A recent Above the Law column makes a straightforward case for improving lawyer retention: reduce the amount of time lawyers spend on non-legal chores. The piece argues that offices should be places where lawyers can focus on practicing law rather than getting bogged down in paperwork and other routine tasks.
The column's advice is blunt, suggesting firms "automate the crap" out of administrative work. While the piece is an opinion column rather than a study, it identifies a common pain point in legal workplaces. The underlying argument is that lawyers who spend more of their day doing legal work are more likely to stay.
Because this is a single source, there is no contrasting viewpoint to weigh. The column does not propose specific tools or strategies, but instead frames the principle: if you want to keep lawyers, make the job more about being a lawyer.