Juana Summers

Consider this. Rachel Cohen says Trump's pressuring of big, private law firms is part of a broader effort to reshape the American justice system in his favor, and that so far, big law isn't standing up for itself. From NPR, I'm Juana Summers. It's Consider This from NPR. Rachel Cohen had been speaking out about Trump's executive orders before her resignation on social media and in an open letter.

Consider this. Rachel Cohen says Trump's pressuring of big, private law firms is part of a broader effort to reshape the American justice system in his favor, and that so far, big law isn't standing up for itself. From NPR, I'm Juana Summers. It's Consider This from NPR. Rachel Cohen had been speaking out about Trump's executive orders before her resignation on social media and in an open letter.

So the first thing I asked her was, what was the tipping point?

So the first thing I asked her was, what was the tipping point?

So the first thing I asked her was, what was the tipping point?

I just want to take a second to spell out some of the details of the Paul Weiss case for people who may not be as familiar with it as you are. President Trump levied this executive order to strip the firm of security clearances and government contracts, in part because it rehired a lawyer who'd left the firm to prosecute a case against Trump.

I just want to take a second to spell out some of the details of the Paul Weiss case for people who may not be as familiar with it as you are. President Trump levied this executive order to strip the firm of security clearances and government contracts, in part because it rehired a lawyer who'd left the firm to prosecute a case against Trump.

I just want to take a second to spell out some of the details of the Paul Weiss case for people who may not be as familiar with it as you are. President Trump levied this executive order to strip the firm of security clearances and government contracts, in part because it rehired a lawyer who'd left the firm to prosecute a case against Trump.

And then Paul Weiss agreed to concessions to get the executive order rescinded. That included $40 million in pro bono work and cases aligning with the administration's agenda. Spell out for me why that is so troubling to you.

And then Paul Weiss agreed to concessions to get the executive order rescinded. That included $40 million in pro bono work and cases aligning with the administration's agenda. Spell out for me why that is so troubling to you.

And then Paul Weiss agreed to concessions to get the executive order rescinded. That included $40 million in pro bono work and cases aligning with the administration's agenda. Spell out for me why that is so troubling to you.

Now, Paul Weiss took in over $2.6 billion in revenue last year, according to Law 360, and its chairman said in an internal email, even given that figure, I'm quoting, it was very likely that our firm would not be able to survive a protracted dispute with the administration. Hearing that, what does that say about the state of the legal profession at this moment?

Now, Paul Weiss took in over $2.6 billion in revenue last year, according to Law 360, and its chairman said in an internal email, even given that figure, I'm quoting, it was very likely that our firm would not be able to survive a protracted dispute with the administration. Hearing that, what does that say about the state of the legal profession at this moment?

Now, Paul Weiss took in over $2.6 billion in revenue last year, according to Law 360, and its chairman said in an internal email, even given that figure, I'm quoting, it was very likely that our firm would not be able to survive a protracted dispute with the administration. Hearing that, what does that say about the state of the legal profession at this moment?

In your view, what do you think President Trump is trying to do in picking this fight with big law?

In your view, what do you think President Trump is trying to do in picking this fight with big law?

In your view, what do you think President Trump is trying to do in picking this fight with big law?

When we talk about big law, we're really talking about a group of a whole lot of different firms who not only have to compete for big cases, but who would also have to defend themselves individually in what would be costly and time-consuming battles.

When we talk about big law, we're really talking about a group of a whole lot of different firms who not only have to compete for big cases, but who would also have to defend themselves individually in what would be costly and time-consuming battles.

When we talk about big law, we're really talking about a group of a whole lot of different firms who not only have to compete for big cases, but who would also have to defend themselves individually in what would be costly and time-consuming battles.