What’s In (and what’s out) at Law Firms and Beyond

This was a year for the record books. "Change" was the word of the day for over 300 days in a row. The past eleven and a half months were a lesson in the contrast between abysmal and exhilarating. The year is drawing to a close at last and as we bid adieu to 2008, we welcome the dawn of a new era in our collective history. It is a fitting time for an inventory of what is "out" and what is "in" as we begin 2009. I am crossing my fingers like everyone else that the next Baby New Year is a bundle of joy and a lot less colicky than 2008. I am tempted to take off my shoes and toss them at the back of the departing year’s head! But that would be so 2008 of me..... Here’s the list:

*OUT*	IN
The seven deadly sins: Pride, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Anger, Greed, and Sloth	The seven heavenly virtues: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, Courage, Faith, Hope, and Love
Law firm parking garages filled with luxury cars and SUV’s	Riding the bus, zip cars, and bicycles
Fourteen hour days at the office in a suit	Twelve hour days working from home in your gym clothes (minus the two hour commute)
Premium billing rates	Competitive billing rates
Paper holiday cards and gift baskets	E-cards and charitable donations
Shopping at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue	Shopping at Target and Walmart
General Practice Areas	Niche Practice Areas
Large Raises and Fat Bonuses	Having a Job
Suspenders with Bulls on them	Corporate executives outside Starbuck’s begging for lattes
Bashing the President	Supporting the President
McMansions in the suburbs	Downtown condos in revitalized neighborhoods
Expensive vacations	Local site seeing and public golf courses
Dumping toxic waste	Picking up trash
Worshiping Money	Conversations with God
Partisan Division	Cross Party Cooperation
The crush of large firms merging into “mega” firms	Mid-size specialty or boutique spin-offs
Looking Out for Number One	Teamwork and Altruism
Fast talking, bet the farm deals	Fiscal responsibility and corporate discipline
Consumer Debt	Savings Accounts
2008	2009