Objectively intelligent.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

d.n.?

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

d.n.?

[Adder]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Minutes after DeBlasio dicklicker announced opening up.

"By [June date] employees currently working remotely are expected to return to the office."

Sure, but please forward my emails to D.N.

What Hank said, but I also don't understand their attitude at all. For us, after a month or two of dead stop a year ago, things have been going crazy, with people mostly at home. Our (not biglaw) actually announced almost biglaw sized extraordinary bonuses for associates that billed almost biglaw-like hours during our about to end fiscal year. If one thing has been made obvious, it's that lawyers don't need to be in offices within a block of each other to make money.

That said, had the second jab last week and have a matter that's going to grow into more work than has been the case, so will probably start going back next week, but going to be even less tethered to face time than I ever was (he says as someone who mostly kinda sorta works for himself).

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Adder

What Hank said, but I also don't understand their attitude at all. For us, after a month or two of dead stop a year ago, things have been going crazy, with people mostly at home. Our (not biglaw) actually announced almost biglaw sized extraordinary bonuses for associates that billed almost biglaw-like hours during our about to end fiscal year. If one thing has been made obvious, it's that lawyers don't need to be in offices within a block of each other to make money.

That said, had the second jab last week and have a matter that's going to grow into more work than has been the case, so will probably start going back next week, but going to be even less tethered to face time than I ever was (he says as someone who mostly kinda sorta works for himself).

Email said this:

"Coming back to the office facilitates comradery, the constant exchange of ideas and better communication."

This is what happens when the office is run by boomers who don't do the work.

Plaintiffs' firms don't have productivity standards. And for plaintiffs' firms with nontraditional structures, the only standard is whether you are there when the boss is.

It's stupid, especially when precorona you were out doing deps or in court, and couldn't be in the office.

Here's the question: if you go into the office and work, but no one sees you, did you really work?

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally Posted by Adder

What Hank said, but I also don't understand their attitude at all. For us, after a month or two of dead stop a year ago, things have been going crazy, with people mostly at home. Our (not biglaw) actually announced almost biglaw sized extraordinary bonuses for associates that billed almost biglaw-like hours during our about to end fiscal year. If one thing has been made obvious, it's that lawyers don't need to be in offices within a block of each other to make money.

That said, had the second jab last week and have a matter that's going to grow into more work than has been the case, so will probably start going back next week, but going to be even less tethered to face time than I ever was (he says as someone who mostly kinda sorta works for himself).

I'm moving over the mountains from my office, if I can find a house there.

[Greedy,Greedy,Greedy]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Minutes after DeBlasio dicklicker announced opening up.

"By [June date] employees currently working remotely are expected to return to the office."

Sure, but please forward my emails to D.N.

I predict "reopening" will be problematic for a lot of law offices. Expect a "sure, Jan" response from a lot of associates, who know they are in demand and can go elsewhere, and from a pretty sizable group of partners.

So reopening is going to be followed by a lot of management emails cajoling, threatening, begging, and bribing folks to come back all the time, which will be greatly amusing.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

Email said this:

"Coming back to the office facilitates comradery, the constant exchange of ideas and better communication."

This is what happens when the office is run by boomers who don't do the work.

Plaintiffs' firms don't have productivity standards. And for plaintiffs' firms with nontraditional structures, the only standard is whether you are there when the boss is.

It's stupid, especially when precorona you were out doing deps or in court, and couldn't be in the office.

Here's the question: if you go into the office and work, but no one sees you, did you really work?

My office has 50 employees. Since July I go in every day, mostly because I have trouble focusing at home. There are about 8 of 25 attorneys in most days, an office manager and an occasional secretary; So about 20% capacity. I do not believe there have been any Covid cases among those who are coming in.

I don't think work has suffered here, but we are slow. Our work is heavily based upon patenting for major companies. They are almost all work from home, except for production. But here's the thing, innovation has slowed waaaaayyyyy down. Turns out sitting across the table at lunch or just talking shit in your office drives collaboration and generates ideas.

Can people learn to replace that on Zoom? Maybe. Our clients are asking us if other clients have developed any ways to drive innovation across a computer screen. (One thing for sure is you need video on. 1/2 the people keep it off and I can see that stifles interaction.)

I wonder if companies in the "more open" states that are back in the office might get a big boost over the next few years for driving newer/better products?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Adder

What Hank said, but I also don't understand their attitude at all. For us, after a month or two of dead stop a year ago, things have been going crazy, with people mostly at home. Our (not biglaw) actually announced almost biglaw sized extraordinary bonuses for associates that billed almost biglaw-like hours during our about to end fiscal year. If one thing has been made obvious, it's that lawyers don't need to be in offices within a block of each other to make money.

That said, had the second jab last week and have a matter that's going to grow into more work than has been the case, so will probably start going back next week, but going to be even less tethered to face time than I ever was (he says as someone who mostly kinda sorta works for himself).

We've been going in one day a week on a staggered basis since February. I think this is going to last awhile because a lot of us have shown to being more productive at home than we were in the office. I know I certainly am. I do not at all miss a lot of the office aspects, and it turns out if I can walk around a lot when I'm on the phone, I'm thinking better. It's in no one's interest for me to be pacing up and down the halls while talking through issues with a team of clinicians.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Greedy,Greedy,Greedy

I predict "reopening" will be problematic for a lot of law offices. Expect a "sure, Jan" response from a lot of associates, who know they are in demand and can go elsewhere, and from a pretty sizable group of partners.

So reopening is going to be followed by a lot of management emails cajoling, threatening, begging, and bribing folks to come back all the time, which will be greatly amusing.

About a month ago, I got a headhunting inquiry via LinkedIn from a company wanting me to move. I sent a polite, nah. Two weeks later, they came back saying "hey, it's remote now with a commitment to fly in parodically." I said ok, let's talk and sent a resume. Having heard nothing, I asked about it yesterday, and got a "we've pulled the job because we're trying to figure this out, but please don't go anywhere."

I think a lot of companies are going to be going through a version of this in the next few months/years. I'm absolutely keeping this in mind if my work is insistent on full time back in the office.

And I think any contractor thinking about building houses going forward absolutely needs to consider working spaces in anything they build.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

My office has 50 employees. Since July I go in every day, mostly because I have trouble focusing at home. There are about 8 of 25 attorneys in most days, an office manager and an occasional secretary; So about 20% capacity. I do not believe there have been any Covid cases among those who are coming in.

I don't think work has suffered here, but we are slow. Our work is heavily based upon patenting for major companies. They are almost all work from home, except for production. But here's the thing, innovation has slowed waaaaayyyyy down. Turns out sitting across the table at lunch or just talking shit in your office drives collaboration and generates ideas.

Can people learn to replace that on Zoom? Maybe. Our clients are asking us if other clients have developed any ways to drive innovation across a computer screen. (One thing for sure is you need video on. 1/2 the people keep it off and I can see that stifles interaction.)

I wonder if companies in the "more open" states that are back in the office might get a big boost over the next few years for driving newer/better products?

Three in a row!

Our tech transfer/sponsored projects people are SUPER busy right now, and I've been doing a ton of data deals to the point we're developing new processes for getting those done quickly. Our campus is pretty closed, except for the clinical folk, right now.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

Three in a row!

Our tech transfer/sponsored projects people are SUPER busy right now, and I've been doing a ton of data deals to the point we're developing new processes for getting those done quickly. Our campus is pretty closed, except for the clinical folk, right now.

Yeah, our busiest client now is a big medical company. But it is in Florida and they work in the office. And your tech ideas are from doctors? They likely are in the office?

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

My office has 50 employees. Since July I go in every day, mostly because I have trouble focusing at home. There are about 8 of 25 attorneys in most days, an office manager and an occasional secretary; So about 20% capacity. I do not believe there have been any Covid cases among those who are coming in.

I don't think work has suffered here, but we are slow. Our work is heavily based upon patenting for major companies. They are almost all work from home, except for production. But here's the thing, innovation has slowed waaaaayyyyy down. Turns out sitting across the table at lunch or just talking shit in your office drives collaboration and generates ideas.

Can people learn to replace that on Zoom? Maybe. Our clients are asking us if other clients have developed any ways to drive innovation across a computer screen. (One thing for sure is you need video on. 1/2 the people keep it off and I can see that stifles interaction.)

I wonder if companies in the "more open" states that are back in the office might get a big boost over the next few years for driving newer/better products?

I don't have problems focusing at home. Rather, it's concentrated work without interruption except from the lap cat or occasional squirrel at the door. I do have a problem focusing at work because the "interaction" is just 70 IQ lawyers coming into my office to ask stupid fucking questions that any idiot who knew how to google could figure out. The smart productive people know how to get shit done, whether it is in an office, on the shitter, or on a plane. The other ones are the ones who need babysitting, coaching, whatever. Fuck those sods.

For me, "in-office interaction" is a one-way flow of ideas from me to other limp-dick motherfuckers.

[Icky Thump]

Originally Posted by Replaced_Texan

About a month ago, I got a headhunting inquiry via LinkedIn from a company wanting me to move. I sent a polite, nah. Two weeks later, they came back saying "hey, it's remote now with a commitment to fly in parodically." I said ok, let's talk and sent a resume. Having heard nothing, I asked about it yesterday, and got a "we've pulled the job because we're trying to figure this out, but please don't go anywhere."

I think a lot of companies are going to be going through a version of this in the next few months/years. I'm absolutely keeping this in mind if my work is insistent on full time back in the office.

And I think any contractor thinking about building houses going forward absolutely needs to consider working spaces in anything they build.

I have had soft inquiries daily from competing firms. "How's the office? They treating you OK? You had enough?" My only problem is that I don't want to work at all for anyone.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Hank Chinaski

Yeah, our busiest client now is a big medical company. But it is in Florida and they work in the office. And your tech ideas are from doctors? They likely are in the office?

Doctors and scientists. Some are, some aren't. The public health and informatics people aren't really in the office. The med school, dental school folk are.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally Posted by Icky Thump

I don't have problems focusing at home. Rather, it's concentrated work without interruption except from the lap cat or occasional squirrel at the door. I do have a problem focusing at work because the "interaction" is just 70 IQ lawyers coming into my office to ask stupid fucking questions that any idiot who knew how to google could figure out. The smart productive people know how to get shit done, whether it is in an office, on the shitter, or on a plane. The other ones are the ones who need babysitting, coaching, whatever. Fuck those sods.

For me, "in-office interaction" is a one-way flow of ideas from me to other limp-dick motherfuckers.

I was HUGELY productive in the weeks we'd been out of the house because of our plumbing fiasco (fixed now). I was using a home office that had been designed for working comfortably. At home, I'm on a desk in my dining room/kitchen. I am probably going to use that home office two or three days a week going forward.