Here’s how to future-proof your law firm

Be ready to meet changing client expectations, says Rob Aberdein,

I recently had the privilege of speaking at the Law Society of Scotland’s New Partners Conference on how to future-proof your law firm. What struck me most wasn’t just the calibre of the up-and-coming lawyers in the room, it was the recurring question: What does the future of legal services actually look like?

It’s a question our profession urgently needs to answer. We’re standing on the shoulders of centuries of tradition - yet staring down a future shaped by fast-moving technology, changing client expectations, and new economic realities. For law firms, my message is clear: evolve or risk irrelevance.

Future-proofing isn’t about gimmicks or chasing buzzwords. It’s about making deliberate decisions today that will safeguard your firm’s relevance, resilience and reputation in the years ahead.

Rethink What Clients Value

Client expectations have changed. People don’t want to pay for processes, they want outcomes. They expect real-time updates, fixed pricing, and digital convenience without sacrificing human connection or legal rigour.

Firms that cling to hourly rates, slow response times and paper-heavy systems will be left behind. Technology won’t replace lawyers, but lawyers who use technology well will replace those who don’t. This isn’t a slogan, it’s a survival strategy.

Embrace tech (but don’t worship it)

AI is transforming everything from property searches to predictive case outcomes. But the future isn’t about robots in robes, it’s about using tools that make us faster, sharper and more client focused.

Smart firms are already automating admin, digitising client onboarding, and deploying AI to enhance research, drafting and compliance. But technology must serve the client, not dazzle the partner. That means choosing the right tools and training your team to use them well.

Build the firm you'd join today

Culture eats strategy for breakfast. If your firm’s internal environment feels like a relic of the 1990s, you’ll struggle to attract or retain the next generation of talent.

The future-focused firm is diverse, agile, purpose-driven and obsessed with growth. That growth isn’t just financial - it’s professional, personal and reputational. Your associates shouldn’t be waiting 15 years to feel like they’re part of something big. Let them lead. Let them build.

Be brand-led, not just legally sound

The days of relying on reputation alone are over. Your brand - how you show up online, in communities, on social media - matters more than ever. And no, that doesn’t mean TikToks in the canteen. It means knowing who you are, what you stand for, and how you communicate that clearly and consistently to clients and recruits alike.

Every brand touchpoint, from your website to your office space, should inspire trust and communicate ambition. Your values need to be visible, not buried in a brochure.

Think like a CEO, not just a solicitor

If you’re a partner in a firm, you’re not just a legal expert - you’re a business leader. That means understanding cashflow, marketing, systems, risk and recruitment. It means building a scalable operation, not just a caseload.

The future belongs to firms that are bold enough to professionalise the business side of law, while never compromising on the standards and ethics that define it.

The Bottom Line: The future won’t wait. The profession is moving and clients are already ahead of us. But for those willing to lead, listen and leap, this is a moment of huge opportunity.

Let’s not be the last industry to adapt. Let’s be the first to evolve with purpose, with confidence and with pride in what Scots Law can become.

Let’s be brave.

Rob Aberdein is Group Managing Director, Simpson & Marwick