While there is no exact answer, IP lawyers seem to have the best of both worlds. Our 2021 Legal Trends Report shows that intellectual property lawyers had the highest average billing rate by business area in 2021 at $362. Although this is often cited as one of the least stressful areas of practice. Litigators are in a similar boat. This is an incredibly stressful exercise zone where cases can drag on for months, sometimes even years. And according to Yuriy Moshes, founder of Moshes Law, P.C., «litigators necessarily work with very difficult people to make a living; People who refuse to give up even an inch unless they are allowed to give up a mile in return. Given these reactions, it`s no wonder lawyers have high levels of burnout. Unfortunately, the survey results showed that despite high levels of stress, many law firms do not provide adequate mental health support to their employees. In fact, just over half (56%) of lawyers surveyed agreed that their employer was meeting their mental health needs. An example of the lack of support from lawyers is the fact that only 26% of respondents said their law firm provided information about 12-step programs or other mental health resources. Lawyers are necessarily the most successful.
To succeed in the competitive and high-pressure legal industry, successful lawyers have an exceptional work ethic and perseverance. But this increased capacity, unfortunately, also applies to the growing stress of lawyers. Stress is a normal human reaction to life. But constant stress — the kind of many avocados — can have a negative impact on your body. Perhaps you are well suited to work as a paralegal, a legal administrative role, or you might instead work as a law firm accountant, personal assistant/secretary, legal SEO copywriter, performance coach, or legal journalist. This blog dives deep into the stress it really is to be a lawyer. It explains the importance of where lawyers work, describes which lawyers are happiest, and offers some tips on how to find legal employment without sacrificing your well-being. Legatics, developer of the world`s leading legal transaction management platform, today announced the results of a new survey conducted in partnership with YouGov that reveals the impact of stress, burnout and overload on the legal profession and the daily lives of lawyers in law firms and legal departments. An abundance of stress is an enemy for the mental well-being of lawyers. Excessive and uncontrolled stress can contribute to long-term mental health problems. These include topics such as depression, anxiety, and substance abuse issues, all of which are prevalent in the legal profession.
According to the Legal Trends Report 2018, 75% of lawyers regularly work outside normal business hours. In addition, the report tells us that the average full-time lawyer works 49.6 hours per week and records an additional 140 hours of unplanned work. This equates to approximately 3.5 weeks of unplanned extra work per year. These long days and unplanned hours add up over time, contributing to high levels of legal stress. Just as there are multiple sources of stress for lawyers, the consequences of uncontrolled stress can affect you interwoven – physically, mentally and socially: it`s also not uncommon for clients to vent their negative feelings and the stress of their legal situation onto their lawyers. This can add to the emotional and mental distress that lawyers experience. Ultimately, the stress you take on as a lawyer is entirely up to you. Working in high-performing practice areas for serious companies is undoubtedly stressful – but it`s incredibly well paid.
On the other hand, working in the public interest is less profitable, although lawyers can do their part in society while minimizing stress. As is often the case, significant work-related stress can be associated with unhealthy coping mechanisms. According to the ABA 2020 profile, avocados were and are more susceptible to addiction than the general population. Nearly a quarter (21%) of lawyers could be considered problem drinkers. According to the Lawyer Well-Being Study, «this is more than three times the rate for the general population (6%) and almost twice as high as for other highly qualified professionals (12%).» The sad irony of all this is that about a quarter to 30% of lawyers facing disciplinary charges suffer from some sort of addiction or mental illness. Fortunately, not all exercise areas are equally stressful. In other words, there is a way to have your cake and eat it too—to practice the law while keeping stress at bay. In addition to seeking professional psychological support, there are other healthy coping mechanisms and behaviours that lawyers can and should adopt. Of course, limits are personal, and each individual must decide for himself what these limits are and how they are implemented. It is important to define and apply them as best as possible. Just as the evening hours are the key to relaxing, breakfast time is an important time to recharge your batteries physically and mentally.
Without the proper time to recharge, are we really able to reach our maximum capacity during the workday, or do we put ourselves under excessive physical and emotional stress? Our individual needs and strengths are balanced differently. There is no «one size fits all». Common stress indicators are (but are not limited to): Everyone experiences stress. Various factors can contribute to stress, including personality, physical and emotional health, personal relationships, major life changes, and social and professional problems. It`s not always possible to avoid stress, but it`s possible to change your stress response. The medical profession far outperforms the legal profession in quantifying and thoroughly investigating burnout rates. While the latest research now shows that more than 50% of physicians have one or more symptoms of burnout, I have only been able to identify a handful of studies on burnout in the legal profession and one legal journal article. For example, one study found that nearly 40 percent of Wisconsin`s public advocates meet the criteria for burnout, and the other, more than 30 years old, shows that exhausted lawyers are less engaged with their organizations and report less identification with organizational goals. Another stressful solution for lawyers might be to sit at your home or at the other end of a phone call. Communicating with your loved ones can be a wonderful way to manage stress.
If you`ve had a long, stressful day at work, try disconnecting from your devices and spending time with the people in your life who make you happy. Real estate law, estate planning law and intellectual property law are often cited as the least onerous types of law. Unlike other areas of practice, people`s lives are not at stake. Chances are you know a colleague who suffers from high levels of stress. When you recognize that stress is taking a toll on a co-worker, encourage them to develop positive coping strategies. Contact a LAP for additional help and resources. Mental health and cultural trends in the legal profession may be overlooked in the pursuit of competitiveness. A positive mindset and work culture can go a long way toward increasing positive outcomes for law firms as a whole. Similarly, setting lawyer goals can be a powerful way to use concentration for less stress. Think about it: it`s much easier (and less stressful) to run with a finish line in mind than to run aimlessly.
Therefore, sitting down and working to achieve this can give a stronger sense of control. And, as Kelly notes, «once you introduce an element of control or autonomy, people become more resilient, even if the situation hasn`t changed.» As lawyers, we thrive in a dynamic, challenging and dynamic work environment. We accept persistent and energizing stress to reach our potential and excel in our careers. But we need a mechanism to make sure our stress levels don`t affect our performance. Or worse, harm our mental and physical well-being. It can be difficult to judge when things get out of hand, especially if we tend to feel anxious or depressed in our normal lives.
