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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

WHAT'S IN A NAME – Despite the recent announcement by law firm Wiley that it was swapping out its .com web domain for .law, the latter designation hasn't caught on among law firms. As Victoria Hudgins reports, most firms have stuck with .com because of already-established brand recognition. But the .law designation, which has the cybersecurity advantage of requiring users to verify they have a bar license, is expected to gain traction especially if more firms, like Wiley, shorten their name and are unable to get a .com designation because it's already taken.

TRUMP BUMP – Current political turmoil is playing a big role in why people are going to law school, Karen Sloan reports. Fully 84% of the 101 law school admission officials recently surveyed by Kaplan Test Prep said that the political climate was a "significant factor" in the 3% increase in applicants during the previous admissions cycle. Among those respondents, 26% described politics as "very significant" in the growing interest in law school. Meanwhile, 41% of the more than 400 pre-law students Kaplan surveyed separately said that politics was a factor in deciding to pursue a J.D. Still, those numbers are slightly down from last year.

NEXT PHASE – President Trump's legal team has wrapped up its impeachment trial presentation, and attention now turns to the possibility of witnesses, including former National Security Adviser John Bolton. As Marcia Coyle reports, two scenarios are possible going forward: Under the first, whether Bolton will testify is resolved within the Senate proceeding itself—he is either commanded to appear and testify, or he is not. Chief Justice John Roberts, presiding over the Senate trial, may or may not play any role in that decision. Under the second, Trump lawyers take the testimony dispute to court—possibly up to the Supreme Court. In that case, Roberts might need to step aside, especially if he played any role in commanding Bolton to appear in the first place.

LAWYER ON TRIAL – Opening arguments are expected to get underway today in Michael Avenatti's criminal extortion trial in New York federal court. Avenatti, known for his representation of adult film star Stormy Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump, is accused of demanding between $15 million and $25 million from Nike in exchange for not going public with supposedly damaging information about the company.

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EDITOR'S PICKS

How Much Business Do You Really Need to Make a Lateral Move?

 Federal Judges Worried Most About Ephemeral Messages' Effect on E-discovery

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

BIG STEP – Japanese law firm Nishimura & Asahi has launched its first European presence, opening offices in Frankfurt and Düsseldorf, Germany. Varsha Patel reports that the Frankfurt location will be the primary focus for the firm. Nishimura & Asahi has expanded its global reach in recent years. It opened in Dubai in 2016, and New York two years later.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"Yes, women lawyers are in very high demand, but book requirements are equal."

— Patty Morrissy, a managing director of search firm Mlegal, on how much business a partner—male or female—needs in order to attract lateral offers.

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