Let's "Do Law Differently": CBA Legal Futures Initiative's Recent Report

For those of us engaged in New Law practices and challenging the status quo of the legal profession, it is exciting to see the recently released report "Do Law Differently: Futures for Young Lawyers" by the CBA Legal Futures Initiative. This report, written by Jordan Furlong, provides a road map, survival tips, and tools and resources for young lawyers (arguably any lawyer) interested in forging an alternative career in New Law. 

This comprehensive guide looks back on how the Canadian legal landscape has changed, and how it will change through regulatory liberalization, competitive pressures, and technology advances, to name a few. The Report also provides an overview of emerging career opportunities. Furlong writes: "While 'lawyer jobs' decline, there should be a growing number of 'lawyer opportunities'". Several distinct types of additional or alternative career paths are covered, including freelance lawyering (yay!), working with artificial intelligence, legal project management, and engaging in preventative law (proactive rather than reactive legal services). Emotional intelligence, entrepreneurial spirit, network building and financial literacy are just some of the skills the Report predicts will be required in the new legal market landscape. 

The Report finishes with some great survival tips from New Law "Pioneers" and an "Index of Innovation" listing suggested books, blogs, and other resources.

Flex loves to see Canadian lawyers "doing law differently" and only wish that this guide was around when we were in law school. 

The full report can be accessed by CBA members here.