Editor's Foreword the Future Is Here

• Publication year: 2020
• Author: By Benjamin G. Shatz

EDITOR'S FOREWORD The Future Is Here

By Benjamin G. Shatz

Benjamin G. Shatz, Editor-in-Chief of this journal, is a certified Specialist in Appellate Law and co-chairs the Appellate Practice Group of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, in Los Angeles. BShatz@Manatt.com

It's 2020! I hope you enjoyed your commute to the office today via jetpack. Well, that's 20th Century futurism for you. Why bother physically moving your meat-body when you can simply teleport your consciousness via Wi-Fi? And why have an office at all, when technology allows us to work from anywhere and at any time? (Hooray?)

The heart of this issue presents a variety of articles focusing on artificial intelligence and technology. These concepts seem to be the talk of the day, and are even being addressed by forward-looking law schools. See UC Irvine School of Law gets grant to expand AI curriculum (Daily Journal, Jan. 24, 2020). Forget contracts and real property — law students apparently need an AI curriculum! The following articles might help the rest of us understand this.

Rob Toews explains how Artificial Intelligence Will Transform the Practice of Law and Abe Meltzer piles on by exploring Can AI Sue in Federal Court?

For a bit more of the here and now (and wow), Robert Klein describes a wonderful new CLA benefit you simply must check out: As a dues-paying CLA member you have bought yourself access to Fastcase, so why not use it? Fastcase is new legal research tool you owe it to yourself to see if it can get the job done for you, allowing you to free-up funds you're currently spending on other electronic research tools.

There's simply no escaping the computer revolution, so why not give in? Perhaps you already use your leisure time to play video games? Yen-Shyang Tseng teaches us about legal issues in the video games and esport worlds. Yes, esporting is a word, and indeed is big business (or "a thing" in modern parlance). For those who can't really play video games, watching others do so may be the next best thing. This was a natural evolution in the same way that physical sports are fun to watch too. (I guess.)

Sticking with our new-reality digital-world a "bit" more, Diana Iketani Iorlano provides a primer on the California Consumer Privacy Act, which deals with electronic stuff and a whole lot more. Putting aside robot-plaintiffs and other futuristic legal developments, the CCPA is here and now — and it's extremely likely to affect your practice.

Also in the realm of the extremely practical and...