Summary
Article Overview: Since 2006, Above The Law has shattered the secrecy surrounding Big Law by exposing associate salaries, firm culture, and hiring practices that insiders once guarded like privileged information. Founded by former federal prosecutor David Lat, this irreverent legal blog transformed from industry gossip site to essential reading for anyone navigating the high-stakes world of law firms and legal careers.
# A Guide to 15 Years of Above The Law ## Overview **Above The Law (ATL)** is a legal industry blog and news website that launched in **2006**. It has become one of the most influential and widely-read publications covering the legal profession, particularly Big Law. ## Founding & History - **Founded:** 2006 - **Founder:** David Lat, a former federal prosecutor - **Original Focus:** Legal gossip, Big Law culture, and industry news - **Acquired by:** Breaking Media (now part of Recurrent Ventures) ## Key Content Areas ### 1. **Big Law Coverage** - Associate salaries and bonuses - Law firm rankings and prestige - Layoffs and hiring trends - Partner moves and lateral hires ### 2. **Law School** - Rankings and admissions - Student debt issues - Career prospects ### 3. **Legal Careers** - Job market analysis - Career advice - Work-life balance discussions ### 4. **Industry News & Commentary** - Notable cases - Judicial appointments - Legal technology ## Notable Features - **Tip Line:** Anonymous submissions from industry insiders - **Salary transparency:** Tracking associate compensation - **Irreverent tone:** Distinguished from traditional legal publications ## Impact ATL helped democratize information about law firm culture and compensation that was previously shared only through informal networks. Would you like more detail on any specific aspect?References
- Lat, D. (2006). "Introducing Above The Law." Above The Law.
- Recurrent Ventures. (n.d.). "About Us." Recurrent Ventures.
- "What is Above the Law?" (2021). American Bar Association Journal.
- Miller, M. (2020). "The Role of Legal Blogs in Today's Legal Profession." Legaltech News.
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