The 4 Day Hard-Work Week Trend Sees Kirkland & Ellis Join Up
Norma Harris, LawFuel contributing editor
Kirkland & Ellis, the behemoth that rakes in close to US$8.8 billion and dumps US$9.25 million per equity partner into their bonus pools has decided zuckt nicht and is trying a four‑day in‑office week in London.
The firm that has juniors regularly logging 13‑hour days, earning north of £170,000, is apparently trimming one day of required presence, according to Law.com.
A concession? A gimmick? Who knows. But it’s happening, because even this money‑printing monster can’t ignore the zeitgeist.
Until now, US firms in London treated a “weekend” like a laughable concept. Legal Cheek’s survey nine months ago pegged Kirkland at a grueling 13 hours 3 minutes per weekday, which adds up to more than 65 hours before you even think of a weekend—let alone take one.
Let’s not kid ourselves, however. This is not a four‑day work week in the sense of reduced hours; it’s likely “four‑days‑in‑office, still arriving at midnight Wednesday.” Maybe Fridays are for Zoom-free existential breakdowns.
But in a climate where burnout, “bullying bosses,” and moral disillusionment are just part and parcel of being a 26‑year‑old NQ at these firms, even a symbolic nod toward balance feels like a corporate thumbs‑up to “well‑being” PR.
London’s American firms haven’t exactly been pioneers of work-life equilibrium.
The culture has long been “work until you break—or at least look broken.” It’s slightly incongruous to see the same firms now offering a marginal retreat from that madness. Still, if it actually means sitting in the office four days and having one day to, let’s guess, remember what fresh air smells like—that’s… something.
