How is technology changing law practice and what does it mean for the future? These are the slides from a presentation I gave Oct. 1, 2012, at the FirmFuture conference in Boston.
15. “People are
increasingly drawn
toward the simplicity of
services and service-
enabled software that
just works.”
- Ray Ozzie, former Microsoft
chief software architect
16. Lawyers who use Web-based software
2008 2010 2012
13% 20% 21%
Survey: ABA Legal Technology Survey Report
26. “Technology has leveled the
playing field, enabling solo
practitioners and small law firms
to establish a large-firm-like
presence online and serve clients
in locations that fall outside their
historical/traditional geographic
reach.”
- Technology’s Transformation of the Legal Field,
Robert Half Legal, August 2012
27. “Globalization continues to
transform the legal marketplace,
with more clients confronting legal
problems that cross jurisdictional
lines and more lawyers needing to
respond to those client needs by
crossing borders (including
virtually).
- ABA Commission on Ethics 20/20
36. “Technology is a double-
edged sword. One result is
that we have great new tools
with which to do our jobs.
But at the same time, the
pace of our work — and
therefore of our lives — has
increased with each new
tool.”
39. “To maintain the requisite
knowledge and skill, a lawyer
should keep abreast of changes
in the law and its practice,
including the benefits and risks
associated with technology…”
- August 2012 change to comment to
ABA Model Rule 1.1, Competence
41. “Markets are conversations…
“These conversations are most
often about value: the value of
products and of the businesses
that sell them.”
- The Cluetrain Manifesto
43. ABA Model Rule
on Practice • Practice up to one
Pending year in new state
Admission
ABA Model Rule
on Admission by
• Admission by
Motion motion after 3 years
Uniform Bar
Exam • In use in 10 states
Thanks to Jim CallowayThe best we can do is look at where we are and look for signs pointing to where we’re headedThe silver-haired set is best to talk about the future because we still remember the past
If you’re not keeping up, you’re falling behind.
88% regularly check law-related email when away from the office
78% telecommuteWork is not a place, but an activity1973 first known use of telecommute
Easy browser access24 X 7 availabilityLow cost of entry and predictable monthly expense
Not just about the cloud.
Document sharingMessagingInvoicingCase updatesSchedulingClient portalsDirectLawInteract with clients onlineLet clients access their case filesAutomate creation of legal forms and collection of information
With virtual comes UNBUNDLINGDirectly selling legal documents
EMPOWERINGConnectionsMobilityGlobal reachCloud technologyLow costCheaperFrom our desk or our beachhouse