BigLaw firms that are progressive about working remote Forum

[totesTheGoat]

As a counterpoint, this is not atypical at my current firm (to dip out slightly early Thursday and work remote Friday). The delayed response time is the issue. You have to be just as responsive and efficient if working remote. It's the people that go out and about doing things as if they're off, while working remote, that have it bite them in the ass.

If only there were some recourse that a company/firm could take when they have an employee habitually screwing around while on the clock.

Seriously though, in these days of email on the phone, there's no excuse for nonresponsiveness unless it's the middle of the night. Maybe they need to model it after the government, where you have to work in-office for a couple of years before earning (extensive) WFH privileges.

[oblig.lawl.ref]

Lol this thread is giving me PTSD. Senior associates and fans of pushing crap work to people 2-3 years their junior via hand markups because they are, like, "more important" or something is reason 57 I have felt extremely grateful to be out of biglaw just this week. Count me in the track changes group because I am not 50 years old nor do I aspire to be.

But to answer the subject of this thread Cooley and Goodwin in SV are really chill about WFH. I think Fenwick and Gunderson are pretty good too in certain teams. I don't think that will help OP because it seems like OP in NYC.

I also agree that face time if fairly important for junior associates. Sorry :/

[Anonymous User]

I'm a mid-level corporate associate who works full-time remote. I go to the office once a month or so. I don't lose time and availability commuting and I'm just as responsive and efficient as I would be in the office. I also like my work more, I'm less burnt out, and more productive. I'm able to eat healthier and sleep more and see my family more. It's better for everyone and I think it should be universally permitted. Even with that, I agree with others that it probably isn't a good idea for an associate in their first couple of years.

Honestly before I went remote, I would often go all week without seeing the others on my deal teams. That's a feature of my group and it's the reason nobody cares about working remotely. Other groups in my firm are big on face-time and would never go for this. So I agree that this 100% group-dependent.

Also strongly agree that hand markups are very dumb.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a mid-level corporate associate who works full-time remote. I go to the office once a month or so. I don't lose time and availability commuting and I'm just as responsive and efficient as I would be in the office. I also like my work more, I'm less burnt out, and more productive. I'm able to eat healthier and sleep more and see my family more. It's better for everyone and I think it should be universally permitted. Even with that, I agree with others that it probably isn't a good idea for an associate in their first couple of years.

Honestly before I went remote, I would often go all week without seeing the others on my deal teams. That's a feature of my group and it's the reason nobody cares about working remotely. Other groups in my firm are big on face-time and would never go for this. So I agree that this 100% group-dependent.

Also strongly agree that hand markups are very dumb.

As a senior associate, who does not work remote, I’m curious how you’ve made this work with respect to business development - both internally (building relationships with other lawyers in the firm so they bring you into deals and put you in front of clients) and externally (grabbing lunch or drinks with clients, bankers, folks at other firms, etc). That’s such an important part of the job and I don’t think I could maintain my business relationships while working remotely.

[Anonymous User]

Wow, this thread is precisely why I could never work in a big NYC firm. West Coast litigation boutiques all the way.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a mid-level corporate associate who works full-time remote. I go to the office once a month or so. I don't lose time and availability commuting and I'm just as responsive and efficient as I would be in the office. I also like my work more, I'm less burnt out, and more productive. I'm able to eat healthier and sleep more and see my family more. It's better for everyone and I think it should be universally permitted. Even with that, I agree with others that it probably isn't a good idea for an associate in their first couple of years.

Honestly before I went remote, I would often go all week without seeing the others on my deal teams. That's a feature of my group and it's the reason nobody cares about working remotely. Other groups in my firm are big on face-time and would never go for this. So I agree that this 100% group-dependent.

Also strongly agree that hand markups are very dumb.

As a senior associate, who does not work remote, I’m curious how you’ve made this work with respect to business development - both internally (building relationships with other lawyers in the firm so they bring you into deals and put you in front of clients) and externally (grabbing lunch or drinks with clients, bankers, folks at other firms, etc). That’s such an important part of the job and I don’t think I could maintain my business relationships while working remotely.

It isn’t an issue at all internally. I had a good reputation before I left. I’m very busy and I’m sure I’ll stay busy. I still have tons of client interaction.

Externally, I’m not sure how it will work out. I think it’s possible I could be hindered in that respect.

[Anonymous User]

Jr lit associate here. Would love if my firm made a remote work policy. I agree with many about hindering learning opportunities by working remotely too often and I do think I gain a lot by being in the office the majority of the time. What I really want is to be able to work remotely a few days a month. There fridays/holiday weekends where I know most people are going to be gone and I have a ton of doc review/research/drafting or other work I can get done just as easily on my couch? Feels like I'm just losing time commuting in and back. Even though I feel like I could maybe get away with not coming in some of those days - I'm so junior that an official policy would be nice.