Coronavirus, remote working and the virtual law firm

Businesses globally are being severely impacted by Coronavirus, with Italy now entirely locked down, rising cases being reported and many companies actioning work from home policies to minimise the potential business impact. 

Remote working is easier for some firms and companies than it is for others. Either way, as many companies begin to accelerate getting their 'ducks in a row' in so far as flexible working policies are concerned, we have rounded up some of our key content relating to the "flexi-lawyer" and managing change.

Please see our dedicated Covid-19 blog for the latest content. 

Is flexible working the answer to stress in the legal profession?

Is flexible working the answer to stress in the legal profession?

“Some love the corporate environment: the after-work beers, the client dinners, the sense of belonging. “I hated that,” says Jack Celand, who trained at a top 10 UK law firm. “I couldn’t wait to get home after work. My body felt ruined from all the stress and strong coffee.”

Others agree. “There’s talk of burnout but people stick with it because it’s a long process getting the job,” says 28-year-old lawyer Olivia Smith.

The future of work 2025: Mobility, culture and the flexi-lawyer

The future of work 2025: Mobility, culture and the flexi-lawyer

The workplace of 2025 will look very different to what we see today. As legal teams and corporates start to navigate the changes of the workplace, we are considering the lawyer’s role of 2025, and how the industry might be impacted overall.

As addressed previously by LexisNexis, advances in legal tech, automation and AI are likely to alter the work of a lawyer substantially—but not necessarily in a negative way.

The future of work 2025: Navigating workplace change

The future of work 2025: navigating workplace change

The pace and rate at which our world (and workplaces) have changed in the past three decades has been tremendous. And there’s no sign things are slowing down.

So, what does this mean for the future of work, particularly in the legal space?

Further reading on Coronavirus

Coronavirus and corporate financial performance

Coronavirus and corporate financial performance

With the continued increase in the incidence and geographical range of coronavirus (covid-19) cases, global markets have responded as investor concern continues to rise. Multinational companies with complex cross-border supply chains appear to be particularly unprepared for the impact on their business and financial performance.

On 13 February, the International Energy Agency predicted oil demand in Q1 2020 will contract for the first time since 2009. There have also been multiple closures of stores and factories in China, alongside increased travel restrictions which have had a knock-on effect on companies globally. Supply chains for parts and components are disrupted, the movement of goods and labour is restricted, and contractual commitments are in jeopardy.

Coronavirus finally clips Flybe’s wings

Coronavirus finally clips Flybe’s wings

The regional airline fell into administration in the early hours of 5 March 2020 as crunch talks with the government for a rescue deal failed, putting as many as 2,400 jobs at risk. These failed talks combined with the broader effect of coronavirus on the aviation industry finally caused the engines to cut out.

The regional airline was initially taken private by a consortium of Virgin Atlantic, Stobart Aviation and Cyprus Capital when it ran into trouble last year. Owing to difficult trading conditions over the last decade and having fallen behind on payments of an airline tax known as the Air Passenger Duty (APD), the company entered negotiations with the government on the terms of a possible rescue (see more here).

Further reading and practical guidance from LexisPSL

Flexible working

Team meetings

Working time and flexible working

Policy and procedure—flexible working

licy and procedure—flexible working (short form)

Letter—Request for flexible working

Letter—Employer’s decision on flexible working request

Letter—Employer’s acknowledgment of flexible working request

Remote working and removable media policy—law firms