Obiter suspects that many lawyers might give a knowing nod to the Irish Chief State Solicitor’s Office and its summary of an open plan office idea.

The law agency for the Irish government, as reported this week in the Irish Times, warned of staff being cooped up like ‘battery hens’ if its lawyers were forced to work open plan as part of a move to new headquarters.

In a business plan submitted to the Office of Public Works discussing the relocation, the CSSO was firmly against working alongside colleagues from other departments, warning that discussions often involved confidential client details.

The submission added that a lot of legal work required ‘quiet concentration and focus’ – which we think is lawyer-speak for ‘everyone else talks too much’.

The CSSO continued: ‘[We require] a dedicated reception for our exclusive use with a waiting area for clients, counsel, witnesses, expert advisers and other visitors. If possible, a separate entrance would be preferable.’ 

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