In a significant shift, top US law firms are tightening their office attendance policies, echoing similar moves made by major banking institutions. On February 28, 2025, Paul Weiss, a prominent US law firm, announced that starting April 30, its lawyers will be required to work from the office four days a week, a move that follows the actions of several other leading firms in the industry.
Paul Weiss joins a growing list of prestigious law firms, including Weil Gotshal & Manges, Davis Polk & Wardwell, Vinson & Elkins, Ropes & Gray, and Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom, all of which have adopted similar office attendance expectations in recent months. WilmerHale is the latest to follow suit, confirming a four-day office work requirement for its lawyers.
The shift comes amid increasing concerns from senior law firm partners about the loss of essential learning and development opportunities for junior lawyers. Edward Stratford, co-founder of the legal recruitment firm Fort Stratford Partners, suggested that more firms are likely to follow Paul Weiss’s lead, as the trend for greater in-office presence grows within top-tier law firms.
Stratford pointed out that law firms, especially at the top end, are moving away from remote work to foster a collaborative environment. He emphasized that junior lawyers need to be in the office to learn by observation and through mentoring, a critical aspect of their professional development. “At the senior level, there’s a growing consensus that remote work for juniors is hindering their growth,” Stratford said.
James Knight, CEO of the AIM-listed legal business Keystone Law, echoed this sentiment, noting that senior management is increasingly pushing for more office presence, particularly for collaborative work. “The pressure for in-person collaboration is becoming more overt,” he remarked, highlighting that firms expect lawyers to engage more directly with their colleagues.
Across the Atlantic, UK-based law firms like Slaughter and May have also started monitoring office attendance, with performance reviews factoring in compliance with a three-day office policy. Meanwhile, Addleshaw Goddard, another UK firm, has linked office attendance to bonuses, further underscoring the growing emphasis on in-office participation.
While law firms are following the lead of top investment banks like JPMorgan, which has made headlines with its strict in-office attendance expectations, the legal industry has not fully embraced the five-day-a-week office model. However, some firms continue to leverage flexible working arrangements to attract talent, offering a balance between office presence and remote work. Keystone Law’s approach of allowing complete flexibility on remote work has proven to be a major draw for lawyers seeking a better work-life balance.
In response to the evolving demands of the modern workforce, law firms are striving to balance office attendance with flexibility. As competition intensifies for top talent, the flexibility of remote work remains an attractive option for many, even as firms push for increased collaboration and in-person interaction.
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