For context, I’ve recently come across Norm Law. They had advised Blackstone. Now initially i thought wow maybe AI is really going to take my job. Upon further research saw the firm is not really all AI and is essentially a super lean firm ( they have a decent amount of lawyers). Obviously AI has helped with the grunt work and having their own engineers helps and this might be the future of a law firm( instead of a 150+ fee earners they have 35 and a whole bunch of “legal engineers”) business wise that’s great.
In my head I took all of this as how most firms will look in the future and the profession shrinking and the billable hour gone ( still possible reality in 3-10 years time). Partners take AI instead of juniors with associates and then kill the firms continuity in their chase for profit and funding his multiple sugar babies.
Until a little further digging most of their clients are companies are backing the firm and giving it business. They could expand and eat into big laws market share but still I might be wrong but hopefully this is like the AI merry go round where the money is just simply circulating and not to be taken seriously.
Anyone who works there that could confirm this or let me know right now if my brother should dropout and forget about that law degree.
PS, I’m mainly ranting because I told all my younger family members to pursue law now I might of have set them up for unemployment.
EDIT: I know in the USA and UK advising younger family members to study law and bill hours is setting them up. Disclaimer I’m from South Africa and we more relaxed ( rarely worked a weekend ever) and I get paid a lot money( relative to my age mates). Most importantly it’s only high paying career path that doesn’t require maths which unfortunately majority of my family doesn’t do so well in. I am moving to UK soon(MC) though so I’ll report back in a year.