The Future of Collaboration in the Practice of Law

• Author: Dennis Kennedy - Tom Mighell
• Pages: 279-283

279

The Future of

Collaboration in the

Practice of Law

Before starting this book, we had a general sense of how law-

yers collaborate—with their clients, colleagues, and others.

As we worked our way through writing the book, however, we

were struck by how collaboration permeates literally every

aspect of the practice of law, affecting lawyers and everyone

who works with them. In fact, lawyers are constantly collabo-

rating, internally and externally, with those on the same side as

well as on the other side. Understanding this reality—that col-

laboration is not an option—is the first step in making smart

choices about collaboration tools and technologies.

We have no doubt that, as you read this book, you realized

that you already use a wide variety of tools for collaboration.

Many of these tools do not involve technology—sticky notes,

comments scrawled on documents, a chance meeting in the

hallway, or a planning meeting with the client. But some of

the tools you use do involve technology, and you’ve probably

been using them for years—a modified spreadsheet for project

management, a docket in a word processor, or an outliner tool.

We had three goals in this book. First, we wanted you to

consider the existing methods and systems you use to collab-

orate today, and we suggested ways to bring those thoughts

to the surface. Our second goal was to discuss and show you

a new generation of collaboration technologies and point out

how they can help you improve your current systems in ways

you might never have expected. Finally, and most importantly,

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