Technology and different generations cause shifts in law firm dynamics.

• Author: Smuts, Jennifer

For perhaps the first time in history, four generations are sharing office space at law firms. Each of these generations is leaving a distinct stamp on the workplace. The Traditionalists built the current partnership structure. The Boomers perfected efficiency with the introduction of peer-to-peer collaboration and accountability. The Xers question practices and processes and are opening the door to change and creativity. And the newest generation to enter law firms, the Millennials, are now making a mark, multi-tasking their way to success.

But while each generation offers strength and unique perspectives, different upbringings and expectations can also bring tension. Being sensitive to the viewpoint of each generation makes it easier to create work situations that capitalize on the positives, while downplaying the negatives of each group.The earlier generations, familiar with a more face-to-face atmosphere, speculate that the frequent online contact the younger set are most comfortable with may inhibit chance opportunities to mingle professionally and build strong interpersonal relationships. For their part, Xers and Millennials tend to see their limitless connectivity as enabling them to push boundaries by combining work and play.

"I encourage attorneys to talk through issues by stopping by my office or picking up the telephone," says Jeffrey Bove, former managing partner and intellectual property litigation practice group chair at Connolly Bove Lodge & Hutz LLP in Wilmington, Del. "Interpersonal contact through oral communication can result in a more informed understanding of a problem, how people truly feel about it and the range of potential solutions."

Technology and advancements in research methods have also changed the way lawyers and staff interact. Once upon a time, the law library was the place where attorneys gathered to do much of their work.While doing research, they would bump into colleagues, discuss cases and share insights. But now, attorneys can barricade themselves in their offices while doing research, lessening the opportunities for chance encounters.

Change Agents

Those in other professions, including design and architecture, have also been impacted by generational and technical issues. These professionals are responding to these challenges in their own way. In a report, "The Changing Landscape of the Legal Practice," Vernon Mays, in Gensler's "dialogue"magazine, describes how online work trends are changing the...