If one envisions a law firm’s efforts to move boldly into the future as a matter of balancing the triad of people, technology, and process, then the most striking revelation of the event was the lack of uniformity across the industry. Considering the pack mentality of Biglaw firms — consistently terrified to waver from their peers — the firms represented on this day varied greatly in their current focus. The first few firms to offer their thoughts said, unequivocally, that they’re in the market for people right now. The next handful were satisfied with their personnel and were really focused on tightening up their procedures.
There wasn’t a lot of appetite to admit that a firm was behind the times on technology, but it slipped out between the lines from a few folks who said they were “always open” to considering new technology. Still, another quipped that firm leaders are advised that they are in a unique position to spend a lot of money on good technology and in a unique position to spend a lot of money on bad technology, and this seemed to reflect the overall mood.
