legal sanity
contemplating the legal profession's future
The ABA Journal online tipped me to a great article in which lawyer-author Richard Susskind explores how and why the legal profession is on the brink of fundamental change. The article is the first in a series of excerpts from Susskind’s forthcoming book, The End of Lawyers? Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services.
Like other forward-minded thinkers, Susskind challenges us to “introspect” and honestly consider the skills, talents and capabilities we possess that can’t “be replaced by advanced systems or by less costly workers supported by technology or standard processes, or by lay people armed with online self-help tools.” One of Susskind’s aims is to help us see and understand the natural evolution of our chosen profession and to embrace those changes as opportunities to take on new lawyering roles “which may be highly rewarding, even if very different from those of today.”
It’s a common refrain about the transformation of legal services – the times they are a-changin'. As always, the lingering question is how practitioners and law firms will change with the times.
That question is addressed from a number of different perspectives in the latest issue of The Complete Lawyer, which focuses on Viewing The Law In 2020. I particularly enjoyed consultant Bill Cobb’s article that asks: Are You Ready For The Revolution In Legal Services?
Cobb identifies client power and reliance on alternative providers as two of the key change drivers in the practice and business of law. He goes on to depict the changes attributable to increased client power, such as “fixed fees and lower rates.” Cobb also discusses how the Internet gives people access to a bounty of “quasi-legal service” providers, ending “the monopoly that lawyers have had on providing legal services.”
Although it’s not on all fours with the topic of the legal profession’s future; my latest article for TCL – titled For Associates, Relationship Building Skills Are Essential – provides some practical tips and exercises for young associates looking to optimize their future success and happiness in the law.
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Arnie,
I am so glad you bought this up. Contract attorneys--ie. lawyers who are being hired to take on legal projects, on a case-by-case basis, are often given tasks which are less substantive in nature than those which are given to associates at firms. I wonder if this is a deliberate effort to protect the "turf" of large firms. I wonder if this is the reason why law school performance has become a zero-sum game--either you graduate in the top of the class, or the legal profession is going to make it very difficult for you to get ahead, ever again.
Best,
Joseph
Joseph,
Thank you for your comment. I do not believe there is a turf war mentality. From a practical standpoint, using contract attorneys to handle the "commodity" work makes sense. For the work that is more relationship sensitive, it makes sense that firms would want their partners/senior associates handling. But in any event, most lawyers are in small or solo
shops. Many of the happiest and most successful lawyers are not in large firms. And, many of these lawyers did not graduate at the top of their classes.
From what I have seen, the formula for success in 2007 requires the following:
1. Know your practice area very well.
2. Get great results.
3. Deliver great service.
4. Build effective relationships (with clients, adversaries, co-workers,court personnel, business prospects, referral sources, family/friends and
yourself).
Most lawyers have points 1-2 taken care of.
Few lawyers deliver great service.
Fewer still know how to build effective relationships.
The result is less client loyalty and unlimited possibility for lawyers who have all four bases covered.
If you can put these four together, success will be knocking on your door.
Arnie
The legal arena is changing. The legal profession is not what it used to be and I am seeing a great shift into hiring contract attorneys to perform a growing bulk of the work.
I think the issue of contract attorneys isn't discussed more often enough. With the oversupply of attorneys being generated every year, this is a field that continues to grow in size. Whether this trend will continue or ultimately shift remains to be seen.