For more than two centuries, the American legal system has operated on a core assumption: lawyers are not punished for the conduct or politics of their clients. In this episode of New Law Order, Jeffrey Toobin examines what happens when that premise is tested by executive power. The interview is co-hosted by Joel Cohen, founder of TalksOnLaw, and John Morley, a Yale Law School professor whose scholarship focuses on the structure and economics of law firms. Together, they explore how executive actions directed at major firms—absent allegations of illegality—operate less as regulation and more as deterrence, why some firms chose litigation while others accommodated, and what these choices reveal about institutional risk, professional independence, and the resilience of the adversarial system under political pressure.

How to Earn CLE Credit

MCLE certificates are eligible only for TalksOnLaw Premium or Podcast members. To earn credit, listen to the full program, note the verification code announced during the recording, then log in to your TalksOnLaw account to record attendance and download your certificate at www.TalksOnLaw.com/podcast. 

Approved for 1.25 hours of General Illinois MCLE credit at the time of publication. Please visit TalksOnLaw to check whether older courses remain active for MCLE reporting purposes.