現代律師執業環境之研究

The Practice Environment of Lawyers in Taiwan

律師的執業環境，在律師高錄取率下將使法律服務市場競爭激烈，而網際網路的普及應用亦影響律師事務所的經營管理並創造機會。本研究以137位執業律師為研究對象，探討現代律師的執業環境，發現受訪者認同律師的高錄取率將降低律師的專業形象並增加律師行業競爭性。以訴訟為主要業務者對於律師考試的錄取人數偏高與行業競爭激烈的感受最強烈。律師執行業務時運用網際網路，在強化知識管理、促進顧客開發、提升廣告效益、增進員工支援與提高工作效率上都對律師事務所的經營有所裨益。以非訴訟為主要業務的律師事務所經營者覺得提高工作效率的感受顯著大於訴訟非訟兼俱者，亦顯著大於以訴訟為主者；中型律師事務所經營者在強化知識管理的感受顯著高於小型律師事務所；大型律師事務所經營者在網路維護成本的投入顯著高於小型律師事務所。值此律師執業環境艱困時刻，本研究結果可以提供給律師業務經營者決策時有用的參考依據。

Lawyers face more business competition from new peers when the bar examination becomes easier for candidates to pass. Also, law firms face operation strategies when they use internet to attract potential clients but face new challenge when the potential clients are able to shop legal consultation and services from other law firms using internet. This study surveyed 137 lawyers to discuss whether the practice environment has changed in Taiwan when more candidates pass the bar examination and potential clients obtain legal services and information from internet. The survey shows that the professional image has been impaired when the passing rate of bar examination has increased and more new peers enter the law services. The new comers also reshape the practice environment when they provide more legal services related to criminal disputes and charges. Law firms use internet to enhance knowledge management and information sharing, promote new services, find new clients, and increase service efficiency. Law firms that provide general legal services benefit more than law firms that provide legal services in criminal charges by using internet technology. urthermore, median-size law firms are more likely to use internet technology to provide services than small-size law firms. Also, large-size law firms invest more in information technology than small-size firms. Evidences of this study are expected to provide useful information for the owners of public law firms in their operating decision-making.