Professor Paton, from California’s University of the Pacific in Sacramento, predicts that the independent law firm will face many ethical challenges as it develops in ‘non-traditional ways’. An expert in ABSs (alternative business structures), he says: ‘It’s a time of incredible transformation of law practices and legal education is changing.’ Ownership of law firms will be a crucial issues, he predicts, saying: ‘The stock market is a road too far for many and a “non-starter” in the US.’ He thinks that ownership issues could lead to problems over conflicts of interest. Source: Edmonton Journal