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3w ago

Law Firms Backtrack on Trump Deals as Pro Bono Commitments Face Legal and Ethical Scrutiny

Major law firms assert independence over client selection, while concerns grow over public interest representation and potential legal violations.

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The office of the law firm Perkins Coie is seen on April 10 in Washington, DC.
People march during the LULAC Dallas Mega March for a bipartisan immigration reform to the Dallas City Hall in Dallas on March 30.
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Overview

  • Nine prominent law firms agreed to nearly $1 billion in pro bono commitments following executive orders from President Trump targeting perceived adversaries.
  • Firms have emphasized that their agreements preserve independence over client and matter selection, rejecting Trump's broader interpretation of their commitments.
  • Public interest organizations report difficulty securing legal representation, with firms wary of cases that might provoke retaliation from the administration.
  • Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, are investigating potential violations of bribery, extortion, and racketeering laws tied to the deals.
  • Some firms, such as Paul, Weiss, reversed course on dropped clients after public backlash, illustrating the chilling effect on civil rights and other public interest cases.