead on the appeal? Rock, paper, scissors? Counsel at trial include two former USSGs.
This is the most Alaska aviation story ever. Planes in the Lower 48 don't crash due to asymmetric drag caused by moose antlers strapped to the wing.
Plane in Alaska Crash Was Overloaded With Moose Meat and Antlers, N.T.S.B. Says
www.nytimes.com
July 23, 2025 at 11:31 PM
This is the most Alaska aviation story ever. Planes in the Lower 48 don't crash due to asymmetric drag caused by moose antlers strapped to the wing.
This, definitely. If I had made up a case cite or a quote that ended up in an opinion by my judge, (1) he almost certainly would have caught it, and (2) I'd be out on my ass that very day.
When I gave my judge a draft opinion, I had to include a hard copy of every case I cited with highlights showing where the relevant info or quote came from. Before a final opinion was issued, I would read it to my co-clerk, who would simultaneously check every quote, citation, etc.
Yikes yikes yikes. Judge Withdraws Pharma Opinion After Lawyer Flags Made-Up Quotes:
July 23, 2025 at 11:26 PM
This, definitely. If I had made up a case cite or a quote that ended up in an opinion by my judge, (1) he almost certainly would have caught it, and (2) I'd be out on my ass that very day.
The cruelty is the point.
“A new memo from the Trump administration confirmed that migrants could now be deported to countries other than their own with as little as 6 hours’ notice — even where those countries offer no guarantees of safety.”
“It is really chaos,” says one lawyer.”
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
“It is really chaos,” says one lawyer.”
www.miamiherald.com/news/local/i...
No time, no lawyer, no rights: ICE memo sparks panic over third-country deportations
Trump’s Rapid Deportation Memo Sparks Outcry in Miami Over Third-Country Removals
www.miamiherald.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:47 PM
The cruelty is the point.
As it often does, the Onion is much clearer than the legacy media on this issue.
DOJ Removes All Mentions Of Justice From Website
DOJ Removes All Mentions Of Justice From Website
WASHINGTON—In the latest of a series of escalations in President Donald Trump’s highly publicized war on “woke,” the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly removed all mentions of justice from its webs...
theonion.com
July 14, 2025 at 4:36 PM
As it often does, the Onion is much clearer than the legacy media on this issue.
I expect we'll soon have more details about what, exactly, he advised Pam Bondi she couldn't do.
UPDATE: DOJ Ethic director Tirrell posts his termination letter on LinkedIn. Says his oath “did not come with the caveat that I need only support the Constitution when it is easy or convenient.”
July 14, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I expect we'll soon have more details about what, exactly, he advised Pam Bondi she couldn't do.
I'm no economist, but I think there may be a deal here.
June 30, 2025 at 12:04 AM
I'm no economist, but I think there may be a deal here.
Tailwinds to one of the great aviation journalists.
Oh, the most heartbreaking news:
The invincible-seeming, and unforgettable, William Langewiesche — friend, mentor, colleague — has died, at age 70.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/b...
The invincible-seeming, and unforgettable, William Langewiesche — friend, mentor, colleague — has died, at age 70.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/b...
William Langewiesche, the ‘Steve McQueen of Journalism,’ Dies at 70
www.nytimes.com
June 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Tailwinds to one of the great aviation journalists.
Thanks, Gautam, although my point doesn't feel like much of an insight. From the get-go it was clear the EO's were lawless bullying efforts, not good faith assertions of valid legal claims. /1
My friend and colleague @bradwendel.bsky.social is the lead quote in this article on the law firm EOs. His insights into the state of the profession have been essential over the last few months. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/16/u...
Trump’s Strategy in Law Firm Cases: Lose, Don’t Appeal, Yet Prevail
www.nytimes.com
June 16, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Thanks, Gautam, although my point doesn't feel like much of an insight. From the get-go it was clear the EO's were lawless bullying efforts, not good faith assertions of valid legal claims. /1
Surefire method for getting the lowest grade in the class on a law school exam.
June 15, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Surefire method for getting the lowest grade in the class on a law school exam.
Concise replacement for the ridiculous learning objectives we're supposed to provide:
"We do hard shit together" would make for a very-efficient one-sentence syllabus 😂
I’d argue that rigorous and academically challenging work builds a strong classroom rapport.
We do hard shit together 💛
We do hard shit together 💛
June 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Concise replacement for the ridiculous learning objectives we're supposed to provide:
Interesting issue. Law school clinics have one foot in the legal profession and the other in the academy. As I see it, that makes them doubly independent, grounded in the traditional independence of the bar as well as academic freedom. /1
This not about any real case, but I'm kinda curious what people think: As a matter of legal ethics, could a law school clinic take a clinic position adverse to the university that hosts the clinic? From a conflicts perspective, are clinics independent of their schools?
June 11, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Interesting issue. Law school clinics have one foot in the legal profession and the other in the academy. As I see it, that makes them doubly independent, grounded in the traditional independence of the bar as well as academic freedom. /1
These are all shitty things, agreed, but there's a ray of hope in the administration finding some face-saving way of complying with court orders. It's good that they wanted to take the defiance down a notch.
So to review:
1. He never should have been deported. The admin admitted that.
2. The admin said he was an MS-13 member and also they couldn’t get him back. They lied.
3. They are now charging him with a crime that they did not mention until literally now.
1. He never should have been deported. The admin admitted that.
2. The admin said he was an MS-13 member and also they couldn’t get him back. They lied.
3. They are now charging him with a crime that they did not mention until literally now.
🚨🚨🚨 Kilmar Abrego Garcia is on his way back to the U.S. from El Salvador to face criminal charges.
abcnews.visitlink.me/dp2AxT?cid=s...
abcnews.visitlink.me/dp2AxT?cid=s...
June 6, 2025 at 8:31 PM
These are all shitty things, agreed, but there's a ray of hope in the administration finding some face-saving way of complying with court orders. It's good that they wanted to take the defiance down a notch.
This is starting to feel like the O.J. Bronco chase - everyone is glued to screens and we'll all remember watching while it was happening.
this is a day for those of us who have spent the last six months terminally online. this is for us and honestly, we deserve it.
June 5, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is starting to feel like the O.J. Bronco chase - everyone is glued to screens and we'll all remember watching while it was happening.
I love my job and I'm very proud of Cornell, but if they make this kind of agreement I'm quitting that day and taking a job at my local Target.
The brand destruction that will come to the university that lends its reputation to this will be massive.
Stephen Miller University from that moment on.
Stephen Miller University from that moment on.
I would hope that, by this point, university leaders who are still "negotiating" with the administration have their eyes wide open about the fact that these negotiations are all in bad faith.
May 31, 2025 at 9:45 PM
I love my job and I'm very proud of Cornell, but if they make this kind of agreement I'm quitting that day and taking a job at my local Target.
It was always pretty clear who was playing who in this relationship.
May 30, 2025 at 2:33 AM
It was always pretty clear who was playing who in this relationship.
Or maybe require it as CLE for all government lawyers, along with even more ethics credits.
I’m teaching 1A: Speech and Press for the first time next spring and I’m starting to wonder if we need to bump it up from 3 credits to 4 with all the news these days…
In the lawsuit, the university accused the Trump administration of exerting “clear retaliation for Harvard exercising its First Amendment rights to control Harvard’s governance, curriculum and the ‘ideology’ of its faculty and students.”
May 23, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Or maybe require it as CLE for all government lawyers, along with even more ethics credits.
Mine is: Don't bother ringing it up - it's for a duck! (And I can't pass a Subway without saying that.)
Everyone has one Mitch Hedberg joke stashed in their brain like a squirrel to sustain them whenever they need to feel joy for 30 seconds and mine is “they say the recipe for Sprite is Lemon and Lime but I tried to make it at home, there’s more to it than that”
May 23, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Mine is: Don't bother ringing it up - it's for a duck! (And I can't pass a Subway without saying that.)