Why I Changed My Mind About the Next Generation of Lawyers by Chuck Boyk
I’ll admit it: I’ve been skeptical about the future of the legal profession.
The average age of lawyers in my community is 58, and based on my early experiences, I wasn’t impressed with the work ethic, motivation, or emotional intelligence of younger attorneys. I had become the cliché “old guy” grumbling about the next generation.
I was wrong.
The Real Issue
When I started (back when Abe Lincoln was President, or so it feels), there were all kinds of people in law: hard workers, brilliant minds, slackers, and jerks. It’s no different today. My
negative experiences with younger attorneys had less to do with their abilities—and more to do with my own missteps: poor communication, not understanding their priorities, and sometimes hiring the wrong people.
The Wake-Up Call
Andrea Young, a younger attorney on my leadership team, put it bluntly: “If we don’t hire young attorneys, we die.”
My EOS business coach, Stu Wolf, often says: “Right people in the right seat—and culture is king.”
It took me, an “old dog,” a while to learn new tricks—but I listened.
Our Team Today
We now have:
■ 2 attorneys over 65
■ 1 in their early 40s
■ 1 in their early 30s
■ 1 in their 20s
■ Plus, we developed a pipeline of future lawyers – bar candidates and law clerks
What I’ve Learned About Young Attorneys
■ They work hard and bring fresh, strategic ideas.
■ They want to learn, succeed, and help clients.
■ They make me excited to come to work every day.
■ They inspire confidence in the future of our profession.
I’m proud to be part of a multi-generational team. The energy and innovation younger attorneys bring have changed how I view the profession—and made me a better leader.
