Size matters

Ilya Somin highlights an amicus brief signed by 86 colleges and associations in the AAUP student-visa lawsuit. Most of the signatories are liberal arts colleges and private non-research-centric universities, with a few exceptions (Georgetown, Fordham, Michigan State, the University of Maryland System). Many of the presidents pushing back in public lead liberal arts college, while Trump aims (for the moment) at R1 universities. Don Moynihan argues the divide makes collective action more difficult because different schools' needs and interests do not necessarily align or allow for similar remedies (e.g., University of Michigan depends on research funding in a way that Bard does not).

Something similar may play out among law firms. Large firms have surrendered--preemptively or otherwise--while smaller and boutique firms (most recently Sussman) have pushed back (along with large firms such as Jenner and Hale, obviously). The larger amount of money and the more varied practices of big firms makes it more difficult to make common cause with smaller shops. The firms most able to fight (financially) have more to lose in its business model.