President’s Column
6
the simplest contracts or forms brings us
closer to our clients and allows us to properly price what truly requires our full expertise. Online communities (the future of
list-serves) allow us to utilize the collective
minds of our colleagues to cut research
time considerably. Social media, generally,
can also bring us closer to our clients and
improve public perception by sharing positive stories broadly and cheaply.
The VBA board and the Commission
on the Future of Legal Services are taking
the time to research what may be coming
down the pike so that we may adapt more
easily. The Commission is just beginning to
explore ideas regarding changes to legal
education, licensing, and court processes.
The VBA is looking at ways to ‘vet’ or give
seals of approval for various cloud, security, case management, and billing programs
to help us streamline our practices. Once
online communities are available, we will
not only be able to share forms, research
and ideas, but we can discuss products and
services and share how we may undergo
flat-fee and value-added billing platforms.
Most importantly, changes in the online
presence of the VBA and law firms’ websites will allow the public to further understand and fully engage in the crucial social
function that access to equal justice serves
for our society. So many lawyers volunteer
their time to their communities, and there
is no shame in sharing those efforts with
the public.
THE VERMONT BAR JOURNAL • WINTER 2016
The other day I read a brief story about
IBM Watson, the computer that won Jeopardy! and endeavors to learn and adapt itself, like the human brain. It appears that
IBM Watson had caused an uproar as its
designers sought to apply his talents to legal services. The outcry was, as expected,
that IBM Watson would somehow replace
lawyers. Those embracing change, and the
future, however, saw that a computer, like
IBM Watson, could help lawyers help people by streamlining research and poring
over discovery documents and e-discovery, leaving the lawyers to apply sound legal reasoning to the best information available. The article stressed that the critical
multifaceted analysis and the ability to engage clients on a purely human level could
never be replaced. So what are we afraid
of?
Returning to my analogy regarding
cross-country skiing, while caution is always
advised, fear is not. To make the best use
of any current coast, a little foresight and
planning is crucial. A coast is enjoyable,
but finite, and the only way to insure future
coasts is to deal with any present and future perils, like sticks and slush-piles, whatever form they may take.
____________________
Jennifer Emens-Butler, Esq., is a partner
in the Bethel firm of Obuchowski & EmensButler and president of the Vermont Bar
Association.
www.vtbar.org