First-year associates at Weil face a particularly difficult challenge as attorneys at the firm consider their next moves, according to Above the Law. While more experienced lawyers may have options for leaving, the publication reports that some first-years worry they will not have the same opportunities.

The concerns at Weil come amid a busy period for the legal profession, with developments ranging from Biglaw pay raises to staffing pressures at the Justice Department.

At Goodwin, a top-20 Biglaw firm, associates are set to receive salary increases matching Milbank’s scale, although they will have to wait until January 2027 to see the raises. Associates can also receive bonuses of up to $140,000, Above the Law reported.

The compensation news offers a contrast to the uncertainty facing Weil’s newest lawyers. Above the Law did not provide additional details in its summary about the circumstances prompting attorneys to consider leaving or the options available to first-years.

Elsewhere in Biglaw, Dechert has hired a departing senior Justice Department official, according to the publication. The move raises questions about the traditional revolving door between government service and private law practice, particularly for lawyers leaving the Trump administration.

The Justice Department is also facing staffing difficulties in Seattle. Above the Law reported that the acting U.S. attorney, who helped develop a no-bond policy, has told a judge that his office cannot keep up with the resulting backlog. The publication linked the problem to the loss of government lawyers.

In Washington, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow has urged Democrats to impeach Todd Blanche after Pete Hegseth. Blanche has volunteered to serve as Hegseth’s impeachment lawyer, according to Above the Law, which also noted that Stephen Miller has legal representation.

For aspiring tax lawyers, a separate ranking of the top law schools for tax law in 2026 produced some unexpected results, the publication said. Its summary did not identify the schools that placed highest.

Above the Law was also seeking final submissions for its 17th annual legally themed Halloween costume contest, inviting readers to send in their law-related costumes.