Original Jurisdiction

Original Jurisdiction aims to provide sharp, balanced, and sometimes amusing commentary on law and the legal field. With the significant role that law and legal professionals play in American society and politics—both positively and negatively—it’s crucial to have platforms that shed light on these often closed-off and complex areas, especially as the legal industry grows in size and influence.

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Articles

Paying It Forward: Sandra Leung

2 days ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

Current time: 0:00 / Total time: -48:52Audio playback is not supported on your browser. Please upgrade. I’m very proud of the guests I’ve hosted on the Original Jurisdiction podcast, who are some of the most interesting and influential figures in the world of law. But I recently noticed a significant gap in their ranks: I’ve never hosted the general counsel or chief legal officer of a publicly traded company.
Judicial Notice (05.12.25): Checks And Balances

4 days ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

This week’s Judicial Notice is sponsored byChambers-ranked and Harvard-educated, Jeff is the trusted closer for high-stakes disputes. His battle-tested system of managed communications empowers clients to make clear, strong decisions in a calm, informed environment. It makes the right resolution obvious. If settlement seems impossible, call him. To all the moms out there, I hope you had a delightful Mother’s Day.
AI Can Assist Human Judges, But It Can’t Replace Them (Yet)

1 week ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

A version of this article originally appeared on Bloomberg Law, part of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. (800-372-1033), and is reproduced here with permission. Over the past few years, I’ve read many articles and attended numerous panels about whether artificial intelligence could replace lawyers. But what about judges—could AI replace them?
Judicial Notice (05.04.25): ‘Juvenile And Impertinent’

1 week ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

This week’s Judicial Notice is sponsored byWith a presence in over a dozen cities across the United States and Asia, Lateral Link boasts an expert recruiting team of former practicing attorneys dedicated to sourcing top-tier legal talent for a diverse clientele, including major international law firms and Fortune 500 companies. To learn more about Lateral Link, please visit our website. Last week was busy for me—in a good way.
Lawyers Rally For The Rule Of Law: A Photo Essay

2 weeks ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

Welcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at [email protected]. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. Yesterday was Law Day—and this year, it took on added meaning for many lawyers.
Judicial Notice (04.27.25): Clash Of The Titans

2 weeks ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

This week’s Judicial Notice is sponsored byLexSelect helps lawyers work 12x faster by eliminating tedious, low-value tasks and freeing up time for high-value, billable work. It seamlessly extracts and cites text from any PDF—including transcripts, affidavits, contracts, and expert reports—cutting up to 50 hours of manual work per trial down to just 4. Save time, reduce errors, and stay focused on what matters: advocating your case and serving your clients.
An Insider’s Guide To Mediation

3 weeks ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

Mediation is having a moment. Numerous headline-making conflicts are currently in or headed for mediation—everything from Russia v. Ukraine to Israel v. Hamas to Trump v. CBS Broadcasting, Inc. What is mediation?
Trump Executive Orders Expose-And Exploit-Biglaw Vulnerability

3 weeks ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

Welcome to Original Jurisdiction, the latest legal publication by me, David Lat. You can learn more about Original Jurisdiction by reading its About page, and you can email me at [email protected]. This is a reader-supported publication; you can subscribe by clicking here. A version of this article originally appeared on Bloomberg Law, part of Bloomberg Industry Group, Inc. (800-372-1033), and is reproduced here with permission.
Judicial Notice (04.20.25): All Fed Up

3 weeks ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

This week’s Judicial Notice is sponsored byLexSelect helps lawyers work 12x faster by eliminating tedious, low-value tasks and freeing up time for high-value, billable work. It seamlessly extracts and cites text from any PDF—including transcripts, affidavits, contracts, and expert reports—cutting up to 50 hours of manual work per trial down to just 4. Save time, reduce errors, and stay focused on what matters: advocating your case and serving your clients.
‘Fight With Everything You Have’: David Oscar Markus

4 weeks ago | davidlat.substack.com | David Lat

It isn’t easy being a criminal-defense attorney. Your clients are counting on you, often with their liberty on the line. You work your heart out for them. And in the end, at least once your client has been charged, the odds are high that they’ll end up convicted—whether through pleading guilty or losing at trial. In the federal system, fewer than one percent of defendants get acquitted.