While the landscape of work is changing in the legal world and other fields, in a lot of cases for good, the separating line between working in-house and joining private practice is wearing thin. In the past few weeks, many lawyers have moved out of in-house roles to become partners, counsel or associates at law firms.

As law firms head back to the office this fall, they should brace for a wave of associate departures, especially at firms that have taken a more hardline approach on office attendance, several legal industry observers said.

Law firms should be keeping a close eye on their associates in general, as firms compete to do everything they can to convince talent to join them this year. However, they should be more diligent about young lawyers in data privacy, corporate and insurance practices.