Four months into our new practice and faced with hundreds of thousands of pages of discovery, my partner Mary and I needed the assistance of a few contract attorneys. We interviewed and contracted with two incredibly accomplished female attorneys—both of whom had young children and wanted to stay connected to the legal profession. One was living in New York and the other in Tennessee. We all connected on a Zoom call to discuss the case. During the call, one of the attorneys held her newborn baby.  

We could not help but think how wonderful it was to be able to work with these women and also give them the opportunity to utilize their legal skills without jeopardizing other parts of their lives. I doubt this opportunity would have presented itself pre-pandemic.  

I am not suggesting that offices are obsolete. But I do think that we can recognize that traditional models of big offices and long commutes may not be ideal for many talented professionals.  This is an opportune time to seek out and implement policies that promote greater flexibility within our profession and in society. What opportunities have opened up for you?