Biglaw

Biglaw Associates Are Being Rushed Back To Work In The Office -- But Why?

What's going to be so different about the office now than before the pandemic?

By  
on

Aren’t you excited to head back to the office? Oh, you’re not. But don’t you remember all of the super important professional development and mentorship opportunities you had when your the was packed full of associates and partners? Oh, no, you don’t. You must’ve had so much fun though when the office was hopping and full of life, right? Oh, it… it never really was. Aha. Interesting.

Wouldn’t you be surprised to learn that Biglaw offices were never really that full to begin with before the pandemic? It sure sounds like law firm leaders have some explaining to do.

Although many Biglaw firms are now mandating office work to return their highly animated in-person working environments that once pushed occupancy limits, a description like that wasn’t exactly a reality for the average firm. In fact, law firm consultant Kent Zimmerman of the Zeughauser Group says that “[m]any large US firms actually had less than 50% daily average attendance before the pandemic.”

So what is the point of all this? Law.com’s Zach Needles has some thoughts:

The good news is that, as firms begin to urge attorneys back to the office for at least part of each week, the smart organizations are recognizing that the goal should not be to get back to normal, but rather to create a new, better normal in which in-person work serves a unique function.

The bad news is that not all of those organizations know what that function should be.

Many firms are trying to make the office a destination for associates in an attempt to “justify the commute.” Some are doing that by providing free meals and snacks and lightening up on their formal dress codes. Needles argues that’s not what justifying the commute for associates should mean.

What it should mean is providing opportunities for young lawyers to get quality facetime with partners and decision-makers, meaningful work and true hands-on training. Even for more senior lawyers, the goal should be have them connect with colleagues in ways that can’t easily be replicated on Zoom.

Sponsored

“The concept is trying to bring people back with a purpose, so you don’t have somebody who makes the commute, then realizes, ‘I could’ve done the exact same thing from home.’ I think that’ll be a challenge, and part of getting used to the return,” said Joe Krasovec, managing partner at Schiff Hardin. “You’re not just showing up everyday. It’s not just a ritual. It’s, ‘OK, what am I doing today? Who is going to be there? What’s the interaction, and how will that make it better?’”

What is your law firm doing to make sure that when you do arrive to work in the office after all these months, it’ll be worth your while? Please let us know. You can email us or text us (646-820-8477). Thanks.

Trendspotter: Smart Law Firms Are Acknowledging That Idyllic Pre-Pandemic Office Culture Is a Myth [Law.com]

Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Sponsored

Topics

, , ,