Law students got a little lecture about their future Friday afternoon.
Stephen Zack, president of the American Bar Association and UF alumnus, spoke at the law school about how the next generation of lawyers will be remembered in a time when the justice system will constantly be changing.
Zack was made the youngest president of the ABA in August, becoming the fifth UF law graduate and the first Hispanic American to hold the position.
The law is going to change faster in the next 10 years than it has changed in the last 100 years, he said.
“This generation of lawyers will practice in virtual classrooms,” Zack told the students.
The greatest challenge for this generation of lawyers, he said, is preserving the justice system.
Our justice system is not a line item in our budget,” Zack said.
“We in America must protect our courts.”
As president of the 400,000-plus member ABA, Zack has said he will work toward gaining equal access to justice for all segments of society, a major focal point of his presidency.
Other important issues Zack plans to focus on will be sufficient funding of the judiciary, the growing use of technology in the legal world and emphasizing the importance of the proper civic education of younger generations of students.
After his lecture, Zack distributed awards recognizing outstanding students in the law school.
Having the leader of the ABA present the awards and interact with other students will make this book award ceremony extra special, said Rachel Inman, UF’s law school associate dean for students.
