In-House Counsel

It Is Really Not About Where We Do The Work

It is about how we do the work.

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covid learning la school remote zoom Beautiful young woman working at homeBefore the global pandemic took hold, lawyers in law firms and legal departments across the globe worked mainly in-person in company offices. Working remotely was the exception and not the rule. Everything changed when the global pandemic presented companies with a unique challenge — how to work productively outside the office.

For the better part of two years, lawyers and legal professionals made it work. In fact, many lawyers and legal professionals did more than make it work. They thrived in that work environment. Now? They cannot imagine going back to the way things were.
I recently attended a legal conference where remote work was the topic of conversation. As I sat back and listened, it struck me that some of the more senior attorneys had romanticized work life in the office before the global pandemic. They talked about how working in the office was important because it was the only way to build the kind of camaraderie and closeness that improves job satisfaction and productivity in the office.
I thought back on my own days working as a junior attorney, but could not recall the working environment that these other senior attorneys were describing. I did not recall senior lawyers with open doors and unlimited time to sit back to discuss legal problems.
It was in that moment that I came to a realization. It is not about where we do the work. It is about how we do the work. It does not matter whether we are working in-person or in a remote environment. Building camaraderie is important, but it requires intentionality.
What Is Camaraderie?
Camaraderie is a feeling of friendship and trust that can take hold and grow when people spend time working together.
  • It can help the team perform more efficiently.
  • It can improve team work by maximizing collaboration.
  • It can boost employee retention rates.
How Can You Build Office Camaraderie?
  • You can encourage the use of video chat for meetings. After all, it is easier to bond with people when you communicate with voices with faces. It is also helps when you can hear words and see body language.
  •  You can create a group chat. You can do it using your phone or through software platforms like Slack. Giving your team a place to have conversations not centered on work where they can get to know each other and bond over shared experiences is important.
  • You can encourage casual conversation. Just because you provide a way for conversation to occur does not mean it will. You can encourage it by just asking people how they are doing and sharing something personal.
  • You can make time for recurring social gatherings. They can be in-person lunches or “virtual drinks.” Regular check-ins with the group or individual team members can reduce feelings of isolation.
  • You can lead by example. You have to exhibit the behavior you want to see from others. You have to be willing to attend social meetings and share things about your personal life if you want your team to feel comfortable doing the same thing.
  • Finally, you can resist the urge to micromanage. Allow your team to exercise autonomy. Show them you have faith in them and their ability to get the work done and don’t constantly check in.
Because of the global pandemic, lawyers and legal professionals stepped up and showed what is possible.

We cannot turn back time. We can only move forward. As we do, let us not forget the lessons we have learned along the way.

Lisa Lang is an in-house lawyer and thought leader who is passionate about all things in-house.  She has recently launched a website and blog Why This, Not That™ to serve as a resource for in-house lawyers.  You can e-mail her at [email protected], connect with her on LinkedIn, or follow her on Twitter.

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