The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/480238
WWW.ILTANET.ORG 5 FROM THE DIRECTOR FROM THE PRESIDENT With apologies to Charles Dickens, I'll adapt the opening lines of "A Tale of Two Cities" — it is the most exciting of times, it is the most challenging of times. Dickens was focused on the years leading up to the French Revolution; I'm focused on the current career evolution in the legal sector. The profession is facing a tale of two mindsets, if you will. To ignore the forces of change and hold steadfastly to traditional business and staffing models could prove disastrous to many firms. To embrace new career paths and reimagine the offerings of the many legal professionals in our space could prove rewarding for many firms. This issue of Peer to Peer looks at the changes around us and provides great advice across many professional roles. I'm thrilled that many other associations provided rich content to support the roles they serve and speak of the challenges we face. Our features begin with prognostications from a futurist, as John Alber offers his view of the changing professional landscape. Our many contributors touch on topics ranging from diversity and inclusion, STEM careers for women, the ever-expanding role of CIOs, and much more. Our professional evolution will likely accelerate in the coming years, and it's good to know that ILTA and many other associations provide solid support to you. To continue the mangling of Dickens' opening lines — it is the spring of new career paths, it is the winter of tradition. Tell a friend about the evolution! Randi Mayes Executive Director randi@iltanet.org Have Questions? Want to Contribute? Contact kristy@iltanet.org Weather. Weather. Weather. What a winter many of us in the U.S. have experienced: the torrential rains along the Pacific Coast, the 100 inches of snow in Boston, the freezing temperatures in the middle of the country. I feel your pain, colleagues. Having moved from New Hampshire to Minnesota last year, I've experienced weather that is tame by comparison, to the point I commented to a peer that my snow blower was getting bored. I hope spring has sprung as you're reading this issue of Peer to Peer. Organizationally, we've hit the ground running this year. The Board's strategic decision to reorganize our volunteer structure is in full swing; and our volunteer leaders are meeting in March to flesh out the structure and related processes for a collaborative planning model that provids a more responsive approach to your educational and peer networking needs. In addition, the new structure will provide numerous volunteer opportunities for focused contributions that leverage your expertise while respecting increasing demands for your time. Watch for announcements about specific opportunities in April. We have exciting initiatives in progress, and you'll find some information about our Law Firm 101 offering in this magazine. Our commitment to providing resources to assist your security awareness efforts are evident in our resources from the LegalSEC team. And our annual lineup of educational events to support your specific interests are being developed. As the days get longer and spring settles in, please take some time to enjoy ILTA's programming and peer connections. Robert DuBois rdubois@briggs.com ILTA President