So here we are, two years after most of the world started taking seriously the novel coronavirus, as it was called back then. It would be another month before major cities like New York acknowledged this wasn’t going away and all but shut down. Now, two cities that were hit hard by the virus—New York and London—are lifting mask mandates and other restrictions and many a law firm is looking forward to putting the past two years behind them. 

Kirkland & Ellis, the world’s largest law firm by revenue, said last week that as of March 29, all attorneys and staff, firmwide, will be expected to be present in the office three days a week. Other firms also are pushing lawyers to come into the office at least a few days a week, although their guidelines are more region-specific. At Ropes & Gray, where U.S. lawyers are now being asked to work in the office one to two days a week, the firm is recommending that as of March 1 they come at least three days. Weil Gotshal also said it would be fully reopening its U.S. offices on February 28th.