There have only been a few times in recent memory when the traditional law firm model has undergone what could be called a major restructuring. This is one of those times.
Due to the drastic and deep economic downturn of 2009 and 2010, the way legal services are managed, staffed, priced and delivered is being challenged. The old paradigm is being re-thought. Some of the changes could be short-lived, but there are a few that seem likely to endure, primarily because they make so much sense. One of those is the expansion of the staffing model to include highly skilled project-based attorneys.
