Working as a lawyer should be a dream career. But once you go deep into it, you soon realize that it’s a lot tougher than you imagine. Clients are demanding. People constantly want your attention. And you can often wind up working 80-hour weeks, never seeing your family.
In this post, we take a look at some of the reasons lawyers are getting burned out in more detail. We then discuss some of the methods for dealing with the problem.
Wrong Personality Type
Many professionals go into law believing that it is a great career to have. After all, lawyers are super successful people, we're told.
But the idea of being a lawyer and actually being one are two radically different propositions. Lawyers need a certain personality type. And if you don’t have that, you can find yourself struggling perpetually.
The trick here is to get a personality test early on. If you know that you’re not the right person for the job, you can find yourself something that suits you better.
Too Many Hours
It’s not uncommon for lawyers to put in double the amount of time into their job than, say, the average worker. That’s because there is just so much demand for their skills. Everybody needs lawyers, from the business community to married couples.
Around three-quarters of lawyers report that they do work outside of regular hours. And the average lawyer spends around 3.5 weeks per year on overtime.
Statistics like these highlight why so many professionals feel burned out. The solution? Go into private practice or find a law firm that respects the working week.
Lack Of Support
Far too few lawyers take advantage of a Wegman Partners lawsuit. Most try to go it alone without any support or mentorship, expecting to muddle through.
Being a lawyer, however, isn’t like having other jobs. It’s not clear-cut. There is no predefined path that you need to walk. Instead, how you perform directly relates to your innate talent and skill.
Finding support in these situations is, therefore, essential. You need people around you who can mentor you and help you succeed. You won’t get it all right the first time around.
Competitive Culture
Competitive culture in legal circles can be another source of burnout. While a little competition is a good thing, a lot can be a bad thing, especially for lawyer health. You can spend a couple of years competing, going to work every day. But after a decade, your energy soon runs dry and you begin to question whether becoming a lawyer was the right choice for you.
To avoid falling into this trap, think carefully about how you approach the professional culture. You’re not trying to win every battle. Instead, you’re trying to win the war. You need a sustainable working life that you can carry with you for two decades or more.
Trying To Be Perfect
Lastly, many legal professionals fall into the trap of trying to be perfect. It’s a curse of the high-achieving personality. If possible, accept that “good enough” is good enough.