Legal Jobs: Recent Changes in the Industry
For decades, even centuries, the jobs of lawyers and legal professionals remained much the same. They were assigned a case, either to argue the guilt or liability of a certain party, or to defend a certain party, and they would question witnesses, study old court cases to find legal precedents relevant to that case, and build an argument. to back up your box. Today, however, the legal profession has been going through a period of major change, as have many industries. It’s quite a different world for those who work in the field of law.
One important recent change is that many laws and legal records are available online. Many law libraries, once hotbeds for legal research, are now virtually empty 24 hours a day. With the Internet and new digital technologies, lawyers can subpoena text messages, emails, and other electronic texts, which of course means a lot more reading and a lot more work for legal researchers. And many statutes haven’t caught up with new technology, which means new legal questions arise all the time, as well as new legal precedents. What constitutes online harassment or bullying? Does an employer have the right to fire someone for something he or she posted on her Facebook page? These and many more unresolved questions make this an exciting time to have a legal job.
Also, because a lot of research can now be done online, many paralegals, legal investigators, and others in the legal field are able to work at home. This means a whole new lifestyle for these professionals: no more rush-hour commuting, maybe no more day care for their children. Many law firms also use social media to help recruit new talent. And many law firms are beginning to outsource legal tasks to employees who live far away, perhaps even in other countries. And some law firms exist entirely online. This can mean substantial savings for the partners who own that company, since they don’t have to buy or lease space, or pay the utility bills and other expenses that come with a physical office. At one time, no one would have taken an online law firm seriously. Now, these types of companies could represent the wave of the future.
There are all sorts of other exciting changes on the horizon for those working legal jobs. In the future, there will be more opportunities for lawyers from different countries to collaborate with each other on cases. And no doubt more lawyers will get involved in environmental law. Think about the recent BP oil spill, the call by many scientists to stop global warming, and the rise of new technologies and green fuels, and you will realize that there are many opportunities for lawyers to get involved in suing polluters. , in the process. protecting the planet and ensuring healthier ecosystems for future generations.
