The Future of Law Practice: Introduction

Benjamin H. Barton, Guest Editor:
Last summer TBA President Lucian Pera asked me to guest edit an issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal discussing some of the many changes in the legal profession. When he asked me, he did not mince words at all: “We want something useful and interesting to our subscribers, aka regular lawyers throughout the State of Tennessee.” I write, speak and teach a bunch in this exact area, and I was not insulted in the slightest at Lucian’s request. ... Continue Reading

Time Is Money

“The future ain't what it used to be.” —Yogi Berra
If you work as either a small firm or solo practitioner, you know that times are tight. In my 2015 book Glass Half Full: The Decline and Rebirth of the Legal Profession I use IRS data going back to 1967 to show that over the last 50 years solo practitioners have lost about a third of their earning power. ... Continue Reading

Three Pioneers

Our traditional lawyer business models are very, very old. How old? Solo practitioners have been selling a blend of legal services by the hour or by the matter since before our country was founded. ... But, just when you think things are settled, disruption and new models arrive. This article briefly presents three alternate models for the private practice of law by profiling three of our state’s great legal pioneers. ...Continue Reading

Artificial Intelligence

Walter Battle, Nicole Berkowitz and George Lewis:

“Artificial Intelligence is the future of all mankind. There are huge opportunities, but also threats that are difficult to foresee today. Whoever becomes the leader in this sphere will become the ruler of the world.”
— Vladimir Putin speaking to Russian students
Legal AI is still in its early stages in regard to its sophistication and potential. There are many opportunities, but also many challenges, to using AI in the legal profession. ... Continue Reading

Meet Blockchain

Have you heard of blockchain yet?  Like many other industries in Tennessee, the legal field is already being disrupted by this fast-growing, but little understood, technology. Businesses that rely upon contracts, transactions and services are quickly researching, experimenting and implementing blockchain in their industries and the legal field will need to adapt to survive as well. ... Continue Reading

Wait, There's More!

You'll find even more information related to the Evolving Legal Market, here.