News Roundup
Weekly Briefs: Legal sector continues to gain jobs; Roe v. Wade archive auctioned
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Legal sector adds 1,500 jobs
The legal services sector continues to add jobs, despite reports of layoffs at some BigLaw firms. The sector gained 1,500 jobs in February, according to preliminary and seasonally adjusted figures released Friday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In January, the industry gained 800 jobs, a downward adjustment from the 2,400 jobs gain reported last month. The jobs number is based on payroll jobs for attorneys and staff members working at firms providing legal services. The jobs data can change in monthly revisions and in the annual look-back process. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics news release and tables)
Roe v. Wade archive sells for over $615K at auction
One of the lawyers who represented the plaintiff in Roe v. Wade has auctioned off her archive of documents and items from the case. The archive owned by lawyer Linda Coffee sold at a March 3 auction for more $615,000. Items sold included the $15 receipt for filing the lawsuit and the letter that Coffee wrote to her co-counsel Sarah Weddington suggesting that they work together. Coffee told Texas Monthly that she sold the items because she is 80 nowm and she wants to make sure that her collection “is around for people long after I am gone.” She said her memories of the case are “bittersweet” since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned in 2022 the abortion-rights opinions Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey. But, she said, “I really have faith in this new generation to get choice back.” (WFAA, D magazine, Texas Monthly, the Nate D. Sanders Inc. announcement)
Supreme Court seeks new funds for security
The U.S. Supreme Court is asking for an extra $12.4 million to improve security for the justices. The request seeks $6.5 million for building improvements and $5.9 million to expand protection by Supreme Court police. The requests are part of the federal judiciary’s $9.1 billion budget request. (Reuters, Bloomberg Law)
LSC seeks $1.5B to address legal services gap
The Legal Services Corp. has asked Congress for $1.5 billion in funding. The White House has proposed $800 million, an increase of $100 million from its recommendation last year. The LSC said even more money is needed to address a projected increase in unmet legal needs for low-income Americans following the COVID-19 pandemic. (Legal Services Corp. press release)
