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It seems a lifetime ago that I was in Barcelona for the Mobile World Congress 2019.  Pre-pandemic, pre-drought – life was so much simpler back then.  For those unaware, MWC is the world’s biggest (probably) mobile technology trade show.  It is staggeringly huge – taking upwards of 45 mins to walk from one end to the other.  It is the key trade event of the year – where the big tech brands release the newest, shiniest thing,

I remember thrashing my way through the crowds – 20 people deep – desperate to set my eyes upon the holy grail of the event.  Samsung’s folding screen phone.  It was, without doubt, the most important thing in mobile tech since the last important thing.  Like a revered God, the Galaxy Fold sat behind toughened glass and tougher security guards.  It sat smugly above the chaos, looking down upon its devoted followers who were gathered with jaws dropped.  It was remarkably clever.

However, it wasn’t just the technological brilliance of the product launches that excited the gathered crowds and captured my attention.  After all, I am sure phones with 5 cameras have their purpose.  The real excitement was about how these technologies could and would change the world of work.

Seeing into the future

I joined a panel called “Work: Four Years from Now”.  This discussed what the world of work might be like in a mere 1,500 days in the future.  Sure, holograms and flying cars were discussed.  But it was the predicted change in mindset towards work and behaviours around work that prevailed rather than the tech itself.  The technology of 2019 had pretty much caught up with how the workforce wanted to work.  However, the work structures and expectations from employers had not.

I left the event with a clear thought in my mind: work isn’t a noun, it’s a verb.  I don’t go to work – I just work. 

Never could I have predicted in 2019 just how accurate this sentiment was to be.  Our latest UU����ֱ�� Bellwether report noted that 45% of lawyers seek a better work/life balance.  Yet, the same research revealed that 43% of firms expected lawyers to be in the office 5 days a week.  Clearly, there is still a disconnect in the legal industry between the noun and the verb.

The rise of freelancers

The gig economy was a big topic back in 2019.  The panel predicted a rapid rise in the number of freelancers in the workforce.  have recently reported that more than one-third of the entire US workforce is now a freelancer.   This is hardly surprising – nor is it alien to the world of the law.  The ability to bring in experts at the flick of a switch to deliver on a project or bulk out a team is very compelling.  This form of flexible working is equally appealing to many lawyers.  In the UU����ֱ�� report “The Rise of the Legal Consultants”, it was predicted that 1/3 of UK lawyers may be working for a more flexible model of law firm within the next 5 years.  The added flexibility and opportunity to keep a sizeable percentage of the fee may tip the balance away from the hierarchy and chargeable hour model of traditional firms.

Yes, today’s law firms and corporates are not set up for freelancers.  I am sure many of us have experienced the pain of corporate onboarding – countless forms completed, sitting on hold with the IT helpdesk and the frustration of wanting to work but being unable to get started.  It can take weeks to be added to the right databases and longer still to correctly set up a laptop, phone and log in.  To maximise the value of freelancers, IT systems need to be flexible, resilient and cloud-based.  If the location doesn’t matter – why should the tech you use be limited as well?  Thankfully, UU����ֱ�� is ahead of this curve.  Out of the box, our legal tech solutions are set up for the freelancer world.  Within an instant, anyone can have access to the full suite of legal intelligence.  Need to look up a piece of case law or understand what it means in practice?  Easy.  One search, one click and the answer is on your screen.

The workplace of today is digital.  Teams are formed around the ability and skills of the people.  They will (can) effortlessly collaborate – driving efficiency and innovation. Teams will be made up of the right people, rather than the people at the right location.

“Will this digital transformation ever end?” – I hear you cry.  Quite simply, no.  Digital transformation is an exciting journey and not a destination.  The future of work will always evolve and change.  UU����ֱ�� is leading that journey for the legal industry, and I am thrilled to be part of it.