The rise of the remote/hybrid law firm

There was a time when working at a law firm meant managing your matters from an office space. That reality has changed rapidly – and how law firms and their staff adapt to that change is critical to a firm’s success. 

Back in 2019, the ABA TechReport found that around 70 to 90% of law firms (aside from solo firms) primarily chose office spaces to conduct their work. In other words, they expected their team to operate in person. 

However, by 2021 data from Clio’s 2021 Legal Trends Report showed that 81% of firms were enabling remote working, with 71% prioritising remote interaction over in-person. Hybrid working and fully remote working for lawyers is now the norm – not the exception. 

If your firm is trying to adapt to this change in work practices by offering a remote/hybrid workplace, here are some things to keep in mind.

There’s no set one-size-fits-all hybrid working model. All firms have different needs. That means that you might need employees to come in on certain days or you might find that you can all work well remotely. Be honest with yourself and your team: Do people really need to come in every day or is that just encouraging presenteeism? It’s up to your firm to pick a model that works best for its needs. 

Consider your need for office space. Data from the 2021 Legal Trends Report also shows that office space was where law firms were least likely to invest (27%) in 2022. Downsizing office space can save your firm costs, but it does require some planning as to who’s going to be in the office and when. Consider devising a schedule or a seat booking system. 

Remote/hybrid working makes you a more attractive employer. In light of the “Great Resignation”, how firms stay attractive to candidates has also changed. Research from legal recruitment agency Realm Recruit shows that “for the very first time, flexibility has overtaken pay as the number one priority for lawyers, with 51% of people describing it as ‘very important’ and 31% saying it is ‘fairly important’”. If you want to compete, offering the flexibility of hybrid/remote working can help.

The right equipment is key. Lawyers can be productive while working remotely – provided they have the right tools to do so, such as cloud-based practice management tools like Clio.  

Clio’s cloud-based document management capabilities mean solicitors can access case files and collaborate with colleagues virtually. Electronic signing allows solicitors and clients to sign key documents remotely, and Clio for Clients provides a secure, remote client-lawyer communication portal that’s accessible from anywhere.

To see how Clio helps with remote/hybrid working, Law Society of Scotland members can take advantage of a 7-day free trial. See: clio.com/uk/lawscot-free