Remote Work in Biglaw: A Pandemic Shift That’s Reverting to Tradition

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Biglaw firms embraced remote work to address talent shortages, with some, like Quinn Emanuel, even allowing “work from anywhere” policies. However, in 2024, remote work in Biglaw is quickly becoming a rarity as firms push associates back into the office for hybrid work. Younger associates are particularly impacted, with face-to-face office time now valued for mentorship, training, and team-building.

Darin Morgan, managing partner at Major, Lindsey & Africa, notes that “firms are generally doing remote hires only when they have no choice.” While firms like Orrick and Ice Miller allow remote work in special cases, most prioritize candidates who can commute to an office. Scott Yaccarino of Empire Search Partners emphasizes that, despite the pandemic’s flexibility, remote work “was never ideal from a training, development, and team-building perspective.”

For Biglaw, the focus is back on in-office presence to foster the next generation of legal talent. According to Katherine Loanzon from Kinney Recruiting, remote roles in Biglaw are now extremely limited, signalling a clear preference for traditional, in-person work environments.

Above the Law, 2024