As we step into the final month of 2025, the legal landscape buzzes with activity ranging from Biglaw bonuses to ethical breaches and the scrutiny of military operations. Let's delve into the mix of legal drama and developments that have kept everyone from law associates to federal judges on their toes.

Bonus Tracker Season Officially Begins: The much-anticipated bonus season in the legal big leagues has kicked off. Law firm associates are glued to their screens, tracking which firms are leading the charge in rewarding their tireless year-end efforts. With the market's ever-watchful eye and associates' detailed spreadsheets at the ready, the competition is as fierce as ever. More details on the unfolding figures can be found [here](https://abovethelaw.com/2025/11/bonus-tracker-2025/).

Military’s New GenAI Knows A War Crime When It Sees One: In a significant technological stride, the military has unveiled a new GenAI platform capable of identifying potential war crimes. The AI didn’t waste time, quickly pointing out the pitfalls in current strategies and raising ethical flags about operations led by figures like Pete Hegseth. This development could signal a new era in how military actions are planned and scrutinized. Dive deeper into this development [here](https://abovethelaw.com/2025/12/pentagon-unveils-new-genai-platform-it-immediately-starts-flagging-pete-hegseths-war-crimes/).

Federal Judge Who Allegedly Ignored Court Orders Now Allegedly Ignoring Court Ethics: Judge Emil Bove, known for his controversial stances, is once again in the spotlight. This time, accusations swirl around his alleged disregard for court ethics, following a dubious decision to take a field trip to a political rally. This incident has sparked a judicial misconduct complaint, highlighting ongoing concerns about the blending of politics and judicial responsibilities. The full story is [here](https://abovethelaw.com/2025/12/judge-emil-boves-maga-rally-field-trip-sparks-judicial-misconduct-complaint/).

The Time For Persuasion Is Over: In the Supreme Court corridors, Justice Sotomayor reportedly had a prime opportunity to corner the Trump administration over crucial legal disputes but chose a path of persuasion over confrontation. This decision has sparked a debate on whether the nation’s highest court is still a ground for reasoned debate or if it has morphed into a battlefield of ideologies. Full details are available [here](https://abovethelaw.com/2025/12/sotomayor-had-trump-administration-on-the-ropes-and-let-em-off-the-hook/).

Global Biglaw Merger Discovers Divorce Is Also An Option: The legal world witnessed a massive international firm merger touted for its potential to redefine global law practice. However, less than a year into the union, the firms involved are preparing to part ways, a move that underscores the complex nature of legal partnerships and the reality that not all synergies last. Insights on this breakup can be found [here](https://abovethelaw.com/2025/12/merged-no-more-global-biglaw-firm-set-to-split-up-come-spring-2026/).

Firm Beats Trump In Court, Loses To Office Attendance Policy: A notable law firm emerged victorious against an executive order from the Trump administration but now faces internal challenges enforcing an office attendance policy. This policy shift has sparked discussions on work-life balance and the evolving expectations of legal workplaces. More on this can be read [here](https://abovethelaw.com/2025/12/first-this-firm-defeated-trumps-executive-order-now-its-ordering-lawyers-to-s