Times Are-a-Chagin'  

Originally published by Chambers Associates - Career Moves Blog on 02.08.21

By Sean Burke

Times are a-changin!  It’s been a tough year, but things are looking up.  We thought we would take this moment to take a positive outlook on some cultural trends in legal. First, while BigLaw has always been a liberal bastion (with the exception of a few outliers), BigLaw has stepped up its game even further. 2020 saw more campaign contributions to Democratic and progressive candidates and a greater proportion of pro bono hours and commitment to liberal causes than ever before. Second, while not at the same level as their CEO counterparts, law firm leaders have been more outspoken about the need for greater diversity and inclusion. And it’s not just all lip service, as recruiters we’ve seen real effort by our clients to be more inclusive in their interviewing and hiring practices. Mental health is no longer a bad word or a sign of weakness – firms are openly discussing mental health as a priority and at least trying to address it. Openness to working remotely, flexible work schedules, less face time in the office, different office floor plans with open floor space and smaller but more egalitarian private offices – there have been a lot of positive changes as we enter 2021, and here’s to hoping the progressive trends continue!