Most lawyers would agree that August is a pretty slow time for the legal profession. Along with the end of the calendar year in December, August is when lawyers are most likely to take extended vacations. Some law firms over the years have permitted staff to work remotely during August so that everyone can better enjoy slower work periods. More law firms should implement such policies since they likely won’t have a negative impact and can help improve employee morale.
Typically, August has fewer court appearances than other parts of the year. For instance, I had to schedule a conference with a court recently, and I learned that the relevant judge took the entire month of August off. This is not uncommon, and if judges take vacations, there are usually fewer court conferences, motion appearances, and the like that attorneys need to prepare for and attend at the end of the summer.
In addition, other stakeholders in the legal profession also take vacations during August. Many other lawyers take off during this time, which reduces the amount of paperwork that is filed in cases and minimizes interactions between counsel that can create work. Moreover, clients also take off during August. Most people want to take advantage of the summer weather to do something fun, and people generally understand that after Labor Day, individuals need to work hard until the holiday season — months away. Accordingly, August is often the perfect time for people to take off, and if more clients are on vacation, lawyers should have fewer tasks to handle.
Having a work-from-home August can be invaluable to attorneys and staff. This can help employees take time off themselves and travel without needing to appear in an office multiple times a week. Sure, employees can take time off to be entirely off the grid and travel to wherever they want. However, it is often difficult for attorneys and staff to request significant vacation time due to unrealistic expectations managers have of employees. Having an institutional policy like a remote August gives employees the flexibility and lack of shame they need to do something actually fun.
Having a work-from-home August can be beneficial to law firms. This policy can boost morale around an office and show attorneys and staff that law firms care about them and are willing to bend policies for the benefit of employees. Return-to-office policies have not been well-received by many lawyers and staff. Most people believe that they can complete their jobs just fine without needing to trek into an office, and requiring workers to come to an office makes it more difficult for employees to complete personal tasks and have flexibility in managing their lives.
Many law firm managers might think that workers are more productive in offices, and remote August policies might impact productivity. However, productivity might already be impacted by the vacations people take in August and additional leisure activities people usually pursue in the summer. Accordingly, more law firms should promote work-from-home policies during August since this is an otherwise slower time in the legal profession and such policies can increase employee morale.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothman.law.
The post More Law Firms Should Allow Remote August Policies appeared first on Above the Law.
Most lawyers would agree that August is a pretty slow time for the legal profession. Along with the end of the calendar year in December, August is when lawyers are most likely to take extended vacations. Some law firms over the years have permitted staff to work remotely during August so that everyone can better enjoy slower work periods. More law firms should implement such policies since they likely won’t have a negative impact and can help improve employee morale.
Typically, August has fewer court appearances than other parts of the year. For instance, I had to schedule a conference with a court recently, and I learned that the relevant judge took the entire month of August off. This is not uncommon, and if judges take vacations, there are usually fewer court conferences, motion appearances, and the like that attorneys need to prepare for and attend at the end of the summer.
In addition, other stakeholders in the legal profession also take vacations during August. Many other lawyers take off during this time, which reduces the amount of paperwork that is filed in cases and minimizes interactions between counsel that can create work. Moreover, clients also take off during August. Most people want to take advantage of the summer weather to do something fun, and people generally understand that after Labor Day, individuals need to work hard until the holiday season — months away. Accordingly, August is often the perfect time for people to take off, and if more clients are on vacation, lawyers should have fewer tasks to handle.
Having a work-from-home August can be invaluable to attorneys and staff. This can help employees take time off themselves and travel without needing to appear in an office multiple times a week. Sure, employees can take time off to be entirely off the grid and travel to wherever they want. However, it is often difficult for attorneys and staff to request significant vacation time due to unrealistic expectations managers have of employees. Having an institutional policy like a remote August gives employees the flexibility and lack of shame they need to do something actually fun.
Having a work-from-home August can be beneficial to law firms. This policy can boost morale around an office and show attorneys and staff that law firms care about them and are willing to bend policies for the benefit of employees. Return-to-office policies have not been well-received by many lawyers and staff. Most people believe that they can complete their jobs just fine without needing to trek into an office, and requiring workers to come to an office makes it more difficult for employees to complete personal tasks and have flexibility in managing their lives.
Many law firm managers might think that workers are more productive in offices, and remote August policies might impact productivity. However, productivity might already be impacted by the vacations people take in August and additional leisure activities people usually pursue in the summer. Accordingly, more law firms should promote work-from-home policies during August since this is an otherwise slower time in the legal profession and such policies can increase employee morale.
Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothman.law.
The post More Law Firms Should Allow Remote August Policies appeared first on Above the Law.
