Is this the real shift in firm culture post Covid??
Look around your firm. On my floor, 50% of the employees are in transition or unsatisfied and looking for a change (staff and lawyers). Are other people/firms experiencing this? Is this the real root of the great resignation?

likehelpful
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I know a lot of ID firms in the NYC area raised the billable requirement for associates who were working from home. This, coupled with the fact that associates could not bill hours for in-person appearances has mad their lives miserable.

likehelpful

Our NY office’s bills looked like make believe pre-COVID. Especially because of court appearances.

I think the shift is real. I have been looking for a new job and indeed shows the number of applicants on positions, which shows pretty well where people are trying to go. Also a recruiter I worked with said that firms who don’t allow remote aren’t getting applicants. But then said recruiter presented a job as remote, but when I interviewed it was clear they were all about their in office culture and were pushing hybrid/fully in person, so frustrating.

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Shift is happening I’m willing to show up in office lol and they’re literally offering a six figure salary still thinking

likesmart
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I don't know because I'm working from home. Maybe that's the reason so many people you see in the office are unhappy. I'd be looking too if I were forced back to the office.

likefunnysmarthelpful

This 💯

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I’ll say that being in the office isn’t the problem for me, but that my firm didn’t know how to handle the mental health struggles I faced from the 2 years of isolation and basically penalized me for it. “We want you to come to us with your issues” turns into “that sucks you’re going through that but now we don’t trust you.”

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That’s a very regressive approach to managing folks. I’d leave if you can.

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I think COVID uncovered the worst at a lot of firms. A good example would be me and my friends doing litigation in NYC, which was basically on pause for months. None of us were or could possibly bill our normal hours but some of our firms still expected us to and withheld normal raises/bonuses based on this. Things like that really highlighted which of us really needed to jump ship.

likehelpfulfunny

Legal Admin here. Our big law is only allowing us one WFH day/week, on a trial basis. We have enough LAAs to have 2 of us in the office daily on each floor for hands on … scan jobs, coffee when on a depo, wtf else is needed in person. I do my billing and expenses better at home where I have no distractions (after working that way for 2 years). They brought us back 4 days to apply pressure to the attys, who are enjoying wfh a little too much for the old firm culture. Sucks balls. Everyone is just hoping it’s temporary, but when fall comes and days shorten and we are going to work before dawn and coming home in the dark I predict the mass exodus.

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my firm is 3 days in office & 2 wfh. The idea of ever going back to 5 days/wk makes me want to throw up bc I have no desire to spend 16 more hrs a wk w/any of the ppl in the office

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COVID really highlighted that my firm didn’t give AF about us and our health. We were expected to continue billing at regular rate while there was the uncertainty of whether the firm was going to close. The first round of layoffs was very scary and always feeling like you didn’t know whether you were going to be next. Then, once people transitioned back into the office, the firm didn’t care about our health. We were exposed to COVID and the partners said “well we will all eventually get it.”

Firm let go of all of its staff and 25% of attorneys, made other associate absorb case loads to a breaking point and has continued to chastise us ever since for not being up to date on our cases. On top of this, they shell out below market value raises and restructure the bonus structure in a way that doesn’t incentivize anyone to work hard. COVID really proved to us that these firms don’t care about us and only see us as a warm body to fill a chair. F that.

likesmart

Get out of there ASAP

likeuplifting

I really thought my toxic firm would see a shift and transitions post Covid but every single gunning workaholic douche bag is still there lol

likefunny

Some def seem to want to get away from their significant other and children and thrive on pressure cooker work situation

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I don’t mind being in the office at all, I just expect to be compensated well. My mentality is if you are not going to pay me at market or above, I will leave and find some firm that will. Which is what I did. That’s why I resigned from my first position. I also think that junior attorneys need to be in the office around more senior attorneys so they can learn. Once they are comfortable and have proven the ability to work independently, they should be able to work hybrid or remotely.

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I mentioned commute time bc it’s a huge issue for Admins like myself, who really do not have option to move closer (no affordable living), or find decent paying positions closer to our more rural / fringe metropolitan homes. Most attys at our big law have no understanding of what it’s like to commute 1.5 hours each way, and pay for the gas or bus fare to do that on hourly wages. RTO has many barbs that stick us more painfully. I wish more policy makers at big law understood this, or cared to ask.

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I’m in British Columbia and I think the lateral shifting that’s occurring is absolutely based on an employers response to the pandemic and also to coming back to work. Those that refuse to be flexible find themselves either without lawyers or with unhappy lawyers.

Ultimately, corporate empathy will determine whether a firm survives.

likesmart

I agree with A6 above. My firm has actually been great through COVID and after. They are flexible, supportive, and sincere. But COVID made me rearrange priorities. I’d rather make less and not work every weekend and most nights. Money just doesn’t justify the things the intangibles I lose.

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I know a lot of people still working from home but I know having to be in the office 5 days a week is a huge bummer for me. Currently trying to figure out how to get my firm — a smaller boutique firm — to allow a hybrid schedule.

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COVID really made clear that the partners in my office are shit leaders, shit managers, and shit mentors. It’s a big contributor to my current unhappiness.

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I think for a long time a lot of ppl looked at what law firms pay…especially big law…and the paycheck justified the sacrifice. COVID caused a shift in value, so it’s unsurprising to see so many lawyers making the decision to leave their firm or the practice of law altogether. I know tons of ppl who left and make 50 % or less than what they made at their law firm yet are happier for it. Interesting times.

likesmart

They see it happening and are desperately trying to stop it instead of adapting.

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My firm is resisting wfh big time. I am a first year, and I’m required to be in 5 days a week. Junior/senior associates get 2 days wfh. Partners do whatever. We’ve seen about 7-8 associates leave in the past year, and partners are panicking. I think the answer is clear - people want flexibility and more money.

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It's a garbage policy to require *all* staff in office at all times when attorneys (any level) are not. Our receptionist is in 3d/wk, but that's it. If the work is done, our stance is let them WFH.

I’m 100% remote. Our firm had record breaking profits during co is so let everyone stay working remote if they want. It’s awesome.

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It’s really a shame.

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I’ve noticed this as well. I think it’s accurate to say if this not the root of the great resignation than it’s pretty damn close

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It’s real. Lol

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Let me elaborate, no one wants to do mindless work anymore - fk civil lit! Lmao

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My firm is permanently hybrid. I had an office day last week and got caught up on what I was doing. I looked up and it was 6:30….. I was THE last one there. Typically this is when everyone is gearing up for the “second round”. So yes, I think this is the new normal

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