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Editor's Column

By:  Laura Pratt

Would you believe that the first personal computer was introduced about 35 years ago?  Guess that means that a growing number of young lawyers have never lived in a world without computers.

In fact, not too long ago, lawyers actually debated the effectiveness and applicability of technology in the legal profession as it continued to develop.  I actually read an article from the 1990’s that claimed technology would be a wonderful asset for science, engineering, and education, but it would have no place in the legal community.  (yeah, right!) Now, you don’t even have the choice on whether to implement legal technology. Competition, communication practices, and even most court systems now demand that technology be used in our practices.

Although this technological infiltration has not been as difficult to assimilate for our generation, avoiding the pitfalls of technology in practice can still be difficult for young lawyers.  The phrase “with great power, comes great responsibility” comes to mind.  Young lawyers have to constantly battle against the growing lack of professionalism or personal communication with their peers and in their practices.  The security of clients’ information, confidential material, and even evidence is a serious concern, requiring stronger passwords, complicated IT systems, and multiple levels of back-up files, all of which comes with a hefty price tag.  There’s now a growing concern that too much information is readily available within the practice, directly affecting a lawyer’s ability to concisely deliberate and present his case. 

The good news?  Because technology is always changing, for every pitfall, there almost always is a good solution.  Even better news?  TYLA has developed projects, tools, and services that can directly help you as a young lawyer, and the internet provides easy access to ALL of them!  The best news?  Just like technology is always changing, TYLA is always developing its resources to better serve young lawyers and our communities across the state.  Over the next several months, look for numerous updates to our projects, some of which are already in the works.  You can expect new Ten Minute Mentor videos, guides on social media and malpractice, various practice tool kits for specific areas of law, and even the development of a smart phone app for court information across the state. 

Additionally, if you are reminiscing about the good ole days of a hello and a handshake, the contact information of every TYLA board member is also online, which means your district director is available as a non-technological resource anytime.

-LAURA PRATT is an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Lubbock.  Although specializing in environmental compliance, she regularly advises the City on various municipal law issues.  The opinions expressed in this article are not the official opinions of the City of Lubbock.