Resignations proceed to be introduced at Biglaw companies that made deals with Trump over his illegal government orders designed to extract monetary penalties from them — and the newest departure is kind of high-profile. We not too long ago discovered that Kathleen Rubenstein, government director of the Skadden Basis — the nonprofit entity that handles the extremely aggressive and extremely prestigious Skadden Fellows program — has chosen to go away her place over the elite regulation agency’s $100 million settlement with the president. As a part of that deal, the agency pledged to “fund no fewer than 5 Skadden Fellows annually.”
These prestigious fellowships, lengthy thought of to be the public-interest world’s model of Supreme Court docket clerkships or Rhodes Scholarships, enable their recipients to pursue public curiosity work on a full-time foundation for 2 years. As a part of Skadden’s settlement with Trump, at the least 5 fellows should “signify a variety of political opinions, together with conservative beliefs,” and work on among the following tasks, together with “helping veterans; making certain equity in our justice system; [and] combatting antisemitism,” amongst different related authorized wants.
As a part of her public assertion following her resignation (accessible in full on LinkedIn), Rubenstein, who in reality began her authorized profession as a Skadden fellow, mentioned:
A dedication to non-profit authorized advocacy all the time required some rules, independence, and fortitude. This work is extra essential now than ever. It’s additionally tougher. On a regular basis individuals and advocates proceed to face up within the face of those challenges. They do tough and typically scary work that strengthens the rule of regulation for all of us.
Funders have many extra sources than grantees. We additionally not often have our personal lives or liberties on the road. The least we will do is act with urgency and braveness commensurate with these we assist. I felt we had fallen brief—or moderately, that they haven’t but risen to that problem. My hope is that Skadden charts a path that respects the rule of regulation and honors the core values of the Skadden Basis. Once they do, they’ll protect and construct on the Skadden Basis’s unparalleled legacy. And I’ll cheer them on, as a former Skadden Fellow.
In additional feedback given to the Politico Influence(PI) newsletter, Rubenstein mentioned that she selected to resign from the Skadden Basis, “moderately than endorse actions that I consider will undermine its mission.”
When Skadden first introduced the cope with Trump, a whole bunch of former fellows wrote an open letter, expressing their displeasure with the agency. A former fellow spoke with PI, saying, “It’s so disappointing to see that when it actually got here right down to it, Skadden confirmed how little they care concerning the fellows and the work we do.”
Skadden has but to open purposes for his or her 2026 class of fellows, and we think about it might show tough to take action now that this system lacks a director. Better of luck to Kathleen Rubenstein on her subsequent skilled enterprise.
Skadden attorneys and former Skadden fellows, how do you are feeling concerning the agency’s capitulation, and the way it will have an effect on the fellowship program? Be happy to pontificate by email, by textual content message (646-820-8477), or by tweet (@ATLblog). An insightful response — we’ll hold you nameless — might discover its approach into an replace to this story.
Skadden Foundation head quits in protest [Politico Influence]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Regulation, the place she’s labored since 2011. She’d love to listen to from you, so please be at liberty to email her with any suggestions, questions, feedback, or critiques. You possibly can comply with her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or join along with her on LinkedIn.
