Legal transformation requires (a lot) more than tech

Mark Cohen contributes Legal transformation requires (a lot) more than tech, adding to Ken Grady‘s recent contributions. I admit to exercising editorial prerogative and adding (a lot) to Mark’s title. I did so based on research my consultancy released earlier this month: Client-led innovation in legal services. One stunning statistic from the report justified (a lot): When clients are asked what comes first to mind when thinking about innovation and legal services, only 15% answer ‘technology’.

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Posted by on Apr 26, 2018 in BigLaw firms, Technology | 0 comments

What’s a ‘Law Company’ and why are legal consumers embracing it

In What’s a ‘Law Company’ and why are legal consumers embracing it Mark Cohen tackles the rise of the NewLaw business model head-on. It’s no longer a question of whether NewLaw providers will succeed and take market share from BigLaw firms. Rather, the relevant questions are How fast? and By how much?

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Posted by on Jan 23, 2018 in Law departments, NewLaw business models | 1 comment

What’s a lawyer now?

In What’s A Lawyer Now? I explore how lawyers define themselves because of the insights derived from the intellectual exercise, not only because lawyers like to define terms.

The American Bar Association (ABA) describes a lawyer as “a licensed professional who advises and represents others in legal matters”. This description raises more questions than it answers – and fails the ‘void-for-vagueness’ standard.

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Posted by on Dec 5, 2017 in Lawyers | 1 comment

Goodbye guild: Law’s changing culture

Mark Cohen’s column in Forbes, Goodbye guild: Law’s changing culture, struck a deep chord with this sentence: “Law is not about lawyers anymore”.

Rhetorically, one might ask, was law ever about lawyers? Like the other ‘original’ professions of medicine, priesthood and military service, law and lawyers – as I understand it – arose to further the interests of civil society and protect the rights of fellow human beings.

Which is what makes Mark’s commentary about law’s changing culture so important.

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Posted by on Nov 9, 2017 in BigLaw firms, Clients, Lawyers | 0 comments

New players driving value for legal departments

New players driving value for legal departments was written by Mark Cohen and Liam Brown and originally appeared in Canadian Corporate Counsel Association magazine. As I read it, the key point Mark and Liam make is that the NewLaw players, while still tiny in market share, are teaching clients new tricks. And this spells big opportunity – or trouble if they’re asleep at the wheel – for BigLaw incumbents.  

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Posted by on Oct 12, 2017 in BigLaw firms, Clients, NewLaw business models | 1 comment