In the last few years, we’ve seen the prevalence of burnout, especially in the law field. In law, this is especially so. One survey conducted by Bloomberg Law in May 2021 found that lawyers felt exhausted by 50% during the initial quarter. For those surveyed and mid-level associates have been particularly difficult to deal with, with nearly the majority of respondents reporting a decrease in their overall happiness.
These findings are a reflection of the culture we’ve created within the legal profession that is one that values competition and individualism, promotes conflict, and discourages any displays of vulnerability. If this is a profession you’re considering, here are some tips I wish I was given sooner.
Before accepting a job, assess the culture of the company.
It is best to stay away from a law firm that values billable hours above your mental health. It’s easier said than done in the beginning, but you’re working with very talented colleagues.
Your career start-up is crucial. The stress of landing your first job may be more crucial than waiting to start your career at the right firm which is one that values the inclusion of its employees, their belonging, and the well-being of its employees. If you begin working in a place that doesn’t care about you beyond your skills or care for your psychological well-being, it’s likely to be unsustainable in the end over the long term.
Don’t be apathetic to your physical triggers.
What if you’ve already landed an employment opportunity? What can you do to manage the stress of working within a burnout-friendly environment?
The biggest piece of advice that I can offer is to not ignore the signals the body tells you. Typical symptoms of exhaustion are increased heart rate, anxiety, fatigue, palpitations or sweating, or general irritability. The symptoms can appear slowly, or as they occurred for me they can appear all at once as they do for veterans that have served in the army or in a veteran lawyer in Jacksonville FL. If you’re in a stressful situation, your body changes into a state that is high alert. It’s getting ready to defend itself or flee from danger, the reaction we refer to as “fight or flight.”
Make time for yourself outside of your work.
The hard truth is that the legal profession is extremely draining. When you choose to be a lawyer, it is taking a decision that usually calls for long hours to study and prepare for every case. The clients can be very demanding. Your tasks can begin as relatively low stakes but shift into stressful high-stakes scenarios within a short time, depending on several factors.
If you are working on emotionally fraught cases, which happen often in criminal and family law, you might feel a sense of emotional exhaustion. In these instances, it can be challenging to detach yourself from the life that your client. To protect yourself, and perform your job efficiently you need to establish appropriate boundaries in your work which usually means having a personal life as well as a support system outside of it.
You deserve a little grace.
In certain areas of law, an urge to achieve perfection is, as I’ve observed normal — since the situations you are dealing with may have extremely demanding and you’re often directly involved with the personal lives of people. While doing your best is generally a good thing, the danger here is setting unrealistic standards and over-stressing yourself when you fail to get there. This pattern of behavior could be related to depression, anxiety, and other physical as well as mental health problems.
While I appreciate the desire to succeed in every case and do the right thing for your client(s) however, I have learned from experience that this pressure can cause worse harm than good. There is no superpower in you. You can’t just flick a finger and make things work. Remind yourself that, just like everyone else, you’re trying your best with what you have.