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By this point, we're all starting to recognise that remote working is becoming par for the course, as law firms have had to quickly adapt in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's uncertain as to how long we will be working from home, but it has already become our 'new normal'. Of course, some law firms and alternative legal service providers were already practising more modern working styles than others, but the large-scale enforcement of working from home has meant the traditional working structures that persisted at some businesses have been well and truly shaken up.

Law firms reluctant to allow remote working on a regular basis have been forced to jump right into the deep end, casting aside their previous concerns around flexible working. In many cases, home-working is now key to business continuity. Law firms are now seeing that their lawyers can work productively and effectively from home, and hopefully this confidence will last long beyond the pandemic.

It is highly likely that this will alter the way we work forever and that traditional working practices across the profession will change.

Money and resource has been invested in ensuring lawyers have the software and tools they need to provide the same support to clients as they would do in the office. At such a difficult time, clients are in need of guidance and reassurance and are looking to their lawyers as one source of this. It's therefore imperative that law firms are able to offer their clients a range of ways to remain connected and still receive 'facetime.'

It is highly likely that this will alter the way we work forever and that traditional working practices across the profession will change.

While it may be seen as a big initial investment at this time, the cost-saving benefits will certainly be felt down the line. For example, firms may decide they don't need quite such large commercial office spaces/buildings if more people are going to work from home in the longer term.

Now clients know that meetings can be conducted over video call (and effectively so), there will be less need for international travel – which of course saves money and reduces a firm's carbon footprint. These sorts of savings will have a huge impact on some firms' bottom lines in a few years' time.

Firms may decide they don't need quite such large commercial office spaces/buildings if more people are going to work from home in the longer term.

Many will doubtless be jumping at the chance to get back into the office and back into their normal routine, perhaps grabbing their morning coffee on the way in! But it will be with an increasing degree of flexibility and with confidence from employers that staff can work effectively from anywhere – whether that be in the office,  a local café, or at home. Lawyers may feel a powerful effect from not having to commute each day and having more time with family.

Of course, for many, working from home doesn't come without its challenges. There are potential disadvantages as well as advantages, especially under the current guidelines where leaving home is restricted. A key component of a healthy work-life balance is being able to properly 'switch off' and transition from home to work-life and vice versa. If people are not used to doing this, it's easy for the boundaries to become blurred and this is where self-discipline becomes particularly important. There are plenty of tips available online, especially now, to help people achieve the right balance.

There are also challenges for those at the very beginning of their career in law – many new lawyers are having to get to grips with a world of work that's new even to us, and this is exacerbated by juniors not having their team physically around them (which is often of paramount importance to learning and development) . Encouragingly, I have seen many senior lawyers putting in place measures to ensure that their junior lawyers are getting the support and training they need – for example via video conferences that allow them to work alongside their seniors.  So while this is definitely an area to keep our eye on, we've made the right start.

In summary, these are – as it is frequently said – unprecedented times and everyone is doing their best to grapple with the new landscape. But like with any challenge, there are positives to be found. Even if it takes years to feel the full effects of the change, it's already clear that we won't be returning to the same workplace we left behind.

We all have to adjust to new practices and some of these will stay with us as we return to normal life, which will bring a number of benefits in the future.

Matthew Kay is managing director of Pinsent Masons' flexi-lawyer service Vario. 

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