A Glimpse Ahead.

• Author: Tanner, Michael G.

This year I have been asked often what our profession will be like in the years ahead--in 2030 and beyond. My usual response is that I don't know except that being a lawyer will undoubtedly be different than it is today. The "winds of change" are blowing in our profession and in our branch of government --from many different directions. Some of those winds I discuss in this column, but there are many others.

We must not fear change, but instead learn to strike the right balance between our old ways of understanding our core values and doing our business and being open to new ways that will evolve. This will require judgment and discernment among our members and Bar leadership of the future. When I look at the quality of the young people coming into our ranks, motivated to serve others and our branch, I am optimistic.

As part of the third branch of government, we have a special obligation to have a positive influence on our fellow citizens and on society. We will do that by zealously defending and perpetuating our core values of public service; of an independent, fully funded judiciary; of lawyers exercising fully independent judgment for their clients; of a diverse and inclusive branch with opportunity for all based on individual merit; and--above all--respect for the Rule of Law, especially, in these times, respect for the right of others to have and express ideas with which we may disagree.

The loss of these values among our members would be deeply damaging to our society and to our freedoms. We see now how countries that don't respect our values behave toward their own citizens and toward other nations.

As I've traveled the state this year, it has been clear to me that our members still fully embrace our core values.

We are fortunate to be a self-regulated profession under our Florida Supreme Court. Self-regulation is one of our key defenses around our independence which is, in turn, a key safeguard for the Rule of Law. Our self-regulation would not be possible without The Florida Bar to assist the Florida Supreme Court in carrying out its constitutional duty to regulate us. And The Florida Bar could not function without the men and women of our Board of Governors, our sections and our committees --volunteers all--who donate hundreds of hours of their time each year on our Bar's business, as well as paying their own expenses for travel and lodging to attend meetings to carry out the business of the Barr and improve our profession. We are...