Gina Passarella, Editor-in-Chief of The American Lawyer.

I wrote a lot in this edition about how the profession has changed in the 40 years since The American Lawyer was founded. And it has—in ways no one article or edition of a magazine could fully capture.

The bounds of the partnership model, still the prevailing law firm structure, have been tested in ways no one expected, and they have been stretched and bent in efforts to adapt to a profession that has evolved into a business.

The job for life and the client for life are relics, as are the stability and general inertia of the profession. Some of that is a step forward, some a step back. The next decade may bring with it even deeper tests of the partnership model as factions of the industry push for nonlawyers to have ownership in law firms.

But in the hours of discussions I had with industry leaders about how the profession has evolved, so many mentioned something that could never change: the human factor. The relationships that drive this business. The undying need of the client to have a trusted adviser to whom they turn not only for excellent legal advice, but for a confidant and shepherd through their most difficult situations.

Perhaps it's wishful thinking to assume clients will hold onto that piece of outside counsel management. But relationships are what got the profession, and the world at large, to this point, and I'd venture to say it will be relationships that carry it through the next 40 years and beyond. The difference is that the skills clients look for may change, and the field of entities they go to for that trusted guidance may widen. I've heard people say the competition for clients' legal spend is law firms' to lose. That's largely because of the relationships they've built and the understanding of clients' business that they've developed over time.

Part of maintaining a relationship is being cognizant of clients' changing needs, but it also requires knowing how they want to interact with their providers. Lawyers need to meet clients where they are.

Enough proselytizing from me. I want to take this opportunity to thank you all for meeting me where I am. I'm fortunate enough to sit at the helm of a magazine that was a vital part of the industry long before I arrived and will be essential reading long after I'm gone. I learn from you all every day, and I am so grateful for the time you give me and our team.

The relationship The American Lawyer has built with the legal communities we cover has been immensely enjoyable, educational and rewarding for those of us who follow along with the tremendous work our readers do each day. We will call it like we see it, and may write stories some wish wouldn't see the light of day. But the legal profession is a massive economic engine, employing hundreds of thousands of people and driving the business of every other industry in the world. Its stories are important to the fabric of our society. And we take very seriously the duty to tell those stories in a thoughtful, insightful way that moves the profession forward, holds it accountable and helps serve as a vehicle to bring the community together and drive progress.

It's been a pleasure to serve as a home for thoughtful debate, insightful commentary and incisive reporting, and as a mirror that allows the industry to reflect upon its past and future trajectory. I look forward to what the industry has in store over the next four decades.