Recently, Ironclad hosted a Leadership Roundtable featuring IDEO’s legal innovation practice leader Sean Hewens. In Part One of our recap, we highlighted an exploration of IDEO’s unique, anthropological design system approach. In Part Two, we look at the six trends Sean believes lawyers should look out for over the next 10 years.
Ironically, IDEO published these insights in February 2020. With the rise of COVID-19, some of these trends e.g., learning on-demand and well-being, have accelerated by months instead of years.
Which of these do you find the most interesting or relevant to you?
Generation Slash
Rather than choosing one career path, people are embracing a hybrid of interests and orientations — all connected by slashes.
What does this mean for Legal? Will hires with non-legal expertise be more common as the practice of law itself becomes more multi-dimensional and reliant on different forms of non-legal expertise? Will part-time work opportunities proliferate as law firms accommodate the increasingly varied professional identities of Millennials and Gen Z?
Peter Panning
We are witnessing an aging population and a shift in what it means to grow up. Adults are playing video games, Millennials are choosing not to have kids and seniors are working into their 70s.
What does this mean for Legal? Will working schedules and incentive structures have to be redesigned to accommodate longer work lives and people entering the profession later?
Purpose-Driven Capitalism
Many companies have restructured their identity around a purpose broader rather than just generating profit.
What does this mean for Legal? Will the legal industry increasingly turn down clients based on their lack of adherence to changing cultural values, such as companies disproportionately contributing to global warming? Will the legal industry have to start reorienting its norms and practices around sustainability beyond considerations of building footprint and resource consumption?
Learning on Demand
The 4th Industrial Revolution demands new skills and and we are seeing a constant need for upleveling.
What does this mean for Legal? Given the fast-paced cycles of change and the increasingly short lifecycle of relevant expertise, how will the legal profession develop a growth mindset for mid-life learning and upskilling? Will we see vocational education or on-the-job apprenticeships replace law school? Will employers begin valuing this type of practical training instead of more traditional degree programs?
Well-being Takes Center Stage
Burnout is notorious among lawyers. It’s becoming seen as an occupational health risk and result of chronic workplace stress rather than a result of personal circumstances.
What does this mean for Legal? As a healthy work-life balance becomes the expected norm, will the legal industry increase options for flex-time, telecommuting, part-time work and compressed schedules?
Law Becomes Truthfully Artificially Intelligent
AI offers opportunities to positively redefine the meaning of work as dull or routine tasks are automated and the importance of the “human touch” becomes essential.
What does this mean for Legal? Will the legal industry hire more technology specialists with the mandate of increasing the integration of tech into legal practice? As certain forms of routine work, such as discovery and document review, get automated, what possibilities will this unlock for lawyers to focus on more intellectually challenging and meaningful work?
If you’re ready to continue exploring how to adapt in the face of uncertainty, watch Recession-Ready: In-House Counsel’s Essential Role in Business Continuity on demand, featuring a panel discussion with legal leaders from Google, Mastercard and L’Oreal. Watch now.
Ironclad is not a law firm, and this post does not constitute or contain legal advice. To evaluate the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability of the ideas and guidance reflected here, or the applicability of these materials to your business, you should consult with a licensed attorney. Use of and access to any of the resources contained within Ironclad’s site do not create an attorney-client relationship between the user and Ironclad.
