The perception of law as a single-discipline field is gradually changing with more law firms considering interdisciplinary approaches to resolving client challenges. A recent example involves the Chicago-based law firm Edelson PC, which hired actor and former Daily Show correspondent Bob Wiltfong as its new Director of Communication & Impact. This move not only underscored the growing need for legal companies to diversify their talent pool, but also signaled their willingness to look beyond traditional Juris Doctor (JD) qualifications.
While non-JDs have forged their roles within the legal industry, the inclusion of roles propelled by new strategic competencies is considered intriguing. Wiltfong’s role at Edelson PC for instance, which exceeds typical firm communications, highlighted the importance of communication and outreach in plaintiff-side firms. This growing trend of non-lawyers joining the legal industry indicates an appreciation of the broadening scope of the field.
Another case in point is the Founder and Managing Partner of Harris St. Laurent Wechsler, Jonathan Harris, who looked beyond the JD pool to recruit Mona Delgado, a full-time Ph.D. holder in psychology. This move stemmed from Harris’s realization during a trial case that their clients were in need of psychological rather than legal assistance.
Harris believes that lawyers overestimate JD degrees and multi-disciplinary teams are generally more beneficial for clients. He explained that when dealing with team dynamics, three lawyers out of a team of four are more than sufficient to solve problems. This new approach to problem-solving implies moving away from the traditional focus on legal processes and towards fostering alternative solutions that would benefit the client.
Diverse experiential perspectives within a law firm, Harris argues, often lead to innovative solutions. Having professionals from different backgrounds, like psychologists, enhances the firm’s ideas pool, ensuring a broad-based approach to problem-solving. Harris insists on the need to occasionally work within office confines, emphasizing that knowledge exchanges cannot be solely reliant on virtual mediums. In-office work allows effective integration of multidisciplinary professionals into the firm’s culture, thus adequately harnessing their expertise.
At Harris’s firm, non-JDs are not limited to psychologists; he also employs a full-time graphics expert and an IT specialist directly involved in cases. This hiring trend sends clear signals that more legal firms are set to waiver JD qualifications in favor of diversity in skills when recruiting.
Ref: Above the Law