The New Legal Workplace

Remote lawyering, which really took off during the pandemic, is now becoming a smarter, more flexible way to practise. Culture and tech have made it viable for serious legal professionals to practise remotely, finding the sweet spot between ambition and autonomy. 

Here, we explore what it looks like in practical terms — and why it’s become so popular. 

Why Remote Work Works for Lawyers

It’s no news to anybody that the legal environment is often a high-pressure and fast-moving one. Remote working options offer lawyers the kind of benefits that complement their work, including:

• Autonomy: Lawyers can execute their roles in ways that work for them as educated professionals.
• Work-life balance: The flexibility of remote working encourages lawyers to more effectively manage professional priorities according to their individual needs while enjoying a thriving and intellectually satisfying career. 
• Productivity: Remote working often comes with fewer distractions and reduced commute stress, meaning you get more work done more efficiently.
• Geographic flexibility: Lawyers can choose to live outside big city law hubs without compromising quality of service and professional development. 

The lawyers at PMC Legal, a fully remote boutique law firm, can organise their time in blocks. That means managing their work from city locations such as Sydney and Melbourne, as well as regional areas including the Snowy Mountains or even internationally to meet family needs and demands. 

There are, however, certain skills an individual must possess to excel in a remote working environment.

Key Skills That Help Remote Lawyers Thrive

Beyond professional competency, here are the top four skills lawyers lean on in a remote working environment:

• Self-management and accountability for completing work professionally within reasonable deadlines. 
• Proactive communication with colleagues and clients to ensure client demands are clearly and accurately met.
• Technical fluency and the ability to keep abreast of legal and regulatory developments, maintain professional skills and the competency and desire to master the required software and tools that underpin remote working. 
• Collaboration with teams, especially in the absence of a shared physical space. 

Remote practice rewards initiative and clarity, which are essential qualities to practise anywhere. 

How Do Remote Law Firms Support Lawyers?

Remote firms like PMC Legal support lawyers in the following ways:

• Relationship-first, supportive approach: Professionals build collaborative relationships with other lawyers and clients alike.
• Genuine flexibility: Flexibility in location and working times enables lawyers to balance their personal and professional priorities. 
• Transparent and rewarding remuneration structures: Most workers (55%) aren’t prepared to sacrifice salary to work from home. PMC Legal rewards lawyers differently, offering flexibility without requiring a pay cut. In fact, remote working can reduce law firm overheads, allowing more upside to be shared with team members.
• Independence and empowerment: Lawyers are encouraged to build their own business within the business. 
• Tech set-ups: Cloud-based tools such as SharePoint, Teams, Zoom, Slack, Trello and Loom facilitate real-time communication and collaboration.

Seeking a More Flexible Career in Law?

PMC Legal is a fully remote and flexible law firm for experts in financial services law who value their autonomy as much as they do their ambition. If you’re a senior lawyer seeking a more flexible approach to your career, connect with us to discuss pathways and opportunities.  

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