Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Evolving Economy and Four Resulting Trends for the Legal Profession

By Blane Prescott
December 18, 2009

Economic problems impacting law firms are prompting a wealth of predictions about the future. What structural changes may result from the current economic downturn for law firms and the practice of law? The following is an updated version of an article first published by Blane Prescott, Vice President with Hildebrandt, in the closing months of 2008.

The economic problems impacting law firms are prompting a wealth of predictions about the future:

  • Some say the profession is undergoing a dramatic and profound restructuring and life for lawyers will never be the same.
  • Others say this is just another economic downturn, like so many before, and all of the reactionary changes being announced by law firms will fall by the wayside once the economy recovers.

The truth is probably somewhere between the two extremes, but it is clear that as with most recessions, some more permanent structural changes will result. Just how much change largely depends on the duration of the downturn.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
Why So Many Great Lawyers Stink at Business Development and What Law Firms Are Doing About It Image

Why is it that those who are best skilled at advocating for others are ill-equipped at advocating for their own skills and what to do about it?

Bankruptcy Sales: Finding a Diamond In the Rough Image

There is no efficient market for the sale of bankruptcy assets. Inefficient markets yield a transactional drag, potentially dampening the ability of debtors and trustees to maximize value for creditors. This article identifies ways in which investors may more easily discover bankruptcy asset sales.

The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

A Lawyer's System for Active Reading Image

Active reading comprises many daily tasks lawyers engage in, including highlighting, annotating, note taking, comparing and searching texts. It demands more than flipping or turning pages.

Protecting Innovation in the Cyber World from Patent Trolls Image

With trillions of dollars to keep watch over, the last thing we need is the distraction of costly litigation brought on by patent assertion entities (PAEs or "patent trolls"), companies that don't make any products but instead seek royalties by asserting their patents against those who do make products.