Career Clinic: Remote chance of remote working at my firm

I would think it depends on why you are making the request - if it is just because you don't want to work long hours in the office, I don't think that will go down well anywhere in private practice. If you really want flexible working then you should look at public sector roles.

At my firm (City office of regional firm) flexible working/remote working is permitted but generally only if there is a very good justification, e.g. you have a young child (and therefore they are obliged to consider it) or a long/difficult commute and then usually only on an occasional basis e.g. for one-off pieces of work or if you have childcare problems. So in my situation I'm two years pqe too, I've got a young child, just back from maternity leave and have agreed a temporary arrangement of part-time working on reduced hours in the office with remote working from home outside those hours as and when necessary.

anon -17 May 2010 | 15:53

Public flexibility

Anon is right, there is far more flexibility in the public sector - it just isn't the culture in most private practice firms. Saying that, if you move to the regions the hours are not so consistently long. Pay is correspondingly less too. A note of caution on the public sector: the new Govt is about to cut it back significantly, so you need to sit tight for a while until things settle down and public sector bodies start recruiting again - maybe a year or two.

Public sector -18 May 2010 | 16:57

Don't be silly. This is a service industry. Partners (and senior associates) are there to serve their clients. They can up to a point choose to work flexibly because that is consistent with delivering the service - they are on the end of a phone or email.

As a junior you are there to serve the partners. That means being there when they want to dump a file on you, give you an agreement to check, etc.

Working at the partner's home might just be ok, but working from your own is just a nuisance. He won't want to fool around scanning things to you, printing them out when you give them back, etc. If you do persuade the firm to allow you to work remotely, you will be seen as less helpful for the simple reason you are not there when required, hence get less work, get less experience and ultimately not see your career progress as it otherwise might.

J Mengele -18 May 2010 | 17:12

It is worth getting to know the Flexible Working Regulations inside out - there is a duty to consider a request in certain circumstances. But saying that, attempting to strong arm a flexible working arrangement by reference to employment law and regulations won't endear you to the partners.

I suspect if they consider you to have a unique qualities and values (sadly unlikely at 2PQE where in corporate you are expendable deal fodder) they will accommodate you, otherwise as is the fate of most lawyers in private practice servicing corporate/commercial clients your time (and more importantly the cost of your time) belongs to the firm's partners and they probably fear that home working could diminish the hours you bill.

On a wider note, you really won't get as good experience as a junior lawyer working remotely, you really have to be in the thick of things to learn and that unfortunately includes long hours. I suggest you hang in for a couple of years before going in-house or to a more congenial firm; although this is easier said than done!

In Da House -21 May 2010 | 10:20

I'm getting mixed messages here.

In the one breath you are saying that the law has taken over your life. Then you say you would like to work from home but you are not suggesting a reduction in hours. I suggest you think carefully about what it is that is really bothering you before you decide what to do next.

If you are working from home you will feel that your work really has taken over your life as you will not be going to a separate location to do it. You will also miss out on the face to face interaction that goes on in offices, which is actually very valuable at your stage in your career.

The public sector and the regions can have long hours too so don't assume it's an easy life out here. It isn't. It is true to say that many of the public bodies that take on lawyers do have meaningful work life balance policies. But they will still expect the out of hours and unsocial hours working for emergency work. You will not earn as much on the high street or in the public sector. I've just been invited to accept a pay cut that will equate my salary to what I was on 11 years ago. Rough justice.

I think you need to consider the wider question. The law is a slog. If you feel like this after two years think hard and act now. Don't be a silly bugger like me and wake up at the age of 47 wishing you had got out earlier. The older you get the harder it can feel to change.

high street solicitor -21 May 2010 | 13:57

Welcome im team

Unfortunately this seems to be very much in fashion: working impossible hours yourself and expecting anyone else to do it too... I don't know where it comes from but coming from other (European) environment I can hardly get used to it. The most annoying is that it is usually caused by the bad organisation and lack of respect. How it can be that it became normal and fully acceptable to come with the attitude: I want it and I want it NOW?

It is like you have no right to expect the contracted hours, they do not mean anything and your private life always comes second. The reward is that you can train your PA to the level that she knows more about you/your private/family life than yourself... And we better need to get used to it as I don't think that anything will change here anytime soon and the recession does not help either... good luck though to you, I have a lot of respect for anyone who actually HAS a private life in this profession.

Immigrant -15 Jun 2010 | 16:30

Law firms not output focused

Law firms are slow to embrace remote working and it is easier in some legal specialisms than others. You would need to create a business case and also think what's in it for them as well as you.

More and more people are wanting flexibility and time lost in commuting and delays impacts on productivity = lost billings. You need to create a business case for the key stakeholders in the decision and minimise the risk to them.

Maybe suggest a pilot and determine what evidence they would need to see to feel that remote working was not compromising output and what objections, actual or perceived they have to saying 'yes' that need to be overcome.

You will have more sway if you are a high performer, known as 'talent' in employer speak and they afraid of losing you.

Technology means that there are few hurdles to remote working and the younger generation want it, the hurdle to get over is the attitudes and fears of the decision makers. Good luck!

Rachel Brushfield -24 Aug 2010 | 06:13

Not flexible for those left behind in the office

I used to share a room with a lady blessed with working from home. The only flexibility came from those running around after her at all hours. The project was a failure, has never been repeated but provided a big tick in the 'we are a progressive modern firm' tick box.

Bib bab bib -01 Sep 2010 | 14:33

A compromise?

I agree with the comments saying you need to be in the office at your level of PQE to carry on learning. But does your firm issue smart tokens to allow you to log in at home? If so, perhaps you could make a case for going home and logging on some evenings, instead of staying in the office. Clearly this won't work in the thick of a deal, but might make life a little less pressurised at other times.

And shame on all the posters who say working at home doesn't work - it does, but everyone needs to be realistic about how many people, what level of seniority and how often, or those in the office can feel they are carrying more weight; and the downside for those working at home is that they often end up working harder to show that they aren't slacking. A number of associates and partners in my department regularly work at home or have done so, very successfully. Good luck!

City partner -01 Sep 2010 | 16:42