Having fallen pregnant shortly after starting her law firm, Melanie Vairawanathan understands not only how imperative it is for law firms to accommodate the idiosyncratic needs of employees but also how essential it is to do so in ways that minimise costs and optimise the quality of legal services.

In this episode of The Boutique Lawyer Show, host Jerome Doraisamy speaks with Melmark Law founder Melanie Vairawanathan about breaking away from the mould of traditional gender roles, the challenge of having a newborn shortly after founding her firm, why it is so important for law firms to be leading the way in not only offering flexibility but also making it central to the business model, and being a business leader that proactively seeks to offer adaptable workplace structures.

Vairawanathan also delves into the cohorts of the legal profession that such an approach can and will benefit, countering workplace trends like the Great Break-up, overcoming financial constraints and traditional mindsets in leaning more heavily into a flexible business model, what she thinks is working well and not so well in providing greater accommodations for staff needs, the flow-on benefits for the business in being more adaptable, and why shifting how lawyers work will ultimately be a win-win for all stakeholders.

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