"CHANGE-It's Coming! Are You Ready?"

by Janett Zarecki, Legal Administrator,
Cooper & Walinski, LPA

     The newest generation entering the workforce places emphasis on different values. Continued education and upward mobility are as important as loyalty, tenure and firm politics. Freedom of expression, being allowed to work with only general guidance, and having time to pursue personal interests measure high on the priority scale of today's typical entry into the world of law. The traditional law firm hierarchical structure-partners, associates, legal assistants, and secretarial staff-is giving way to an organizational structure that is team or task based, and this is being driven by competition, technology, and new-generation thinking. Albeit slow moving and led by the east and west coasts, these changes in how we practice law are now appearing in the Midwest. Are you ready?

     The way law firms handle change is often reflected in a shift of responsibilities and priorities within the firm. Marketing issues and business development are now a major component in the life of all law firm partners; associates are assuming greater roles in case management; well-trained legal assistants conduct research and serve as major contributors to case management; and the secretaries now assume administrative responsibilities once handled by legal assistants or the lawyers, themselves. At every level, knowledge must be recognized as the asset that it is. Business capital is the knowledge of individual employees, and it is very portable. Are you ready?

     Today's employee, more than ever, expects to be part of a team, one who brings specific skills and training to the workplace, and expects to carry out his/her responsibilities with only general direction. A new style of organization is replacing the rules and policy-driven structure that was part of the more "traditional" law firm. This new style prioritizes leadership, not management. It requires employment arrangements and job descriptions designed to attract, retain and motivate this new group of "knowledge workers." Are you ready?

     Peter Drucker, author of The Next Society and consultant on society, economics, politics and management, states: "knowledge workers" are "the new capitalists," and goes on to say that "knowledge has become the key resource, and the only scarce one. . . . knowledge workers collectively own the means of production." The knowledge of all employees must be recognized and valued. Are you ready?