As the world continues to acclimate to the ongoing effects of the pandemic, the way we work has undoubtedly transformed. A significant trend has been the shift towards remote or hybrid work setups. However, things may be on the turn for associates in Biglaw firms. According to Brad Hildebrandt, chair of Hildebrandt Consulting, there is an evolving sentiment in these firms towards “I want my people back in the office.” This was disclosed in his comments to the American Lawyer.
The 2024 Client Advisory from Hildebrandt Consulting and Citi’s Global Wealth at Work Law Firm Group extends this thought. It notes that it wouldn’t be surprising to see more firms adopting a four-day week in-office. In fact, there are already a few top Biglaw firms enforcing this policy, such as Skadden, Ropes & Gray, Davis Polk, Weil, and Vinson & Elkins. Perhaps it’s time for associates to brace themselves for a fuller return to the office, presenting a potential challenge to the flexible remote work culture they may have become accustomed to over the past few years.
Such changes may have significant implications for legal professionals, particularly in terms of their work-life balance and organizational demands. Consequently, associates and legal professionals worldwide need to prepare themselves adequately for these possible changes. However it pans out, it is clear that the legal space, like many others, continues to adapt to the new normal that the pandemic has brought about worldwide.
For more detailed insights, read the post on this evolution in Biglaw firms’ work setup on Above the Law by their senior editor, Staci Zaretsky.