Over the past couple of years, we’ve come to realize that burnout is a common occurrence and, in the legal field it’s especially prevalent. A survey conducted by Bloomberg Law in May 2021 found that attorneys were burnt out for half of the first quarter of the year. The survey found that junior and mid-level associates were particularly hard hit, with about two-thirds reporting declines in their general well-being.
I think these results directly reveal the culture we’ve developed in the legal profession — one that prizes the individual and encourages competition and deters any display of vulnerability. If this is the type of profession you are looking to pursue. Here are some tips I wish I’d given sooner.
Before taking on a new job, evaluate the culture of the organization.
Beware of working for firms that value the billable hour more than your own sanity. I know this is much more difficult to accomplish when you’re starting out and being compared to a group of very talented colleagues.
The way you begin your career is crucial. The pressure you feel to land the first job could be more crucial than waiting to start your career at the right place one that is a leader in the inclusion of its employees, their belonging, and the well-being of its employees. If you start in a job that doesn’t value you beyond your skills or care for your psychological health, it’s going to become unsustainable over a long time.
Don’t ignore your physical triggers.
If you’ve already landed an opportunity? How do you deal with burnout in a burnout culture?
The biggest piece of advice that I can give you is: Do not ignore the signals your body is telling you. Typical signs of exhaustion include – increased heart rate, pain, fatigue, palpitations or sweating, or general irritability. The symptoms can appear in a gradual manner, or, as did for me, in one go. In a stressful circumstance, your body goes into a state of hyper-alert. It’s preparing itself to face or escape from danger, the response we typically refer to as “fight or flight.”
Create a new life away from your work.
The hard truth is that the legal profession is extremely draining. When you choose to be an attorney, you are selecting a career path that typically involves long hours to study and make sure you are prepared for each case. Your clients may be demanding. The assignments you are assigned to can begin as relatively low stakes but transform into high-risk, stressful situations over the course of many factors.
If you’re working on emotionally charged cases, as typically occurs in criminal or family law, you may have a feeling of emotional exhaustion. In these situations, it is often difficult to be detached from the lives and lives of the people you represent. To safeguard yourself and be able to perform your work effectively you need to establish the right boundaries for yourself at work which often involves having a family and a support system in addition to it.
Take a moment to show yourself some grace.
In some areas of law, an urge to achieve perfection is, from my experience normal — since the situations you are dealing with can have very significant and high stakes. You are often directly involved with the personal existence of individuals. While doing the best level is generally good, the danger here is setting unreasonable expectations and being too hard on yourself when you don’t achieve them. This type of behavior can be connected to anxiety, depression, and other physical as well as mental health issues.
Although I fully understand the desire to get every case won and to do the right thing for your client(s), I know from experience that this pressure can do more harm than good. You’re not a superhero. It’s not possible to wave a wand and magically get things to work. Keep in mind that, like everyone else, you’re trying your best to use what you’ve got.