FOUR-DAY TRIAL - Thousands of workers across the U.K. have this month started working a four-day week as part of a nationwide trial, Law.com International’s Hannah Walker reports. Thought to provide significant benefits to well-being, productivity, revenue, as well as the environment, it’s a concept that is taking off in other European nations, such as Belgium. The trial, which started last week, involves around 3,300 workers at 70 companies who will enjoy a four-day week with no effect on pay. But can a four-day week fit within the confines of the hyper-competitive legal industry, where meeting client needs and round-the-clock availability have been prioritized for so long? Has the advent of flexible working enabled industry leaders to rethink what is possible? Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s plenty of skepticism. As one London partner at an elite U.K. firm said: “Realistically for some people it may work. But does it work well? Not really, you end up doing more on those four days than five and would probably still end up working over.”

WHAT YOU SAID

“Too often, we see defense counsel—sometimes even including enforcement alums—engage in conduct that seems to have little purpose other than to delay our investigations. When we see counsel repeatedly encountering unexplained issues that delay productions across different clients and matters, it undermines both our process and trust between counsel and investigative staff.”

— Gurbir Grewal, SEC enforcement director, delivering a speech at the Securities Enforcement Forum West in Silicon Valley.

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