The ABA Committee on Research About the Future of the Legal Profession first met in November 2000. After meeting, the Committee formed three smaller subcommittees to address issues concerning the future of the legal profession.
The Committee issued its 2001 Report in August 2001. The report addresses many of the difficult issues facing the legal profession such as globalization, the changing practice of law, and access to the legal system.

The practice of law has changed dramatically in the past century. To better understand the future practice of law, attorneys need to be aware of changes in the profession. The following resources are designed to inform and educate legal professionals about the future of their profession.

As with other aspects of the legal profession, legal education is also shifting from traditional methods of teaching to more innovative approaches. Among these approaches is the development of distance learning.
Distance learning is learning via the Internet. This means that the student does not attend classes in a physical classroom. Rather, the student attends lectures, participates in discussions, and takes examinations without ever stepping into a bricks and mortar classroom. To date, the ABA has not accredited any on-line law schools.

The world is shrinking and becoming increasingly interconnected. This interdependence places new demands on attorneys to move flexibly and fluidly between different states and countries. New dilemmas arise about attorney credentials, licensing requirements, and the regulation of the legal profession. One suggestion is to develop a global credential that would encompass several professions.

Citizens want greater access to the legal system and cost-effective legal services. Non-lawyers are getting greater access to the legal system with the Internet.
To get cost-effective legal services people are comparing prices, getting their legal services on-line, or representing themselves. In response, legal professionals are unbundling their services, creating Web sites, and increasing their efficiency.

Some state bar associations have responded to the changes in the legal profession by creating their own futures committees and resolutions.
•  State Bar of Arizona
•  Washington State Bar Association
•  Wisconsin State Bar

Multi-disciplinary practices are law practices which combine legal services with other services such as accounting, real estate, or insurance. The ABA Model Rules forbid such fee-sharing practices between lawyers and non-lawyers. In July 2000, the ABA House of Delegates rejected a proposal by the now defunct ABA Commission on Multidisciplinary Practice to allow MDPs in certain circumstances.

Multi-jurisdictional practice is when attorneys practice law before courts in different states or jurisdictions. When attorneys practice in jurisdictions where they may not be licensed, problems could develop. The ABA Commission on MJPs is investigating the issue and released its Interim Report and Interim Report Appendices on November 30, 2001. The Commission's Final Report will be considered at the 2002 ABA Annual Meeting.

Futures Book List