After unexpectedly transitioning to remote work due to the COVID-19 pandemic, top law firms across the country are grappling with the question of how often to require their associates to be physically present in the office. Following the trend of several top-ranked firms demanding office attendance four days a week, some West Coast firms have shirked similar mandates, attracting attention for maintaining a more flexible work style. However, this flexibility also presents its own set of challenges.
For firms maintaining a more relaxed office attendance policy, difficulties have arisen in coordinating meaningful in-person sessions for younger associates. One solution appears to be the implementation of core days. These are specified days in the week when entire practice groups or teams are obliged to work in the office. This solution seems to be particularly effective, according to Major, Lindsey & Africa recruiter, Kate Reder Sheikh, in a recent interview with The American Lawyer.
The majority of associates, Sheikh notes, wish to have the trust to manage their own work locations while also craving communal interaction and mentoring when in the office. This is particularly true for junior and mid-level associates, who value the insight gained from exposure to different specialties within their practice groups.
Interestingly, Sheikh observes a metamorphosis among youngest members of Gen Z entering the Biglaw workforce, who exhibit different needs compared to their predecessors. It is therefore a challenge for Biglaw to cater to all generations who each expect different experiences from their work.
Another element that firms have learned to avoid is mandating office presence when there are no other teams present. Associates often find themselves in the office only to attend virtual meetings, which could have been conducted remotely. This ineffective strategy typically makes associates feel punished and unimportant; firms are therefore working to find ways to make office time more valuable for their associates.
As the pandemic continues to reshape professional work styles, the effectiveness and acceptability of office attendance mandates are in flux. Firms are still in the process of figuring out what works best for their employees while attempting to retain their top talents.