Donald Trump’s latest offensive against major law firms has sparked outrage among legal scholars and professional groups, but within the corporate legal world itself, the response has been tepid at best. While individual attorneys voice concerns on social media, the firms they represent remain largely silent, unwilling to risk the ire of an administration increasingly flexing its power over the profession.
At the heart of the controversy are Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms over their diversity policies and representation of political adversaries. Though legal heavyweights like Perkins Coie and Paul Weiss have found themselves directly in the crosshairs—facing revoked security clearances and restrictions on government work—the broader legal industry has yet to mount a unified front in response.
Some attempts at pushback are emerging. Junior attorneys at firms like Skadden are rallying for a larger institutional stand, while a possible coordinated legal challenge led by Munger Tolles & Olson is taking shape. Perkins Coie has already filed a lawsuit, backed by a coalition of 20 states and Washington, D.C., arguing that Trump’s actions threaten the legal profession itself.
Despite the growing unease, the industry’s biggest players have largely chosen discretion over defiance. None of the 30 largest firms contacted for comment offered a public stance. Even attorneys who have spoken out have done so cautiously—some deleting posts critical of the administration after media inquiries.
The chilling effect is real. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s latest crackdown on law firm diversity efforts has heightened fears of retaliation. Meanwhile, Perkins Coie has already reported lost clients due to its legal battle with the administration.
For now, the legal world watches from the sidelines, weighing the risks of resistance. But as Trump’s crackdown intensifies, the question remains: How long can silence be an option?
