Does anyone who is newer to the profession like going into the office? I’ve been remote for my first year of practice. I got an offer for a firm that requires face time 3-4 days a week. I hate my current firm and love a lot of things about the firm I got an offer from, but the lack of flexibility scares me. I’m quite introverted so I think working in office could be good for my development long term. Thoughts?

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I’m not necessarily newer but I enjoy going into the office (with the flexibility to WFH 2-3 days a week). It is critical for newer attorneys for growth and learning and also developing relationships. The relationships are important to getting work, and making yourself valuable. It’s also just nice to have a more comfortable rapport with people and the office permits spontaneous casual conversations you don’t get working from home. I also find that often work can be more efficient when you can just pop by someone’s office.

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I’m a brand new attorney and love being in the office, also very introverted so being in the office forces me to socialize with co-workers and ask more senior attorneys questions. When I work from home, I don’t do that as much bc I feel like I’m annoying them if I call them or send them an email.

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Ironically we all emailed and called each other despite being in the office. Most had their doors closed.

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Face time is crucial for new attorneys. That’s how you learn and grow.

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I’ve done both and it’s absolutely not the same! There are so many things you pick up on by just being around experienced lawyers on a regular basis. Scheduled zoom calls are not enough.

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I agree with the above comment. I am a newer attorney and find being in the office very helpful to drop in and ask questions and even just getting to know my coworkers.

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Apparently unpopular opinion, but I have loved WFH, have a great setup at home now, an generally resent the extra costs (both temporal and financial) of going into the office. Rising 4th year so I only had 6 months of fully in person under my belt before covid. I feel connected to my group and firm. Annoyingly, I feel like I’ll be left behind if I don’t voluntarily go into the office now that others are

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In-house is different, but I thought going in person my first few years at a firm was very useful. I ended up moving to a satellite office with just one other lawyer who wasn’t there too often and felt like my learning suffered for it. That said, I lived very close to my offices and liked my co-workers. Results may vary based on those factors.

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I hate to admit it, but I actually really enjoy working in the office. I’ve made great friends, and it is wonderful to be able to pop my head in a partner’s office and talk through issues / soak up some mentorship, or have them poke their head into mine. I’d love to move remote some day if it means I can be closer to family and not live in a city, but I actually like working in person, minus the commute.

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After working from home for a year during COVID and feeling like my career was stalling, I would much rather go to the office to work.

You will learn more and it’s a lot easier to tune out when you’re at home. For me, working from home felt like I was working 24/7.

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I’m in my second year and I am so thankful I’m in the office full time. I wouldn’t get the mentorship I have been otherwise. Also an unexpected twist - a lot of depos and meetings have remained on zoom so partners are in the office more than they were pre-Covid and traveling. So it’s enjoyable going into the office because it is full and you actually get to interact with partners a lot.

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The majority of the juniors in my practice group are in 3 days a week and the ones that are are learning faster and getting integrated into the group much more quickly

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It will be better for your development than not coming into the office. You can still email and call other people in the office when you want, and you also have the ability to speak in person when you want. You get much more out of the in-person interactions than online-only interactions.

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I spent the first 3 years of my career in an office full time, and I wouldn’t go back to that. My former firm pretended to have an open door policy, but that wasn’t the case. I formed my client relationships via zoom and the phone and got referrals that way. Joe I work from home 3 days a week as a near fifth year, and I’ve learned more from home. I’m an introvert and also like having the flexibility to interact with coworkers on my own terms. I choose WFH flexibility even if it’s hybrid. Plenty of firms still offer it.

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I generally like going in to the office. I work from home once a week unless a case requires me in the office.

The pattern I tend to see is people who hate going into the office: 1) have horrible colleagues; or 2) have a horrible commute. Barring those things, I’d say most attorney don’t mind and actually prefer being in the office

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I was fully remote after law school and got bored so i got into a firm thats a block from where i like. I thought, how fun to walk to work and be with similar aged peers everyday! Jokes on me- i never saw anyone because everyone was very superficial and also antisocial and it was really cold in the office really loud and really uncomfortable and I really miss the flexibility of working at home. But when I didn’t go as often in the office I was fired for it. I didnt get it- i didnt see anyone when i went in the office but when i secretly worked at home, i had partners call me at my office and barge in my office at random times to check if i was in. I also couldnt trust any of the colleagues- they seemed to have kept an eye on me.

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Couldve been a ‘me’ problem and thats ok. Lol. I found a job that works for me. Im just sharing my experience.

I'm a first-year, and I like being in 3 days a week. It gives me a chance to get to know people and get answers in a lower stakes way. My office is also pretty flexible, so I've come in later on days where I'm jammed with work.

(Most) People arent as shitty to people they have to interact with face to face as they are to people they only have to communicate with via webex and email.

Bummer to hear that happened to you. Crazy those kind of things are tolerated.

Make sure to avoid drama and negative energies which i was so so so affected by.

100% of my learning and growth was from bullshitting with mentors. You can get that without office face time requirements but most law firm partners are terrible at intentional development.

Yeah dont work with ancient folks who not only are unable to mentor remotely but insist on your physical presence even when you dont need to be in the office. Just for the optics. “When i was your year i stayed later than my boss and came in earlier” such bs

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I wouldn’t consider face to-face interactions 3-4 times a week “lack of flexibility.” There are 5 business days in the typical work week, plus the weekend, plus paid time off. You’ll get used to it.

I love going to the office and agree that it depends on the environment and people (like many things in life). I believe those who don’t have this option are at a major disadvantage in life, even if they don’t realize it.

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