Future Lawyer Series (HK) - Part 1
With the ever-changing landscape of global affairs and the economy, it can be difficult to accurately predict the future of the legal profession, however, as technology and other factors continue to impact upon the businesses of our diverse client pools, we can consider what the future legal career may look like and what you (whether you are an aspiring or experienced lawyer or hiring manager) can do to help shape the future of the legal profession.
Currently, lawyers (both in private practice and in-house) may be trying to get up to speed with virtual court hearings, e-discovery, on-line contracts, legal tech and legal operations and other technological advancements, topics which all merit their own discussions[1], however, this article will consider practical considerations regarding the future of the legal profession in Hong Kong.
Will Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) Replace Lawyers?
We cannot talk about the future of the legal profession without mentioning technology! Understandably, many lawyers are worried that AI has the ability to replace their roles.?However, published articles[2] have suggested, and I tend to agree, that whilst AI can support or even replace some aspects of legal jobs (such as automation of documents, research and data searching), they cannot replace the “human touch”, knowledge, wisdom or strategy that a human can provide.
When hiring the new generation of lawyers in the future, we are already seeing hiring managers adopting AI or other online tests as part of the recruitment process to identify how “quick” these individuals are at researching, processing information and resolving, collaborating as well as communicating legal and practical solutions.
Since aspiring or young lawyers are already likely to be digital natives and tech savvy, they will presumably be able to quickly adopt the use of AI/legal technology and adeptly apply the same to make their jobs more efficient in the future.?
What does the Future Legal Career for Graduates or even Current Legal Professionals Hold in Hong Kong?
Lawyers have differing aspirations nowadays. In the past, the success of senior law firm partners was likely to be measured by a combination of how many deals/clients they could bring in to their firm, the deal sizes, team sizes and how many billable hours their team clocks that translates into revenue generated as well as non-billable matters such as time spent on business development/client entertainment.
Nowadays, we can see that Gen Z lawyers are more likely to prefer more diverse exposure as well as better work/life integration which allows them to focus on their families, friends and wellbeing.?This is somewhat akin to what is sought by lawyers who have already moved in-house with the dual aim to gaining increased and broader commercial exposure as well as to gaining a better work/life balance.?
With over 900 members of the in-house Associate of Corporate Counsel, we can roughly estimate that the in-house legal community represents below 10% of legal professionals in Hong Kong[3].?It wouldn’t be surprising if that percentage continues to rise since the in-house legal profesion may become a preferred career choice not just for the more experienced lawyers but for the younger generation as well.
Conclusion: Futureproofing is Key!
Given the likely disruption of the legal profession with the advent of technological advances, it cannot be emphasised enough how important it is for lawyers to continuously learn and network throughout their careers and to add strings to their bows to futureproof their legal careers.?We can only embrace it rather than to fear or hide from it! Here are some futureproofing ideas:
1. Even if you are not job hunting, do keep an eye out for market and commercial trends via newsletters and job postings and review your resume/CV on a regular basis to make sure that you are keeping up with the trends and that your experience and skills do not become redundant.
2. Increase your commercial awareness through:
3. Getting more tech savvy will increase your competitveness since if you don’t know how to use technology to your advantage, you may miss out on client or job opportunities!
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4.?Consider enrolling for training courses to hone in your leadership skills.?Contact www.salt.com.hk, a professional legal leadership training platform that can tailor technical or soft skills training specifically for you.
5.??Continue networking and raising your profile through professional platforms such as LinkedIn even during the pandemic.?Invisible profiles rarely get the hottest clients or jobs!?Beer swilling/wining and dining as the main networking mode is no longer the main way to win business! As people strive for more healthier lifestyles during the pandemic, we can all continue to “network” through Zoom video, online platforms and/or virtual events,
6. If you are a partner of a law firm, consider implementing team retention strategies through avoiding early burn out and diversifying lawyers’ exposure through continuous rotations.
7. Connect on LinkedIn with leaders in their fields (even non-lawyers) for positive inspiration and motivation. For diversity, follow not just lawyers but those who work in other fields, industries or jurisdictions for general leadership tips. In addition to learning from them, you never know who they may help connect you with.
8. Consider hiring a coach or seeking out mentor(s) to see how you can improve your career journey and/or bounce ideas.
9. Remember to focus on your health and wellbeing since you can only futureproof your legal career if you have futureproofed yourself!
[1] https://www.staranise.com.hk/knowledge-hub/articles/legal-technology-in-house-counsels.html