It is hard to believe, but we are approaching the one-year anniversary of Law Practice becoming a fully digital publication. Last year’s Big Ideas issue was our final print edition, so we are almost through an entire year topic cycle of Law Practice as an online-only publication.
Our editorial board and staff have learned a great deal over the past year and are still learning more about how to deliver our content in the most accessible form possible. Converting to digital was a challenge, but by embracing change and focusing on the positive aspects of the transition, we were able to move forward. And really, that’s what the annual Big Ideas issue is all about. Change is hard, but inevitable. Use this publication to see what’s on the way, and how best to adapt and grow with these changes.
Publishing the highest quality articles is still our primary goal in publishing Law Practice. We know our readers rely on our magazine for the most in-depth, timely and relevant information about the business of the practice of law. We have worked hard to remain a distinct publication, and I believe we have succeeded: continuing to publish the highest quality content in law firm management, leadership, finance, marketing, technology . . . and Big Ideas.
Our features in this issue should provide some excellent ideas for how to predict and embrace change. In “From Tradition to Innovation: Modern Era Succession Planning,” Victoria L. Collier takes on what is truly a paradigm shift in the way law firms view ownership. She provides a road map to building and sustaining a succession-ready law firm of any size, leading not only to a smoother transition for departing lawyers but overall improvements in client service before they go.
Ruby L. Powers provides another perspective on succession planning in “Preparing Your Practice for Succession.” She includes a helpful tutorial on the many different strategies, including the importance of tailoring the transition to the specific needs of the firm. Personalization is critical, for the needs of the firm, and the departing lawyer.
In “Bridging the Gap: The Power of Intentional Intergenerational Mentoring,” Rachael Bosch addresses generational differences in law firms from a different perspective––how lawyers from all generations can learn from one another with intentional mentoring relationships. Mentoring is most effective as a two-way street, and the best mentoring happens when everyone is open to what they can gain from others with different lived experience.
Next, Dr. Sharon Meit Abrahams takes on the challenge of developing law firm partners in “How to Train and Retain Your Law Firm Partners: Best Practices and Strategies.” The challenge goes far beyond preparing attorneys to become partners––it is about training and developing law firm partners throughout their careers: newly promoted, junior partner, productive partner, senior partner and even super senior partner.
Melissa Heidrick addresses preparation for one emerging technology in “New Dimensions: Preparing for the Spatial Computing Era.” Spatial computing, including virtual and augmented reality, allows users to interact with their environment, using sensors, cameras and optics. Understanding and harnessing the power of this technology will lead to benefits, but also raises issues of privacy, biometrics regulations and information governance.
Finally, Jayne Reardon takes on the often-divisive issue of non-lawyer ownership of law firms in “Nonlawyer Ownership Is Not the End of Professionalism.” Reardon argues that removing the prohibition on nonlawyer ownership of law firms, contained within Model Rule of Professional Conduct 5.4, would allow more effective delivery of legal services to more people.
We hope you enjoy this issue, and it sparks your next “Big Idea!” Many thanks to our authors, and our editorial team for this month’s issue: Anne Collier, Ruby Powers and Jeanne Picht.
