Not so long ago, when the talent market was tight and signing bonuses were flowing into laterals’ bank accounts, the law firm conundrum of how to get lawyers back into the office was viewed as a temporary one. The historic leverage lawyers possessed in deciding how and where they worked would not last, according to law firm leaders, consultants and recruiters, many of whom felt that firms would simply demand attendance when the power dynamics shifted back in favor of law firms.

So far this year, it’s looking like they may have been right.