How to achieve remote work-life balance as an attorney

Key quotes:

• "It is strange to think that before March 2020, I had never heard of, let alone used Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, GoToMeeting or any of the plethora of video conferencing platforms that seem to have sprung up out of nowhere."
• "It cannot be easy for them during the COVID pandemic, our team is working remotely across a couple of countries and different time zones."
• "Wow…if ever there was an oxymoron for lawyers it is that you can have a so-called “work-life balance”."
• "Now, with the benefit of nearly a twenty-year career behind me; I can safely say that work-life-balance in law is a misnomer."
• "Even in mid-market so-called ‘cosy’ firms, you still end up working your backside off, late evenings, weekends and holidays."
• "With the benefit of hindsight, part of me thinks, you might as well bite the bullet, work those crazy hours for a US firm for a couple of years, when you are young, and cry (not laugh) all the way to the bank."

Key quotes:

• "But in truth, the pandemic is simply accelerating the pre-existing trend to remote work across small and large businesses alike."
• "While working from home has a number of pros, there can also be several teething problems in the switch to remote operations."
• "Remote workers who took longer breaks than their office colleagues were similarly more productive — despite the slight decrease in total working hours."
• "Further research has also shown that remote workers are willing to take a pay cut in exchange for the privilege of working from home."
• "For law firms, client calls to the office can be forwarded to the relevant professionals at home."
• "Remote workers with kids who are not attending school will have to juggle the needs of their children with maintaining their own work schedule."

Key quotes:

• "While working at big-name law firms means that businesses will rush in, it also means that lawyers can’t really choose their clients."
• "But when working as a freelance lawyer, they can choose their own clients if they think that they can provide the best service to them."
• "Some freelance website may have a list of clients who urgently need a lawyer to help so that lawyers can freely select and contact those whom they want to provide services with."
• "For many litigation lawyers, it is easier for them to go freelance as they can choose their individual clients who are urgently in need."
• "For corporate lawyers, though they may not be able to find big M&A deals from the client list without the help of the law firm’s ecosystem, they can still manage to provide professional service to other companies and act as their consultant by providing legal and compliance services."
• "Working as a freelance lawyer means that they will no longer have to share their hard-earned client’s fees to their firm and other stakeholders."

Key quotes:

• "Increased productivity and improved work-life balance for employees are just two of the reasons that more and more workers are either asking to telecommute or leaving in-office jobs to work from home."
• "Set Expectations, or Rules of MeasureSuccessfully making the transition from in-office work to virtual requires clear and efficient planning."
• "Some employees may fall into their remote work habits smoothly while others may need an adjustment period — yes, some people prefer to work in an office and need time to create comfortable in-home offices."
• "And it’s critical you maintain these quality checks — the fact that your employees are going remote does not mean they shouldn’t be held to the same high standard as they would be in the office."
• "You can continue to meet with clients at local public spaces like coffee shops or libraries, and when the meeting needs to be private, your business can rent out small meeting rooms around the areas in which your remote employees live."
• "The Do’s and Don’ts These are small steps that you can take to start transitioning your team to work remotely."

Key quotes:

• "Partners and managers are constantly working to expand firm business and increase overall revenues, while associates work to meet billable hour requirements and other professional responsibilities."
• "While the pursuit of a perfect balance may prove fruitless in the legal profession, many firms are recognizing the need for a work/life balance among their attorneys and staff, which entails a healthy balance between work duties and personal goals."
• "If you lean too far over on the work side, you may neglect personal responsibilities, which can ultimately lead to physical or mental sickness."
• "Conversely, leaning too far in the personal direction can stifle professional growth and negatively affect the revenues of the firm."
• "As law firms begin to recognize the value of a healthy work/life balance, managers implement policies that allow for greater employee flexibility."
• "To make this work, law firms need a legal billing service that allows for time management and billing of services, even when tasks are completed away from the office."