I’ve Had It Up to Here with the Legal Industry’s Remote Work Drag
Look, I’m gonna say it: the legal industry is dragging its feet on remote work. And it’s not just some little inconvenience. It’s a big, fat, bloated problem that’s holding us back. I mean, come on, we’re in 2023, not 1993. Even my grandma’s got Zoom on her iPad.
I remember back in March 2020, when COVID hit. Everyone scrambled. Law firms, courts, legal departments—everyone was like, “Oh crap, we gotta figure this out.” And they did. For a hot minute, it was like the wild west out there. Lawyers in pajama bottoms, kids screaming in the background, cats walking across keyboards. It was chaos, but it worked. Sorta.
But then… then the wheels started to come off. Firms started pulling people back. Courts dragged their feet on tech. And now? Now we’re in this weird limbo where some folks are remote, some are hybrid, and some are stuck in the office like it’s 1985. It’s a mess.
Why Is This Such a Big Deal?
Because, frankly, it’s about more than just comfort. It’s about access to justice. It’s about equality. It’s about not making people choose between their job and their family. I had a friend, let’s call her Marcus, who’s a public defender. She told me, “I’ve got clients who can’t come to court because they can’t afford childcare. But I can’t do my job from home? That’s messed up.” And she’s right. It’s messed up.
And don’t even get me started on the environmental impact. I read a study—okay, fine, it was an article on Vox—but still, it said that if everyone who could work remotely did, we’d cut emissions by like 54 million tons a year. That’s like taking 10 million cars off the road. Ten million! And the legal industry? They’re barely scratching the surface.
But What About the Naysayers?
Oh, I’ve heard it all. “You can’t build a client relationship over Zoom.” “The courtroom is a sacred space.” “Law is about face-to-face interaction.” Blah blah blah. Look, I get it. There are things that need to be in person. But not everything. And frankly, if you’re still stuck on the idea that you can’t do your job without a fancy office, you’re part of the problem.
I had lunch with a colleague named Dave last week. He’s a partner at a big firm. He said, “We’ve been trying to get our associates to come back, but they’re pushing back. They’ve tasted freedom, and they don’t want to give it up.” And I said, “Dave, maybe that’s a sign. Maybe they’re telling you something important.” He just sighed and said, “I know, I know.” Which… yeah. Fair enough.
So What’s the Solution?
First off, we need to stop pretending that remote work is some kind of temporary thing. It’s here to stay. So let’s figure out how to make it work. Courts need to invest in technology. Firms need to trust their employees. And everyone needs to stop acting like the sky is falling just because someone’s working from their kitchen table.
And for the love of all that is holy, stop making people jump through hoops to prove they’re working. If you’re getting your work done, who cares if you’re doing it in your pajamas? If you need advice on how to make remote work actually productive, check out this remote work tips productivity guide. It’s not rocket science, people.
Second, we need to talk about access to justice. If we’re serious about making the legal system work for everyone, we need to make it accessible. And that means embracing technology, not running away from it. I mean, come on, we’ve got self-checkout at the grocery store. We can figure out how to file a motion online.
Tangent: The Great Coffee Shop Debate
Speaking of working remotely, I’ve got a bone to pick with the whole “but I need to go to the office to focus” argument. Look, I get it. Working from home can be distracting. But so can the office. I mean, how many times have you been in the middle of something important when someone pops in to “chat”? Or when the printer jams and no one knows how to fix it? Or when the office gossip starts spreading like wildfire? Ugh. Give me the quiet of my home office any day.
That said, I do like going to coffee shops to work sometimes. There’s something about the hum of activity that helps me focus. Plus, I get to people-watch, which is always entertaining. But that’s a choice. I can go to the coffee shop when I want to, and stay home when I need to. That’s the point. Flexibility.
Let’s Get Real About the Future
I’m not saying the legal industry needs to go full remote. But we need to get real about what’s possible. We need to stop acting like every meeting needs to be in person. Like every document needs to be printed. Like every court appearance needs to be in a physical courtroom. It’s 2023. We’ve got the technology. Let’s use it.
And for the love of all that is holy, stop making people feel guilty for wanting to work from home. If you’re getting your work done, who cares where you’re doing it? If anything, remote work has shown us that we can be just as productive, if not more so, when we’re not stuck in an office. So let’s embrace it. Let’s make it work. Let’s stop acting like the sky is falling every time someone suggests we try something new.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not about where we work. It’s about how we work. And if we’re serious about making the legal system work for everyone, we need to start acting like it.
About the Author: Jane Thompson has been a senior editor at LegalNewser for over 20 years. She’s seen the industry evolve (or not evolve, as the case may be) and isn’t afraid to call out the elephant in the room. When she’s not writing about the legal industry, she’s probably complaining about it over a glass of wine.
You may also find Why Nobody Reads Those Damn Legal helpful as it covers related aspects of this subject.
