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In "Looking for Innovation? Tap Gen Y’s Distinctly Different Point of View," (Harvard Business Online) a very intriguing article by Tammy Erickson, you may read the author's ideas about how Gen Y will affect the workplace. How do these translate into the law firm?
From the article . . .
Inevitably, Y’s will bring a different perspective to the workplace because the ideas they have about how things might work will almost certainly be largely unrelated to the way things have been done for the past 50 years. As a result, Y’s will bring innovation to the business world, just by sharing their ideas on how things might work.
The combination of Gen Y and the legal profession might prove interesting since most law firms (the large ones, at least) are not known for innovation.
Erickson lists several characteristics of Gen Y. I have quoted a couple below with a question or two following.
Y’s operate asynchronously -- Y’s are highly accomplished at a practice I call “time-shifting” -- doing things when it is most convenient, rather than when the world might otherwise think it’s scheduled to occur. With Y’s, “time shifting” will come to work.
How much "time shifting" is allowed in the practice of law?
Y’s solve problems and perform tasks collaboratively -- They share information openly, solve problems through communal wisdom, and get things done collaboratively. These approaches will bring a new perspective to corporate practice.
Not a question about the practice of law but one about an area of law—Intellectual Property. I have posted before on the future of IP here and here. What impact will the open sharing of information have on copyright law? I noted in both my posts that Professor Tim Wu wondered . . .
Is copyright law from the 18th century? Is copyright silly in the 21st century? He said the debate has assumed almost religious fervor and that, in law school classes, this debate is very lively.
Is this at least in part a a debate between notions of older generations and those of the new?
Y’s understand the role of reputation in the digital world -- Y’s are heavily dependent on peer networks to identify the best, most trusted sources. They know how to build their own reputations as both knowledgeable sources and insightful reviewers, key skills for the future.
Does business development come more naturally to them than to those older?
What do you think? How do you respond to my questions? I really would like to hear.
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