Former Lawyer Warns of Authoritarianism Amidst Law Firm Deals with Trump Administration

Resignation Amidst Authoritarian Concerns

• ⚖️ Rachel Cohen, a former finance associate at Skadden Arps, resigned due to concerns that the U.S. is
• ⚠️ She believes many leaders of prestigious law firms recognize the risk of authoritarianism but choose to ignore it out of fear of losing profits or the inherent difficulty of standing up to it.

Attacks on the Legal Profession

• 🏛️ The Trump administration targeted law firms, beginning with stripping Covington and Burling of government contracts for representing special counsel Jack Smith.
• 🚫 An executive order against Perkins Coie not only removed government contracts but also targeted third-party contractors, citing past representation of disliked clients.
• 🤝 In response to an executive order, Paul Weiss offered $40 million in pro bono legal services and promised to evaluate hiring practices, leading to the withdrawal of the order.
• 📉 Cohen viewed Paul Weiss's capitulation as a betrayal of associates and the legal system, realizing firm leadership was not motivated to act collectively.

Law Firm Capitulation and Pro Bono Services

• 💰 Skadden Arps later promised $100 million in pro bono legal services to the Trump administration, despite no executive order being entered against them.
• 📣 Other associates resigned in protest, with some doing so publicly, highlighting the principle that everyone deserves an advocate.
• ⚖️ The adversarial legal system relies on parties having representation, and the withdrawal of resources by large firms impacts public interest attorneys challenging unconstitutional actions.

The Importance of Advocacy and Courage

• 🗣️ Cohen emphasizes that her voice is amplified due to her background and education, but she advocates for those whose voices are not heard in the same way.
• ✊ She stresses that advocacy cannot be defined by fear of retribution and that courage is a choice.
• 🎯 The administration cannot dictate who deserves representation or use executive power to intimidate lawyers; allowing this would cause the legal system to fail.
• 💬 Cohen chooses courage over silence, despite her fear of where the intimidation campaign leads.