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Written by Norman Clark and Lisa M. Walker Johnson

Published: 19 July 2017

The future is here, but many of us don’t know it.

Technology has been a fundamental component of the practice of law for a quarter-century; but most law firms have failed to understand how it is fundamentally changing – indeed, already has fundamentally changed – the practice of law. 

No one can deny that the business of practicing law will probably be much more difficult ten years from now than it is even today; and that the seismic changes that technology has introduced into the business world will contribute to that challenge: operationally, ethically, financially, and strategically. Law firms will have to continue to evolve. Not all will be able to do so.

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 28 June 2017

To paraphrase Marcel Proust, the real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes. 

A focus group of your best clients could be your best guide to seeing, understanding, and becoming a "law firm of the future."

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 09 June 2017

It sometimes seems as if there is an almost infinite range of structures and options for partner compensation systems in law firms. Choosing among them can be a challenge for anyone.

The biggest challenge for most law firms, however, is actually making the change, once they have decided what it will be.

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 06 June 2017

Law firm partners should invest a few minutes in their own future, by watching a recent series of TED Talks about artificial intelligence.

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Written by Norman Clark & Lisa M. Walker Johnson

Published: 02 June 2017

The melodramatic title and image for this posting might overstate the point; but it is one that small and midsize law firms frequently overlook when recruiting a partner from another law firm.

Don't make decisions about how to navigate through this very important decision based only on what you believe that you see above the waterline.

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 12 May 2017

International law firms in Asia, and elsewhere, should consider attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, on 6-7 September 2017. 

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 09 May 2017

No.

But artificial intelligence will be as much a part of the "law firm of the future" as desks and paper have been for the past 200 years.

It also can be part of the "law firm of today."

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 05 May 2017

The ABA Journal reports that lawyer salaries in the United States have fallen behind those of other professions.

It does not have to be that way.

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 29 April 2017

The International Bar Association has announced a conference on "Building the Law Firm of the Future," to be held in November 2017 in London.

It sounds interesting.

But I wonder if they have the topic backwards.

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Written by Norman Clark

Published: 12 April 2017

In the past few weeks, I have enjoyed stimulating discussions with several Walker Clark clients about whether their law firms should have non-equity partners.

This subject leads to one basic question that has profound implications for many law firms today:

Should we have partners at all?

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