Prediction: When will NYC lawyers return to the office? Forum

[RaceJudicata]

Skadden is saying their NY office should re-open June 22ish, but that people should work from home as long as they're still productive regardless.

So Monday? Certainly could be incorrect, but this seems unlikely and premature.

[Anonymous User]

Skadden is saying their NY office should re-open June 22ish, but that people should work from home as long as they're still productive regardless.

So Monday? Certainly could be incorrect, but this seems unlikely and premature.

What's the incentive for any associate to go into the office? All aspects seem terrible — riding mass transit, being in closed spaces like elevators with others, wearing a mask in common areas, etc.

[Spectator]

Skadden is saying their NY office should re-open June 22ish, but that people should work from home as long as they're still productive regardless.

So Monday? Certainly could be incorrect, but this seems unlikely and premature.

Not really. NY has the greenlight for firms to open as of Monday.

https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2 ... next-week/
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/goldman ... 2020-06-10

[Anonymous User]

Skadden is saying their NY office should re-open June 22ish, but that people should work from home as long as they're still productive regardless.

So Monday? Certainly could be incorrect, but this seems unlikely and premature.

What's the incentive for any associate to go into the office? All aspects seem terrible — riding mass transit, being in closed spaces like elevators with others, wearing a mask in common areas, etc.

It's extremely limited re-opening. Associates are literally supposed to email security if they need to come in.

[RaceJudicata]

Skadden is saying their NY office should re-open June 22ish, but that people should work from home as long as they're still productive regardless.

So Monday? Certainly could be incorrect, but this seems unlikely and premature.

Not really. NY has the greenlight for firms to open as of Monday.

https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2 ... next-week/
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/goldman ... 2020-06-10

Sure, but that doesn’t mean it makes any sense / or that the office is truly “reopening”. Skadden has what, 700 lawyers in New York + a similar (or larger) number of staff? I cannot imagine that Skadden would be pleased if all of these folks came in on Monday.

[Spectator]

Skadden is saying their NY office should re-open June 22ish, but that people should work from home as long as they're still productive regardless.

So Monday? Certainly could be incorrect, but this seems unlikely and premature.

Not really. NY has the greenlight for firms to open as of Monday.

https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2 ... next-week/
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/goldman ... 2020-06-10

Sure, but that doesn’t mean it makes any sense / or that the office is truly “reopening”. Skadden has what, 700 lawyers in New York + a similar (or larger) number of staff? I cannot imagine that Skadden would be pleased if all of these folks came in on Monday.

Yes, but lest we shift the inquiry, we started with the question of whether it is unlikely and premature that Skadden's NY office will open on June 22. It's demonstrably not unlikely, in light of the facts regarding NY. Whether it's premature is a judgment call, based on one's beliefs about when we should open.

Edit: And the idea of "truly reopening" isn't where the analysis began, but was introduced with your latest post. Before this argument goes off the rails further into grammar and meaning, I'll simply stop here. If you reply, no need to include all block-quotes. I only included them to highlight where this began.

[4LTsPointingNorth]

I think the discussion for this thread is when will NYC lawyers be forced to return to the office? From everything I've heard, there is no way anyone in an NYC biglaw shop will be forced to return before Labor Day, and there is a real possibility that no one will be forced to return through the end of the year.

Has anyone heard differently?

[RaceJudicata]

Skadden is saying their NY office should re-open June 22ish, but that people should work from home as long as they're still productive regardless.

So Monday? Certainly could be incorrect, but this seems unlikely and premature.

Not really. NY has the greenlight for firms to open as of Monday.

https://www.law.com/newyorklawjournal/2 ... next-week/
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/goldman ... 2020-06-10

Sure, but that doesn’t mean it makes any sense / or that the office is truly “reopening”. Skadden has what, 700 lawyers in New York + a similar (or larger) number of staff? I cannot imagine that Skadden would be pleased if all of these folks came in on Monday.

Yes, but lest we shift the inquiry, we started with the question of whether it is unlikely and premature that Skadden's NY office will open on June 22. It's demonstrably not unlikely, in light of the facts regarding NY. Whether it's premature is a judgment call, based on one's beliefs about when we should open.

Edit: And the idea of "truly reopening" isn't where the analysis began, but was introduced with your latest post. Before this argument goes off the rails further into grammar and meaning, I'll simply stop here. If you reply, no need to include all block-quotes. I only included them to highlight where this began.

Deep breaths.

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone been forced by their firm, in any major market, to return to the office yet? If so, how was that justified by your firm, and did any associates (even those not personally considered "high-risk" or living with someone considered "high-risk") refuse to comply?

[Anonymous User]

Goodwin NY office opening delayed until late fall (I think Oct.).

[Anonymous User]

Just wondering, any updates since it’s phase 3 today

[Anonymous User]

Has anyone been forced by their firm, in any major market, to return to the office yet? If so, how was that justified by your firm, and did any associates (even those not personally considered "high-risk" or living with someone considered "high-risk") refuse to comply?

Have not heard of this at any big NYC firm, and mine is going so far as to encourage people to report partners/seniors who pressure people into the office (including support staff) to HR and the exec committee.

Markets where the outbreak is less severe (Chicago? Even TX is getting wrecked now) might be different but law firms are extremely liability-averse as a rule. Individual partners who love the office are going to be the medium-term problem here, but, at least at my firm, there does seem to be some institutional pressure to keep them in check. We'll see how it goes.

[DoveBodyWash]

DPW was told that office attendance is voluntary until Labor Day. Which is DPW-speak for mandatory attendance following labor day lol

[Anonymous User]

DPW was told that office attendance is voluntary until Labor Day. Which is DPW-speak for mandatory attendance following labor day lol

Is DPW unusually stringent, in contrast to other top NY firms, about face time and being in the office (in the Before Times pre-Covid)? I was considering DPW, but prefer to WFH when I can. Would be good to know if partners generally frown upon WFH (again, setting aside the current circumstances).

[Anonymous User]

DPW was told that office attendance is voluntary until Labor Day. Which is DPW-speak for mandatory attendance following labor day lol

Is DPW unusually stringent, in contrast to other top NY firms, about face time and being in the office (in the Before Times pre-Covid)? I was considering DPW, but prefer to WFH when I can. Would be good to know if partners generally frown upon WFH (again, setting aside the current circumstances).

DPW is weird place in that the individual lawyers are notably kind and friendly but the machine as a whole can be intensely suffocating. Like being smothered with velvet pillows. The most practical advice i can give is to just follow the herd unless you're taking care of children or family members. If most of the associates are working from home then you're fine.

[Anonymous User]

Yes it really varies from group to group. FWIW I’ve had two partners in my group tell me they won’t be in the office again until there’s a vaccine.

[Anonymous User]

Yes it really varies from group to group. FWIW I’ve had two partners in my group tell me they won’t be in the office again until there’s a vaccine.

DPW?

[Lesion of Doom]

At least in NYC, I can't fathom them forcing people -- even gently -- to commute. I'm definitely not taking the train and the partners in my group have said the same. I doubt we'll return en masse until there's a vaccine.

[Anonymous User]

I can’t see anyone going back to the office this year. I hope they give us the choice to go back...I take so many mini breaks at home I end up working every night until 10-11.

[Anonymous User]

My firm offered up the ability to volunteer to return to office starting at end of month. I volunteered. Sick of being home all the time.

[Anonymous User]

I know this has kind of been discussed before, and its mostly speculation at this point, but I'm curious how you all think the return to offices will affect incoming associates - for example, whether firms are waiting to return to the office to begin on-boarding or not.

[Excellent117]

My firm offered up the ability to volunteer to return to office starting at end of month. I volunteered. Sick of being home all the time.

That seems much better than being sick at home or in the hospital with covid.

[lookatriffraffplease]

My firm offered up the ability to volunteer to return to office starting at end of month. I volunteered. Sick of being home all the time.

what city do you live in? if a big one, you are a strikebreaker of sorts

[M458]

My firm offered up the ability to volunteer to return to office starting at end of month. I volunteered. Sick of being home all the time.

what city do you live in? if a big one, you are a strikebreaker of sorts

He/she is a scab!

[tyrant_flycatcher]

Has anyone been crazy enough to order dinner to their home at the firm's expense? There are plenty of nights where I can't break to make dinner. Wish they would give us one meal a week for those extra-awful days.