Kirkland announced 3x/week “hybrid” return to office, attorneys “expected” to be in office Tuesday-Thursday Forum

[Anonymous User]

Just got the firmwide email. Starting March 29th, attorneys and staff are “expected to be present in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.” Office will be open Monday & Friday but showing up is optional.

“In-person activities such as practice group meetings, training, social and engagement events” will occur between Tuesday-Thursday.

Thoughts?

[Anonymous User]

If I had the security most corporate associates do right now, I'd show up 1X a week and for scheduled in person events.

[Anonymous User]

Are other biglaw firms doing this? My initial reaction is that this is Total BS.

[Anonymous User]

Are other biglaw firms doing this? My initial reaction is that this is Total BS.

My v30 firm is returning to office next week with a "soft" opening where they have "encouraged" all attorneys to come in at least 1-2 times per week. I'm in corporate though, and our section head has said they will not be enforcing any sort of attendance rule as long as everyone gets their work done.

[Anonymous User]

This is meant for staff. The policy even before COVID was essentially "don't ask, don't tell" re attorney in-office presence and varied more depending on practice group & the partners you were working with. It will continue to be that way. Kirkland has a very hands off attitude toward its associates (as long as they're producing and billing and available at 3am) and that isn't going to change.

I think it's a great move for staff. We've had many people quitting because they saw attorneys weren't coming into the office but they were being forced to come in and they perceived that, rightly or wrongly, as unfair. This should go a long way to addressing that.

The only edge case where I can think this might matter for attorneys is if some boomer partner is insisting on in-person meetings on Friday. Will enough associates have the balls to point to the new policy and say "on Fridays, we're remote now." I somehow doubt it but you never know.

[Anonymous User]

Are other biglaw firms doing this? My initial reaction is that this is Total BS.

Back in the fall Ropes & Gray got a lot of positive coverage for announcing a 3-day work week. Not sure if it was three specific days though, or any 3 of your choosing.

[Anonymous User]

This is meant for staff. The policy even before COVID was essentially "don't ask, don't tell" re attorney in-office presence and varied more depending on practice group & the partners you were working with. It will continue to be that way. Kirkland has a very hands off attitude toward its associates (as long as they're producing and billing and available at 3am) and that isn't going to change.

I think it's a great move for staff. We've had many people quitting because they saw attorneys weren't coming into the office but they were being forced to come in and they perceived that, rightly or wrongly, as unfair. This should go a long way to addressing that.

This tracks with what I saw pre-pandemic, at least in my office. People were frequently missing without explanation for long periods and rarely in-office before 10am or after 5pm (although they sure as fuck were available via email or phone at any time lol).

[Anonymous User]

This is meant for staff. The policy even before COVID was essentially "don't ask, don't tell" re attorney in-office presence and varied more depending on practice group & the partners you were working with. It will continue to be that way. Kirkland has a very hands off attitude toward its associates (as long as they're producing and billing and available at 3am) and that isn't going to change.

I think it's a great move for staff. We've had many people quitting because they saw attorneys weren't coming into the office but they were being forced to come in and they perceived that, rightly or wrongly, as unfair. This should go a long way to addressing that.

The only edge case where I can think this might matter for attorneys is if some boomer partner is insisting on in-person meetings on Friday. Will enough associates have the balls to point to the new policy and say "on Fridays, we're remote now." I somehow doubt it but you never know.

Good to know. I'm lateralling to K&E soon, and my old firm also had "don't ask, don't tell" policy even before COVID. I was told it's the same at K&E, so it's good to know they're not changing that up.

[Anonymous User]

My guess is the firm will talk to associates who aren’t coming in at least 1x a week by the end of April or so. Otherwise no one will care.

[Anonymous User]

Just got the firmwide email. Starting March 29th, attorneys and staff are “expected to be present in the office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.” Office will be open Monday & Friday but showing up is optional.

“In-person activities such as practice group meetings, training, social and engagement events” will occur between Tuesday-Thursday.

Thoughts?

Skadden is 3x a week but almost no one abides by it. I am in 3x a week because I work in a tiny group that demands it of me because the partners are obsessed with FaceTime, but the rest of my floor is always empty (partners and associates).

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone think it matters if you show up in person and leave after an hour or so?

Anon because at a different V10 and this is how I have been complying in the absence of set hours.

[Anonymous User]

Can someone paste the email

[Anonymous User]

Does anyone think it matters if you show up in person and leave after an hour or so?

Anon because at a different V10 and this is how I have been complying in the absence of set hours.

I haven't been showing up at all. I told them that I wasn't comfortable yet because of the pandemic. This was months ago. I've never had any questions on it since.

[Anonymous User]

As a Kirkland associate I only hope they keep the cafeteria free (email didn't mention it I think). It's not as good as PW or DPW or some other places, but it's free, so no complaints! (while it's free...)

[Anonymous User]

As a Kirkland associate I only hope they keep the cafeteria free (email didn't mention it I think). It's not as good as PW or DPW or some other places, but it's free, so no complaints! (while it's free...)

Do you guys still get to comp dinner orders if you're in the office past a certain time? I think I read somewhere that he amount is like $45 and you can utilize it anytime you're in the office past maybe 7pm? Maybe it was 8.

I'm guessing because of WFH that policy is no longer in place but how commonly did you use it while you worked in the building?

[Anonymous User]

This is wildly partner/group specific and my guess is that everyone saying KE doesn't care and has never cared is a corporate associate. To wit, shortly before covid hit, the entire NY litigation group had a meeting in which we were told that we were expected to be in the office five days per week during working hours.

[Anonymous User]

As a Kirkland associate I only hope they keep the cafeteria free (email didn't mention it I think). It's not as good as PW or DPW or some other places, but it's free, so no complaints! (while it's free...)

Do you guys still get to comp dinner orders if you're in the office past a certain time? I think I read somewhere that he amount is like $45 and you can utilize it anytime you're in the office past maybe 7pm? Maybe it was 8.

I'm guessing because of WFH that policy is no longer in place but how commonly did you use it while you worked in the building?

Can someone from KE elaborate on this

[Anonymous User]

As a Kirkland associate I only hope they keep the cafeteria free (email didn't mention it I think). It's not as good as PW or DPW or some other places, but it's free, so no complaints! (while it's free...)

Can you paste the email?

[Anonymous User]

This is wildly partner/group specific and my guess is that everyone saying KE doesn't care and has never cared is a corporate associate. To wit, shortly before covid hit, the entire NY litigation group had a meeting in which we were told that we were expected to be in the office five days per week during working hours.

Wow, that is news. I wonder if it will be the same now that upper management has specifically said we only need to be there 3x/week? I can't imagine that's right, but still would suck to be told 3x is mandatory for NY litigation only...

[Anonymous User]

This is wildly partner/group specific and my guess is that everyone saying KE doesn't care and has never cared is a corporate associate. To wit, shortly before covid hit, the entire NY litigation group had a meeting in which we were told that we were expected to be in the office five days per week during working hours.

Wrongo. I'm in a litigation group and I fall into the "people have never cared about in-office" camp. I do agree this somewhat comes down to the roll of the die as far as what partners you work with but count me among the people who think that Kirkland as a general rule has a culture that doesn't care about in-office or face time. (Though you sure as shit better be ready to answer that 3am e-mail, even if you're doing it from the Bahamas.)

[Anonymous User]

This is wildly partner/group specific and my guess is that everyone saying KE doesn't care and has never cared is a corporate associate. To wit, shortly before covid hit, the entire NY litigation group had a meeting in which we were told that we were expected to be in the office five days per week during working hours.

Wrongo. I'm in a litigation group and I fall into the "people have never cared about in-office" camp. I do agree this somewhat comes down to the roll of the die as far as what partners you work with but count me among the people who think that Kirkland as a general rule has a culture that doesn't care about in-office or face time. (Though you sure as shit better be ready to answer that 3am e-mail, even if you're doing it from the Bahamas.)

Oh please. We all work hard, long hours in stressful conditions. There's no need to exaggerate or use hyperbole. No one expects you to answer an email between like 12am-8am unless it's a very specific situation you're given advance notice for.

[Anonymous User]

This is wildly partner/group specific and my guess is that everyone saying KE doesn't care and has never cared is a corporate associate. To wit, shortly before covid hit, the entire NY litigation group had a meeting in which we were told that we were expected to be in the office five days per week during working hours.

Wrongo. I'm in a litigation group and I fall into the "people have never cared about in-office" camp. I do agree this somewhat comes down to the roll of the die as far as what partners you work with but count me among the people who think that Kirkland as a general rule has a culture that doesn't care about in-office or face time. (Though you sure as shit better be ready to answer that 3am e-mail, even if you're doing it from the Bahamas.)

Oh please. We all work hard, long hours in stressful conditions. There's no need to exaggerate or use hyperbole. No one expects you to answer an email between like 12am-8am unless it's a very specific situation you're given advance notice for.

Not exaggeration or hyperbole; actual life experience that happened in December around Christmas, which doubly sucked. Stick to things you know.

[Anonymous User]

Ooh do we have a KE on KE fight here? This is getting entertaining.

[Anonymous User]

This is wildly partner/group specific and my guess is that everyone saying KE doesn't care and has never cared is a corporate associate. To wit, shortly before covid hit, the entire NY litigation group had a meeting in which we were told that we were expected to be in the office five days per week during working hours.

Wrongo. I'm in a litigation group and I fall into the "people have never cared about in-office" camp. I do agree this somewhat comes down to the roll of the die as far as what partners you work with but count me among the people who think that Kirkland as a general rule has a culture that doesn't care about in-office or face time. (Though you sure as shit better be ready to answer that 3am e-mail, even if you're doing it from the Bahamas.)

Oh please. We all work hard, long hours in stressful conditions. There's no need to exaggerate or use hyperbole. No one expects you to answer an email between like 12am-8am unless it's a very specific situation you're given advance notice for.

Not exaggeration or hyperbole; actual life experience that happened in December around Christmas, which doubly sucked. Stick to things you know.

Oh, so it was a ... very specific situation, one that you can pinpoint. Gotcha. I'll stick to what I know, reading comprehension skills and not generalizing to sound tough on the internet.

[Anonymous User]

Ooh do we have a KE on KE fight here? This is getting entertaining.

I'm the above KE anon who gave the Bahamas anecdote and I've noticed every KE thread devolves into a KE on KE fight, as per our (deserved) TLS reputation. We have Henry James above here saying I'm making up my own life experience and then being a pedantic lawyer about it.