Biglaw and remote work from other offices? Forum

[dsamw]

Hi everyone. First time poster coming at you with a bit of a niche question:

Does anybody have insight into which big firms, if any, allow associates to work remote from a different office for like two or three weeks at a time? To me this is a great perk which could really set different firms apart, but haven't found much info on it. I seem to remember Jones Day advertises this option, but curious if other firms do as well.

[Anonymous User]

The two big law firms I worked at didn't mind. I spent a few weeks working from other offices during major holidays and for smaller occasions (i.e. birthdays and graduations). As long as you give your teams sufficient notice it shouldn't be a problem. Ask your secretary to make arrangements so the remote office has an office, entry credentials, and everything else setup for you before you arrive.

[emc91]

The two big law firms I worked at didn't mind. I spent a few weeks working from other offices during major holidays and for smaller occasions (i.e. birthdays and graduations). As long as you give your teams sufficient notice it shouldn't be a problem. Ask your secretary to make arrangements so the remote office has an office, entry credentials, and everything else setup for you before you arrive.

Serious question, why not just work from home in this situation? Do the partners prefer you be in any office, even if it's not your home office, rather than at home (or at your parents house or whatever)?

[Internationalist]

The two big law firms I worked at didn't mind. I spent a few weeks working from other offices during major holidays and for smaller occasions (i.e. birthdays and graduations). As long as you give your teams sufficient notice it shouldn't be a problem. Ask your secretary to make arrangements so the remote office has an office, entry credentials, and everything else setup for you before you arrive.

Serious question, why not just work from home in this situation? Do the partners prefer you be in any office, even if it's not your home office, rather than at home (or at your parents house or whatever)?

This was my post (didn't mean to post anon). This was before the pandemic but I preferred to work in an office because I'm more productive. That and I was staying with family and they didn't have a real workspace. It had nothing to do with the partners I worked with.

[Anonymous User]

This is definitely a perk worth looking in to. I think most biglaw firms will let you work out of a visiting office in another city if you are there for a short time. 3 weeks or multiple visits may raise eyebrows.

I also think some firms (maybe Goodwin? I could be misremembering) have a perk that will pay for flight and hotel to and from another city with a firm office. Maybe you need some reason, but you can come up with something.