By Anne Sherry, J.D.
As the practice of law evolves, so do the research needs of practitioners and the tools they use to understand clients’ business and legal needs. Technology’s role in driving forward movement in the legal profession became ever more critical when the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated remote work. Yet a study commissioned by Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory in 2020 found that while more than two-thirds of lawyers believe their organization will be affected by ten trends in the legal profession, fewer than one-third feel very prepared to address those trends.
Building on that study, which will be repeated in 2021, Wolters Kluwer Legal & Regulatory spoke to prominent law librarians in private practice and academia about the ways in which law libraries help law students, lawyers, and firms adapt to new technology and drive innovation in legal research. Future Ready Lawyer: The Evolving Role of the Library & Library Staff heard from Ronald E. Wheeler, Jr. (Boston University School of Law), Jean P. O’Grady (DLA Piper), and Steven A. Lastres (Debevoise & Plimpton) on the transition to remote work, the law library’s role in diversity and inclusion, and the evolution of research tools.
Use this link to watch a replay of the webinar or click here to read a summary of the discussion.