Great Design Empowers Legal Practices to Thrive

In recent years, workplace trends have been shifting significantly toward enhancing the human experience and improving employee satisfaction. Legal firms are leveraging the power and psychology of space design to create vibrant, dynamic offices that attract new talent and entice employees to be in the office more often.

Legal firms are focusing on the 3 key topics of People, Policy and Place. Each topic plays an important role in a firm's culture and creating an environment that helps employees do their best work.

Balancing Flexibility and Collaboration

Legal employees spend a significant portion of their workdays in the office, necessitating an environment that fosters their well-being and productivity. The workplace should prioritize flexibility, privacy, collaboration, and socialization, with spaces that enable employees to perform at their optimal level.

Creating environments that not only support human performance but also empower individuals leads to increased productivity and job satisfaction. Employees are drawn to the office. rather than seeking alternative arrangements. This eliminates the need for stringent office mandates, according to the CBRE Law Firm Benchmarking Survey Results 2024.

Hybrid vs. Being in the Office Full-Time

In 2024, Haworth partnered with One Global Design to understand more about the issues architects and designers are seeing in legal workplaces. Our research reveals that 55% of legal clients have adopted remote/hybrid work policies. Additionally, 68% of legal employees rate remote work as extremely important.

This illustrates the need for spaces that better support hybrid employees and their activities—spaces that entice people to come into the office by fostering a sense of community and a culture of inclusion.

Creating multipurpose spaces maximizes the floorplan, as well as flexibility for a hybrid staff. Employees can use these areas as a central office hub to get work done during the days they are on site. Then, when unoccupied, the spaces can accommodate community events or professional organization meetings.

Assigned vs. Unassigned Workspaces

Assigned workspaces offer a larger footprint, storage for files and personal items, and space for personalization. In contrast, unassigned workspaces have a smaller footprint, minimal storage, and often include digital signage for meeting rooms. The CBRE survey indicates that 33% of law firms have implemented desk sharing, with 40% considering it.

Firms are experimenting with various options, such as providing every employee with access to an unassigned private office, doubling up associates in one office, and utilizing flexible working spaces for transient employees. 

Key Spaces for Collaborative Legal Offices

• Conference Centers: 63% of respondents in the ONE Global Design Survey find conference centers to be extremely important. These spaces allow firms to host events and provide venues for local organizations.
• Ancillary Spaces: Social spaces are crucial, with 50% of respondents rating them as extremely important and 25% as very important.
• Working Cafés: Younger attorneys prefer spaces that emulate their favorite coffee shops or law libraries, where they can work alone but among others. Many firms are creating spaces that support different needs and moods. Some spaces are quiet spots to get work done, while others are places to get energized and inspired. 
• Virtual Meeting Rooms: Today's virtual client meetings, court appearances, and depositions require spaces equipped with simple connectivity, A/V technology, and flexible furniture. The 2024 Industry Trends Report highlights that 89% of legal professionals emphasize the importance of remote-supportive technology.

Firm Culture & Employee Experience

Firm culture is a top priority for attracting new employees, according to the One Global Design Survey. It plays a significant role among law firm partners, senior attorneys, and professional support staff. However, many non-partner-level staff may need additional support to feel empowered and take risks.

By designing spaces that encourage interaction and collaboration among all levels, firms can foster stronger work relationships and break down hierarchal social structures. Connected offices and amenities can maximize synergies between partners and associates, promoting informal mentorship, talent development, career advancement, and retention. Amenities that offer freedom of choice enrich firm culture and identity, promoting innovation and attracting talent.

The employee experience is a critical goal for legal institutions. Firms are focusing on providing employees recharge and refresh areas, such as lounges with daylight views, outdoor spaces for fresh air, and cafés for socializing. The CBRE survey indicates that 77% of firms consider improving the workplace experience a real estate priority.

Legal workplaces are evolving to enhance the human experience. Considerations for People, Policy, and Place are being built into the environment, so employees feel supported and can do their best work. Balancing space use with flexibility, privacy, collaboration, and socialization allows law firms to create a workplace where people thrive—and builds a lasting culture for the next generation of legal professionals.