{"id":125241,"date":"2025-07-02T12:02:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-02T20:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/07\/02\/major-biglaw-firm-ups-their-in-office-requirement-for-attorneys\/"},"modified":"2025-07-02T12:02:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T20:02:53","slug":"major-biglaw-firm-ups-their-in-office-requirement-for-attorneys","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/2025\/07\/02\/major-biglaw-firm-ups-their-in-office-requirement-for-attorneys\/","title":{"rendered":"Major Biglaw Firm Ups Their In-Office Requirement For Attorneys"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The momentum for a four-day, in-office mandate is picking up steam in Biglaw. Just this week, A&amp;O Shearman announced that, beginning on September 2nd, attorneys will have a face time requirement of four days a week, up from the in-office three-days a week rule that the firm previously employed.<\/p>\n<p>As per the firm\u2019s statement on the matter:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>This update recognizes the vital role in-person interaction plays in the professional development, mentorship, training, and teamwork of our people, and serves to maintain the strong culture that underpins the quality of our work and client service.<\/p>\n<p>It also aligns with a broader shift in the legal industry and among many of our clients, who have adopted similar approaches to in-office work in the U.S., while continuing to support a flexible working environment.<\/p>\n<p>We remain focused on ensuring our people have the tools, environment, and support they need to thrive, both individually and collectively.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A&amp;O is right that a four-day, in-office policy is trending in Biglaw. <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/06\/top-biglaw-firm-will-require-attorneys-to-work-from-the-office-4-days-each-week\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hogan Lovells<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/06\/davis-polk-4-day-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Davis Polk<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2024\/08\/latham-calls-lawyers-back-to-office-even-though-midlevels-sit-in-open-cubicles-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Latham<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/paul-weiss-will-require-4-in-office-work-days-each-week-starting-in-spring-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Paul Weiss<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/07\/ropes-gray-4-day-office-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Ropes &amp; Gray<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/12\/simpson-thacher-4-days-in-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Simpson Thacher<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/05\/you-didnt-see-your-kids-before-the-pandemic-you-shouldnt-expect-to-see-them-now-says-elite-law-firm-partner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Skadden<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/08\/vinson-elkins-4-day-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Vinson &amp; Elkins<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/07\/weil-gotshal-4-days-in-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Weil Gotshal<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/top-biglaw-firm-wilmerhale-mandates-four-office-days-for-attorneys-each-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WilmerHale<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/top-10-biglaw-firm-white-case-mandates-four-office-days-for-attorneys-each-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">White &amp; Case<\/a>; and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/top-10-biglaw-firm-mandates-four-office-days-for-attorneys-starting-next-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sidley<\/a>\u00a0all have a four-day, in-person attendance policy.\u00a0And <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/01\/biglaw-firm-breaks-with-trend-requires-associates-to-be-in-office-5-days-a-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sullivan &amp; Cromwell<\/a>\u00a0actually goes a step further and mandates five days in the office.<\/p>\n<p>And with this broader trend \u2014 as well as a tightening job market \u2014 associates\u2019 avenues to resist the four-day mandate are lessening. This is the new, new normal and associates will have to acclimate if they want to stay in Biglaw.<\/p>\n<p>At least the firm is waiting until September when the worst heat of the summer is over before calling everyone back to the office.<\/p>\n<p>As soon as you find out about office attendance plans at your firm, please\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:tips@abovethelaw.com?subject=%5BFirm%20Name%5D%20Office%20Reopening\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">email us<\/a>\u00a0(subject line: \u201c[Firm Name] Office Reopening\u201d) or text us at (646) 820-8477. We always keep our sources on stories anonymous. There\u2019s no need to send a memo (if one exists) using your firm email account; your personal email account is fine. If a memo has been circulated, please be sure to include it as proof; we like to post complete memos as a service to our readers. You can take a photo of the memo and attach as a picture if you are worried about metadata in a PDF or Word file. Thanks.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg?resize=174%2C160&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\">Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of <a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email <a href=\"mailto:kathryn@abovethelaw.com?subject=Your%20Column\" target='_blank\"' rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/major-biglaw-firm-ups-their-in-office-requirement-for-attorneys\/%E2%80%9C\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1%22%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/major-biglaw-firm-ups-their-in-office-requirement-for-attorneys\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1@mastodon.social.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/major-biglaw-firm-ups-their-in-office-requirement-for-attorneys\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Major Biglaw Firm Ups Their In-Office Requirement For Attorneys<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Above the Law<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-single__featured-image post-single__featured-image--medium alignright\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"261\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/GettyImages-647692164-300x261.jpg?resize=300%2C261&#038;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" title=\"\"><\/figure>\n<p>The momentum for a four-day, in-office mandate is picking up steam in Biglaw. Just this week, A&amp;O Shearman announced that, beginning on September 2nd, attorneys will have a face time requirement of four days a week, up from the in-office three-days a week rule that the firm previously employed.<\/p>\n<p>As per the firm\u2019s statement on the matter:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>This update recognizes the vital role in-person interaction plays in the professional development, mentorship, training, and teamwork of our people, and serves to maintain the strong culture that underpins the quality of our work and client service.<\/p>\n<p>It also aligns with a broader shift in the legal industry and among many of our clients, who have adopted similar approaches to in-office work in the U.S., while continuing to support a flexible working environment.<\/p>\n<p>We remain focused on ensuring our people have the tools, environment, and support they need to thrive, both individually and collectively.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>A&amp;O is right that a four-day, in-office policy is trending in Biglaw. <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/06\/top-biglaw-firm-will-require-attorneys-to-work-from-the-office-4-days-each-week\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hogan Lovells<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/06\/davis-polk-4-day-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Davis Polk<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2024\/08\/latham-calls-lawyers-back-to-office-even-though-midlevels-sit-in-open-cubicles-now\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Latham<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/paul-weiss-will-require-4-in-office-work-days-each-week-starting-in-spring-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Paul Weiss<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/07\/ropes-gray-4-day-office-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Ropes &amp; Gray<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/12\/simpson-thacher-4-days-in-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Simpson Thacher<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/05\/you-didnt-see-your-kids-before-the-pandemic-you-shouldnt-expect-to-see-them-now-says-elite-law-firm-partner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Skadden<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/08\/vinson-elkins-4-day-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Vinson &amp; Elkins<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2023\/07\/weil-gotshal-4-days-in-office\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Weil Gotshal<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/03\/top-biglaw-firm-wilmerhale-mandates-four-office-days-for-attorneys-each-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">WilmerHale<\/a>;\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/top-10-biglaw-firm-white-case-mandates-four-office-days-for-attorneys-each-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">White &amp; Case<\/a>; and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/05\/top-10-biglaw-firm-mandates-four-office-days-for-attorneys-starting-next-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sidley<\/a>\u00a0all have a four-day, in-person attendance policy.\u00a0And <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/01\/biglaw-firm-breaks-with-trend-requires-associates-to-be-in-office-5-days-a-week\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Sullivan &amp; Cromwell<\/a>\u00a0actually goes a step further and mandates five days in the office.<\/p>\n<p>And with this broader trend \u2014 as well as a tightening job market \u2014 associates\u2019 avenues to resist the four-day mandate are lessening. This is the new, new normal and associates will have to acclimate if they want to stay in Biglaw.<\/p>\n<p>At least the firm is waiting until September when the worst heat of the summer is over before calling everyone back to the office.<\/p>\n<p>As soon as you find out about office attendance plans at your firm, please\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#81f5e8f1f2c1e0e3eef7e4f5e9e4ede0f6afe2eeecbef2f4e3ebe4e2f5bca4b4c3c7e8f3eca4b3b1cfe0ece4a4b4c5a4b3b1cee7e7e8e2e4a4b3b1d3e4eef1e4efe8efe6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">email us<\/a>\u00a0(subject line: \u201c[Firm Name] Office Reopening\u201d) or text us at (646) 820-8477. We always keep our sources on stories anonymous. There\u2019s no need to send a memo (if one exists) using your firm email account; your personal email account is fine. If a memo has been circulated, please be sure to include it as proof; we like to post complete memos as a service to our readers. You can take a photo of the memo and attach as a picture if you are worried about metadata in a PDF or Word file. Thanks.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><em><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-80083 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/abovethelaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/06\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568.jpg?resize=174%2C160&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"174\" height=\"160\" title=\"\">Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/1XC11QhFCWxWr4NQrk2sEA\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The Jabot podcast<\/a>, and co-host of <a href=\"https:\/\/legaltalknetwork.com\/podcasts\/thinking-like-a-lawyer\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Thinking Like A Lawyer<\/a>. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#422923362a303b2c0223202d3427362a272e23356c212d2f7d313720282721367f1b2d3730677072012d2e372f2c\" target=\"_blank&quot;\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">her<\/a> with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/abovethelaw.com\/2025\/07\/major-biglaw-firm-ups-their-in-office-requirement-for-attorneys\/%E2%80%9C\/\/twitter.com\/Kathryn1%22%E2%80%9D\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@Kathryn1<\/a>\u00a0or Mastodon <a href=\"https:\/\/mastodon.social\/@Kathryn1%22%22\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">@[email\u00a0protected].<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The momentum for a four-day, in-office mandate is picking up steam in Biglaw. Just this week, A&amp;O Shearman announced that, beginning on September 2nd, attorneys will have a face time requirement of four days a week, up from the in-office three-days a week rule that the firm previously employed. As per the firm\u2019s statement on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":125215,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-above_the_law"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/xira.com\/p\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/IMG_5243-1-scaled-e1623338814705-620x568-QdeK7k.jpeg?fit=620%2C568&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=125241"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125241\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/125215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=125241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=125241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xira.com\/p\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=125241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}