CBA Record November 2017

We sent a notice to our members that we would have a meeting on October 5 so they could comment and discuss these issues and problems and suggest solutions or alternative methods. The meeting was attended by 100 CBA members who had thoughtful insights which will help us prepare for the future and, hopefully, will help us make our jobs less stressful, call attention to certain pressing issues and may even fix some existing problems. It was a wonderful exchange of ideas and solutions. Some of our extensive working group includes: Justice Michael B. Hyman, Jus- tice Mary Mikva, Maurice Grant, Lynn Grayson, Dean Jim Faught, Theresa Fris- bie, Dan Cotter, Paula Holderman, Matt Passen, Andrew Vail, Catherine Sanders- Reach, Jonathan Beitner, Lara Wagner, Dave Scriven-Young, Chasity Boyce, Mary Curry, Trisha Rich, Ben Alba, Patricia O’Brien, Megan Webster, Bob Glaves and many others. Please help us in this continuing effort; you will find it stimulating and rewarding.

tition for clients is more aggressive and public service and pro bono legal work has declined. Women and minority lawyers continue to struggle to be included in the fabric of their law firms. The sole practi- tioner is working harder to earn a living as competition increases. The globalization of the practice will soon become common and successful lawyers will represent clients outside of the United States. Many young lawyers are dissatisfied with their profession, with the clients they serve and with their supervisors. In-house counsel complain that the cost of legal services is not always related to the value of the work provided. Some lawyers believe the profession is fixed on an unsustainable course driven only by profit. What will our profession look like in the future? Corporate clients may demand to be billed based on the value the lawyer brought to the corporation from his/her work on a legal transaction rather than by the hours spent on the matter. Law firms may have more alternative business structures wherein firms will deliver legal services along with non-lawyer involve-

ment, such as accountants, doctors or others. It may be that quality legal work will no longer define an excellent lawyer, but rather a lawyer’s ability to solve prob- lems using whatever skill is needed may become the measure of Chicago’s top lawyers. Automated document review companies using cutting edge technology and artificial intelligence to sort, duplicate and review documents may take business from lawyers while assuring consistent quality of service, high-efficiency results, and lower-cost delivery. On line alternative dispute resolution will continue to evolve and grow as people become more at ease resolving disputes without being present in the same room. Wide-Ranging Challenges Due to increased demand and extended retire- ment ages there are four generations of lawyers working together which poses technological, inclusion, social and cultural problems. Law firms and legal departments will continue put pressure on the lawyers’ personal lives in order to cover the cost of their salaries which will increase dissatisfaction.

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