How you can adopt a futurist lawyer mindset for your small law firm

In the age of AI, becoming a futurist lawyer will help you embrace and navigate the intersection between law and technology.

What is a futurist lawyer?

Futurists spot trends and offer insight across industries, systems and societies. While you might not aspire to predict or influence trends on a large scale, you can apply the foundations of futurism in your law practice.

The International Future of Law Association, a global network of academic institutions studying the field of law and its future, notes:

“Addressing complex issues necessitates an understanding extending beyond traditional legal boundaries, encompassing scientific, political, economic, ethical, and cultural contexts. This multi-faceted approach equips future lawyers with the wisdom to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain world, where human and machine, local and global, and theory and practice intersect.”

That’s a lofty goal. Thinking about law practice in terms of global, economic, political and cultural scope might feel too daunting for an independent lawyer or small law firm; however, even individual lawyers can benefit from adopting a more future-leaning approach to law.

The IFLA writer points out what he calls “everything issues” that business leaders, lawyers and professionals across industries should consider as they move forward in their work. Some of these issues include:

  • Hybrid work trends, which he calls a “negotiation between tradition and innovation.”
  • Societal issues, such as equity and environmental impact, moving into board room discussions and strategy.
  • Emerging technologies’ impact on how we work and also its opportunities for stand-alone practice areas.
  • Mental health and well-being, which he says “needs to be at the forefront of modern lawyering”

An independent futurist lawyer might look at these enormous societal needs and changes and uncover ways to address them on a small scale with a niche practice, for example. In short, futurist lawyers look at the big picture and then determine where they fit into the story.

How to cultivate a futurist outlook

At the simplest level, a futurist sets aside what is for what might be. When Jules Verne predicted submarines 80 years before their time or Gene Roddenberry forecast touchscreens and virtual reality in Star Trek, they ignored the limits of what had been achieved up to their time.

Futurist thinking applies not only to technology, but a wide variety of disciplines and processes. From medicine to government to city planning, future-thinkers look for cues about:

  • How to improve processes
  • How to solve problems for specific groups of people
  • How to spot economic shifts
  • Changes in group values and priorities

This futurist firm points to foresight, and the use of foresight tools (scenario planning, futures triangle or three tomorrows framework) as one way to adopt a future-looking stance:

“This is where foresight comes in. By understanding the trends and dynamics at play in the world today, we can make informed decisions about the future. We can use foresight to see both the opportunities and the challenges that lie ahead. And we can use our insights from the past to help us navigate the present and shape the future.”

Individuals who have no intention of becoming professional futurists can develop a futurist outlook by expanding their personal networks, following new thought leaders, engaging in conversation with leaders and entrepreneurs in other fields and more.

Practical applications for a futurist lawyer mindset

While an awareness of global and society-level challenges might inform a futurist’s outlook, a business owner needs some practical strategies for applying futurist principles. For lawyers, that can include:

Where have you been holding onto the status quo and where can you look for new approaches or models for your work?

Ready to build your law firm alongside fellow forward-looking lawyers? Learn more about our shared offices for lawyers in Denver and Las Vegas.