"In dinosaur days, if a lawyer or a judge had any publicity, it was frowned upon. The best lawyers were always behind the scenes, doing what they did best, without any fanfare or flacks (they are called publicists today). There were stunning verdicts, trial lawyers at the top of their games, but practicing law then was a quiet, discreet profession, behind closed doors in offices full of law books and leather chairs, dictaphones and redwells."
"Still to come were the inventions that have helped make the practice what it is today: the internet and social media, marketing personnel, laptops and smartphones, and all the other accoutrements that influence today's practice, especially the rise of artificial intelligence. For those of us who have witnessed the evolution, perhaps the revolution (or devolution, depending upon your viewpoint) of law practice, these changes have confounded many."
"Throw in the use of artificial intelligence to the pressures of the current lawyering environment and the need to be competent in that area. It's prompting both internal and external discussions about whether to continue to practice. The pace continues to accelerate and some feel that this is the fork in the road that has been placed there to make that decision easier."
"Years ago, one in-house lawyer I knew decided to retire because he didn't want to learn and then handle e-discovery for his client. E-discovery. Sounds quaint and very old-fashioned now. When was the last time you fretted about e-discovery? I thought so."
Law practice once emphasized discretion, civility, and professionalism, with lawyers and judges avoiding publicity and working behind closed doors. Offices featured law books, leather chairs, dictaphones, and redwells, and conversations between counsel did not require constant written confirmation. Major changes are now driven by the internet and social media, marketing personnel, laptops and smartphones, and other tools that shape modern practice. Artificial intelligence adds new pressure and raises questions about whether lawyers should keep practicing. The pace of change accelerates, creating a decision point for many practitioners. Some have already retired rather than learn new technology such as e-discovery.
#legal-profession #artificial-intelligence #technology-in-law #professionalism-and-ethics #e-discovery
Read at Above the Law
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