The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/1195860
44 The Law Firm Of The Future B Y A B H I J AT S A R A S W AT T echnolo is changing. The effect is not only being felt by the practice of law but the entire world of business—everyone must adapt to keep up. While the inherent skills underlying legal practice remain unchanged; law firms & the lawyers of the future will also need new knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as new worldviews. Same but different The legal profession continues to go through a transformation. This is driven by two key factors: (1) costs becoming a core part of the discussions; and, (2) organizations demanding more from their outside counsel. Law firms must do more – they are now required to help solve business problems for their clients, aside from legal ones. Lawyers today must continue to exhibit strong legal acumen, along with other skills critical in the past. This will be the standard against which lawyers are measured. Additionally, they must also have an excellent ability to comprehensively research issues. Everyone in the profession must be able to listen to what a client needs and discern what constraints they face –processing that information to offer the best service. Additionally, attorneys must continue to persuasively communicate their conclusions to various audiences. However, it is no longer enough to trade solely on legal expertize. Lawyers and law firms must integrate legal, business, and technological expertize to enable their clients to tackle sophisticated business challenges. Firms need to provide greater efficiency, cost savings, and transparency to their clients. The bar for excellence has shifted, and firms must restructure their offering by anticipating client needs and positioning themselves as a strategic business partner. To deliver on this ambitious new norm, firms must embrace, adopt and utilize technolo or risk becoming a relic of the past. New Knowledge, Skills and Worldviews