Lawyer burnout eases slightly, but 6 in 10 still report poor mental health

Six in ten legal professionals report poor mental wellbeing, according to new research from mental health charity LawCare.

The charity's latest Life in the Law report, published four years after its inaugural 2021 survey, drew responses from more than 1,500 legal professionals and 80 organisations. It found that while levels of burnout have fallen slightly since 2021, stress and overwork continue to take a heavy toll on those working in the profession.

Findings

The survey showed that 59% of respondents had poor mental wellbeing, with half saying they felt anxious often or very often. The average wellbeing score among lawyers was 44 out of 100, significantly lower than the UK adult average of 59. Younger lawyers aged 26-35 reported the lowest scores, with wellbeing levels gradually improving among older cohorts.

Heavy workloads and long hours were identified as a key driver of poor wellbeing. Nearly four in five respondents said they regularly worked beyond their contracted hours, with more than one in five reported working at least 11 extra hours a week and almost one in ten estimated they were working 21+ additional hours.

The report also found that nearly a third of lawyers were considering leaving the profession entirely within the next five years. Just over half said they would be likely or somewhat likely to recommend a career in law, while almost a third said they would be unlikely to do so.

The report urged firms to take "decisive action" by taking such measures as embedding flexible working, rethinking billable hours and incentives, and evaluating the effectiveness of mental health initiatives.

Managing burnout

Earlier this year, we spoke to Richard Martin, a former Big Law partner in London who now leads the Mindful Business Charter, on The Non-Billable Podcast about his own burnout story, the firms doing the best job of addressing the issue, and some advice for lawyers feeling they’re close to burnout.

We also have a short guide with some tips for lawyers to help spot signs of mental fatigue and avoid burnout.