As law firms worldwide try to frame return-to-work strategies encompassing flexible working models, the significance of in-office engagement in the development of associate skills often seems to get overlooked. A typical characteristic of law firms, more than most other professional services firms, is their strong fidelity to the apprenticeship model for career development. In this context, the need for in-person interaction is not only pivotal but also has a profound impact on skill development, especially for associating junior lawyers with firm leaders.
In a recent article by Liisa Thomas, a partner at Sheppard Mullin, it is accentuated that law firms need to take concrete steps to ensure a work model that boosts in-person engagement while working towards a hybrid work framework. Drawing from her own experiences, Thomas underlines the types of in-person engagement that can potentially aid associates with the development of skills common among successful law firm leaders.
Thomas’ article titled “In-Office Engagement Is Essential To Associate Development”, published on Law360, remains concealed behind a subscription wall. Nevertheless, even from the excerpts available to non-subscribers, it is evident that her insights are rooted deeply in first-hand experiences and carefully considered observations from her years navigating the legal profession. These insights are invaluable to industry leaders looking to strike a balance between flexible work arrangements and the indispensable engagements that happen within the walls of the office.
Engagement is the lifeblood of any interactive profession. As the legal profession, law firms in particular, continue to accommodate changing working models, it will be essential to find ways of retaining and perhaps even intensifying the beneficial aspects of in-person engagement that a traditional office setup provides – an engagement that significantly fuels the development of skills and eventually molds leaders within the firm.