The shift to remote work last March presented law firm leaders with a handful of unforeseen benefits, including short-term savings on travel and long-term plans to renegotiate leases for less space amid talks of hybrid working models. Others have observed increased productivity — no water cooler fodder to cut into billable time.

For developing junior associates, though, firm leaders consider water cooler time invaluable. In recent months, many Florida firm leaders have expressed frustration over the difficulty of showing a young attorney how to practice law via Zoom.