Career Choices: the Ethical Challenges Presented by Trump’s Law Firm EOs
Thursday, January 22, 2026 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
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Resigning in protest: Experts discuss law firm ethics and resisting Trump Admin Executive Orders targeting DEI and pro bono representation.
In early 2025, displeased with the hiring practices and litigation of several large law firms, the Trump Administration issued Executive Orders (“EOs”) and EEOC investigations against them, and threatened similar action against other firms.
These EOs severely restricted the firms’ ability to practice law before the federal government. Four target firms resisted, suing and winning on the ground that the proposed EOs were clearly unconstitutional. At least nine other firms settled to resolve an EO, to preemptively avoid an EO, or to resolve EEOC investigations or complaints. Although not all of the settlements were published, it appears that settling firms agreed to eliminate DEI hiring and to provide collectively nearly a billion dollars of pro bono representation to causes approved by the Administration.
Many partners and associates in settling firms chose to stay with those firms, but others resigned in protest, including two attorneys who will be on this panel. Panel members Simona Agnolucci (formerly a partner at Willke Farr) and Sam Wong (formerly an associate with Latham & Watkins) will discuss their decisions to resign because their firms capitulated to the Trump Administration.
Subsequent data shows a sharp decline in large law firms’ willingness to take on pro bono matters adverse to the Trump Administration. The panel explores the business and ethical choices made by those law firms and lawyers in responding to unlawful coercion and the similar choices law students make in choosing between those firms and others like them.
The other members of the panel include: Emeritus Professor Stephen Bundy, with expertise in legal ethics, and Berkeley Law alums Kerry Gough and Philip Monrad, who practiced civil rights, employment and labor law.
Lunch will be served inside of Room 170 starting at 12:50 PM. RSVP here.
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