By Kent Berk on January 31st, 2026 in Elder Abuse Awareness, Elder Law, PROBATE LITIGATION, Vulnerable Adults
What if the thing that makes you a better lawyer, a happier employee, and a more trusted firm has four legs and a wagging tail?
Let’s be real—legal work can be a lot. Between tight deadlines, emotionally heavy cases, and huge workloads, things can get pretty intense. But here’s the thing: science backs up what dog people have known all along. Allowing dogs in the workplace isn’t just heartwarming. It’s research-backed, good for mental health, and surprisingly good for business.
Around the Berk Law Group office, you’ll see this play out in the best little ways: someone sneaking in a quick dog cuddle between back-to-back meetings, the whole team cracking up when a dog decides they’re running the show now, or just those moments when a furry face reminds you to actually take a breath. Turns out, sometimes your best stress management strategy has four legs and is currently napping under your desk.
Stress Happens. Dogs Help.
Juggling multiple cases, last-minute court filings, and long hours of trial prep are part of the job. But adding a dog (or six) to the office may be just what the doctor ordered. Interacting with dogs can lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase oxytocin, which supports calm, trust, and emotional connection (John Hopkins Medicine).
Even brief interactions, such as petting a dog for a few minutes, have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. That midafternoon walk with a dog isn’t just a break. It’s a reset.
Happier Employees Are More Engaged Employees
It turns out that happy employees stick around longer and do better work. A study in Frontiers in Veterinary Science found that people who bring their dogs to work are more engaged, feel better about their work-life balance, and are less likely to leave the company.
Plus, when your dog’s already at the office, you’re not stressing about rushing home. You can actually focus. And the work still gets done—often better, actually. For lawyers figuring out where to build their careers, a dog-friendly office says something pretty clear: we care about your actual life, not just how many hours you can bill.
Dogs Are Natural Team Builders
Dogs are great at something many of us find awkward: starting conversations with people we don’t know well. There’s research that calls them “social catalysts” because they naturally get people talking and connecting (Four Paws). Around the office, this means dogs are basically breaking down barriers without even trying. They spark conversations between teams who don’t usually interact, give people a reason to check in with each other, and add some much-needed levity to otherwise serious days. It’s pretty hard to stay in your head about that stressful case when there’s a dog happily rolling over for belly rubs in the hallway.
Movement, Breaks, and Better Focus
Dogs need walks. Humans need movement. This turns out to be a very good match.
Workplace wellness research shows that short, regular breaks improve focus and reduce fatigue. Dog owners naturally take these restorative breaks throughout the day. You step outside, get some air, think about anything other than work for a few minutes, and come back sharper. (Lyall Bay WorkHub).
Sometimes the best way to think clearly about a complex issue is to step outside, take a walk, and come back with a fresh perspective.
A Culture of Compassion (That Clients Can Feel)
Having dogs around sends a message: we get that life is stressful, and we care about how people feel when they walk through our door. For clients dealing with tough legal situations—often some of the hardest moments of their lives—a calm, friendly dog can take the edge off in a way that’s hard to quantify but easy to feel. The American Heart Association backs this up: even brief interactions with pets can genuinely reduce stress and help people feel more grounded.
We’ve seen this play out in numerous tough situations. For example, during a contested guardianship case involving a man in his 90s who was convinced he didn’t need a guardian. Walking into a deposition to have your capacity questioned? That’s incredibly stressful. But when he spotted the dog, everything shifted. He lit up, started petting the dog, and you could literally watch the tension leave his shoulders. The legal process stayed the same, but the emotional weight became much more manageable. Not just for the deponent. For everyone in the room.
Dogs don’t replace professionalism—they reinforce it by bringing out our firm’s values: compassion, kindness, and mental-health awareness. And honestly? Clients remember the dog’s name just as fast as their attorney’s, and that’s not a bad thing. It means they felt comfortable here. It means something about that experience stuck with them in a good way.
How We Make It Work
A dog-friendly office sounds great in theory, but how does it actually function in a professional legal environment? At Berk Law Group, we’ve established straightforward guidelines to make sure this works for everyone, not just dog lovers.
All dogs need to be up-to-date on vaccinations and well-behaved, meaning they’re comfortable around people, properly socialized, and can chill out during the workday without causing chaos. We also know not everyone is a dog person, and that’s completely fine. We give clients a heads-up that dogs might be around, and if someone would rather meet without them, we keep the pups in another part of the office during that appointment. We build flexibility and choice while still maintaining the professionalism our clients expect.
The Verdict: Dogs Belong Here
At Berk Law Group, we believe great legal work requires both excellence and empathy. Our dog-friendly office isn’t a gimmick. It’s a reflection of who we are and how we work. It’s choosing humanity alongside professionalism. It’s recognizing that the best legal outcomes happen when people feel supported, calm, and connected.
Whether you’re a client walking through our doors during a difficult time or a legal professional looking for a workplace that values your whole life, not just your billable hours, you’ll find something different here.
And yes, you might meet a dog who is more than happy to make your day a little better.
The research is clear, the morale boost is undeniable, and the everyday joy dogs bring to the office is simply an added benefit.
Who else has office/dog stories?
