As the world continues to evolve in response to the pandemic, the legal sector is witnessing a shift in its paradigms. The era when General Counsels (GCs) operated remotely, which became the norm in the years following the outbreak of the coronavirus, appears to be coming to an end, according to a report on Corporate Counsel.
The reason behind this shift is the belief held by many CEOs and top corporate leaders that in-person interactions breed greater collaboration, deeper relationships, and foster creativity. These leaders also appreciate the unstructured learning moments that are crucial for the development of early career employees.
While the idea of returning to office was considered but not insisted upon during the competitive job market of 2021 and early 2022, the situation has changed. The market has cooled, thanks to the pandemic’s subsiding, and company leaders feel encouraged to enforce stricter return-to-office policies.
Chicago based in-house recruiter, Mike Evers, explains the new legal work model of the day as the “hard hybrid”, a model which requires employees to come to the office on specific days. Carrying implications for employees regarding their location of residence, this model removes an option of someone residing in one city while working in another.
Some companies which had remote GCs now demand them to relocate in order to meet this new in-office requirement, but some executives are aware of the potential for disruption and hardship this could cause, and are showing sensitivity. Respecting the difficult decisions employees may have had to make during the pandemic, leaders recognize the delicate balance that needs to be maintained.
Many larger companies are increasingly keen for their legal heads to be “on the ground”, working alongside the rest of the executive team. John Gilmore, the managing partner of the BarkerGilmore in-house recruiting firm, explained that these companies fear a remote GC might seize a closer opportunity and leave. They seek long-term commitment, which they feel is best secured if the person relocates.
Therefore, the time of fully remote working, especially for GCs, seems to be in the past. It appears that the in-house environment now favors a hard hybrid work experience.