The legal industry is experiencing a period of significant change and is looking for new ways to serve clients. One of these approaches is law new, an idea that can be defined as innovative legal services delivered in a different way. It can include working with underserved communities, finding ways to work in alternative settings or creating strategies that do not fit traditional law firm practice.
Law new is more than simply using technology or embracing the millennial workforce. It requires a paradigm shift that transforms the legal industry from provider to customer-centricity. This transformation will result in better serving the legal consumer, enabling higher client satisfaction and increased net promoter scores for the industry. It will also drive a refocusing of legal delivery on customer impact rather than preserving old-style practices and outdated business models.
This issue of State & Local Law News features an article on law new that looks at how to use technology to deliver legal services in a more cost-effective way. It also includes an interview with NYLS Professor and Faculty Advisor Ross Moskowitz ’84, who was awarded the John E. Higgins Diversity Trailblazer Award from the NYSBA Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
The Spring issue of State & Local Law News features articles on new developments in state and local law of interest to practitioners, as well as news about the activities of the Section. This issue also includes an article on the Colorado River Compact negotiations, updates on gun control legislation, and a recap of the recent ABA National Conference on Diversity & Inclusion.
A new kind of law is emerging that is collaborative, transparent, accessible, affordable, and efficient. It is driven by data and solutions-based, and it addresses complex challenges and opportunities that cannot be mastered by a single enterprise or stakeholder group. This new law requires collaboration across functions, industries, and geographies to achieve its goals. The legal function can and has already played an important role in this process, such as the pharmaceutical company collaboration that led to the Covid-19 vaccine.
As the pace of business and social change continues to accelerate, it is imperative for all businesses to rethink their existing processes and structures to meet these challenges. The legal industry is no exception, and the time to embrace law new is now. The future of the legal industry depends on it. Adapting to the new world will not be easy, but it will be necessary if the legal industry is to remain relevant and competitive. The speed of change is not going to slow down, so embracing the changes now will be crucial to a successful future.
