As rewarding as a career in the law can be, it is well-known as a high-pressure profession where the hours are long, clients are often demanding and the competition is tough, all of which can be intense and stressful.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, the focus is on anxiety: something that’s not uncommon among lawyers. According to the charity LawCare, one in eight legal professionals who contacted them for support last year (12%) were concerned about anxiety.
It’s an issue that lawyers and the law firms they work for cannot afford to ignore, given the potential impact on their overall mental and physical wellbeing, and their ability to do their jobs well. Figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reveal that stress, depression and anxiety accounted for more than half of all working days lost to work-related ill-health last year, and this was highest in professional occupations.
If lawyers and their firms are to make the most of their talents, maintain morale and motivation, be part of a healthy, satisfied and energised workforce, and have long and successful careers then it’s vital to address the causes of anxiety and find solutions where possible.
Confront work/life imbalances
How to empower lawyers to have a better work/life balance while still meeting exacting client expectations is a constant challenge. Though there are times when working very long hours may be necessary, it’s important to be aware that doing so regularly does not necessarily mean greater productivity or quality of output and can be harmful over extended periods. If starting early and working late is unavoidable during the week, make sure weekends and holidays are kept work-free to get some real relaxation time. Take advantage of the ebbs and flows in workloads, balancing out times of high-octane working with a slower pace when possible.
Diarise ‘you-time’
It’s vital to recognise when anxiety is becoming too much and take early action to prevent it getting out of hand. Just as you and others need to know what your work commitments and deadlines are, set clear boundaries around work and personal time. Know when to switch off and make sure colleagues are aware when you are and are not available. Schedule ‘time-out’ in your diary and treat it as important. Even if that’s just to leave the office to get a proper lunch and some fresh air rather than grabbing a snack at your desk every day. Delegate where appropriate. It can feel hard to take control in this way when you’re feeling anxious and overburdened, so ask for help if you need to.
Take advantage of employer policies and support
Anxiety can make people afraid to take advantage of employer policies on things like flexible working or disconnecting after-hours that would help to create more personal space in the week or access any help on offer to support mental health, out of fear that it could damage their career. That can create a vicious cycle because failing to make time for hobbies and interests or to spend time with family and friends, or refusing to make use of wellbeing initiatives, can make work seem all-consuming and make anxiety worse. If employers offer those options, they may need to make it clear that they are there to be taken up and that there is no stigma attached to doing so.
Embrace ‘easier’
There’s no point in doing things the hard way unnecessarily, so make use of tech tools that have been designed to make lawyers’ lives easier and enable them do a better job for clients. Such tools can reduce the amount of mundane admin lawyers have to do by automating manual, repetitive tasks, freeing up their time for other activities (at work and at home). They can enable lawyers to do important activities like conducting research faster or communicate with clients more seamlessly. They can facilitate connectivity, empowering working from home. They can help people keep on top of their diaries and deadlines thanks to automatic prompts and reminders, to eliminate anxiety about ‘dropping balls’ as they juggle many tasks. The possibilities – and benefits – are endless.
Managing anxiety
While some people thrive in an always-on, high-stakes environment, everyone needs some down time. It’s certainly possible to create a working culture where the work is fulfilling enough to encourage ambition and dedication without tipping over into anxiety and burnout, but getting the balance right may require a re-think of lawyers’ and law firms’ attitudes to work and individuals’ needs.
There’s a sense that younger lawyers entering the profession are starting to push back on long hours culture, but legal professionals of all ages could benefit from a more supportive ethos at work, better work-life balance, prioritising self-care and making ways of working easier and more efficient.
Law firms are also increasingly seeing the rationale for easing the pressure. Strategies like ensuring that the benefits of policies that promote work/life balance are accessible, investing in training to help deal appropriately with staff who are struggling, offering wellbeing support and harnessing the power of technology can all play a big part.
Anxiety among lawyers is a very real threat – but it cannot be allowed to win, and that’s a challenge that both individuals and firms must tackle. Find out about some initiatives that have been set up by law firms or organizations to support staff wellbeing and promote positive mental health at work – and how you can help yourself.
