Biglaw Firm Hosts Therapy Dogs To Provide ‘Fun, Memorable’ Office Experience

// A couple weeks back, we had a story here at Above the Law taking a swipe at “puppy yoga” as a mental health initiative. And while that might not be a replacement for a robust strategy, the crack seemed unnecessarily derisive of the role animals can play in managing stress. Or, perhaps more to the point, the value of working within an office culture that considers stress management a priority. I’m not likely to hang out with a therapy dog because I’m a cat person — they’re mean and project an air of superiority, qualities that appeal to me for some reason — but knowing that a firm offers access to therapy canines for those who would appreciate them sends a signal to everyone in the firm.

We’ve trumpeted Seward & Kissel’s office fun initiatives for a while now. In a world of hybrid work, it’s a challenge to convince the law firm to want to come into the office to take advantage of all the professional benefits that come with face-to-face interaction. Running an in-office miniature golf tournament is the sort of thing that communicates the office esprit de corps that translates to voluntary buy-in.

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On April 4, 2024, Seward & Kissel hosted four therapy dogs from New York Therapy Animals, Inc. to provide a little stress relief. Specifically, the four dogs and their trainers included: Shaunna and “Ziggy” the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Colleen and “Louie” the Chocolate Lab, Jessica and “Disco” the Mini Poodle, and Nancy and “Melodie” the Toy Poodle.

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Seward partner and culture committee head Steve Nadel replied, “We’ve heard so many stories about colleges bringing in therapy dogs during final exam season, so we thought why can’t we do something like that too. Our culture goal at the firm is to create an environment where people get to experience fun, memorable, rewarding activities in which anyone can participate. Where else but Seward & Kissel do you get to play with four super cute dogs in the middle of the workday?”

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The word “memorable” stuck out in this description because it’s a quality that gets overlooked a lot. When I think back to my favorite days in the law firm offices, they involve something really memorable. Whether it’s the time we played off-hours frisbee down an abandoned corridor while waiting for edits or the time the copier caught fire, those are the times that the office felt the most like a community. Even if some lawyers find themselves stuck in a conference room during the event itself, the mood of the whole place remains elevated for hours and it’s infectious.

Firms that understand this will get a lot more buy-in both for office attendance and when it comes time to worry about retention.

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Earlier: Biglaw Mental Health Needs To Be About More Than Just ‘Puppy Yoga’

Joe Patrice is a senior editor at Above the Law and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. Feel free to email any tips, questions, or comments. Follow him on Twitter if you’re interested in law, politics, and a healthy dose of college sports news. Joe also serves as a Managing Director at RPN Executive Search.

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Biglaw, Seward & Kissel