Law in Transition: What's Next, Counselor?

This season, Behind the Lines will focus primarily on the future of the profession. We start the season off by exploring current and potential future trends impacting (1) energy lawyers; (2) women in the law; (3) attorney wellness; and (4) students taking the bar exam. 

Segment One - What’s Next for Energy Law: From the AI Data Center Gold Rush to Tomorrow’s Grid

Guest: Joshua Belcher

Length: 21 minutes

Belcher, a partner a Holland & Knight who is directly involved in data center projects, delves into impact of AI data centers, addressing changes in the energy law space that are being driven by the development of large AI data centers, such as power procurement, increased demand for all types of energy sources, new business in adjacent industries, changes in permitting and interconnection policies, and increased deal complexity. As far as what the future holds, Belcher notes that AI data centers are driving massive investment in new technologies for alternative power and long-duration storage, and he anticipates a lot of development and change over the next ten years in how we power this country. Belcher also provides advice for younger lawyers and students who may be interested in his practice area and addresses how AI may impact those opportunities. 

Segment Two - What’s Next for Women in the Law: Updating the Championship Model for Today and the Future 

Guest: Alissa Rubin Gomez

Length: 26 minutes

Gomez, a Clinical Professor at University of Houston Law Center, wrote an article called the “Mismeasure of Success” that considers retention of women in law firms from a “feminist” perspective, meaning through a lens that considers points of view that are often left out. Gomez discusses traditional law firm models, which often using the “championship model,” how the pandemic impacted views of this model, why law firms may want to rethink this model's view of what “success” looks like, and how the rise in generative AI impacts and in fact encourages consideration of new models. She also discusses what she’d like law firms to look like ten years from now.

Segment Three - What’s Next for Attorney Wellness: AI-Driven Cognitive Overloads Create Increased Wellness Concern

Guest: Wayne Basist

Length: 23 minutes, 15 minutes ethics

Basist, Founder of ESQ Mental Fitness, shares his personal story of how a severe car accident derailed his legal career and led to an arduous and painful recovery journey, including dealing with addiction and intense emotional struggles related to the trauma. During recovery, Basist realized that recurring thought patterns were causing him to be overly stressed and anxious even before the accident, leading him to eventually refocus his career on wellness. Basist then addresses current statistics about lawyer wellbeing, including perfectionism, sleep disruptions, anxiety, burnout, depression, suicide ideation, and substance and alcohol abuse. He also notes concern about how the rise in AI is causing additional cognitive overloads for attorneys as we adjust to how it's changing our profession and why these pressures lead to increased ethical dilemmas. He ends with a mindfulness technique that may be helpful to attorneys who are feeling this type of stress or overload. 

Segment Four - What’s Next for the Bar Exam: Local Law Schools Prepare for the Next Gen Exam

Guests: Ronda Harrison and Megan Davis*

BTL Interviewer: Anietie Akpan

Length: 47 minutes, 15 minutes CLE

BTL interviewer Anietie Akpan discusses the Next Gen Bar and other topics relating to preparing local law students to practice law with Ronda Harrison, Assistant Dean of Academic Success and Bar Readiness at Texas Southern University's Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and Megan Davis, Clinical Professor at University of Houston Law Center. Dean Harrison and Professor Davis also discuss ways individuals in the local community can assist in preparing students for the bar and their future profession, including best practices for those who employ student clerks or externs. 

*Note: The South Texas College of Law Houston representative BTL contacted about this segment but was unavailable. 

Music by zec53 from Pixabay

For full speaker bios, visit The Houston Lawyer (hba.org/thehoustonlawyer). To read The Houston Lawyer magazine, visit The Houston Lawyer_home. For more information about the Houston Bar Association, visit Houston Bar Association (hba.org).
*The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the views of The Houston Lawyer Editorial Board or the Houston Bar Association.