Open plan offices seem fine for designers and architects, bureaucrats perhaps – but lawyers? Meredith Connell (New Zealand) are betting that they are onto a winner as the first major law firm to make the open plan move.
The firm have not just rebranded themselves, but they’ve also moved to new, open plan space that challenges much of the thinking behind conventional law office design.
Designed by Warren & Mahoney and The Building Intelligence Group, the firm moved from Shortland Street to the new, NZME building (pictured at left) on Victoria Street.
The firm were keen to project a progressive, young image and in 2014 they went through their rebranding exercise. But they also wanted to relocate to an “inspiring and transformational” workplace that reflected the firm’s values, which include transparency and excellence.
Open plan offices for lawyers have become more common in recent years, albeit with some degree of controversy with some critics saying open plan law offices may be intended to permit sharing of knowledge and building a team culture, but they can also lead to disruption through noise, lack of confidentiality and other factors that may not sit comfortably with the practice of law.
LawyerWeekly ran a story about the issue in Australia, where open plan offices have become popular, with one lawyer
The site reportede one lawyer who argued that serious confidentiality and conflict of interest issues can arise if lawyers have to relying on ‘Chinese Walls’ to protect their client’s interests.
“Then there is the noise issue,” she continued. The nature of legal work requires meticulous attention to detail and complex analysis, both of which require focus and concentration, Asimus pointed out.
“This is near impossible in the standard open-plan office with the constant interruptions, noise and banter,” she said.
To be fair, good planning and design can minimise many of these issues. When Meredith Connell briefed Warren & Mahoney, the firm found staff were already working in different ways from previously.
