Numerous law firm leaders, partners, consultants and recruiters have noted a beneficial side effect of the COVID-19 pandemic that they began to notice several months in: Law firms and their existing clients are closer than ever.

Admittedly, that’s not entirely surprising to someone in the journalism industry either. We also noticed a certain change in dynamic last spring, as we and our colleagues called around to sources for stories, or just to check in. They asked how we were doing, and they genuinely wanted to know. We did the same. We heard some of their kids and pets in the background. Others mentioned how much they missed their grandchildren who lived states away. We all lamented the big milestone events we were missing.