As the world progressively transitions from COVID-19 lockdowns, law professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to rectify expectations of a return to the office-based work routine with the flexibility offered by remote working. Fears of disruption in work-life balance and work culture, however, persist within the legal fraternity, according to findings from a recent survey.
Findings from the survey underline a deep-seated belief among lawyers that their firm’s culture has indeed changed for the worse after having to navigate commonly observed issues associated with transitioning from lockdown to a more traditional office environment. The survey report, made public this week, further indicates a trend amongst lawyers who believe that these changes, brought about by the ‘new normal’, are negatively impacting their work-life balance and overall job satisfaction.
A large number of the respondents feel that the shift towards an office-based environment from the flexibility of working from home has made their jobs more demanding. The ambiguity surrounding how firms are dealing with this change has left many lawyers uneasy, affecting their overall productivity and satisfaction.
Yet, despite the overall discontent, office return strategies vary considerably amongst firms globally. Adaptation strategies towards the post-COVID ‘new normal’ offer differing approaches in maintaining a balance between traditional office-based work and remote working solutions. While some firms advocate the virtues of a return to the office in fostering collaboration and productivity, others recognize the potential benefits of a hybrid model or even a full transition to remote working.
The oft-quoted phrase, ‘new normal’, is no longer a hypothetical future condition. However, the legal profession is still coming to terms with its implications on work culture, productivity, and work-life equilibrium. As these findings from the survey indicate, there is still considerable work to be done in striking the right balance between the two extremes of entirely office-based and fully remote work.
To dive further into the comprehensive findings of the survey, readers can head over to the published survey report on American Lawyer.