The office space needs of law firms, like other industries, are evolving as firms seek new ways to adapt to changing work environments. While remote work has gained popularity, it is not always an effective solution for lawyers. Legal work often benefits from collaboration, particularly when lawyers from diverse practice areas and levels of experience can discuss and analyze legal issues together. Law schools have long emphasized the value of collaborative learning through methods like the Socratic method, which encourages discussion and inquiry, recognizing that legal questions often do not have clear, singular answers. For junior lawyers, this collaborative environment is essential for their professional development, as they can gain insights and guidance from more experienced colleagues.

When I started in the private practice of law in 1996, I worked in large Philadelphia law firms and felt not only gratitude but also relief to have so many experienced attorneys around me to bounce questions off of and generally learn how to analyze legal issues and practice law. During those early years I was told that it takes five years before a young lawyer will really start to see the bigger picture and practice with confidence and, looking back, I can attest that those postulators were right. Even today, after practicing for close to 30 years, I still find it extremely helpful to collaborate with other lawyers to hone my approach to legal issues and make sure I am seeing every potential angle.