22nd Century Case Study

Law Firms of the 22nd Century

E. Michelle Kershaw

Webster University

Abstract

The field of Law is a systematic practice that has not change much since its inception. As we embark upon the 22nd Century so must the field of Law. While many practices are ritualistic in their nature, they must make way for technology in addition to younger lawyers entering the field with a variety of skills sets. Lawyers must now make accommodations for technically savvy clients that have access to a wealth of information. With more demands being placed on time management and the struggle for work life balance and international industry, the field of Law will have to loosen its reigns on tradition and embrace the 22nd Century with an new openness in order to maintain a competitive edge.

The law firms of the 22nd Century must operate on many levels, never before in legal history has there been a true incentive for law firms to deliver results faster both to internal and external clients. The utilization

This trend will only increase in the future. Traditionally firms have elected to outsource only a small portion of their services. Firms are no longer confined to outside vendor running a service in-house, as technology expands so does the global utilization. More and more firms are considering outsourcing to India the coding and organizing of documents for major transactions or litigation cases. Firms are looking for the best students from across the world. The traditional structures of many law firms resemble a ‘pyramid’ model. The base of such a model consisting of junior associates tasked with mundane assignments while supporting partners who were responsible for bringing in business to support the daily operations. Outsourcing may mean the pyramid structure will become more