Why the Principles Matter

In 2025, the “administration took unconscionable and manifestly illegal measures against law firms that had represented clients and causes the administration disliked. In response, several large firms made deals to eliminate diversity efforts and agreed to provide nearly $1 billion of free legal services to causes favored by the government. While a handful of firms fought back and won, most simply remained silent, no doubt wary of making themselves a target of political ire.”
[. . .]
“Experts in legal ethics and some bar associations have criticized the deals that firms struck with the government. The damage to those firms’ reputations will far outlast this administration. Members of Congress have already begun investigations into the legality of the agreements.”
[. . .]
The Principles are “a reaffirmation of values and obligations designed to guide and to strengthen law firms, bar associations, law schools, businesses and nonprofits” that can “help protect our democracy” by “reinforc[ing] the most basic professional commitments,” including to freely “represent clients, donat[e] to causes they support and express[] beliefs regarding the value of equal opportunity,” “to help individuals or groups that can’t afford counsel,” and “to challenge government actions when clients’ interests require it.”
[ . . .]
“[T]hese principles should be adopted unanimously. We are stronger when we act together. We encourage all firms and attorneys to endorse these principles publicly, by proudly affixing their signatures to the principles online. Doing so will enable our profession to show law firms, lawyers, law students, clients, courts and all those watching that the United States legal profession remains a model for the world. That should be a common goal for all who hold dear the rule of law, and the democracy on which it is based.”

The Targets

• Five major law firms were targeted by executive orders.
• Twenty major law firms were targeted by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission in “retribution” for representing disfavored clients.
• Forty-two major law firms were threatened by the FTC against participating in diversity programs.

The Deals

• Nine major law firms made deals to avoid government retaliation.
• Law firms promised $940 million in free legal services as part of their deals.
• Zero of the targeted major firms that did not make deals have lost in court.

The Effects

• Large law firm representation of plaintiffs challenging executive orders has dropped 60%.
• Overburdened small and medium firms have “turned down clients facing life-changing issues.”
• “Dozens of major law firms, wary of political retaliation, have scaled back pro bono work, diversity initiatives and litigation.”
• Large law firms are now meeting “voter suppression and election subversion efforts” with “complete silence.”
• Following the FTC’s letters to law firms, the Mansfield Certification program to increase diversity in the legal profession has been “substantially depleted.”