While law firms have long been considered one of the more conservative and traditional business sectors, recent activity suggests they are embracing the new era of hybrid work. According to their recent report, Colliers Law Firm Services Group expects only one out of every five attorneys to return to the office full-time. The other 80% will be woven into some sort of hybrid model moving forward. The shape this will take is still evolving, but looks set to take place.
Still, this growing move toward a distributed work model comes with optimism as lawyers are returning to the office at a higher rate than other business types. Law firm office occupancy is at 62% of pre-Covid levels versus 49% overall. The survey found that some firms are continuing to evaluate their space requirements while the hybrid model takes hold, but are seeing some positive signals as their plans move forward.
Space is a Magnet
“The other trend that is prevalent is law firms’ willingness to redesign their space and gain marked efficiencies from adopting universal offices and incorporating more flexible shared spaces with greater technology [and utility] throughout,” said Daniel Arends, Colliers principal and EVP. “Firms are trying to make their spaces magnets to attract their attorneys back into the office and enhance mentoring and collaboration.”
Instead of laboring through a retrofit of existing space to accommodate the flex-remote approach and the growing trend toward universal offices, law firms...
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