Law Firms of the Future

Key TakeawaysMeredith L. Williams-Range oversees Shearman & Sterling's global strategy in master data management, conflicts, governance, new business intake, records, legal project management, knowledge management, research services and more. Ms. Williams-Range is a lawyer with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in accounting. She is a member of the American, New York, Tennessee, and Memphis Bar Associations. She is also the Past President of the Board of Directors for the International Legal Technology Association (ILTA).Law firms must change because clients want change. Clients are looking not only for legal advice, but also outcome-based pricing, outcome-based conversations, partnership in the path, and risk analysis.Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) should augment what lawyers do, so they don’t have to start from a blank sheet of paper. Lawyers still have to think critically and make certain that the final product is correct and encompasses the empathy that may be needed. Using A.I. is no different than starting from a precedent.Lean into who you are and the innovator inside you. Just because someone else doesn't believe in what you're doing doesn't mean it's not the right thing to do. Be resilient. Make connections and find kindred spirits. ResourcesMeredith Williams-Range Builds the Law Firm of the Future - Profile (profilemagazine.com)Shearman & Sterling LLP | Legal OperationsHome - ILTA (iltanet.org)