Goldberg Segalla partner Frank Ramos sat down with Law.com to discuss the recent revolution of the legal industry and what he believes the evolving landscape could look like in the near future.

The article, “A Crystal Ball You Can Bank On: Popular Social Media Attorney Makes Legal Predictions,” by Lisa Willis, begins by explaining the drastic shift in the legal work environment since the 2020 pandemic, as firms were forced to shift to remote work.

“Now that we’re gliding into 2025, we see that certain things aren’t going back,” Frank said. “While some firms remain fully remote or mandate full-time office attendance, most have adopted a hybrid model. Most firms allow their employees to work from home two or three days a week and expect them in the office to maintain synergy and culture.”

While Frank believes this hybrid model will hold, he highlighted some of the challenges remote work can present and how forward-thinking firms can curb the negatives.

“It’s hard to learn communication skills or figure out how to work a case without being in the same room as mentors,” he said. “Firms that succeed in fostering mentorship and professional development, whether in person or remotely, will retain their talent better than those that do not.”

An emerging recent trend, Willis noted the “wave of mergers among law firms,” as larger firms are increasingly looking to acquire smaller firms – a trend Ramos believes will continue into 2025.

“We’re seeing fewer smaller firms and larger firms getting even larger,” he said. “This trend is driven by the need for efficiencies, expanded service offerings, and regional or national growth.”

As a renowned thought leader on the use of Artificial Intelligence in the legal industry, Frank believes a seismic shift will take place in the coming year.

“AI has moved from the sidelines into the mainstream,” he began. “Clients now see the value of AI not just in reducing costs but in achieving better results…AI will soon become as prevalent in litigation as data breaches and cybersecurity issues.”

Frank also shared a warning for firms opting to reject AI.

“Firms that fail to adapt to AI will find themselves at a disadvantage.”

Later in the article, Frank discussed various prevalent topics, including the war for talent, the future of communication, and globalization and expansion. He also provided three pieces of advice for attorneys:

1. Stay ahead of Technology
2. Communicate Effectively
3. Build Relationships

“Lawyers who embrace change and focus on innovation will thrive.”

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MORE ABOUT GOLDBERG SEGALLA’S Frank Ramos:

Frank Ramos has dedicated his life to advocating for others. A nationally recognized legal advisor and litigator, Frank has been defending clients in civil litigation for more than 26 years, focusing his practice on retail, product liability, premises liability, trucking, insurance, and commercial disputes. A seasoned litigator, he has taken numerous trials and arbitrations to verdict or award.

Frank uses his extensive litigation experience to provide counsel, defense, and strategic guidance to retailers, developers, restaurants, fitness chains, hotels, resorts and other hospitality businesses. His representation has included negligent security, slip/trip and falls, catastrophic personal injury, trucking and motor vehicle accidents, employment and construction claims, as well as a variety of commercial disputes ranging from intellectual property and breach of contract to bad faith, franchise agreements, and landlord-tenant issues.