© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

Transforming the Legal Profession Four Top Trends

During interviews Robert Half Legal recently conducted with leaders in the legal field for its annual Future Law Office program, one clear consensus emerged: The profession is entering a critical period, and adaptability will be a defining factor of success.

© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

2

Heightened Demand for Specialized Expertise

More than half (55%) of lawyers surveyed said finding skilled legal professionals

is a challenge.

ISSUES MAKING THE GREATEST IMPACT ON THE PRACTICE OF LAW:*

Corporate governance/regulatory

31%

Privacy, data security

22%

Globalization

15%

*Top three responses shown

Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 350 lawyers with the largest law firm and corporations in the United States and Canada

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© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

3

GCs Taking Center Stage

General counsel are playing greater roles in

business decision-making as companies

address compliance and regulatory demands.

Corporate legal departments are taking on more work in-house and retaining five outside law firms, on

average, for specialty projects. More than one-third (34%) had retained five or more law firms.

*Top three responses shown

Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 175 lawyers with the largest corporations in the United States and Canada

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© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

4

Flexible Workplaces on the Rise

39% of lawyers said the number of telecommuting

employees grew in the last 12 months.

16% of lawyers said their firms plan to redesign its office

space to accommodate mobile workers.

Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 175 lawyers with the largest law firms in the United States and Canada

futurelawoffice.com

© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

5

Client Service Pressures Mount

Evolving client expectations are placing

more lawyers in the role of business

advisor.

Law firms are deploying specialized teams

composed of partners, associates and

paralegals to better support clients.

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© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

6

Changing of the Guard

22% of lawyers plan to retire from their law firms within the

next five years, yet 41% of firms have no succession plans

in place.

59% of lawyers said that working for a small-to-midsize law firm holds

the most appeal.

Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 175 lawyers with the largest law firms in the United States and Canada

futurelawoffice.com

© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

7

Big Data Driving eDiscovery Priorities

Predictive coding is emerging as a viable resource, but 76% of lawyers have no

experience with the technology.

Traditional data management alone is no longer effective

in eDiscovery.

76%

Big data is causing organizations to seek innovative solutions to better manage the eDiscovery process and control costs.

Source: Robert Half Legal survey of 175 lawyers with the largest corporations in the United States and Canada

futurelawoffice.com

© 2015 Robert Half Legal. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Vet.

Transforming the Legal Profession Four Top Trends

To download a complimentary copy of the report, or learn more about the Future Law Office research project, visit

futurelawoffice.com