Preparing for new rules of communication: Andrew Longstreth and Yvonnie Phan write for New York Law Journal

June 24, 2021

In our latest contribution to New York Law Journal, Andrew Longstreth and Yvonnie Phan discuss a pattern of reoccurring communication challenges facing the legal industry that are full of nuances and potential landmines.

In some ways, “normal” is returning to Big Law life. Associate salary wars are raging, offices are beginning to buzz again and courts are re-opening.

But in other crucial ways, it’s anything but business as usual. The last 18 months have changed industry practices in fundamental ways. One of the biggest and lasting changes may be the pressure firms feel to communicate their values to clients, colleagues and communities. The injustices exposed during the pandemic, along with a hyper-politicized election season, forced a reckoning that firm leaders could not ignore. Their colleagues and clients simply would not let them.

That pressure shows no sign of relenting. But while there will always be new wrinkles to consider, we now have seen a pattern of reoccurring communication challenges. That’s not to say they are easy to manage or straight-forward. On the contrary, they are full of nuances and potential landmines. But knowing the right questions to ask is critical for being as prepared as possible. We’ve developed the following list to help.

Continue reading on New York Law Journal here.

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