“Necessity is the mother of invention,” and history has delivered plenty of examples of this well-known proverb. The need for a more efficient way of travel and transportation paved the way for the wheel. The barter system gave way to coins and a system of money when people realized that not all things can be split equally or valued according to another commodity. More recently, the pandemic forced office workers around the globe to redefine their relationship with their work day and work space when they could no longer inhabit an office space with anyone else. And it turns out that once things normalized (and we were no longer tripping over our spouses and kids at home and our pandemic puppies were house trained), for many, the rhythm of this new work day worked far better than before. In fact, looking back on it, some of us wonder how we ever managed to go to an office all day, every day, for so long.
Fast forward a few years, and many law firms are struggling with where to draw the line when it comes to requiring lawyers to come to the office at least a set number of days a week (see here, here, and here). Some traditionalists who favor a return to the office talk about the elusive benefits of in-person work to bolster this requirement. Some law firm managers can’t bring themselves to be supportive of remote work, unable to stomach the fact that they signed expensive, multi-year leases for offices that would be vacant if people were allowed to work almost exclusively from home. Other law firm leaders hold the opposite view, doubling down on remote work and encouraging lawyers to go virtual if it suits them.
One can approach the remote vs. in-person debate from a variety of perspectives, but let’s get down to brass tacks: Does the ‘work from anywhere’ practice model lead to increased revenue?
Apparently so, according to BigLaw’s Husch Blackwell. The firm’s now-largest office, over 200 lawyers strong working in 28 states and Washington, D.C., is entirely virtual. The firm's virtual office, called ‘The Link,’ is proving to be a differentiator, according to a recent article in Above the Law. The firm increased gross revenue and seems to be the sole early adopter of this approach among the AmLaw 100 cohort.
Similarly, Scale LLP is one of several emerging distributed law firms that has embraced remote work and is seeing excellent results. The firm has seen a 50% increase in monthly total production for the firm over the last six months. “Every one of us has spent the last three years reshuffling priorities and redefining professional satisfaction. A remote-first firm is the answer for many attorneys. Scale offers flexibility and autonomy within a community of fellow top-notch practitioners. Our low-overhead structure means less bureaucracy, more revenue being returned to attorneys and ultimate value for clients. We field roughly 150 candidate inquiries every month, many of whom are best-in-class when it comes to education and experience, including top law firms, government and in-house,” says Scale’s VP of Talent, Jessica Sisco.
Why are law firms that are embracing the ‘work from anywhere’ model performing so well? This financial success can be attributed to several factors:
- The ‘work-from-anywhere’ model can attract more and more high caliber attorneys. Law firms that are open to remote work have recruited lawyers from firms that were less accommodating, and have retained lawyers whose lives are better off because they can structure their days in ways that fit their needs.
- Attorneys can be more productive. We all know that attorneys and staff can be just as efficient or more so from home than in an office. Not only are they spared the commute, but also, when people work from home, they can complete tasks at their own pace throughout the day rather than cram it into a set period. Working from home also allows people to complete personal tasks more easily, which can have a positive impact on efficiency and morale.
- A distributed firm can offer greater geographic service coverage. The work can now come from anywhere, including outside major metropolitan areas.
The allure of working from home is here to stay. The pandemic showed us that not only is it possible, but it’s far more desirable for many, many lawyers and staff. Given the choice between taking a break from work by gossiping around the office water cooler or picking up their child from school, many have chosen the latter. Who needs to spend $20 on lunch when you can prepare a cheaper, healthier and more delicious lunch in your own kitchen? Why not clear your head by taking your dog for several walks throughout the day? And no one needs to sit in more traffic, ever.
Now, with several years of data behind us, the numbers back up this choice.
