Robert E. Blumberg: Law as a Verb

Attorney at Law Miami Publisher Rhenne Leon sat down with Robert E.  Blumberg to discuss his career and his legal heroes. 

AALM: When did you first know you wanted to become an attorney? What drew you to this career?

Blumberg: I always knew I wanted to become an attorney. I was fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by attorneys as my father is an attorney and my mother is a paralegal.

AALM: Who are some of your legal heroes? Why?

Blumberg: One of my legal heroes is George Wythe. Mr. Wythe became the first law professor in the country when Thomas Jefferson appointed him as chair of law at the College of William and Mary, thus making Mr. Wythe the first law professor in the United States. Mr. Wythe was a true citizen lawyer who believed lawyers should use our position, as lawyers, to serve the broader community. Lawyers are uniquely positioned in the United States to help not only their clients, but society as a whole and thus owe a duty to both.

AALM: With technology and an ever-global world, how do you see the legal profession evolving over your career? Do you believe this will be positive or negative?

Blumberg: Technology will continue to play an ever increasing and important role in the legal profession. I believe firms will either adapt with technology or will fall by the wayside. Clients business change and adapt quickly to technology and they require their attorneys to do the same. The trick for attorneys is learning which technologies provide the greatest benefit.

AALM: Working with senior partners what is a trait they have that you would like to carry through to the next generation of lawyers? As a newer generation lawyer, what traits do you have that you think senior partners should adopt into their practice?

Blumberg: Working at a law firm used to be a noun meaning that work was a physical place you went to. In the days before cell phones and computers if an attorney was not in the office or court house it was nearly impossible to work. As a next generation lawyer, working is now a verb or activity that can take place wherever the attorney is located. The practice of law is a huge responsibility and will always come first, but creating a work life balance is critical to prevent burnout. One trait that I believe the new generation lawyers should carry through is the ability to separate work from life or at least be able to create a work life balance that fits their needs.

AALM: What do you enjoy doing outside of work? Hobbies? Sports?

Blumberg: I enjoy sailing and yoga. I recently helped to start the William and Mary Sailing Team Alumni Association and Endowment. The William and Mary Sailing is a non-varsity club sport that competes against varsity and other club teams. The goal of the William and Mary Sailing Team Alumni Association is to provide strategy short and long-term planning for the team, as well as be a resource of institutional knowledge to help them grow.