THE FUTURE OF LEGAL SERVICES JURIDIQUES DE L'AVENIR

Abstract

Social and economic societal values are incorporated into the Canadian legal system, and widespread questioning of these values adds uncertainty to the future role of that system. In order to address the question of whether the law will still be seen as a force for orderly social change in the future, this article first canvasses the overall demand for legal services in Canada. It considers the possibility of deprofessionalization and delegalization but predicts that, instead, demand will likely increase, meaning lawyers will be used in greater numbers than ever before and in broader areas of human development including the social, political and economic spheres. The second part of the article reviews specific areas of law where expansion will most likely occur, emphasizing changes to legal education.