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BLAST
Editor-in-Chief Associate Print Editor Associate Online Editor
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Section of Science and Technology Officers Chair Chair-Elect Vice Chair Secretary Budget Officer Section Delegate Immediate Past Section Chair Section Past Chair Liaison |
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IN THIS ISSUE MAY 2000
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Letter from the Chair The practice of law has dramatically changed. We are increasingly living in a world where science and technology are driving many legal issues and accelerating the rate of change for both clients and the lawyers who advise them. With the convergence of computer, communication, and Internet technology, we are already seeing profound changes in the way our clients do business. And we're not just talking about technology companies or Internet start-ups. We're talking about all businesses. The message they are increasingly hearing from the highest levels in their organizations is that they must get on the Internet, they must develop an e-commerce plan. Opportunity is fueling it. Fear is driving it. Customers are demanding it. As U.S. Secretary of Commerce William Daley said, "Technology is reshaping this economy and transforming businesses and consumers. This is about more than e-commerce, or e-mail, or e-trades, or e-files. It is about the 'e' in economic opportunity." And the speed with which these e-changes are occurring is nothing short of breathtaking. In six short years, the Internet has spawned a virtual revolution. Jurisdictions are proposing and enacting laws at a dizzying pace to address the Internet phenomenon and new scientific developments. At the same time, courts are struggling to stretch existing laws to fit a new medium and new technologies. Likewise, new business models, with accompanying legal challenges, are being implemented on a daily basis. But getting on the Internet and exploring new scientific frontiers raise a host of legal issues that most businesses don't know how to deal with. And that is where lawyers come in. Yet, the rate of change is so fast that it can easily become a full-time job just to keep up with the new legal developments, let alone practice law. This is where the Section of Science & Technology can offer its members a tremendous advantage. To help clients address the novel legal issues raised by the rapid pace of developments in science and technology law, you need a way to not only tap into the most current thinking but also participate in forging innovative legal solutions. The committees in our Section can play an important role by enabling members to exchange information about ground-breaking legal developments in science and technology as they happen, participate in projects that develop the law in these areas, and simply learn from each other about these continually evolving issues. Now is the time to make effective use of what may be our most valuable resource. Toward that end, I am sending all Section members a letter asking that you sign up for the committees of interest to you (current committee members should sign up again to ensure we have up-to-date committee lists and contact information). During the coming months, we will be working closely with committee chairs on key initiatives. In fact, we have already started this process by establishing new committees, including the E-Privacy Law Committee (in the Electronic Commerce Division), which will address the daunting privacy issues raised by websites and the collection of personal information, and the Internet Governance Committee (in the Computer Law Division), which will focus on issues critical to the operation of the Internet as a basis for commerce and communication. Committees can be many things to many people. Some committees do their work through face-to-face meetings, while others transact business via e-mail, telephone, or mail. Some attorneys sign up simply to get the extraordinary information that Section committees offer their members, while others sign up to make a difference on the national stage in deter-mining where the law will go. I urge you to review the committee descriptions accompanying my letter and to sign up for every committee that interests you. Whatever you're looking for, you'll probably find it (and if you don't, let us know - we're always looking for trailblazers who want to establish new Section committees on topics of vital interest). The Section of Science & Technology is here to help you move with change. |
