Firms eliminating partners' corner offices because millenials are intimidated Forum

[misterjames]

https://bol.bna.com/corner-offices-once ... law-firms/

“It’s an idea that’s been gaining currency across the country for a number of years, as law firms seek to eliminate unnecessary hierarchical structure and appeal to millennials: the lowliest first-year associate is getting the same exact office as the biggest rainmaker at some firms, which isn’t quite how law firms used to work...We have heard from a number of associates that it can be off-putting to knock on a corner office,” said Learner. “And the notion is, ‘We’re all in on this together,’ and I don’t need to go to the corner office to ask a senior partner a question. It makes it, from a workplace standpoint, a little more open.”

i can't believe this is a thing. sometimes i really feel out of touch with my generation. thoughts?

[almondjoy]

But what do us associates have to aspire to if the promise of a corner office is taken from us?

[bwh8813]

But where are the safe spaces?

[TLSModBot]

This is purely cost-cutting, the fee fees of millennials does not factor into the decision-making process at all except as an excuse to get partners to accept it.

It's BS though. I'd rather make a little less money and have a swank-ass office (considering I'd practically be living there anyway)

[unlicensedpotato]

Yeah this is solely about lower overhead. Then firms turn around and tell law students that they're doing it to benefit them. All of the firms on that list are getting financially squeezed to some extent.

[shock259]

We just moved to a new office and every partner/counsel/associate has the same size office. But pretty sure they did it so 1) they could squeeze more people in and 2) they don't have to deal with everyone bitching about office assignments and who gets the corner office.

[Desert Fox]

If anything it's about the fee fees of partners. I've seen some straight up mean girls shit go down because of partner offices. It seems like my firm has a policy that the bigger deal partner can make another partner move offices just because the bigger rainmaker wanted his office.

This lead to one time where they each stole the next beat office for the partner who in it. So 5 partners moved offices just because one guy with 5 cases wanted a corner that a guy who was slow had. The slow guy lateralled out 5 months later.

[dabigchina]

next up: no more offices for associates because "millenials are collaborative and have a strong sense of community."

[Anonymous User]

next up: no more offices for associates because "millenials are collaborative and have a strong sense of community."

My firm recently moved to a new office. The managing partner was dead serious when he suggested this. The associate backlash was massive.

[bwh8813]

next up: no more offices for associates because "millenials are collaborative and have a strong sense of community."

I can't wait to sit on barstools at a high-top table with 3-5 other associates and just our laptops. Will their be nap pods? Bean bags at least?

[TLSModBot]

next up: no more offices for associates because "millenials are collaborative and have a strong sense of community."

This... is already a thing. See Paul Hasting's "end zone"initiative.

[unlicensedpotato]

I say everyone just works in a seat on a bus driving around in Manhattan all day. You know, so it's fair.

[Anonymous User]

Real question: does anyone actually have a problem with corner offices? Does anyone here even know someone who has a problem with corner offices? I'm a millennial, fit my generation's profile pretty well (for better or for worse), and the thought never occurred to me that there's something problematic about corner offices. And, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm still really struggling to figure out what the issue is.

I'm not trying to argue that there isn't a problem with corner offices. I just genuinely want to know if this is something that some people legitimately don't like.

[Anonymous User]

I see more drama over who has the best and comfiest office chair than who has the best office.

[RaceJudicata]

Real question: does anyone actually have a problem with corner offices? Does anyone here even know someone who has a problem with corner offices? I'm a millennial, fit my generation's profile pretty well (for better or for worse), and the thought never occurred to me that there's something problematic about corner offices. And, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm still really struggling to figure out what the issue is.

I'm not trying to argue that there isn't a problem with corner offices. I just genuinely want to know if this is something that some people legitimately don't like.

I think its psychologists/commentators/Buzzfeed who trump up the "ideals" of a millennial, then partners/boomers/non-millennials latch onto those ideas and then decide that those things (like no corner offices) are what we want.

Quite frankly, I'd feel more awkward if my office was the same size as a partners. Most won't care, but the ones that do care will be sure to let you know how you haven't "earned" said office.

[Anonymous User]

Real question: does anyone actually have a problem with corner offices? Does anyone here even know someone who has a problem with corner offices? I'm a millennial, fit my generation's profile pretty well (for better or for worse), and the thought never occurred to me that there's something problematic about corner offices. And, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm still really struggling to figure out what the issue is.

I'm not trying to argue that there isn't a problem with corner offices. I just genuinely want to know if this is something that some people legitimately don't like.

No, I don't know anyone who cares. I think people are right -- managing partner sees some buzzfeed article shared on whatever that millenials hate hierarchy so they just implement stuff like this without asking anyone. In my building the best offices are actually in the middle of each cardinal direction. Corner offices are for junior partners.

[misterjames]

Real question: does anyone actually have a problem with corner offices? Does anyone here even know someone who has a problem with corner offices? I'm a millennial, fit my generation's profile pretty well (for better or for worse), and the thought never occurred to me that there's something problematic about corner offices. And, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm still really struggling to figure out what the issue is.

I'm not trying to argue that there isn't a problem with corner offices. I just genuinely want to know if this is something that some people legitimately don't like.

well the partner quoted in the article allegedly heard from "a number of associates" that they were put off from approaching a partner in a corner office. that's honestly one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard.

[A. Nony Mouse]

I tend to think that if you're intimidated to approach a partner, them changing offices isn't going to make a difference, but that could just be me.

[rpupkin]

next up: no more offices for associates because "millenials are collaborative and have a strong sense of community."

Too late. Paul Hastings--as part of its ongoing competition with Jones Day and Quinn Emanuel for the title of "cheapest big law firm"--has done precisely what you predicted:

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/08/more-bad ... ssociates/

“I really do believe first- and second-years will benefit from true collaboration—they feed off each other,” said Barry Brooks, the chair of the firm’s New York office.

[FuturePaulClement]

This will be your average SA/partner meeting in a few years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tsgc0k594Js

[nealric]

Real question: does anyone actually have a problem with corner offices? Does anyone here even know someone who has a problem with corner offices? I'm a millennial, fit my generation's profile pretty well (for better or for worse), and the thought never occurred to me that there's something problematic about corner offices. And, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm still really struggling to figure out what the issue is.

I'm not trying to argue that there isn't a problem with corner offices. I just genuinely want to know if this is something that some people legitimately don't like.

well the partner quoted in the article allegedly heard from "a number of associates" that they were put off from approaching a partner in a corner office. that's honestly one of the most pathetic things I've ever heard.

Twist: that number is zero. But technically, zero is a number. Alternatively, its' not the fact that the partner is in a corner office. It's who that partner is that makes associates put off from approaching them.

Seriously though, it seems to be a trend whenever an employer downsizes office space or eliminates private offices that they are just doing what "millenials want." It's a fig leaf. Nobody wants to admit they are cost cutting- that woudl be an admission of weakness. So they quote some mumbo jumbo about millenial preference and pretend like its part of modernizing to attract talent.

[dabigchina]

Seriously though, it seems to be a trend whenever an employer downsizes office space or eliminates private offices that they are just doing what "millenials want." It's a fig leaf. Nobody wants to admit they are cost cutting- that woudl be an admission of weakness. So they quote some mumbo jumbo about millenial preference and pretend like its part of modernizing to attract talent.

my personal favorite is when management talks about how millenials care more about diversity/public service than they do about money in order to justify bad pay.

[lurklaw]

next up: no more offices for associates because "millenials are collaborative and have a strong sense of community."

Too late. Paul Hastings--as part of its ongoing competition with Jones Day and Quinn Emanuel for the title of "cheapest big law firm"--has done precisely what you predicted:

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/08/more-bad ... ssociates/

“I really do believe first- and second-years will benefit from true collaboration—they feed off each other,” said Barry Brooks, the chair of the firm’s New York office.

You omitted my favorite part of the Barry Brooks quote: “I don’t feel bad about it.”

[Minnietron]

next up: no more offices for associates because "millenials are collaborative and have a strong sense of community."

Too late. Paul Hastings--as part of its ongoing competition with Jones Day and Quinn Emanuel for the title of "cheapest big law firm"--has done precisely what you predicted:

http://abovethelaw.com/2015/08/more-bad ... ssociates/

“I really do believe first- and second-years will benefit from true collaboration—they feed off each other,” said Barry Brooks, the chair of the firm’s New York office.

He's 100% correct. Research points towards these spaces being great for employee productivity and morale. /s
http://www.newyorker.com/business/curre ... ffice-trap

[patentlitigatrix]

Attorneys sharing offices or open spaces is obviously a risk management issue, too.