My 11 year old daughter genuinely asked me the other day “Is WW3 going to happen?” My answer was simply “I think we are already in it”.

And I say that from the relative comfort of our lives here in Cape Town.

Research on Perplexity AI tells us: “According to the most recent and authoritative sources, approximately 92 countries are involved in military conflicts worldwide as of 2025, which is the highest number since World War II. The figure encompasses countries engaged in conflicts either within their own borders or internationally via interventions and cross-border warfare”

Add that to the violence on the streets of most cities, including our own Cape Town.

Highest murder rates 2024:

The cities with the highest murder rates in the world are predominantly found in Latin America, especially Mexico, with a few in the United States and South Africa. As of the most recent data (2024–2025):

1. Colima, Mexico holds the highest homicide rate globally, with approximately 140 murders per 100,000 inhabitants.
2. Tijuana, Mexico is also among the most violent, with rates ranging from 95 to 138 per 100,000 inhabitants, according to various recent sources.
3. Zamora, Mexico consistently remains at the top, with homicide rates above 125 per 100,000 residents.
4. Acapulco, Mexico and Celaya, Mexico follow with rates over 80–110 per 100,000.
5. St. Louis, Missouri (USA) is the highest in the United States, with rates above 87 per 100,000 (2021 data).
6. Cape Town, South Africa is the highest in Africa and the only non-Latin American city in the global top ten, with a murder rate of around 64 per 100,000.

Of the 4.3m cities in the world, you’ve got to think that at least half of them have high crime issues?

Think of your own country and think of the cities, and think if at least half of them have high crime rates - the answer is “probably”.

Add this to the threat of big corporations taking over ever aspect of our lives, the cost of living getting higher, taxes going up, people living longer, but humans creating less replacements, impotent governments continuing to lie, small business being hamstrung by anti-growth policies, fractional working on the rise (less certainty), social media poisoning our minds, starvation, education standards being destroyed in some countries (South Africa’s “genius” Education Minister Angie Motshekga - look her up, she’s a real treat - reduced the school pass rate to 30% to ensure more children in SA pass school, I am sure that won’t backfire!!), and AI coming to take everyones jobs, and you’d be forgiven if you were feeling a little anxious (don’t worry, big pharma has a pill you can take for that - lol).

The legal industry, which I serve, is facing an unprecedented degree of transformation and disruption in 2025, with several sources of “chaos”—but also considerable opportunity for those who can adapt.

The main areas of disruption include:

• AI and Legal Technology: The rapid adoption of generative AI, small language models, and integrated legal tech is upending workflows. Routine legal tasks like drafting, research, and even some strategic analysis are increasingly automated, challenging billable hour models and forcing firms to rethink pricing, service delivery, and training for both lawyers and clients.
• Overload of Data & Documentation: Exponential increases in document volume, regulatory requirements, and compliance paperwork have made legal practice—and information management—more complex and prone to error or inefficiency. Without streamlined processes and legal tech, this “data chaos” can overwhelm even the best lawyers.
• Cybersecurity and Compliance: As law firms handle more cross-border work and sensitive digital data, cybersecurity threats and compliance with global privacy laws (such as GDPR, South Africa’s POPIA, and others) become major sources of operational chaos.
• Changing Business Models: The traditional structures of law firms are being challenged. There’s a shift toward value-based pricing, alternative fee arrangements, hybrid and remote work models, and increased demand for interdisciplinary and specialised legal skills in areas like cryptocurrency, AI, and the metaverse.
• Client Demands and Expectations: Clients now expect fast, tech-enabled, and transparent legal services, often seeking preventive advice rather than traditional litigation. This requires legal professionals to be agile, client-centric, and adept at digital communication.

How to Embrace the Chaos for Career Success

• Develop Tech Fluency: Learn and use legal technology, AI tools, and digital platforms. Embrace training in new tech and stay current on legal tech advancements to differentiate yourself.
• Adopt a Growth Mindset: Approach new challenges with curiosity and a willingness to experiment. Lawyers who adapt proactively turn disruption into opportunity, while those who resist change risk being left behind.
• Focus on Value, Not Hours: As automation takes over routine tasks, redefine your value beyond time spent. Specialise in high-level advisory, strategic, or collaborative roles that tech cannot easily replicate.
• Enhance Soft Skills and Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Skills in negotiation, communication, emotional intelligence, and the ability to collaborate with professionals from other disciplines (data scientists, engineers, etc.) are increasingly important.
• Pursue Continuous Learning and Specialisation: Invest in up-skilling, whether through advanced legal tech training, business skills, or deep expertise in emerging legal fields (e.g., data privacy, cyber law).
• Embrace Agile Work Models: Be open to hybrid and remote work, flexible career paths, and new ways of measuring performance—including project-based or cross-functional team structures.
• Maintain Human Empathy: Even as technology rises, client trust and satisfaction still hinge on empathy and ethical judgment—a distinctly human advantage.
• Contribute to an Inclusive and Accessible Legal Sector: Leverage tech to expand access to justice and serve new markets, especially in emerging economies where digital legal services can bridge longstanding gaps.

By embracing uncertainty and viewing “chaos” as a catalyst for reinvention—rather than an existential threat—legal professionals can build resilient, future-proof careers that thrive in this dynamic new era.

And remember, like the Epstein List - what is once the truth, can, in the blink of an eye, never have existed at all - so this may all settle down and go away (unlikely…but you never know).

In today’s rapidly evolving legal landscape, the ability to handle chaos is emerging as a fundamental career asset. The increased use of artificial intelligence, changing client expectations, and shifting business models mean that disruption is not the exception, but the new rule.

For legal professionals, the capacity to stay composed and adaptable during uncertain times not only enhances individual performance but can also lead to greater leadership opportunities and personal growth.

Professionals who manage chaos effectively build resilience—an indispensable trait in a sector marked by frequent regulatory changes, technology rollouts, and fluctuating market dynamics.

Those with resilience are seen as steady hands in situations filled with ambiguity; they are trusted by colleagues and clients alike and are more likely to be chosen to lead critical projects during turbulent periods. Moreover, those who thrive amidst uncertainty tend to develop innovative solutions and identify new opportunities—qualities that are increasingly valued as routine legal tasks become automated and the industry seeks out differentiators beyond technical expertise.

But remember, there is a crucial distinction between being skilled at managing chaos and becoming addicted to it. While embracing disorder can sharpen adaptability and spark creativity, a constant craving for chaos—or “chaos addiction”—can be detrimental. Relying on perpetual turbulence for stimulation may lead to chronic stress, burnout, and diminished capacity for focused, long-term thinking. Chaos addiction often manifests as a tendency to create or linger in crisis situations, resulting in unnecessary drama and instability for teams and organisations. Such a pattern can undermine personal well-being, erode team cohesion, and diminish the quality of client service.

To leverage the advantages of chaos without succumbing to its pitfalls, legal professionals must strike a balance between agility and stability. This involves embracing change and uncertainty with a growth mindset while also maintaining healthy routines, setting boundaries, and allowing time for recovery after intense periods of work. It is important to cultivate self-awareness—understanding the triggers that might tip someone from productive crisis management into unhealthy chaos-seeking behaviour, and knowing when to step back to restore equilibrium.

Ultimately, the ability to navigate chaos with composure, creativity, and perspective is a true career “superpower” in the modern legal industry.

Those who harness disruption as a catalyst for growth and leadership—not as a perpetual state—are best positioned to thrive.

They not only create value for their organisations but also foster stability and inspiration for those around them, ensuring their skills remain essential and future-proof in a world that prizes both adaptability and reliability.

And remember the Nietzsche quote "One must still have chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a dancing star". Embrace your chaos, focus on being your wonderful chaotic, crazy self and you might just get the career some of those on LinkedIn, are pretending to have.

Contact me on rob@thegrmgroup.com and we’ll calmly reflect, together.

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