Featured in Forbes Business Council
Written by Alaa Pasha, CEO of Maptician
For decades, the corner office was a hallmark of law firm life. Tucked behind glass walls and overlooking city skylines, these spaces symbolized achievement, tenure and a certain prestige. But in 2025, law firms are reimagining their offices not as monuments to hierarchy, but as tools for engagement.
According to my company’s latest “Law Firm Workplace Trends” survey, firms are strategically reallocating space from private offices to collaborative zones designed to support team-based work. I don’t see this as simply a cosmetic change but as reflective of a deeper shift in how attorneys work and firms operate.
In my earlier article, I explored why the office remains essential in a hybrid world—especially as a hub for connection, culture and collaboration. Here, I’ll build on that foundation by looking at one of the most tradition-bound sectors, law, to show how those same forces are transforming its most enduring symbol, the corner office.
From Status Symbols To Shared Utility
The data tells a clear story. According to the earlier cited survey, only around 2% to 3% of surveyed firms ranked either corner or windowed offices as the most in-demand reservable spaces. Meanwhile, collaboration areas—like conference rooms and huddle spaces—are being expanded across the board. On average, firms have increased the square footage allocated to meeting and team spaces by 6.6%.
Why the change? The short answer: necessity. Hybrid work models have transformed the rhythm of office life. Most firms now experience midweek surges in attendance—especially on Tuesdays and Wednesdays—creating competition for shared space and bottlenecks around under-resourced meeting areas. Rather than cling to outdated layouts, firms are reallocating space based on behavior.
Traditional private offices, especially those used only a few times a week, no longer represent optimal use. Instead, firms are investing in shared spaces that support the way people actually work.
Rethinking The Role Of The Office
The idea that someone’s value is tied to a fixed office location is giving way to a more agile mindset. Increasingly, success is reflected not in how much space one controls, but in how effectively that space is used for things like mentoring a junior associate, meeting with a client or collaborating across departments.
For example, the survey found that the most common reason firms increased collaboration space was internal demand. Attorneys are seeking more face time with colleagues to build relationships and deliver better service. I find that these interactions happen best in shared environments, not behind closed doors.
This shift also reflects changing generational expectations. Younger attorneys often value flexibility and visibility over formal titles and corner views. They’re looking for environments where they can connect with peers, get guidance and build their professional network.
One example comes from a law firm we worked with that redesigned its offices to make collaboration the default. They replaced isolating features with open central stairways, added soundproof glass walls (for a balance of privacy and openness) and created flexible common spaces that double as client lounges and team hubs.
Technology As An Enabler
As firms redesign their space, technology is doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes. More than half of the firms surveyed have adopted workplace platforms that help manage seat booking, visitor coordination and meeting room availability. These tools are becoming essential infrastructure, especially in larger firms that have to manage more.
You can use technology to better understand which spaces are in high demand, what times of day experience peak usage and where to add (or reduce) real estate investment. Without data-driven visibility into space utilization, hybrid models risk becoming chaotic or inefficient.
Designing For The Way People Work Now
The corner office hasn’t disappeared entirely—but it no longer represents the center of activity or influence. What’s replacing it is more dynamic: multipurpose environments designed to support teams, improve efficiency and adapt to changing needs.
And this isn’t limited to law. Professional services organizations across industries—from consulting to finance—are facing similar challenges. I think the legal industry simply offers an instructive case study because its traditions have been so deeply entrenched. If law firms can adapt, others can too.
And while we’re witnessing the death of the office—it’s more the retirement of outdated assumptions. The modern workplace is no longer defined by assigned seats or square footage but by how well it supports people doing their best work.
One piece of advice when looking to redesign or reconfigure your office space: Start with how your people actually work, not with how you wish they worked. The most common misstep I see firms make is designing for aesthetics or hierarchy instead of behavior. This results in impressive-looking spaces that sit empty or fail to support daily needs.
Use data to understand peak usage times, high-demand spaces and underutilized areas, and let those insights guide your layout. Collaboration flourishes when design reflects reality, not nostalgia.
Turning Space Into Strategy
For law firms and beyond, I believe the path forward lies in embracing flexibility with structure, adopting workplace tools that provide real-time insight, and rethinking design as a strategic enabler—not just a floor plan.
The corner office may have been a symbol of success in the past. But in today’s workplace, connection, adaptability and shared experience are what drive real value.
