1. Demographic Shifts in the Legal Profession Jennifer Lewin Director, Knowledge Management & Governance ABA Division for Bar Services
National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago IL

2. The Smartest People Are Opting Out of Law School
April 15, 2015
Why Attending Law School is the Worst Career Decision You’ll Ever Make
June 26, 2012
Law Schools and Industry Show Signs of Life, Despite Forecasts of Doom
March 31, 2015
First-Year Law School Enrollment At 1977 Levels
December 17, 2013
A Steep Slide in Law School Enrollment Accelerates
December 17, 2014

3. I Data

4. % Change in New Admittees from 2013 to 2014
State % #lawyers State % #lawyers AZ -4% (-44) NH +15% (+16) CA -2% (-147) OH -10% (-135) FL -3% (-114) SC -22% (-139) MI -1% (-13) WI -13% (-86)
National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago

5. Sampling of New Admittee Stats
We are here

6. On the other end of the demographic spectrum
State Bar of Michigan

7. On the other end of the demographic spectrum
New Hampshire Bar Association

8. So, what does this mean for the profession and our bars?
National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago

9. National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago
The Not-Terrible News
LS applications no longer in freefall
Projections that law school enrollments will level out in the next 4-6 years
Better match of graduates to # of jobs that actually are available
Many lawyers don’t retire at 65
Many ramp down their practices gradually
National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago

10. My Highly-Asterisked Prediction
In 2025, the US lawyer population will be smaller, but not by much
More lawyers will be working viable jobs
More lawyers in the right places
Geographically (though that will matter less)
Providing accessible/flexible services
Biggest unknown: how technology/automation will continue to affect the profession
National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago

11. National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago
What Should We Be Doing?
Model the 10-year demographic picture in our states/jurisdictions
Ensure we ID/connect with every new admittee
Ensure lawyers transitioning out of practice have a home if they want one
Give our mid-career stalwarts some love
Bring all members together around issues of mutual concern
National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago

12. National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago
State Bar of Arizona State Bar of California The Florida Bar State Bar of Michigan New Hampshire Bar Association Ohio State Bar Association South Carolina Bar State Bar of Wisconsin
National Association of Bar Executives 2015 Annual Meeting - Chicago