Legal community shaken by a powerful law firm's decision to give in to Trump's demands

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NBC News

March 21, 2025, 8:32 PM EDT


WASHINGTON — On Thursday, the powerful law firm Paul Weiss caved. It agreed to give Donald Trump’s administration $40 million in free legal work for causes the president supports and, according to a social media post from Trump, get rid of any internal diversity, equity and inclusion policies. In response, Trump rescinded his executive order that targeted the firm and could have cost it significant business.

The agreement shocked many in the legal community, and for Rachel Cohen, an associate at another large firm — Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP — it was the final straw. On Thursday night, Cohen fired off an email to her firm that said she was giving her two-weeks’ notice, unless leaders there agreed to a number of conditions that would, in effect, stand up to the Trump administration — including by refusing to cooperate with the targeting of DEI programs.

“This is not what I saw for my career or for my evening, but Paul Weiss’ decision to cave to the Trump administration on DEI, representation and staffing has forced my hand,” Cohen wrote in her firmwide email, which went viral on social media after she shared it publicly. “We do not have time. It is now or it is never, and if it is never, I will not continue to work here.” Representatives for Paul Weiss, Skadden and the White House did not immediately return requests for comment.

Cohen told NBC News on Friday that her calculus wasn’t whether her letter was going to backfire, nor was it whether she was going to be fired. (Cohen said her email access was suspended soon after she sent her letter.) Her key question was: “Is this going to be unhelpful to the aim that I am working towards, which is the protection of not just my colleagues, but the rule of law in the United States of America? Because the stakes really are that high.”

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/legal-community-shaken-powerful-law-firm-paul-weiss-trump-rcna197490

[Irish_Dem]

1. US attorneys are part of the fascist coup.

They are enabling the destruction of the US.

[BumRushDaShow]

3. They are all appointed by the President (and confirmed by the Senate)

so we know what we are in for. As of now, 7 of the 93 slots have confirmed U.S. Attorneys, with a couple who are awaiting confirmation - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_attorneys_appointed_by_Donald_Trump#Second_term

[Irish_Dem]

5. Yes Trump is hiring/appointing attorneys to assist in the coup.

These are traitor attorneys.

[NotHardly]

8. Surrender monkeys

[Irish_Dem]

9. Treason. Sworn to uphold the law and constitution.

But sold their country out.
And didn't even blink or think about it.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. It's all a farce.

Paul Weiss could have won in court.

$40 million in free services to Trump. Doubt it's tax-deductible.

Partners made the decision on the basis of money, not legal ethics and tradition.

Who believes that Paul Weiss will represent any client opposed to Trump and his Administration from this point on?

Paul Weiss has a better shot of winning in court on behalf of Trump than the plastic legal team working for Trump.

[JohnSJ]

4. It is a disgrace, as are those lawyers bending the knee to an authoritarian who is in the WH. Talk is cheap, it is

actions that count, and so far it has been pretty dismal.

Performers are still performing at the Kennedy Center after trump's takeover of it. ABC and other news outlets have no problem capitulating before blatant governmental abuses. Too many companies had no problem dropping their DEI programs at the "command" of the dictator in the WH.

There are so many examples of abuses and violations of civil rights, and so many examples of companies, organizations, universities etc. not willing to push back.

The supposed outrage against Schumer and the Democrats in the Senate who refused to vote against cloture, but where were they in 2024 protesting and pushing back against trump and the republicans? It didn't occur on any scale against the republicans like it did against the Democrats in 2024, and where was the illustrious media?

Worse, instead of unifying to fight what we are up against, we are too busy fighting among ourselves, which is exactly what those in power want, and how they plan to control us.

[LisaM]

6. Exactly.

I am sure there are people out on the stump now who will turn this against Democrats. Jake Tapper likely will, too.

[Paladin]

7. The Paul Weiss firm deserves the same scornful treatment that Schumer is getting.

I know we're living in perilous times, but things are never going to get better if we just keep cratering to trump. Way past time for a courageous opposition movement, fighting the authoritarian takeover of our once-proud nation.

[GoreWon2000]

10. They're all spinless cowards

putting their own personal finances ahead of saving the democratic principles that every previous generation of Americans fought and died for. Shame on them all.