innovation and the legal profession
In recent posts, I’ve questioned what will drive change in law firm culture and whether law firms can change to meet lawyer-user demand. With the imminent wave of Baby Boomer retirements, it’s time for law firms to innovate – to adapt their business environment, model and practices to meet the needs and demands of the young associates who support firm leaders today and who will (hopefully) become firm leaders in the future.
When I consider the word innovation, I usually think of change, adaptation and invention. These three words are definitely hallmarks of entrepreneurship and the kind of business savvy detailed in this article on the new fleet of New York City taxi cabs. They also connote the sense of spirit, resilience and open opportunity captured in this inspiring video clip flagged by Kevin Eikenberry.
Most practitioners and outside observers wouldn’t connect these words or the related sense of spirit with the mainstream legal profession. But, there’s a lot of innovation afoot in the law. As I announced a few months ago, the College of Law Practice Management is an organization dedicated to highlighting change, adaptation and invention in law practices around the world. It sponsors the InnovAction Awards as part of its “worldwide search for lawyers, law firms, and other deliverers of legal services who are currently engaged in some extraordinary innovative efforts.”
The award application deadline is June 1, 2007. The winners will be presented on September 8, 2007 at the College’s annual meeting in Philadelphia, PA. For more information on the award and entry requirements, visit InnovAction here.
