After holding out for quite some time, one of Biglaw’s top firms has decided to switch up its office attendance policy, and will soon begin requiring attorneys to work from the office four days each week.
On Friday, associates at Paul Weiss — a firm whose revenue jumped by 31.6% to $2.63 billion in 2024 — were informed that starting on April 30, they’d have to work from the office Monday through Thursday each week. It was just the day before that Brad Karp, the firm’s chair, told the American Lawyer that “[w]hile all attorneys are required to be in the office a minimum of three days per week, most come in more frequently.” My, how quickly things change in a day’s time. Am Law has additional details on the firm’s move:
Paul Weiss employees will have the option of working remotely on Fridays, according to a statement that emphasized the importance of in-person collaboration. “By being physically present together, we better develop our talent and ensure that we continue to deliver the level of extraordinary service that our clients expect,” the firm stated.
Paul Weiss now joins the likes of Davis Polk; Latham; Ropes & Gray; Simpson Thacher; Skadden; Vinson & Elkins; and Weil Gotshal in its four-day, in-person attendance policy. Sullivan & Cromwell has taken its attendance policy one step further, requiring attorneys to work from the office five days each week.
Sources tell Above the Law that Paul Weiss is offering a “remote option” for attorneys at the end of August (August 18-29), the week of Thanksgiving (November 24-28), and at the end of December through the holidays (December 22-January 2).
Best of luck to associates at Paul Weiss as they adjust to their new lives at the end of April, which will be mostly spent at the office.
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Paul Weiss to Require 4 Days of Weekly Office Attendance [American Lawyer]
Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Bluesky, X/Twitter, and Threads, or connect with her on LinkedIn.
