The most widely read magazine for Canadian lawyers
Issue link: https://digital.canadianlawyermag.com/i/50809
EDITOR'S DESK BY GAIL J. COHEN Adapt or die from readers, members of last year's list, as well as an internal panel of Canadian Lawyer and Law Times writers and editors. We think it's a pretty good mix of people and really showcases some of the influential voices in the legal profession in Canada. Also in this issue, our Law Office Management column takes stock of the state of legal T process outsourcing in Canada. We tackled the issue a few years ago when Canadian law firms essentially had their heads in the sand about it and were not prepared to outsource any legal work to India or anywhere else. Well the world has changed, the economy has changed, and, most importantly, the demands of clients have changed. There's only one place for law firms to go then. The landscape is evolving but there's still a long way to go before Canadian law firms get to the same place as many of the big global legal service providers. Law firm consultant Jordan Furlong said in a recent speech in Toronto that he's hear- ing that company CEOs are telling their legal departments to cut 25 per cent of their budgets for outside counsel. There's no way numbers like that aren't going to cause even the law firms in this country that didn't feel the full, hot blast of the economic recession to make some changes. And for those that haven't, it's time. The profession here is becoming integrated into the global practice of law, with at least two Canadian firms joining the ranks of multinational law firms this year. And there's likely more to come — DLA Piper anyone? It's not just U.K. and U.S. brands; transpacific firms, too, are soon coming to our shores, predicts Furlong. The globaliza- tion of law along with changes in regulations here giving paralegals and notaries more scope and even the possibility of non-lawyer ownership of law firms as well as greater segmentation of legal services mean it's time to adapt or die. So what can Canadian law firms do? Furlong has three suggestions: invest in systems that can streamline and even revolutionize what lawyers do and how they work; aban- don the clock ("give tradition the boot") and provide value and service measured by the end result — not the time and effort it took to get there; and lastly, rethink legal talent by being flexible and moving talent outside your walls. As Furlong says: "The old rules aren't going to apply anymore. The good news is that the new rules have yet to be written." Group Publisher: Karen Lorimer Editorial Director: Gail J. Cohen Staff Writer: Robert Todd Copy Editor: Katia Caporiccio Art Director: Bill Hunter Account Co-ordinator: Catherine Giles Contributors: Jean Sorensen, donalee Moulton, Diane Cook, Kathryn Leger, Andi Balla, Michael McKiernan, Heather Gardiner Canadian Lawyer is published 11 times a year by Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd., One Corporate Plaza 2075 Kennedy Rd., Toronto ON. M1T 3V4 (905) 841-6480. Fax : (647) 288-5418 All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted without written permission. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. Information presented is compiled from sources believed to be accurate, however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Canadian Lawyer disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. Advertising Sales Representatives Legal Suppliers: Kimberlee Pascoe Tel: (905) 841-6480 x4052 E-mail: kimberlee.pascoe@thomsonreuters.com Law Firms: Karen Lorimer Tel: (647) 288-8018 E-mail: karen.lorimer@thomsonreuters.com Quebec Law Firms: Linda Nadon Tel: (450) 224-0055 E-mail: lnadon@universusmediagroup.com Sales Co-ordinator: Sandy Shutt Tel: (905) 841-6480 x2041 E-mail: sandra.shutt@thomsonreuters.com Canadian Lawyer Magazine Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. One Corporate Plaza 2075 Kennedy Rd., Toronto ON. M1T 3V4 Tel: (905) 841-6480 Fax: (647) 288-5418 E-mail: clb.cleditor@thomsonreuters.com Web: www.canadianlawyermag.com Indexed in the Canadian Periodical Index Publications Mail Agreement #40766500 ISSN 0703-2129 Copyright © 2011 HST Registration #R121349799 RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESS TO: CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT ONE CORPORATE PLAZA 2075 KENNEDY RD., TORONTO ON. M1T 3V4 RETOURNER TOUTE CORRESPONDANCE NE POUVANT ÊTRE LIVRÉE AU CANADA AU SERVICE DES PUBLICATIONS ONE CORPORATE PLAZA 2075 KENNEDY RD., TORONTO ON. M1T 3V4 Circulation/Address Changes/Subscriptions Jacquie Clancy Tel: (905) 841-6480 x2732 Fax: (905) 841-6786 E-mail: jacquie.clancy@thomsonreuters.com Subscription rates: Canada1 year print and digital $70 plus HST, 1 year digital only $55. Outside Canada 1 year print & digital US$94.50, 1 year digital only US$40. Student rate 1 year print and digital $36 plus HST, 1 year digital only $20 plus HST. For all circulation inquiries and address changes send a copy of your mailing label or labels along with your request in writing to Canadian Lawyer , One Corporate Plaza 2075 Kennedy Rd., Toronto ON. M1T 3V4 Making Rain Executive coach Debra Forman's video column on career and business development. August 29 www.CANADIAN Lawyermag.com A U GUST 2011 3 he big news of this issue is, of course, our second annual Top 25 Most Influential list. Our first effort last year got quite a bit of feedback, and we took that into account when planning this latest edition. Nominations came THIS MONTH EXCLUSIVELY ON CANADIAN Lawye rmag.com Trials & Tribulations Margaret Waddell ruminates on issues of import and interest to litigators. August 8 Human Rights . . . Here & Th ere University of Ottawa law school's Sonya Nigam's column on human rights and international law. August 8 Career Path Legal recruiter Danya Cohen helps young lawyers navigate treacherous career waters. August 8 Defi nitely Mabey Stephen Mabey examines the thorny issues facing law fi rm management. August 15 Th e IT Girl Sarah Dale-Harris takes a wry look at the intersection of technology and the law. August 15 David Paul's Field Notes Tips for the solo and small-fi rm practioner from David Paul. August 15 Letter from Law Law Land Wit and wisdom from Vancouver's Tony Wilson. August 22 Arguably the Best As she didn't quite make it in June, Wendy Matheson talks fi rst impres- sions in the eighth article in our litigation skills series. August 22