Lawyers and those working in the legal field have notoriously been known to work long hours to meet the demands of the job. Clients’ well-being and even their livelihood can be determined by the court’s decision, which leaves lawyers with an inordinate amount of responsibility on their shoulders that they may internalize, leading to excessive stress.
In a 2014 survey of Yale Law School students, 70% of those surveyed struggled with mental health issues during their time at law school. Additionally, according to a 2016 study by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, 28% of licensed, employed attorneys suffer from some level of depression and 19% struggle with symptoms of anxiety. This issue is not new, but may have been exacerbated by the pandemic and cultural climate.
Here are a few ways to combat burnout as a lawyer.
Set boundaries: It’s easy to get sucked into working late into the evening or even the wee hours of the morning on an important deposition or case detail. However, getting an adequate amount of sleep on a nightly basis and curtailing time spent on the job is important to overall mental health—which includes avoiding heading down the path to a full-blown burnout. Resist the urge to accomplish one more task or take one more call; know when you’ve reached your mental capacity for the day and take time away from the computer or case files.
Schedule time for leisure: Although it’s easy to forgo leisure time in order to get urgent tasks done, in the long run it may do more harm than good. Continually leaving no time in the day for physical, emotional, or mental health will lead you down the path of burnout. Additionally, many studies have shown the positive effects of taking time away from a task to do an enjoyable activity—often leading to a renewed mind and a fresh perspective when tackling a particularly tough task or assignment. Take a walk, enjoy some comfort food, or watch a movie or a few episodes of your favourite show, and then return to the task at a later time. You might be surprised how space from your work can actually benefit your production and efficiency.
Use technology: According to Thomson Reuters, attorneys spend nearly 40 percent of their day on tasks other than practising law. There are countless forms of task managers or applications that can automate email responses or block time for concentrated work. There are online databases that can help expedite research as well, such as Westlaw Edge, which relies on artificial intelligence to produce quick, accurate answers to law enquiries. This can save quite a bit of time researching and scouring other resources for information, freeing up additional time for leisure and reducing burnout hours.
Incorporate flexible work hours: While you may need to keep some normal hours to interact with clients and colleagues, take advantage of the remote-friendly work environment of the post-pandemic world. While some individuals may be morning people, others may be night owls who prefer to sleep in and work late into the evening. Tailor some of the flexible working hours to your preference so you can maximise your efficiency.
Law firms can do their part by offering mental health resources, flexible work schedules, and activities to encourage camaraderie amid the isolation of remote or hybrid work. Communication between colleagues is paramount in order to help each other avoid the road to burnout.