State & Local

Key State And Local Tax Takeaways From March

Maria Koklanaris
Senior Tax Correspondent

State legislatures intensified work in March with an eye toward winding down their sessions, giving rise to significant measures that included Kentucky lawmakers' override of a veto on judicial deference and an income tax cut in Utah. Here, Law360 presents state and local tax developments to know from the past month.

The Tax Angle: Dems Prep For Tax Debate; CBO Eyes Deficits

Stephen K. Cooper
Editor-at-Large

From a look at a tax briefing for House Democrats on the expiring provisions of the Republicans' 2017 tax overhaul law to the latest Congressional Budget Office outlook on making the law permanent, here's a peek into a reporter's notebook on a few of the week's developing tax stories.

The Tax Angle: Lawmakers Huddle To Mull TCJA

Stephen K. Cooper
Editor-at-Large

From a look at the three-day legislative retreat held by House Democrats to Ways and Means Republicans meeting behind closed doors to discuss the 2017 GOP tax overhaul, here's a peek into a reporter's notebook on a few of the week's developing tax stories.

Adapting To Private Practice: From DOJ Leadership To BigLaw

The move from government service to private practice can feel like changing one’s identity, but as someone who has left the U.S. Department of Justice twice, I’ve learned that a successful transition requires patience, effort and the realization that the rewards of practicing law don’t come from one particular position, says Richard Donoghue at Pillsbury.

Law Firm Executive Orders Create A Legal Ethics Minefield

Recent executive orders targeting BigLaw firms create ethical dilemmas — and raise the specter of civil or criminal liability — for the government attorneys tasked with implementing them and for the law firms that choose to make agreements with the administration, say attorneys at Buchalter.

Firms Must Embrace Alternative Billing Models Or Fall Behind

As artificial intelligence tools eliminate inefficiencies and the Big Four accounting firms enter the legal market, law firms that pivot from the entrenched billable hour model to outcomes-based pricing will see a distinct competitive advantage, says attorney William Brewer.

What Is Right And What Is Not: SALT In Review

From an important ruling by a judge in Arkansas to a disclosure proposal in Minnesota, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.

How Attorneys Can Master The Art Of On-Camera Presence

As attorneys are increasingly presented with on-camera opportunities, they can adapt their traditional legal skills for video contexts — such as virtual client meetings, marketing content or media interviews — by understanding the medium and making intentional adjustments, says Kerry Barrett.

Adapting To Private Practice: From Fed. Prosecutor To BigLaw

Making the jump from government to private practice is no small feat, but, based on my experience transitioning to a business-driven environment after 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, it can be incredibly rewarding and help you become a more versatile lawyer, says Michael Beckwith at Dickinson Wright.

Firms Still Have Lateral Market Advantage, But Risks Persist

Partner and associate mobility data from the fourth quarter of 2024 shows that we’re in a new, stable era of lateral hiring where firms have the edge, but leaders should proceed cautiously, looking beyond expected revenue and compensation analyses for potential risks, say Julie Henson and Greg Hamman at Decipher Investigative Intelligence.

Making The Opportunity Zones Program Great At Last

As the opportunity zone program approaches its expiration, the Republican-led government could take specific steps to extend and improve the program, address its structural flaws, encourage broader participation and enable it to live up to its promised outcomes, say attorneys at Pillsbury.

We Must Allow Judges To Use Their Independent Judgment

As two recent cases show, the ability of judges to access their independent judgment crucially enables courts to exercise the discretion needed to reach the right outcome based on the unique facts within the law, says John Siffert at Lankler Siffert & Wohl.

Making The Case For Rest In The Legal Profession

For too long, a culture of overwork has plagued the legal profession, but research shows that attorneys need rest to perform optimally and sustainably, so legal organizations and individuals must implement strategies that allow for restoration, says Marissa Alert at MDA Wellness, Carol Ross-Burnett at CRB Global, and Denise Robinson at The Still Center.

4 Ways Women Attorneys Can Build A Legal Legacy

This Women’s History Month, women attorneys should consider what small, day-to-day actions they can take to help leave a lasting impact for future generations, even if it means mentoring one person or taking 10 minutes to make a plan, says Jackie Prester, a former shareholder at Baker Donelson.

Paycheck Politics And A Bagful Of Arrogance: SALT In Review

From Seattle's new tax on large paychecks to one Maryland county's measure addressing grocery bags, RSM's David Brunori offers his thoughts on noteworthy state and local tax news.

A Judge's Pointers For Adding Spice To Dry Legal Writing

U.S. District Judge Fred Biery shares a few key lessons about how to go against the grain of the legal writing tradition by adding color to bland judicial opinions, such as by telling a human story and injecting literary devices where possible.