"CHANGE"

Can you remember what you were doing just about one year ago? (For some of us "older" lawyers, there is some amount of trouble in remembering what you did last week or even yesterday!)

Last December, we were all making some sort for preparations for Y2K. Some of us were making social plans, some of us were making emergency plans and all of us were planning to make sure that we had some extra money in case the ATM machines were not functioning on January 1. I am told that our world renowned Greenbrier Hotel had flashlights in the centerpieces on the tables in the dining room for the N6w Year's Eve celebration in case all the power went out at 12:00 midnight.

Well, as they say, Y2K was a "non event." We all made it through without any great difficulty. Then, the debate became whether 2000 or 2001 is actually the beginning of the 2 1 century.

For some period of time, all of us have been constantly bombarded with the supposed new concept of change. We need to be prepared for change. We need to adapt to change. We must accept change. Change is inevitable. And it goes on and on.

Even in the tradition laden profession of the practice of law, change is occurring quite rapidly. Let me just remind you of some major changes that have occurred in how you practice law in just the past ten years:

1. Fax machines were just coming into use to any great extent. Now, I imagine that there is not a law office in West Virginia that does not have access to a fax m

2. The availability of legal research materials. Ten years ago, there were only West and Lexis - now just about every legal research aid is available on the Internet.

3. There may have been one or two law firms that had branch offices in the state. Now, there are many law firms with multiple branch offices both inside and outside of West Virginia.

4. The only way you found out what happened at the Supreme Court was to call the Clerk, Ancil Ramey, or wait for the advance sheets. Now, you can listen to the arguments over the telephone as they occur and go to the Supreme Court's website to immediately read the Opinion once it is issued. You can even watch the court in action by video camera.

5. ATM machines were for money only. Now, ATM machines, permit video conferencing, are being installed in every courthouse in West Virginia and will be in all fifty -five counties during 2001.

6. The basic way to leave a message was with a secretary who put it on a pink telephone sheet. Today, the accepted means of communication is by voice mail.

7. Lawyers provided bills for legal services to their clients and they were paid. A
different process is currently used by some entities an outside auditor reviews the bill and decides what should be paid and what should not be paid.

8. Not very many people knew anything about e-mail. Today, more e-mail is sent than regular mail ("snail mail").

9. Lawyers were still doing a lot of personal dictation to secretarial support staff. Now, more and more lawyers do their own work on their own computers.

10. Not many lawyers were utilizing legal assistants in their law practice. The growth of legal assistants has been dramatic, especially in such areas of the law as workers' compensation, real estate, family law and litigation.

These are only a few of the significant changes that have occurred in the practice of law in the past ten years. Change is occurring. Change is good. Get used to change.

On a personal note, I have adapted to some changes, particularly in the past year. A wife. A family. A change in personal appearance. Take a look at the new picture at the top of the page. What do you think?

Have a wonderful Holiday Season and may 2001 be the best year ever for you!