Graying of the Bar -- Who Has Time to Retire?

Nossaman Partner Kurt Melchior is featured on the cover and inside the current issue of San Francisco Attorney magazine in an article about attorneys practicing into their seventies and eighties.  In the article, "Graying of the Bar -- Who Has Time to Retire?" Mr. Melchior discusses why he continues to work at 86, saying "I never really thought about it.  But I feel good and I'm reasonably busy.  I would go crazy at home just reading the books I've got piled up."

The piece details some of the changes he's observed in the legal industry over the years, noting "commercialization" as the largest.  "When I came to San Francisco, no one left [big firms].  But the model of parity and equality failed.  There've been changes in the partnership model." 

Mr. Melchior also talks about the book he wrote, Off the Record - Sidebars from a Trial Lawyer's Life, which is geared toward young lawyers and potential lawyers.  "My message is: keep your wits about you and interesting things will happen."