Add RSS RSS

Biglaw and Instant Messaging: Open Thread
(Or, Winston & Strawn to Employees: No Meebo for You!)

Thursday, April 24, 2008 12:27 PM - By David Lat

Meebo AOL Instant Messenger AIM Yahoo Instant Messenger ATL ATL ATL.jpgIf Winston & Strawn ends up merging with Heller Ehrman (or any other firm), here’s a question to consider: Whose instant-messaging policy will prevail? A tipster tells us:

“Winston has blocked Meebo, Gchat, and all other possible chat clients.”

We checked with sources at Winston, who report that this policy is nothing new. Instant messenger programs have been blocked at Winston for quite some time (at least several months).

But we still found the policy interesting, especially in light of recent blogosphere discussion of website blocking. It got us wondering: What other law firms prevent their employees from using instant messaging?

Instant messaging can be a huge time suck. Workplaces that ban IM’ing, at least between their employees and outsiders [FN1], are probably more productive. Most people would rather IM with a law school classmate about the evilness of Katherine Mayfair on Desperate Housewives than plow through a stack of sale/leaseback agreements.

But a ban on instant messaging — especially if accompanied by other measures, like preventing people from accessing non-work email accounts from the office (hello, Goldman Sachs) — could lower employee morale. We’re reminded of how Allen & Overy faced a mini-revolt after banning Facebook in its London office (a policy it quickly reversed).

ATL readers: Any thoughts? Does your firm prevent you from using an instant-message client? If so, does it tick you off? If not, do you wish it did, à la Odysseus wanting to be tied to the mast?

[FN1] We’re not counting the internal IM systems that some firms — e.g., Kirkland & Ellis (if memory serves) — have in place. These networks probably still transmit a lot of gossip, of the “omg have you seen the new para’s outfit” variety. But when you’re limited to IM’ing with your co-workers, a lot of your talk will be about…. work.

(35) Comments
Posted in: Biglaw, Technology, Winston & Strawn

Comments

Comments hidden for your protection. Show them anyway!

Post Your Comment