As temperatures soar this summer, leading law firm Covington & Burling has introduced a new office attendance policy, requiring its attorneys to work from the office four days a week. The firm, which reported a gross revenue of approximately $1.75 billion in 2024, ranks 31st on the Am Law 100 list. This policy shift aligns Covington with other major law firms that have recently tightened their in-office attendance rules.

According to sources cited by Law.com, Covington’s attorneys are now expected to be present in the office from Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays. This new arrangement also includes the firm's staff in its London office, emphasizing a unified approach across geographies.

To facilitate this transition, Covington is offering its staff up to two weeks of remote work in August, although this concession comes with strings attached. Remote working must not affect the attorneys’ availability, sticking closely to the firm’s operational policies.

Covington joins an extensive list of high-profile law firms that have implemented similar attendance policies post-pandemic. Firms like Davis Polk, Latham, Paul Weiss, and Skadden have set similar standards, while Sullivan & Cromwell has gone a step further by requiring five days of in-office work each week.

This move by Covington is part of a broader trend where major law firms are recalibrating their work models to blend pre-pandemic norms with the newfound flexibility discovered during global lockdowns. The legal industry, known for its demanding work culture, is seeking a balance that maintains high productivity and client service while also considering the work-life balance of its workforce.

Employees at Covington are encouraged to adapt to these changes, which will see them spending the majority of their workweek at the office. The firm hopes that this structure will enhance collaboration and mentoring opportunities that are more challenging to replicate in a remote working environment.

For more insights and updates on office attendance policies across various firms, legal professionals and industry observers are encouraged to keep a close watch on developments. Covington’s policy details and the wider industry trends provide a compelling glimpse into the evolving landscape of legal work culture in the post-pandemic era.