Transformative changes have reshaped the law firm C-Suite over the past decade, nowhere more striking than in the area of technology and the responsibilities hoisted on the chief information officer.
When my firm conducted its first search for a law firm information technology professional, the position title was manager of information services and word processing. Don’t laugh; we’ve been recruiting technology professionals for nearly 30 years. With the advent of email and networks, the position quickly gained prominence as the title evolved to director of information technology and then chief information officer. One Am Law 100 CIO stated that 30 years ago, “The question was, do we need lawyers to have PCs?” Now, law firm CIOs are playing an increasingly strategic role, as law firms balance the cost of an investment in the best technology to set themselves apart, or even keep up with, their competitors.
