Amid predictions that “the percentage of lawyers practicing in solo and small firm settings will continue to increase for the foreseeable future,” the Boston Bar Association Task Force on the Future of the Profession released a report calling on the BBA to expand its programming for this rapidly growing population. The 15-person task force was co-chaired by Christine Netski, a partner at Sugarman, Rogers, Barshak & Cohen, and Maureen O'Rourke, dean of Boston University School of Law, and was convened more than one year ago by then BBA president Donald R. Frederico.
Mr. Frederico charged the task force with studying the challenges facing new lawyers in the current economic climate and exploring how the BBA might support new grads without jobs, as well as those laid off soon after graduating. Among the trends the task force observed are that law schools are finding it extremely difficult to place their students, law firm clients are refusing to pay for the services of newly minted JDs and young associates, and there are fundamental changes in the purchase and delivery of legal work.
The report's most salient point is that the BBA can help foster the development of innovative ways to serve clients in the rapidly changing marketplace and continue to deliver the message that there are many routes toward a successful career in the private sector.