Legal futurist Richard Susskind predicts that if lawyers do not embrace new ways of working, then in 100 years, or less, people may sit in comfort in a converted court-room, as they do now in some of London’s converted banks, and “appropriately nourished, speculate in a leisurely manner about solicitors and barristers... who were these people? What was their craft? Why do we no longer have them... and what brought about their end?”

See http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article2715064.ece

"The driving force towards the end of lawyers as we know them is twofold: information technology and what Susskind calls the market pull towards commoditisation – carving up a lawyer’s job into identifiable and discreet pieces that can be outsourced and done more cheaply by others. As a result, the jobs of many traditional lawyers will be substantially eroded and often eliminated."

Let us know what you think?

When I began my practice in the late 1970's there were no word processors, fax machines or e-mail. Today, I can (and am expected to) deliver contracts and legal documentation faster. But I don't believe technology will ever eliminate the need for human involvement in the process. How are machines ever able to dispense experienced, dispassionate advice or negotiate differences between parties in a commercial transaction?

The only point of agreement I have with Prof Susskind, is that much more is demanded from commercial lawyers today than mere knowledge of the law. Lawyers who are multi-disciplinary, with knowledge of surrounding areas of expertise, especially a deep understanding of the client's business, will be of greater worth to his client.

Sorry Prof Susskind, beg to differ. The internationalisation of business has made commercial life more COMPLEX, not more simple. What has happened is this - the internet, globalisation and all that cross border business has merely brought about an increase in the number and the size of global law firms - B & McK and the like. Salaries of lawyers at the mega firms have gone through the roof; and believe me, lawyers at these mega firms are still doing just the kind of stuff you predicted would die out due to automation and efficient knowledge transfer. Ha!