Soft skills do not get much attention in law firms. That was my experience when I was practicing in small, medium and larger firms, and it still is the case today.
As an advocate of mindfulness and meditation programs in law firms, I have a somewhat different take on the lawyer well-being issue that the ABA has championed. But both I and the ABA agree that lawyer well-being is a timely concern, and my view is that our law firms have done little but pay lip service to the notion. To use a phrase, the silence has been deafening.
I spend a lot of time thinking about a version of that classic interview question where applicants are asked to envision their future. But, instead of thinking about my own future, I think of the legal profession’s future. If you haven’t done it, give it a try: What will legal work look like in 15 years?
Last year, a grand jury released a 900-page report highlighting 70 years of sexual abuse by Catholic priests in Pennsylvania. Sadly, this abuse wasn't limited to one state, and numerous state attorneys general have initiated investigations. As a locally elected official and former federal agency chief counsel, my concern is the method attorneys general use, or are not using, to examine how church lawyers determined the credibility of past allegations and why all allegations weren’t immediately referred to local law enforcement for prosecution.
I have to confess that I am a bar association “junkie.” It’s hard for me to get enough. I love the camaraderie, the opportunity to meet and work with lawyers from all walks of the profession, and the feeling that we do sometimes make a difference. I suspect that there are many in this particular audience who feel similarly.
Can judges get nasty and difficult? I have been retired from my litigation practice in Greater Toronto for about two years now. I am therefore in a good position to answer that question with all confidence and security, and above all without fear of repercussions.
On a daily basis, the legal world is flooded with news about legal tech. Not a week goes by without one or the other law firm announcing a fancy new tech initiative. Nine out of 10 newsletters contain an article on legal tech, and in every major city around the world, there is a constant stream of seminars on the topic. Legal tech seems to be omnipresent, no escaping possible.
I’ve been a lawyer for nearly half a century, always connected with the same law firm—as associate, partner, general counsel of a major client, back as counsel and now titled retired partner. Looking back, I see that the firm and law practice in general have changed profoundly over that period. But because the changes occurred over time, it was easy to miss them as they were happening. What if all the changes had been thrust upon me at once? What if, like Rip Van Winkle, I had fallen asleep in 1971, when I was admitted to the bar, and woken in 2019?
Networking is a skill that seems like a relic of the 20th century. In society today, we have social media, texting and videoconferencing. These do not substitute for the personal contact, attention and commitment necessary for building lasting relationships.
The ABA Journal wants to host and facilitate conversations among lawyers about their profession. We are now accepting thoughtful, non-promotional articles and commentary by unpaid contributors.
