The COVID-19 pandemic has held a magnifying glass to the business operations of law firms and has, perhaps, condensed the timeline of change in the notoriously hidebound legal industry. During the economic downturns of 2001 and 2008, we saw a number of major traditional firms collapse; meanwhile, the legal world has been challenged by innovative firms using technological advancements to focus on new ways of fulfilling the goals of both partners and clients. Will the changes coming out of the pandemic result in a new model taking over?

After more than a decade of founding and leading one of the new-model firms, my peers and I have recommendations on what changes firms can make to survive and thrive in a post-COVID world. Some of the changes are obvious, others are more esoteric. But they all stress the same central elements: Firms must be nimble to meet the goals and aspirations of their partners and clients.