Pathways Webinar: What if We're Thinking About the Future of Law All Wrong?

Planning around a single forecast leaves little room for being wrong. In this webinar, 13 leaders from across the legal industry evaluate the scenario research behind Pathways: The Future of the Business of Law 2040, and assess what it means for firms, corporate legal teams and providers deciding where to invest now.

What does the Pathways webinar examine?

The panel evaluates how AI and abundant computing power change the economics of legal work, and how that pressure reaches pricing, legal business models and the talent pipeline. Participants also assess where authority and trust sit as machines take on more of the work, and why human judgement gains value as routine tasks scale. Each speaker applies the findings from their own seat: firm, client, provider or investor.

What can legal leaders apply from the scenario research?

•       A method for scenario planning around several plausible futures instead of one forecast

•       The early signals that show which direction the industry is moving

•       A way to separate AI adoption from genuine operating model change

•       Assumptions worth challenging inside your ownorganization

Who is on the panel?

Panelists: Melanie Jamieson; David Levin, Law.com; Laurie Basch, McKinsey; Richard Caruso, Law.com; Steve Harber, Cimplifi; Carly Levin, The LegalTech Fund; Bridget McCormack, Clio (formerly American Arbitration Association); Michael Pastor, New York Law School; Ken Priore, DocuSign; Michael Shea, McDermott; Mark Smolik, DHL; Whitney Stefko, Ford; David Gialanella.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Pathways initiative?

Pathways is a strategic foresight project convened by Law.com, The LegalTech Fund and Harvey. More than 100 legal leaders started it at the November 2025 TLTF Summit. It produced four plausible scenarios for the legal industry in 2040, which organizations use to watch for early signals and test strategic decisions.

Who should watch this webinar?

Managing partners, general counsel, legal operations and knowledge leaders, legal technology providers, ALSPs and investors. The research starts from the general counsel's vantagepoint and tests it through law firms, providers and the public, so each audience can locate its own role.

Does the webinar predict what legal looks like in 2040?

No. The scenarios are realistic possibilities grounded in current evidence. The panel treats uncertainty as a planning input and shows how to make decisions that hold up under more than one outcome.

Subscribers can go further into the Pathways signals, scenarios and analysis on Law.com. Not a subscriber yet? Request a demo to see how Law.com intelligence supports your planning.