The COVID-19 pandemic brought a shift in the way people carried out their daily lives. Going to work and sitting in an office is no longer a norm. Instead, many of America’s workers faced the transition to remote working. Training sessions, board meetings, and court hearings are now frequently done virtually.
In light of the recent shift in the way Americans work, law firms are opening up to the idea of hiring associates remotely. In addition, many firms are considering carrying out virtual training. Experienced attorneys are now virtually mentoring their associates. Though the transition to a remote-work-based society was tough for many sectors, there may be some benefits attached to remote working, particularly for law firms.
Benefits Of Having Remote Associates
Though the idea was alien in the beginning, there are many reasons why law firms are now welcoming the idea of remote workers.
Flexibility
Stringent traditional office work environments don’t apply to remote associates. A remote associate can work at his or her own pace as long as his or her output is unaffected. This ensures that both the individual’s personal and professional lives are balanced. This balanced work-life system is essential for quality work output, yielding higher productivity from refreshed remote associates.
Work Productivity
An associate working remotely is likely to be more productive than one in the office. Law firms have registered an increase in the work output of their remote associates with employee monitoring software. An associate with the freedom to control his or her work environment has better work output than one stuck in a controlled environment.
Increased Use Of The Virtual Space
The recent pandemic pushed law firms out of their comfort zones and into a new way of doing things. Associate training, for instance, is no longer done in-person, but online. However, this raises the question of how these firms will convey their cultures and values to associates virtually. Virtual training sessions also allow associates an opportunity to engage with senior associates. This all happens with a click of a button.
Additionally, some cases require a lawyer to have a one-on-one sitting with his or her client. An injury lawyer, for example, sometimes needs to assess his or her client. The increased need for remote productivity has led to innovations in the way people work. All of the above can now easily be done through virtual meetings using video conferencing, such as Zoom and Skype.
Improved Inclusivity
Remote work enables law firms to embrace diversity. This happens when they hire associates from different geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds. This diverse range of associates comes with different perspectives.
It is challenging to find an onsite job as an associate. Remote working has enabled many Americans to find employment right from the comfort of their homes.
Quality Of Service
Law firms have noted an increase in the quality of service offered by remote associates. These associates are eager to develop productive professional relationships with successful practitioners.
Economic Savings
Hiring remote associates is economical. Both the law firm and the associate save. To illustrate, the associate saves on costs such as transport, lunch, fuel, and other overheads associated with working in an office setup. On the other hand, law firms also see noteworthy cost savings. Remote work enables these firms to save on things like overheads, transit subsidies, and real-estate costs.
As technology continues to evolve, remote working will gain more prevalence than it has already. Law firms should embrace the thought of having their associates work remotely.
