Earlier in my career, I worked as a law clerk in a smaller law firm in a smaller Pacific Northwest city. We had a client who I always thought of as one of our “best clients”. Now, I know an attorney isn’t supposed to have favorites and I am fond of all of my clients, but this particular client was always friendly and kind and generally a pleasure to do business with.

Over the years, I had learned that the pride and joy of this man’s life was his son, who was an officer in the military. One day, when I happened to be away from the office, my client brought his son, who was home on leave, to our firm to visit his attorneys. This turned out to be a moment that defined not only my managing partner’s relationship with this client but also forever changed my philosophy on client service. Why? Because when my client, who had been bringing his legal matters to our firm faithfully and loyally for years at that point, brought his son, the most important person in his life, to meet his attorney? The lawyer did not even get up from his desk to shake his hand.

From that day forward, the attorney’s relationship with that client was never the same and he ultimately ended up leaving the firm. What does this story teach us about caring for our clients, our customers?

I believe that for some attorneys, a desk serves as a means to separate us from the people we are supposed to be serving. Many years ago, desks perhaps served a necessary purpose. Office machines were bulky and needed large amounts of surface area upon which to rest – calculators, huge desktop computers, printers, and copiers, typewriters, not to mention Dictaphones! Nowadays, almost all of these functions can be (and here ARE) performed by a single laptop computer, or even a tablet or a smartphone. Technology that can fit on your lap or in the palm of your hand. Therefore, I would venture the bold proclamation: the desk is dead! Desks are obsolete. We are a desk-optional society!

Let’s talk about the advantages of the “no desk lifestyle”. Replacing desk-barriers and uncomfortable chairs that make clients want to FLEE from their attorney’s office with comfy armchairs makes me feel eager to come to work every day. It makes my clients happy to come see me, and happy to stay as long as they need to in order to tell their story and complete the important work we are doing together.

So, I decided not to let a piece of furniture get between me and my clients. How about you? Are you tired of being “chained” to your desk? Feel like putting your feet up once in a while? Do you think your workspace should work WITH you instead of against you and your clients?

Join the Desk-Free Revolution. Or comment and tell me why I’m wrong!

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