Why Sustainability Matters in Law

As we move further into 2025, sustainability is no longer optional—it’s a business imperative. Lawyers increasingly ask about a firm’s environmental credentials, and clients expect firms to align with ESG principles. A sustainable law firm focuses on three key areas:

Environmental impact and energy use
Employee wellbeing
Business model efficiency

Reducing Environmental Impact

Law firms have historically wasted resources, excessive printing, unnecessary travel and energy inefficiencies. Today, improvements include:

Electronic data rooms replacing paper-heavy processes
Motion-sensor lighting and reduced printing
Remote meetings to cut travel emissions

Travel

Flights have a huge carbon footprint. For example, one business-class return flight from London to Hong Kong emits 10 tonnes of CO₂ equal to 350,000 plastic bags. Firms should ask: Can this meeting happen virtually?

Office Design

Office moves and refits carry significant carbon costs. Every square metre of replaced carpet adds 5–20kg of CO₂e. Sustainable firms assess necessity and choose eco-friendly materials.
Energy

Leading firms in the Legal Sustainability Alliance aim for 100% renewable energy by 2025. Strategies include:

Switching to green energy providers
Installing solar panels
Improving insulation and reducing waste

People and Wellbeing

Sustainability isn’t just environmental, it’s about people. Burnout culture is outdated. Firms must:

Promote mental health
Reduce excessive workloads
Recognise the hidden carbon cost of recruitment

Technology and Efficiency

AI and legal tech reduce resource use and improve efficiency. They also help move away from outdated models that rely on junior lawyers for billable hours.

Client Influence

Clients drive change. For example:

Deutsche Bank refuses to pay for trainee work
Microsoft offers a 3% premium for firms meeting diversity targets—similar incentives could apply to sustainability

Business Model Evolution

Sustainable firms rethink: