Biglaw’s ‘Bank’ Of Remote Days Will Only Make Associates More Frustrated About Having To Work From The Office

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Ed. note: Welcome to our daily feature, Quote of the Day.

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The law at the Am Law 200 level is really a 24/7 position. So I think that’s why associates get frustrated with the whole office policy to begin with. [It’s a difficult message for associates to hear], ‘You didn’t do enough’ or ‘It’s not enough that you’re on the grid 24/7. You need to be physically where we need you to be.’ I think that’s hard for them to swallow.

— Michelle Fivel, a partner and co-founder of the legal recruiting firm Hatch Henderson Fivel, in comments given to the American Lawyer on the latest push for associates to return to the office four days a week, with a “bank” of remote days available. Fivel went on to say these “banks” could help “lessen the blow” of needing to be in the office more often than not, but that it likely wouldn’t affect things from a recruiting perspective. “It’s a factor that people would consider, but it would be a rare situation that it would be make or break,” she said. “There are so many factors that come into play. I think it’s a plus in the firm’s column, but I don’t think it’s going to be enough.”

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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter and Threads or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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Biglaw, Hybrid Work Policies, Law Firm Reopenings, Quote of the Day, Remote Work