Though They Be but Young, They Are Fierce: Generation Z Is Leading the Way Toward a New Model of Corporate Lawyering

Authors

• Tania N. Shah

First Page

289

Abstract

Since over a century ago, when Dodge v. Ford affirmed shareholder primacy as the central purpose of the corporation, and half a century since Milton Friedman argued that the only responsibility of business is to increase its profits, corporate law has reinforced a narrow tradition of fiduciary duty. But as that framework begins to broaden, a new generation of lawyers—Generation Z—enters the profession just as corporate governance is being redefined. The rise of benefit corporations—statutory entities legally required to pursue public benefit alongside profit—signals a meaningful shift in how corporate purpose is understood. Many Gen Zers came of age as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles and stakeholder capitalism gained traction in law, business, and policy. Technologically fluent, socially attuned, and values-driven, Gen Z attorneys are uniquely prepared to advise companies navigating the risks and obligations of dual-purpose governance. This Article argues that Gen Z lawyers are poised to redefine corporate lawyering by aligning legal practice with evolving social expectations. Within this role, ethical obligations under Model Rule 2.1—which invites lawyers to consider moral, social, and reputational factors—take on renewed significance. Yet these obligations increasingly come into tension with real-world challenges, including questions of client identity, greenwashing, and the enforceability of mission commitments. To support the next generation of stakeholder-minded counsel, this Article calls for reforms across legal education, licensure, law firm culture, and corporate governance—ensuring that the institutions shaping corporate lawyers evolve to meet the ethical and structural demands of a stakeholder-driven economy.

Recommended Citation

Tania N. Shah, Though They Be but Young, They Are Fierce: Generation Z Is Leading the Way Toward a New Model of Corporate Lawyering, 20 Brook. J. Corp. Fin. & Com. L. 289 (2026).
Available at: https://brooklynworks.brooklaw.edu/bjcfcl/vol20/iss2/2