The End of Lawyers?: Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services

The End of Lawyers?: Rethinking the Nature of Legal Services

The End of Lawyers? is the much-anticipated sequel to Richard Susskind's legal best-seller of 1996, The Future of Law . Ten years on, and half-way towards the twenty-year vision he set out, Susskind takes stock of progress, introduces vital new emerging technologies, and envisages even more radical change to the legal world than before. This is a world in which, at least in part, legal services are commoditized, IT renders conventional legal advice redundant, clients and lawyers are collaborators under the one virtual roof, disputes are dominated by technology if not avoided in the first place, and online systems and services compete with lawyers in providing access to the law and to justice. For the conservative legal adviser, the message is bleak. For the progressive lawyer, an exciting new legal market emerges. This book continues the author's focus on the effect of advances in information technology upon the law and legal practice, providing fresh perspectives and analysis of anticipated developments in the decade to come. In particular, he aims to explore the extent to which the role of the traditional lawyer can be sustained, in the face of the challenging trends in the legal marketplace and the new techniques and technologies for the delivery of legal services. "Susskind remains the only writer today who can put the future of lawyers and the legal professions on the agenda at the highest levels of government, the judiciary, the legal institutions, major corporations - and law firms." Charles Christian, Editor, Legal Technology Insider "A wide-ranging book that is of value not only to lawyers contemplating their future, but to anyone whose work touches upon the law. Blending the futures of law and technology, Susskind's vision is far-reaching and tightly-argued, showing the displacement that lies ahead -- and the ways in which society can gain from it." Jonathan Zittrain, Professor of Law, Harvard Law School and author, The Future of the Internet "Richard Susskind has peered into the crystal ball and offers us a clear view of the future of the lawyering. His vision is based on his keen understanding of the role of technology in shaping our economy and our world. Some will be frightened by what he describes; the bold and the innovative will see a path to greater success in the future." Mark Chandler, General Counsel, Cisco "For those who ponder how the practice of law will change as technology advances, this book raises a host of fascinating issues…This book makes some clear predictions about what lawyers will do and not do in the future, but it is most valuable for raising the issues in the first place. It is a provocative peek into the possible future of legal work and the lawyers who perform it." Mark C. Miller, Department of Government, Clark University "Susskind's premise is that the world's current financial situation and current technology will change the practice of law dramatically. This is a must read for librarians who will need to figure out how they will fit into this new world order." Donna M. Tuke, Editor and Publisher, Alert Publications Inc. "...Susskind understands the dynamics of change, and how to manage rather than be blindsided by them." Michael Stern, The AM Law Daily. "..IThe End of Lawyers? is very much worth reading; it is well written and filled with though-provoking insights." -- Trial Magazine Thought-provoking examination of the role of the traditional lawyer in the face of new techniques and technologies for the provision of legal advice and other functions Richard Susskind is Honorary Professor of Law at Gresham College, London, IT adviser to the Lord Chief Justice, and an independent consultant to professional firms and national governments. He is Chair of the Advisory Panel on Public Sector Information, a law columnist at The Times, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and of the British Computer Society. He studied law at Glasgow University and has a doctorate in law and computers from Balliol College, Oxford. His views on the future of the legal profession have influenced a generation of lawyers around the world. He has written several books, including Expert Systems in Law (OUP, 1987), The Future of Law (OUP, 1996), and Transforming the Law (OUP, 2000), and has been invited to speak in over 40 countries. He was awarded an OBE in the Millennium New Year's Honours List for services to IT in the Law and to the Administration of Justice.