A tidal wave of change will roll over the legal profession in the next few years. As with any tidal wave, literal or figurative, it will rearrange our landscape. It will take innovation and leadership for us to create the future we want and the public deserves. To be sure, ours is not the only business or profession undergoing unprecedented change. No one escapes the reality that the Internet affects everything.
Information is free and consumers are in control.
We can respond by adding value to what we do. We must reemphasize our role as counselors and problem solvers because the reality is that many do not perceive us as such. Forces of change started to envelope most professions several years ago, but many of us saw only anecdotal evidence in our own practices and did not realize that we were seeing the effects of global change. Change makes us uneasy, especially those of us who are comfortable in our current practices, but it also presents opportunities. As we seek to redefine our professional responsibilities and maintain our relevance in society, we must bear in mind that our role is to serve our clients and the public interest.