Over the past couple of years, we’ve discovered just how common burnout is, and in law, this is especially so. A survey conducted by Bloomberg Law in May 2021 revealed that lawyers felt burned out by 50% during the initial quarter. Among those surveyed, junior and mid-level associates have been particularly affected, with two-thirds reporting a decline in their overall health.
I believe that these findings directly reflect the culture we’ve created in the profession of law that is one that values individualism and encourages competition and deters any display of vulnerability. If this is a profession you’re considering I have some suggestions I wish I’d given sooner.
Before taking on a new job, assess the culture of the company.
Do your best to avoid working at a law firm that values the billable hour more than your personal sanity. It’s difficult to do at the beginning and work with very talented colleagues. The law firm in Jacksonville FL is known for its great work environment so you should start at a place like that.
What you choose to do with your first day of work matters. The pressure to land that first gig may feel more important than waiting for the chance to work at the right place, a firm that prioritizes the inclusion of its employees, their belonging, and the well-being of its employees. If you’re starting out in a job that doesn’t care about you above your capabilities or care for your psychological well-being, it’s likely to not be sustainable in the long over the long term.
Don’t be apathetic to your physical triggers.
If you’ve already landed an employment opportunity? How do you deal with stress when working within a burnout-friendly environment?
The most important piece of advice I could provide is to not ignore the signals your body is telling you. Typical symptoms of exhaustion can include high heart rates, fatigue, headaches, palpitations or sweating, and general irritation. These symptoms can come on in a gradual manner, or, as have for me at the same time. In a stressful scenario, your body is shifted into a state of high alert. It is preparing itself to confront or run away from danger, the reaction that we usually refer to as”fight or flight.
Get a life that isn’t tied to your work.
The fact is, the legal profession is extremely draining. If you decide to become a lawyer, it is choosing a path that often requires putting in long hours to study and prepare for every case. Your clients may be demanding. Your assignments can start off with relatively low stakes, but change into high-stakes, stressful scenarios over the course of various factors.
If you are working on emotionally fraught cases, which typically occur in criminal or family law, you could be experiencing a degree of emotional exhaustion. In these situations, it may be difficult to be detached from the lives and lives of the people you represent. To be safe, and be able to perform your work effectively it is essential to establish guidelines for your work and that usually means having a personal life as well as a support system in addition to it.
Allow yourself to be a bit gentle.
In some legal areas, a tendency toward perfectionism is, as I’ve observed not uncommon — especially since the issues you’re dealing with could have very high stakes and you are often directly involved with the experiences of other people. While striving to perform at your best is generally a good thing, however, the biggest risk here is setting unreasonable expectations and getting too hard on yourself when you don’t get there. This kind of pattern of behavior can be connected to anxiety, depression as well as other physical and mental health problems.
Although I can appreciate the desire to win every case and do justice to your client(s), I know from experience that this pressure can cause much more damage than good. You’re not a superhero. You’re not able just to make a move and make things work. Make sure you remember that just like everyone else, you’re trying your best with what you have.