President's Perspective
The Legal Landscape is Changing
by Gary L. Bakke
2001. IT'S HERE. DOES IT LOOK LIKE STANLEY Kubrick described it?
Probably not. We don't have HAL. In many ways, 2001 is more like the
past than futurists had envisioned. But in many other ways it's more
different and more unsettling than most of us were prepared for. The
landscape of the legal profession is in this latter category.
The legal profession's bedrock foundations of the last 200 years
appear to be crumbling. The stability and predictability of precedent
has been overtaken by the shock of continuous change. Change is now the
norm for our clients and for our profession. Innovation and creativity
are winning over tradition. That fact creates enormous risks and
opportunities. We are struggling to preserve the essential core values
of our profession while simultaneously providing innovative value-added
service to our clients. The fundamental issue is whether we remain
relevant in this new era.
Most of the issues we face are starting to emerge from the dust of
crumbling institutions and the winds of change. The answers or solutions
are not yet clearly visible.
This is a time that needs the profession to come together. We do not
share all of the same day-to-day interests and concerns. Our practices
and our worldviews are wildly disparate. Yet, we are lawyers. We share a
common bond in our dedication to the public interest, to the rule of
law, and to the ethical responsibilities of our calling. These common
bonds - our common interests and the responsibility that we have to the
public - must bring us together. We need to understand the rapidly
changing present and prepare for the future.
This special January directory issue of the Wisconsin Lawyer has a
wealth of information to facilitate the communication and cooperation
that is necessary for our profession to remain relevant and vibrant.
Please take special note of the information under the tab "State Bar."
Communicate with your governor. Volunteer for committees. Participate in
our conventions. In July, Gerald Mowris will take over as president. He
is already working hard to prepare his leadership, but he cannot do it
alone. He needs your help. You have much to contribute to the Bar, and I
feel that the Bar has much value for its members. It's our future. Let's
design it together.
Wisconsin Lawyer
