717 Credit Union and the Akron Bar Association have launched a co-branded Affinity Visa card that donates 7.17 cents per transaction toward local attorney resource development. Additionally, the credit union will soon offer Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA), which are specialized accounts that generate revenue for Ohio’s legal aid fund. To learn more about this partnership, visit  The Business Journal .

The legal industry is adapting as clients increasingly use chatbots that often provide inaccurate advice without necessary legal context. Concurrently, law firms are examining how AI-driven efficiency might impact traditional billable hour models and revenue. Experts suggest that while AI improves document tasks, its limited access to comprehensive legal databases means significant industry-wide disruption will likely be a gradual process. Read more on  Axios .

A top Department of Labor official has prohibited Department of Labor staff from attending or speaking at American Bar Association (ABA) events in an official capacity, citing the organization's "radical goals." The policy eliminates agency funding for these events and requires employees who choose to attend to do so personally and without using their official titles. This directive follows similar actions by the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission amid a lawsuit by the ABA, which alleges the administration used executive orders to intimidate law firms into silence by threatening their security clearances and federal contracts.

Cleveland has earned a spot on CDP’s 2025 "A List" , a distinction reserved for places demonstrating top-tier environmental governance and transparent disclosure of climate data. To achieve this leadership status, the city met rigorous criteria including the publication of a comprehensive emissions inventory, a credible climate action plan, and a full risk and vulnerability assessment. Through the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability , Cleveland continues to leverage this data-driven approach to co-create policies that reduce carbon emissions and build long-term resilience for all residents. Learn more about this achievement at Cleveland’s official news site .