San Diego

Law firms have been among the slowest industries to adopt new workplace strategies, according to the 2018 Law Firm Workplace Survey from BDO Corporate Real Estate Advisory Services. The survey shows that only 8% of law firms have adopted open or flexible seating options and none use third-party office or co-working spaces to augment their current office configurations. Additionally, law firms occupy 30% more space per employee than office users in other industries.

“Cultural change is more acute within law firms, whose affinity for traditional ways of working remains strong,” David Bradford, managing director in BDO's Corporate Real Estate Advisory Services, tells GlobeSt.com. “There are generational factors impacting the rate of adoption. The older generation of partners, who remain very influential as part of firm leadership, view space as a right and perk. It is a sense of accomplishment to have the “corner office” as opposed to taking a more holistic view point in understanding how employees truly work.”

While law firms have been slow to adopt new workplace strategies, the industry is changing. Lifestyle and amenitized office spaces have been proven to increase efficiency and productivity. “Numerous influential factors including generational shifts, technologies, downward margin pressure and new industry entrants have all placed pressure on law firms to challenge how costs are incurred,” explains Bradford. “Real estate and workplace operations remain the second largest expense to law firms after employees, and workplace strategy is gaining more attention.”