Law firms push for in-office attendance
updated on 17 November 2025
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Law firms Goodwin Proctor LLP, Cooley LLP and Dechert LLP have all recently mandated new return-to-office policies, starting in 2026, meaning staff are required to work in the office for a minimum of four days weekly.
At Goodwin Procter, employees in the UK will now be seeing a change from the previous three-day work week to a four-day one from January. According to The Times, most of the firm’s employees across Europe and Asia have already started working on a five-day office week.
Goodwin Procter’s global managing partner, Mark Bettencourt, and chief operating officer, Mary O’Carroll, both emphasised the need for: "Connectivity, collaboration, learning, and showing up with and for each other with intention."
Cooley is also set to start a new four-day policy in January. Previously, it allowed for work flexibility and had no mandate for office days. Meanwhile, Dechert’s new policy has been organised by seniority. According to Reuters, second-year associates and business services professionals are expected to be in four days a week, third-year associates and counsel will have a three-day requirement, while partners have been asked to come in four days weekly. Co-chairs Dave Forti and Mark Thierfelder stated: "When together in person, we collaborate better, our junior team members benefit more from coaching, and we can more effectively respond to client needs".
This change follows a wider trend of the reduction of flexible working among major US law firms, with firms such as Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP; Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom; Ropes & Gray LLP; Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP; and Vinson & Elkins RLLP introducing similar policies back in 2023.
