The Future of Law Offices and Coworking

In a post-pandemic reality, what’s in store for the future of law offices?

With a whole new definition of normal, business owners now grapple with some difficult questions. For law firms, the future of law office space weighs heavily among those questions.

Office space once fit a particular mold for traditional law firms. Really, the only variables came down to size and location. Now, a successful law office looks quite different.

To stay remote or return to the office?

Many lawyers and law firms report surprise at how well they could operate remotely during the pandemic. Now, they must balance the pros and cons of maintaining remote work options.

If your law firm employs several attorneys and staff, employee morale would likely rank as one clear pro. Most modern professionals do enjoy having the option to work from home at least part time, and that flexibility makes balancing work and personal life a more attainable reality. So, for your firm, a return to the office might include part-time rotations between office and remote work hours.

A team of Harvard Business School leaders weighed in on the future of work in this piece, “COVID Killed the Traditional Workplace.” Among them, Julia Austin, who wrote:

“Managers will have to accommodate changes to work patterns in the post-COVID era. As much as some employees will crave the return of in-person social connections in the office, they have become accustomed to the flexibility that comes with virtual work—from less time to commute to more time with family and pets. I suspect many will enjoy occasional visits to the office for real-time connections with colleagues, but will prefer to maintain their at-home work lifestyle.” 

Her words convey a challenge we have helped law firms solve for several years: balance. By nature, lawyers are driven to succeed and achieve great results for their clients. While that often means long work sessions, too many lawyers became burned out by so-called traditional law firm hours. Lawyers want a life as much as any other person.

In your own firm, you now have the opportunity to create a better sense of balance for yourself and for your people. You can return to the office to create structure and stability in your firm, but you can also offer remote work options to ensure a healthy balance for everyone.

Intangible benefits of an in-person office

As shared work spaces, our LawBank offices have offered law firms an alternative to the traditional model for several years.

Often, our members have been independent attorneys who could operate out of home offices. For many of them, the isolation of working from home left them missing interactions with other motivated people. They found a collegial environment at LawBank that solved the problem. Here, they maintain their independence and autonomy, but seek out the support of likeminded law professionals.

In addition, having a dedicated office space gives you a clear definition between home and work time, which allows for greater focus and productivity. You can get more done in less time when you can focus intently on one piece of work.

A professional setting also elevates your law firm’s brand. Even if you operate as a one-person business, your clients feel reassured by a high level of professionalism. Meeting in a well-appointed conference room rather than your lived-in kitchen speaks volumes.

Finally, a shared office setting allows your business to grow and expand when you’re ready, and without the stress of a long-term lease or a space too big for your needs. This piece on Medium highlights that growth potential as one of many coworking space benefits:

“A traditional office space makes sense for companies that are stable in size. For a changing or growing business, however, a coworking space’s varied office spaces and layouts can offer necessary flexibility. A three-person company may sign up for three cubicles in a coworking space. But one year later, the business has grown to 15 people and needs more space for collaboration and privacy than before. It can switch offices in its coworking space more easily and efficiently than if it signed a long-term lease at a traditional office space, where it is likely stuck for several years.”

Small law firms need that flexibility to grow when the time is right.

Assessing your law office space needs

As the legal market and business continues to evolve post-pandemic, take time to carefully consider your office needs. Do you have existing office space that takes too much of your overhead? Have you outgrown the limitations of your home office? Would you like to work alongside other law business owners who can provide both referrals and support?

While remote work is no doubt here to stay, it’s not a question of either/or. Shared office space gives you the freedom to work remotely, but also provides the benefits of focused work time and professional space as needed.

We work with Denver law firms and Las Vegas law firms who are seeking shared office options. Our law firm real estate solutions include coworking, shared office space, private offices and suites, and subleasing support for your existing office space. Learn more.