Young Lawyers and the "Fog of War"
This week I had the privilege of starting a “mentor-like” relationship with a budding young law student. I say “mentor-like” because we all have to call these things something so people can understand what it is we are doing. But I realised the way I approach this is different enough to share with you: because of the experiences I’ve lived, or perhaps because of the specific lack of a “pro-forma” approach. Either way I wanted to share one of the concepts we covered to set the tone.
The Purpose of Schooling
Schooling is about structured learning. It leans hard on structure to create some form of defined path. It is designed to create defined outcomes and leave the wayfarer (person on a journey) in a particular destination, (certificate in hand). It also scales well (to a limit) and so allows “education” to occur en masse. But, with structure often comes rigidity, and rigidity is what causes the violent snap against the winds of change:
The tree that remains flexible will bend with the wind and remain standing at the end. The proud tree that stands tall in defiance of the wind will do so at a perilous cost, left standing at the end with no branches to boast of its beauty.
This structure (and rigidity) relies on one thing - the predictive outcome of the structured learning journey relative to the greater outcome of applying that learning.
Explained another way, the structured learning process relies on its value being tied directly to using what we learnt and applying it to the world (or specific industry, Law in this case). The more defined the qualification, the higher the expectation of the student to use it in a specific way.
Can you see how heavy the assumption is? How heavily we rely - for example - on the assumption that a law degree means a job as a lawyer/in law? Are we cognizant of how we talk about this in the home, at school, among friends, parents, family and most importantly: how it is advertised at University?
(I think there is an entire conversation to be had about the gap between Marketing efforts vs. real outcomes and the effect of this divergence on our outlook in life, but perhaps another time…🤓)
So, what happens when the structured learning process assumes an outcome that is fundamentally changing - the outcome no longer exists in the form that was assumed?
A ship plots a path to reach a destination. This path is known by the navigator as many others have gone this route before. If he plots it exactly, he is far more likely to have to make adjustments on the way. If he plots it generally, he will allow for flexibility in changing course and can plot a more efficient path. However, If the landscape (aka land mass) has shifted (or in the titanic’s case: icebergs are floating around) he is in for a rough ride. The past experience or expectations of navigating that route become less important and more emphasis is placed on the ability of the navigator to do what he was supposed to; navigate.
This is the inertia of systems, the cracks that become crevices when the landscape drastically changes and we’ve become more “pro forma” and less “first principles”. I don’t suggest we become all of one or the other - but I thought it was really important to explore this with this law student because of the thick layer of assumption that had eroded his thinking after three/four years into that structured learning process.
This was our starting point. Listening to him intently, I found his questions indicated the need for a more fundamental conversation. The reality is there is a “Fog of War” that is present during your journey through a law degree and it has become more evident to self-aware students that what they are working towards is not “pro forma”. Students not resigned to the assumption that the process will guarantee work (which is now the majority) are asking these questions. After questions, they will take action. I’m fascinated to see how others are approaching this conversation.
Something to ponder: Just because it worked for you (10-20-30 years ago) may not mean it is effective now, or for the future.
This week reminded me how awesome it is to work with vibrant youth and young adults (hopefully I still classify as one!) I’m contemplating expanding the pool of students who want to explore these concepts so If you know anyone who would benefit from conversations with me, please make an introduction via Linkedin or email.
Updates and Shout-outs
Had a great conversation about the “bad aftertaste effect”, finding a common need for legal-tech companies to educate vs sell (often in unsophisticated ways) and how that needs to permeate the business leadership, structure and culture (with a bit of VC talk as well) with Stewart from Checkbox.ai
Loved speaking with Fionn Bowd from Bowd Legal exploring how her labor-hire model is a practical step in disrupting existing people/finance models in legal practice alongside Future Framework for Legal Practice’s systemic approach to technology integration into a #futureoflaw reality. She threw me a complex question and I had fun giving her an answer she hadn’t heard yet 😁
Caught up with Andrea Foot of LeafLogic on our weekly sessions where we looked at process mapping as valuable first step to change (video coming soon). Please let me know if you’d like to attend our weekly sessions!
Spoke with Partha Nag of Strategic Business Alliance and the intersection of our work, particularly the missing piece (you guessed it, EDUCATION) in effecting strategic decision making and approaching innovation for firms. Check out his Tales from the Trenches podcast: It’s candid, to the point and always comes down to asking the right questions (Partha does a fantastic job of this).
Amazing chat with Cristabel Gekas post her incredible TLF Connect launch. Well done Crista for carrying this project and launching something that will make waves in the Australian Legal Industry! Watch this space.
Privileged to be commended among some industry leaders in this post, by fellow Trail-blazer Cat (Caitlin) Moon. A moment of reflection and confirmation for me in my 2nd year of FutureLab.Legal
Finally, please share the #FutureofLaw Lab if you find it valuable and let me know what you want to read more about! I hope to continue inspiring you 😊
As always, the future of law is in our hands 🔥
Q.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash