Reuters Examines Law Firms’ Shift Back to In-Office Work

Reuters has published an article by Sara Merken outlining how a growing number of major US law firms are tightening their in-office attendance policies as hybrid flexibility continues to contract across the industry. Cooley, Goodwin Procter and Dechert are among the latest to announce four-day in-office requirements beginning early next year, joining a broader trend that has steadily taken shape since 2023.

The article highlights several factors driving these changes, including firms’ emphasis on collaboration, mentorship, professional development and cultural cohesion. While some firms continue to market flexibility as a recruitment differentiator, the number doing so is shrinking - particularly in markets like New York.

Macrae’s Rachel Nonaka, based in our Washington, DC office, notes that “the pendulum is absolutely swinging back toward the majority of partners’ and associates’ time being in person, in the office,” reflecting the direction firms are increasingly moving as they weigh talent expectations against operational needs.

Read the full article from Sara Merken for Reuters here.

For more insights, connect directly with Rachel Nonaka or reach out to our team at Macrae here.