Working from home: What is the impact for junior lawyers?

Junior Lawyers Division

Working from home: What is the impact for junior lawyers?

Cobi working from home on her repurposed dining table.

“what is the best way for me to learn and how do I communicate this to the appropriate person”

The concept of remote or hybrid working presents new challenges and opportunities for junior lawyers across all sectors including adjusting to remote supervision; considering how best to raise one’s profile in-person and via online platforms; maintaining a healthy-work life balance and understanding how these changes may affect our career progression. I look at some of the key issues junior lawyers should be considering.

Remote supervision

Mentorship and supervision are key in providing a solid foundation in any newly entered legal practice area. Although employers set out strategies for how its organisation will implement supervision policies, it is important for junior lawyers to stop and consider “what is the best way for me to learn and how do I communicate this to the appropriate person”. Aswe look ahead, engagement from junior lawyers is essential in establishing best practice for remote supervision. It is currently in its infancy or experimental stage, however now is the time for junior lawyers to be proactive in communicating their short and long term needs around work supervision. Organisations can only implement strategies or provide solutions to problems that they are aware of, so it is crucial that those subject to remote supervision take the initiative in starting a dialogue with their employers, discussing their experiences thus far and what changes they would like to see. You might raise concerns with line managers at ‘121’s, initiate a wider discussion with other junior lawyers within your team, engage with local law societies or seek advice from The Law Society’s Junior Lawyer Division or Council Members representing junior lawyers 0-6 years PQE*. Communication equals change and so it is vital that junior lawyers speak out to ensure their opinions are an integral part of the discussions at management level on remote supervision.

Raising your profile

A benefit of the changes in how we work is the opportunities afforded by virtual networking which has encouraged junior lawyers to consider alternative methods of raising their profile and networking with peers. Although many people enjoy the traditional in-person networking, virtual networking provides a new way for junior lawyers to broaden their network beyond their locality to a national or even international level by simply clicking “join meeting”. The reduction of in-person events over the last two years may have changed the way in which we make personal connections, but our ability to continue building relationships with other legal professionals remains. Junior lawyers now find themselves in a position to cast our (networking) nets beyond the geographical area in which we are located in a way that has never been seen before.

Mental health and well being

Hybrid working not only introduces a method of dual working but also brings a new way of “dual living”. For example, what was once my dining table is now my office desk fully equipped with a computer screen, keypad and printer (with my table mats seeming to have made their way into permanent storage). What used to be a clear distinction between work life and home life has for many junior lawyers seemingly blurred to varying degrees depending on one’s personal circumstances. However, no matter what arrangements each of us have in place or what our individual circumstances are, it is still recommendedto carry out regular mental health and well-being checks on ourselves to ensure that the new way that we work still allows for a healthy work/life balance.

The new normal for junior lawyers

There will always be a difference in opinion between those who have a preference towards the old versus the new way of working but it looks very likely that hybrid working may be the new normal for junior lawyers. Keeping informed and taking the initiative with any changes in how we work is key to any successful career progression.

Cobi Bonani

Associate at specialist planning law firm Town Legal LLP

*You can contact the JLD Council Members and Chairs of Junior Lawyers Division through LinkedIn.

Council Members

Cobi Bonani

Lizzy Lim

Baljinder Singh Atwal

Jonathan Andrews

Junior Lawyers Division

Suzanna Eames (Chair of JLD)

Darja Cernobrivec (Vice Chair of JLD)