The Legal Workplace of the Future
The legal industry is traditional but changing — and law firms across the country are grappling with a modern workforce that wants more from their workplace in terms of flexibility, connection, and amenities. With insights from Corgan’s latest research and industry trends, our designers are exploring ways the workplace can enhance the attorney experience and cater to the changing needs of the industry.
Planned for Connection
More traditional than other professional services, law firms were slow to adapt hybrid and remote work policies that other industries were inching toward prior to the pandemic. However, since the necessity of remote work during the pandemic showed law firms that remote policies could work for their industry, 64% of law firms are adjusting to hybrid work. With hybrid work schedules, connection in the office is more important than ever. For new graduates especially, office culture is something they look for: mentorship from senior attorneys and connection to coworkers topped their list of priorities at work.
A touchdown area adjacent to private offices offers employees a place to work together without booking a conference room or planning a official meeting
Correctly done, the office can be a tool for connection. Designers can facilitate this by including ample opportunities for impromptu conversations, like a lounge near a high traffic area such as an entry point, a centrally-located library, or a space to sit and chat at corridor intersections. More work-focused connection zones, like a touchdown workspace that is conveniently located near partner offices, can encourage interaction and collaboration outside of formal settings.
When combined (such as the plan below), these ideas result in an office that invites connection at every turn.
Focused on Function
The legal industry is adapting some of the hallmarks of modern offices, but while open offices take over as the main mode in other industries, private offices remain a key feature for law offices. Since private offices take up a large amount of real estate, they have the most impact on the individual experience. Tenured attorneys rank connection to clients and resources to support their work as the two most important features for an office. As more meetings are done remotely — some court appearances are even done virtually, now — the typical office design needs to adapt to remain functional.
A modern private office should accommodate virtual and in person meetings for one or two people with comfortable seating and distinct functional zones. In the example below a table and large screen supports group virtual calls or in-person collaboration, while lounge seating near the desk makes drop-in conversations less intimidating for new graduates seeking mentorship.
To support a professional appearance in virtual meetings, designers should consider the background, camera set up, and angles that don’t catch views of busy hallways or other distractions.
If Not Flexible, Personalized
Corgan’s recent research showed that if given the choice between working strictly in person in a private office or working a flexible work schedule with no assigned office, two thirds of tenured attorneys would select the option that allows them to work from home and use a reservable office when working in person. While this shows that the importance of an assigned office is waning as compared to a flexible schedule, firms that do provide assigned offices can enhance this benefit by offering opportunities for personalization.
In an office design, it might not be possible to make each private office a unique floorplan. But, for tenured attorneys, providing an array of choices in the art, accessories, lighting, and furniture used in their assigned space can bring some of the comforts of home to the office. Since a personal desk set up and the ability to control one’s environment are rated near the top of drivers for working remotely, a customized office offers an in-office experience that rivals the home office.
Enhanced With Amenities
While attorneys generally value function over flashy amenities, Corgan’s recent research shows that — in an industry known for it’s long hours and late nights — the amenities that matter most are those that support convenience and employees’ health and wellness. To begin, the location of the office should be carefully considered: free, easy parking and access to public transit are major considerations that make the commute more convenient. Nearby (or in-building) coffee shops, restaurants, and gyms are a major perk for attorneys who get to the office early or stay late.
For a firm that isn’t looking to move, there are ways to enhance convenience and wellness within the office footprint. In-office conveniences could be a staffed coffee bar or even more simply, a cooler stocked with grab-n-go food options. In an industry looking to downsize, even small spaces can have a big impact. Wellness examples include, decompression or meditation rooms with dimmable lighting, plants, aromatherapy, and a place to stretch or lie down can can be multi-functional and be used as a mother’s room or space for pop-up chair massages.
A workout room doesn’t need to be large to be effective.
A small, reservable workout room with minimal equipment can be used for a variety of workouts, the addition of technology solutions like interactive workout mirrors can elevate the space further. Likewise, in-office showers and changing rooms are relatively small in square feet, but can drastically increase convenience (and therefore satisfaction) for employees looking to squeeze in a workout before their workday begins.
Magnetic Workplace
Though the legal industry faces different drivers than other professional service industries, the role of the office remains the same: a successful workplace should function as a tool that enhances an organization’s efficacy by supporting and connecting the people in it. For law firms, that support means functional, private offices; spaces that support spontaneous connection; personalization to boost the in-office experience; and amenities that support employee health and wellness. By tailoring our design to the specific needs of attorneys and other legal professionals, we can make the workplace a magnet that draws employees back again and again.
