An interesting article in the New York Times today caught my eye.  The article was about the business world changing and adapting to a better work life balance.  It mentioned many industries that have improved employee working conditions by opening up time and mandatory hour restrictions.  And one industry that really has not taken part in this universal work schedule flexibility movement until now, is the law.

An excerpt from the article reprinted below:

“Over the last few years and, most strikingly, the last few months, law firms have been forced to rethink longstanding ways of doing business, if they are to remain fully competitive…lawyers are overworked, depressed and leaving… Less obvious, but potentially more dramatic, are the signs that their firms are finally becoming serious about slowing the stampede for the door. So far the change — which includes taking fresh looks at the billable hour, schedules and partnership tracks — is mostly at the smaller firms. But even some of the larger, more hidebound employers are taking notice.”

This trend continues to grow among larger law firms and many lawyers are beginning to take notice.  It is an interesting issue that will certainly be the topic of some conversation in the near future.  To read the full article, click here.