We are in the midst of a global paradigm shift. The meaning of the "office" has forever changed because minds have changed. For law firms, the office was historically the place where lawyers performed work. The pandemic changed that — first by physically changing it, then by creating a change of mind about work.

Because of this change of mind, lawyers and professionals — as part of negotiating the returning to the office — are busy deconstructing "work" into its many smaller components in an effort to redefine where these activities ought to take place. Some of these components, it is argued, are better suited for the solo office at home and some are better suited for the social setting of the office.