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Keeping It Casual: Nearly Six In 10 Lawyers Prefer Less Formal Work Environment, Survey Finds

MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 30, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Lawyers may dress formally for clients and court appearances but the majority prefer a more relaxed atmosphere at the office, recent research from Robert Half Legal reveals. Nearly six in 10 lawyers interviewed (59 percent) said they prefer a casual work setting, while less than one-quarter of respondents (21 percent) favor a more formal workplace.

The survey was developed by Robert Half Legal, a premier legal staffing and consulting solutions firm specializing in the placement of lawyers, paralegals and other highly skilled legal professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on 200 telephone interviews with lawyers at law firms with 20 or more employees and companies with 1,000 or more employees in the United States.

Lawyers were asked, "In general, do you prefer a more formal or casual work environment?" Their responses:

Much more formal

1%

Somewhat more formal

20%

Neither formal nor casual

18%

Somewhat more casual

44%

Much more casual

15%

Don't know

2%

 

100%

"In today's competitive job market, employers are using creative strategies to recruit and retain legal professionals, including adopting a less formal work environment that reflects a business casual dress code and offers a comfortable physical workspace to encourage team collaboration," said Charles Volkert, senior district president of Robert Half Legal. "A more relaxed workplace can reduce stress, foster creativity and ultimately enhance productivity and job satisfaction."

About Robert Half Legal
Robert Half Legal is the premier provider of legal staffing and consulting solutions for law firms and corporate legal departments. With North American and global locations, Robert Half Legal provides a customized approach, including managed review, legal project management and eDiscovery services, to help organizations handle constantly changing workloads. The company offers in-demand expertise across practice areas as well as highly skilled legal professionals on a temporary, project and full-time basis. More information about our full suite of legal staffing and consulting solutions can be found at roberthalf.com/legal. For career and management advice, follow our Legal Blog at roberthalf.com/legal/blog.

 

SOURCE Robert Half Legal

For further information: Lisa Hamilton, (650) 234-6234, lisa.hamilton@roberthalf.com