Law firms thinking about pulling the trigger on that new shipment of laptops better be prepared to wait in line. As legal teams brace for the wave of employees returning to the office after more than a year of working from home, they may find that the pandemic-driven supply chain disruptions that have roiled other parts of the global economy are making it harder to update common office tools such as computers, headsets or microphones. 

Michael Shea, chief information officer at McDermott Will & Emery, noted that laptops in particular have become particularly hard to come by thanks to a worldwide chip shortage. Finding available web cameras, speakers and headphones has also become more of a challenge as the firm welcomes attorneys back to the office or looks to equip new hires.