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WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

FEE FIGHT – Lawyers for Michael Cohen, President Trump’s felonious ex-fixer, are scheduled to appear in New York state court today to defend a suit against the Trump Organization seeking indemnification and payment of $1.9 million in legal fees. Cohen says the fees—$1 million of which are owed to McDermott and the rest to other firms including Lanny Davis’—should be covered by the Trump Organization pursuant to some unspecified contract. He also says $1.9 million he had to pay as part of his criminal sentence should be comped by Team Trump. Marc Mukasey, who represents the Trump Organization, says no such deal was ever struck and is set to argue for the case to be dismissed. His firm is expected to square off in Manhattan against Cohen’s team from Binder & Schwartz and from Gilbert LLP.

UP IN SMOKE? Vaping and e-cigarettes have grown into a $5 billion industry in the last decade, sparking interest among law firms to develop practices around the business. But as Meredith Hobbs reports, heavy federal regulation, local restrictions and public backlash against manufacturers criticized for enticing kids are putting a damper on the industry’s potential and the legal work it might bring. “My practice might be coming to an end before I’d like,” says one D.C. lawyer whose work focuses on the industry.

MINDFUL – A growing number of law students are pushing law school administrators to invest more in mental health programs to help deal with depression, anxiety, substance abuse and other struggles that arise during the pursuit of a law degree. As part of our Minds Over Matters project, Karen Sloan reports that grading curves, the Socratic Method and competition for jobs are the oft-cited reasons for the mental health challenges that students want their schools to address. Among the most popular programs are those designed by students and implemented with the schools’ help.

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EDITOR’S PICKS

Hearing Opens Over Groping and Harassment Claims Against Calif. Appeals Judge

BT Splits Role of Tech and Transformation General Counsel

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

LIGHTER BURDEN – The lawyer ethics tribunal in the U.K. has lowered the standard of proof required to prove lawyer misconduct in proceedings. Rose Walker reports that the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has adopted the civil standard of proof that will require prosecutors to prove misconduct on the balance of probabilities—that it is more likely that it happened than did not—rather than beyond reasonable doubt. The change, which comes amid several recent sexual harassment incidents at U.K.- and U.S-based firms, starts in November.

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WHAT YOU SAID

“Michael Dreeben knows more about criminal law than anyone else on earth.”

—  NOEL FRANCISCO, U.S. SOLICITOR GENERAL, COMMENTING ON SCOTUSBLOG ON THE FORMER DEPUTY U.S. SOLICITOR. DREEBEN, WHO RECENTLY RETIRED FROM THE SG’S OFFICE, ARGUED MORE THAN 100 CASES BEFORE SCOTUS AND WAS ON SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER INVESTIGATION TEAM.

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