Lawful change

Q: If workers are demanding a hybrid working pattern, how can CRE support a mix of home/office working without resulting in empty workspaces on certain days (Mondays/Fridays)?

“Feedback from law firm clients has indicated that they envisage a working pattern whereby lawyers will come into the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays to mitigate less favourable commuting patterns. This has become more of a concern for Legal Real Estate leaders who want to avoid ‘bottleneck occupancy’ and empty or under-utilised space on other days of the week. We see some law firms implementing social team initiatives and food and beverage benefits to encourage a more even distribution of office-based work across the week.

Although law firms are engaging with their workforce to agree or prescribe new working patterns, we can’t lose sight that patterns will also be affected by individual firm and team practice requirements. It seems very unlikely that a ‘one size fits all’ solution will emerge. Flexibility and a clear understanding of the trade-offs involved will be critical.”

Q: Are you detecting any cultural/demographic workplace trends within the sector?

“We see both a cultural and demographic workplace contrast within the Legal sector. From a cultural perspective, workplace trends have been dictated by differing government directives across the globe. For example, lawyers have been deemed ‘critical services’ in Europe and parts of America, which has encouraged higher office occupancy levels than in the UK. City infrastructure, such as in Singapore, has also impacted workplace trends. Some of our Law Firm clients stated that the home working environment and lack of space have encouraged lawyers to return to the office.

From a demographic and work role perspective, we see a split in behaviours. Partners have sometimes struggled with new or unusual working arrangements. Some of our law firm clients have indicated that they have adapted more readily to working from home than envisaged. Still, they will continue to use the office as restrictions ease.

By contrast, at Associate Solicitor level, family needs have dominated future office occupancy decisions, whilst trainee solicitors want to get back into the office most regularly to benefit from shared learning practices as a more conducive working environment.

Business support roles in the fee-earning space have mostly adapted well to working from home. This will only accelerate the need for digital technology enhancements in the Legal sector to support with digitalising postal services, archiving, secretarial tasks and other administrative services.”

Q: Does your research suggest healthy buildings, particularly regarding air quality, is seeing a surge in demand?

“Enhancing the experience of a workspace is one of the key ways to attract and retain talent. Providing good indoor environmental air quality is one way of achieving this – an area that has gained focus amongst our law firm clients due to the pandemic. This has been to ensure that ventilation systems are not just a contributing factor in controlling the spread of the virus and recognising that improved indoor air quality is of growing importance to employee satisfaction and performance.

Measuring indoor air quality is vital in ensuring that pollutants are identified, enabling adequate levels of incoming fresh air and the reduction or elimination of internal sources of pollutants. Our engineers have been undertaking work with our major law firm clients to facilitate indoor air quality improvements via changes to air handling units and enhanced monitoring of air quality. These activities also support a move to a more formal recognition of environmental management and control through the WELL accreditation(ii).”

FURTHER INFORMATION

CBRE’s EMEA Legal insight report detailing future workplace strategies will be published on the CBRE research website: www.cbre.co.uk/research-and-reports