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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

OFFICES ARE OVERRATED - Even though COVID-19 is still spreading around the globe, some law firms are mapping out their post-pandemic work arrangements. As part of its "Work Smart Plus" policy, DLA Piper has moved to allow its non-U.S. employees—including partners—to work two days per week away from the office, subject to their manager's approval, Simon Lock reports. The updated policy, which took into account lessons learned from the pandemic, won't come into effect until after the health crisis subsides. DLA Piper, however, isn't the only firm that's settled on its remote work future. In August, Linklaters enacted a policy allowing all its global employees to work remotely for up to 20-50% of their time. Many other firms, such as Slaughter and May and Davis Wright Tremaine are currently reviewing their flexible work policies as well.

FIRMS' ALSP MOMENT? – As the pandemic forces corporate legal departments to do even more with less, law firms' internal alternative legal services providers (ALSPs) are becoming more popular. Womble Bond Dickinson's GC Solutions, a contract attorney service started three years ago that offers uniform hourly rates and alternative fee arrangements specifically for corporate work, has seen billings increase 11% since March, and revenue jump 33% year over year, Meredith Hobbs reports. Jamie Francis, the Womble corporate partner who leads GC Solutions, said there's been higher demand for the ALSP to handle large internal corporate projects that budget-constrained legal departments don't have the capacity to take on themselves. While firm ALSPs are not common across the industry, a recent report found that at least 35 such entities exist among the AmLaw 100.

BIG LAW AG BUSINESS - With the Trump Administration reining in federal enforcement actions, state attorneys general have stepped up to fill the void—and many in Big Law have taken note. Once a niche area, state attorney general practices are increasingly becoming a staple for many large U.S. law firms, Dylan Jackson reports. The proliferation of these practices is also likely to continue no matter who wins the White House this November. While state attorneys general have recently become more active and emboldened, their strength and visibility have been steadily growing over the past two decades. Still, lawyers caution that the demands of a state attorney general practice are unique and can't just be met by regulatory, commercial litigation or antitrust attorneys.

EDITOR'S PICKS

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