Zoom video conference call. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Law firms in Australia continue to reopen offices but many lawyers are choosing to continue to work from home and most clients are sticking to virtual meetings.

Many firms have already repopulated their offices in Perth, as Western Australia is leading the other states in lifting work and travel restrictions imposed as a result of the spread of COVID-19.

The Perth office of U.K.-headquartered Ashurst is "fully open" and about 60% to 70% of staff have been working in the office for the past two weeks, although they can choose to stay away.

Clients are mostly holding remote meetings, although there have been some meetings in the office.

"We have already proven that working remotely works. Most clients currently prefer to hold virtual meetings, which reduces the need for staff to be present in the office," Perth office managing partner Gaelan Cooney said in a statement.

"While we are pleased to see staff return to the office, we are also using this opportunity to build on the flexibility we have embraced in recent months."

Norton Rose Fulbright is taking a similar approach.

"Our engagement with clients continues to be predominately through digital channels, such as Zoom video meetings and webinars, but we are also preparing to welcome clients back to our offices where appropriate and in a way that protects both their health and that of our people," managing partner-elect Alison Deitz said.

The firm opened several offices for its "advance party" workforce starting May 25. Numbers ranged from 5% to 15% of staff and included people identified through a firm survey who were particularly eager to return to the office.

"This month and next, we expect to see an increasing number of staff returning on an alternating, two-team basis," Deitz said.

Australia is now recording only a small number of new COVID-19 cases a day. As of Friday afternoon, the country said 11 new cases were diagnosed in the past 24 hours, but 10 of those were in hotel quarantine. Only 23 people with the virus are currently hospitalized, including two people on ventilators.

So far a total of 7,251 Australians have been diagnosed with the virus and 102 people have died.

The government of Victoria this week said people who had been working from home must continue to do so for at least all of June for fear of a second outbreak of COVID-19—a move that could push back some firms' plans to reopen in Melbourne.

"Our return will be informed by the guidance from the Victorian government," Clayton Utz said in a statement. "We are currently working towards a staggered return to the office to commence no sooner than 6 July 2020."

Some staff at the firm's Sydney office will return to work starting June 15 in Step 1 of the firm's plan to reopen its offices. "Our message to people while Step 1 is still in place is to continue to work from home unless there is a critical business or personal need to work from the office," the firm said.

Clayton Utz's offices in Perth and Brisbane began a Step 1 phased return May 25 with a maximum of 30% of staff on any one floor at a time. The firm expects to move to 50% capacity next week.

Australian firm Allens reopened its Perth office two weeks ago but only about 10% of lawyers are working there at any one time, a spokesperson said. As with other firms, meetings are mostly online.