Finding a New York Law Office, Design Trends and Sample Spaces
Finding a New York Law Office
Finding a New York Law Office requires careful planning. Since the recession of 2008 the number of law firms and the headcount of lawyers and support staff have declined. The leaner law firms that have emerged are focused on making more efficient use of their office space. After labor, office rent is usually the second largest expense for law firms.
Strategies for Reducing Space in a New York Law Office
Technology has resulted in the consolidation of office footprints in a number of ways. Tech-savvy lawyers with any-time any-where phones and connectivity have reduced the ratio of support staff. For many firms law libraries can be replaced by online research. Administrative functions (HR, IT and Accounting) can be moved to less expensive locations or outsourced. File storage area can be reduced by digital scanning or sent off-site.
Even though technology has enabled the sharing of explicit knowledge through “knowledge bases”, the office furniture company of Herman Miller concluded that tacit knowledge- the expertise held by individual lawyers, can’t be stored in a database because it’s “in people’s heads”. It is acquired by observation, imitation and practice. In keeping with this, law offices are here to stay and they can be better designed.
Re-designing a New York Law Office
Gensler, in collaboration with Thomson Reuters suggest these innovations for the “Law office of the future”:
(1) Utilize smaller offices and interior offices. At some firms the delineation between Partner-size offices and Associates has been eliminated.
(2) Create space that can be adapted to future needs: By using furniture systems space can be reconfigured to address growth and contractions.
(3) Employ technology enhances collaboration.
(4) Face-to-face interactions still build social capital.
(5) Find the workplace strategy that is optimal for you.
Sample New York Law Office Spaces for Rent
Columbus Circle – Class A
New Construction
3,658 RSF, asks $59
Third Avenue/50th – Class A
5,776 RSF, asks $58
Grand Central – Class B
2,373 RSF, asks $52
Penn Station – Class A
3,524 RSF, asks $58
Murray Hill – Class B
2,938 RSF, asks $56
Financial District – Class A
Build to Suit
8,117 RSF, asks $50
Wall Street- Class A
5,088 RSF, asks $44
Strategy for FINDING a NY Law Office
Cogent Realty Advisors provides NO FEE Tenant Representation to NY Law Offices. By utilizing our extensive commercial office database and an established network of professional contacts, we will find you an office that satisfies your specific requirements. Contact Mitchell Waldman today: (212) 509-4049.
