For years, the concept of face time was huge in Biglaw (even at firms that claimed a more balanced approach to work and personal life). It communicated your constant availability and commitment to the firm. As technology has improved, and you know, a global pandemic forced attorneys all to work from home, the ubiquitous green status light — on whatever messaging program your firm uses — became a proxy for the go-getter spirit.
But that’s taken a toll on associates. Over a year into that working-from-home life and we know attorneys are more stressed than ever, and with no physical separation between home and the office, there’s increased pressure to always be “on” and ready to work at a moment’s notice.
Mega Biglaw firm Latham & Watkins saw this pressure cooker and has decided to do something about it. The firm recently told associates that, outside of regular business hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time) the default status would automatically be switched to “away.” It’s an effort designed to break the 24/7 mindset and give folks explicit permission to actually carve out some time away from work.
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Here’s the email sent around (click to enlarge):
Is this move going to radically alter Biglaw? No, of course not. But it’s a good start.