Page 35 - CCCA 259155 Magazine_Winter 2016

{ SPOTLIGHT ON… }

changes in history. We cannot ignore or
cling to the belief that technology is not for
us as lawyers. We live in a world in which
data can predict legal outcomes and artif-
cial intelligence can reduce the uncertainty
of legal issues—roles historically claimed by
"Glocalennial" panelists legal professionals. In addition, the fact that
computers allow us to work much faster and
In short, ultra-connected, tech-savvy Glo- Susskind identifed a common issue much more effciently has driven costs down
calennials blur the boundaries between as the greatest driver for change: the de- and the desire for value-based billing up.
work and life. Always on the go, they are mand from clients, especially corporate Finally, Susskind concluded that al-
ideal testers for new technologies and fex clients, to do more for less. He suggested though the traditional roles of lawyers
work ideas. They recognize that product a fundamental shift in the mentality and are disappearing, new ones are emerging.
design and technology are intertwined in approach to conducting legal work. Tech- These new roles demand new skills and
and among countries, and can help fgure nology plays a signifcant part in reducing alternative approaches. Which one will
out ways to assist in global integration. By costs, but we need to do more than that you fll? Legal knowledge engineer, legal
concentrating on their strengths, being to increase effciency. We need to shift technologist, legal hybrid, legal process
fexible in your approach and helping them our perspective to fnd collaborative op- analysist, legal data scientist, legal risk
adapt as well, you can create a win-win for portunities to share the cost. We need to manager—and the list goes on.
a multi-generational legal department. approach legal work in a different way: While Susskind’s message may be star-
Glocalennials share many things in multi-source each project by deconstruct- tling to some, it should be inspiring to all.
common with you, me, the audience in ing the work into different functions, and He tells us that we, as in-house counsel,
Paris and the legal world in general—spe- handling it as a manufacturer would. can predict our own future by inventing
cifcally the desire to make a strong and Susskind also invited us to look care- it. We are clients, consumers and practi-
positive contribution to their communities. fully at the new providers of legal services. tioners—we can begin by changing our
The competition does not look like us. processes and demanding different ways
Taking Charge of the Future The new world has accountants, publish- of working from our external partners.
Richard Susskind has been predicting the ers, non-lawyers backed by private equity In-house counsel dominate the legal
future from about the time millennials and start-ups striving to be the frst Ama- world. We need to take charge to increase
were born. His closing session, “Tomor- zon of the law. We need to consider what our future value.
row’s Legal Department,” at the Summit we might look like in the future. Indeed, the view of the future from
invited the delegates to join him by focus- We also need to recognize how technol- atop the Eiffel tower looks inspiring. ❚
sing on the fundamental value we, as law- ogy affects our profession. Moore’s law, the
yers, bring. He asked delegates to imagine idea that overall processing power for com-
creative ways of giving our clients what puters will double every two years, promises Kellie Krake is the Director of Professional Devel-
they want, not what we think they want. to offer the most profound technological opment and Advocacy at the CCCA.

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