The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/96072
The legal profession is a unique environment filled with high expectations, complex concepts and distinctive cultures that can make the learning curve for someone new a bit more like a learning canyon. In order to succeed, it's important to understand the nuances that are ingrained in the business of law. Enter the "Law Firm 101" initiative –– a program that aims to educate and prepare law students/new lawyers and incoming legal IT professionals about the business of law … the business they're in. ILTA held a "virtual roundtable" with three member thought leaders to get their insight into how the main points of this initiative are applicable to our members. Each person's interview can be heard in its entirety on the accompanying podcasts. What perspective are you representing regarding the Law Firm 101 initiative? Marcy McGovern: I'm representing the new lawyer/recent law school graduate perspective. Joy Heath Rush: My perspective is that of a new technology person in a law firm — someone who may not be new to technology, but is new to law firms or to the legal profession. Meredith Williams: I'll be coming from the perspective of a first-year attorney starting out at a law firm. This also applies to a second- and third-year attorney. _________________________________________________________ What can someone entering the legal profession expect from Law Firm 101? Joy: I see three key items that will be covered by the Law Firm 101 curricula: • Vocabulary. There's a vocabulary that's very specific to, say, applications, so if someone has never worked in a law firm, she needs to know things like blacklining or redlining, for example. Or if someone tells her the conflict system is down, she needs to know the vocabulary of what that means, so she'll understand why it's important and how to prioritize. • Billing. If someone hasn't worked in professional services, he needs to understand that time is truly money. Our lawyers work around the clock and around the globe, and a problem is just as urgent at 2:00 a.m. as it is at 2:00 p.m., depending on where they are. • Pressure. New people need to really understand what the life of our lawyers is like — the pressure they're under from clients and why they make some of the demands they make. There might be certain aspects of a transaction or litigation that require a level of effort and technical support that is sometimes extraordinary. Meredith: I'm reminded of my first days at my law firm many years ago, and of how little I actually knew about how to do basic things. With that in mind, the three big-picture concepts being approached for Law Firm 101 are: • How do law firms work? Typically the same terminology is utilized across all firms regardless of type or size. What does it all mean? What processes are inherent in the way legal work gets done? • How do I practice within ethical constraints? This includes how to bring in a new client matter, what resources are available for me to accomplish that, and how to manage my matter. • How do I work and support a client given those constraints? Law Firm 101 will help answer all of those questions and more. Marcy: For three years as a law student you focus on honing your legal writing and analytical skills. Shortly after graduation, you prepare to test these skills during a grueling bar exam. Then, if you have an associate position coming out of law school, you start practicing a month or so later. If you're lucky, you may have worked as a summer associate at a law firm during your three years in law school, and you might have an appreciation for what to expect when you start practicing full time. The reality, however, is that you don't yet know very much about the business of law, and it's the business aspects of practice that I think Law Firm 101 can address for persons starting their careers in law firms. Peer to Peer 87