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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

RANKINGS – Fordham University School of Law is the big winner in the latest law school rankings from U.S. News & World Report released today. Karen Sloan reports that Fordham rocketed up 12 spots to land at No. 27—by far the largest jump among the top 50 schools. Otherwise, it was largely business as usual with the rankings: Yale Law School retained its hold on the top spot, with Stanford Law School and Harvard Law School repeating at Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. The only change among the top five schools was Columbia Law School moving up one slot to tie with the University of Chicago Law School at No. 4.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS – Despite dozens of major law firms closing their doors and the U.S. Supreme Court postponing upcoming arguments as COVID-19 spreads, the Second Circuit says it plans to continue hearing appeals as scheduled this week. Tom McParland reports that only those with official business before the court will have access, as explained by Chief Judge Robert Katzmann in a one-page order posted on the court's website.

HELP – At least 400 lawyers at Paul Weiss have volunteered to help businesses and individuals navigate the wide array of government and nonprofit programs dealing with the coronavirus. Dan Packel reports that the firm has organized its response into five different teams: federal programs, New York state programs, New York City programs, state programs outside of New York, and private and charitable organization programs. Another team will draft templates, FAQs and forms concerning each program. Chairman Brad Karp expects his firm's lawyers to spend more than 2,500 pro bono hours a day on the effort, a number that he said won't meet demand. 

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EDITOR'S PICKS

In a Year Full of Worry and Division, How to Protect Your Mental Health

Davis Wright: Deceased Staffer Who Had Flu-Like Symptoms Tests Negative for COVID-19

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

SCOLDED – Top 50 U.K. firm Withers has been rebuked by England's lawyer regulatory authority for failing to adequately provide anti-money laundering training to relevant employees. Hannah Roberts reports that the Solicitors Regulation Authority found the firm failed to help ensure that its employees were given training on how to recognize incidents that could be related to money laundering or terrorist financing.

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WHAT YOU SAID

"If we can think of creative or unusual academic opportunities above and beyond what they're doing already—obviously in a remote teaching format—then this could be a great opportunity to keep students connected."

|— Dan Rodriguez, law professor at Northwestern, who is planning to launch a pop-up online course early next week focused on the coronavirus. 

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