The Associate's Bold Move Against Big Law: A Story of Conscience and Advice

Rachel Cohen made headlines when she decisively left her high-powered legal career, attributing her departure to her discontent with her firm's handling of actions by then-President Donald Trump.

Prior to her resignation from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in March, Cohen's decision was critically shaped by a conversation with her parents — former lawyers themselves — to ensure she was taking the correct course of action.

In a recent episode of the 'Rapid Response' podcast, Cohen shared that she sought her parents’ counsel, not to debate job security, but rather to evaluate the fairness of her situation and if there were alternative measures she could exhaust prior to resigning.

Cohen's parents, described as conventional, system-trusting Ohioans, previously served as attorneys in the military's Judge Advocate General's Corps. Their perspective was pivotal for Cohen, though she did not disclose their exact advice.

Before officially parting ways with the firm, Cohen approached senior management within Skadden to explore possible contributions she could make toward a collective industry stance opposing Trump’s legal maneuvers targeting Big Law.

Despite receiving acknowledgments for her perspective, Cohen's efforts inside the firm and her subsequent media engagements reflect her growing dissatisfaction with inaction among top legal firms.

Cohen's resolve solidified after another prestigious law firm, Paul Weiss, successfully negotiated terms with Trump to retract an executive order, propelling her urge to outline personal demands for firm actions.

She communicated in her resignation letter that her departure could have been averted if Skadden had addressed the situation with what she deemed an adequate response to contemporary challenges.

Trump’s Legal Offensive Against Law Firms

Former President Trump launched a series of executive orders perceived as punitive toward legal firms he considered adversaries, threatening their security clearances and initiating reviews of government contracts.

In reaction, some firms like Skadden, Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and Paul Weiss opted to make concessions with the administration to safeguard their interests, drawing criticism for seemingly yielding to political pressure.

Conversely, law firm Perkins Coie took a stand against the administration's directives, pursuing litigation aimed at defending free speech and maintaining their business affiliations.

A substantial coalition of over 500 law firms expressed solidarity against Trump’s actions through a formal declaration, emphasizing a unified defense of the American legal system's integrity.

Cohen's Continuing Advocacy

Since her publicized departure, Cohen has continued to express her viewpoints online regarding the pressing issues facing the legal profession.

While her future career path remains undecided, Cohen's transparency and efforts have sparked broader discussions on the ethical responsibilities of law firms in politically charged environments.