11 Tips for Working Remotely in the Legal Industry
11 Tips for Working Remotely in the Legal Industry
In this article, we discuss the massive shift the legal industry took in March 2020 to enable almost entire workforces to work from home due to Covid-19. We share our own working from home tips and discuss the ways in which work has changed.
In light of challenging times, the legal industry executed their business continuity plans. Practice Managers, Lawyers, Legal Secretaries and Administrators created home offices and implemented working from home for most staff across their law firms. Paper based systems were replaced with electronic measures where possible and meetings shifted to Zoom, Skype and Whereby.
When Covid-19 arrived, the team at Legal People had already been working at least part of the week from home offices 2 years prior. We were interviewing candidates from home, searching for passive candidates from home and managing many of our client relationships from home. We saw a definite boost in team productivity and employee engagement when we made this change to our work arrangements!
But the government-mandated work from home requirements were not normal times, with many team members dealing with children constantly at home and needing to balance caring for elderly parents. Team leaders and managers needed to consider whether their expectations of their work product or work allocation needed to be adjusted, at least in the short term. Melburnians held united and worked towards a new normal and were in it together. For the most part their clients were working under similar challenges.
Thankfully we got through the multiple Covid lockdowns and the legal industry experienced a period of innovation, creative problem solving and solidarity.
Here is a round-up of 11 tips to successfully work remotely!
1. Stay Connected with Your Team
Have virtual team meetings and catch ups. These can be done via Skype for Business, Zoom or Whereby. Consider having a way for teams to chat in real time by using technology like Microsoft Teams or Slack.
2. Keep People Informed
Stay in front of the chatter with a clear daily communication of any business wide company news or changes. Help your teams understand what is going on in your workplace, with your clients, and even in some cases with your own personal situation.
3. Check on Your Team's Mental Health
Hybrid working situations means it is more important than ever to be looking out for each other. This is relevant to team leaders, managers and colleagues. Think about anyone you are concerned about and make sure you check in with them.
4. Fun is Important
Is there a way to inject some fun in your day? Share a safe for work funny Meme, enjoy cameos of family members and pets in video chats. Is there a competition you can run? Can you do a daily quiz? Anything that helps build morale is useful.
5. Get Dressed for Work
Get out of your pyjamas. You will set yourself up for a better, more focused day if you are dressed comfortably and presentable.
6. Write Yourself a To Do List
Getting what needs to be done out of your head the night before can be helpful. Ticking things off also helps you feel like you are achieving something!
7. Set Up a Designated Work Space
It is useful to have a working area that is away from your main living area. Can you turn a spare room into an office? This can help you separate your working and family life.
8. Keep Office Hours
Stick to your regular work hours. The temptation to work outside these hours will be hard to resist. Clients and colleagues expect to be able to contact you during your working hours. If your hours are not in line with standard work hours, consider amending your email signature to reflect the hours you are working.
9. Managing Kids
Cut yourself a break with your kids. You are doing your best. Movies, screen time, video games, books and creative independent play can help you find productive work windows. Spend some time with them when you can.
10. Make Time to Relax and for Self-Care
At the end of the work day relax if you can with a family meal or catch up with a friend or colleague (virtually or in person!). Make sure you take time to get outdoors for some exercise. Or take a virtual yoga or Pilates class. Consider meditating for your mental health with an app like Smiling Minds.
11. Community is Important
Your workplace remains a community – take time to listen and to be kind to each other.
Following the unpredictable times we experienced during Covid, we learned to accept what we could not change and adapt to a new normal. We emerged from our houses after the global challenge to a different place having proved that staff can work effectively from home.
We wonder if everyone will head back to the law offices when we are over this challenge. Workplaces will have proven that virtually all staff can work from home, at least some of the time. Will we be able to get everyone back to their desks at the office?
Are you looking for a new and challenging role in the legal industry in Victoria? Legal People is your gateway to legal career opportunities. We are specialists in the Legal Industry. We recruit Lawyers, Support staff and HR professionals in Melbourne, Australia. If you enjoyed reading this article, you can follow our Company Page on LinkedIn for regular updates. To browse our currently available roles click here.
