Lawyers Stuck in the Stone Age

The legal profession has fallen behind like no other profession. From partners at law firms to judges, a technological illiteracy is present. Many lawyers cannot describe the difference between a local hard drive versus the cloud. Similarly, many still use "Word Perfect," a word processing application that cannot even be viewed on an iPhone.

The average age of a U.S. Supreme Court Justice is 66 years old. The average age of a U.S. Circuit Court Judge is 65 years old. The average age of a U.S. District Court Judge is 61 years old.

While age is a factor, the issue here is not age, but the willingness and necessity to adapt. The legal profession has created a culture of accepting its weak adaption of technology. Lawyers can advance in every stage of their careers without knowing how to use Excel or PowerPoint (sadly, which many lawyers find to be complicated).

Typewriters were great until computers came along. Beepers were great until cell phones came along. The legal profession must revisit this outdated belief that it is okay to remain stagnant.

Technology will only get better. Lawyers who are not ready to adapt will simply be left behind.