If there's one thing I know from reading Machiavelli, it's never to give in to a bully when they're losing support and perceived strength.

Finally, given that this administration has just drained 10% of the stock market's value in two days, its legitimacy and perceived power among the moneyed class has just dropped. That latter group is called clients for many of the big firms.

Second, there is a competitive advantage in challenging the Administration here. The firm of Jenner & Block has advertised this best when it says, "clients deserve fearless advocates." If you're up against the government in a case, do you really want a lawyer so willing to fold?

First, obviously, if lawyers won't stand up for the rule of law, who will?

However, fewer than eight of those signatories are among the Am Law 100, the largest, most powerful firms in the country. This is a mistake by those firms -- for three reasons.