Vol. 74, No. 1, January 2001

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.