{"id":8463,"date":"2024-04-25T18:15:38","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T17:15:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/?p=8463"},"modified":"2026-02-28T00:30:49","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:30:49","slug":"work-related-stress-solicitor-burnout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/work-related-stress-solicitor-burnout\/","title":{"rendered":"Work-Related Stress: Avoiding Solicitor Burnout"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While legal work can be incredibly fulfilling, by its nature, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">working as a solicitor can be stressful, which means that solicitor<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> burnout and exhaustion can become a serious problem if left unchecked. Industry-wide, ultra-competitive professional cultures and excessive hours are leading to overworked solicitors, rampant work-related stress, and widespread <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/mental-health-in-the-legal-profession\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">wellness and solicitor mental health <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">issues. Consider the following statistics related to solicitors&#8217; levels work-related stress and burnout:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/todaysconveyancer.co.uk\/92-lawyers-faced-stress-burnout-study-finds\/#:~:text=Survey%20finds%2092%25%20of%20lawyers,a%2025%25%20experiencing%20it%20daily\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to a survey by Legatics<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, 92% of lawyers have experienced stress or burnout due to their job, with 25% experiencing it daily.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/news.bloomberglaw.com\/us-law-week\/women-lawyers-more-stressed-drinking-more-than-men-study-says?context=search&amp;index=3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many lawyers turn to alcohol<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, though this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/news.bloomberglaw.com\/bloomberg-law-analysis\/analysis-lawyers-say-alcohol-use-up-well-being-down-in-h1-11\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">appears to do more harm than good<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to their mental well-being.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The effects of stress are pronounced among younger lawyers, who are <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/0b374980-a6cc-453e-9385-9c1da3a67fe1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">most at risk of suffering from burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\">If left unmanaged, stress can lead to solicitor burnout or other mental health problems. But, solicitor burnout isn\u2019t inevitable\u2014especially if you can manage it before it wears you too far down.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To help, we\u2019ve taken a close look at the causes, signs, and consequences of solicitor stress and burnout\u2014and how you can take steps to avoid work-related stress and the subsequent burnout. Guided by a combination of our research and the expert advice of professional lawyer coaches <\/span><b>Allison Wolf <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and <\/span><b>Terry DeMeo<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, this article will outline why solicitor burnout and high work-related stress levels are such serious issues within the industry, as well as how to prevent burnout, or how to deal with it once you have it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Use Clio&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/guides\/lawyer-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Lawyer Mental Health guide<\/a> to identify when you\u2019re approaching burnout and discover what mindfulness is, and how to practice it in your daily life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<a\n\t\thref=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/guides\/lawyer-mental-health\/\"\n\t\tdata-tracking-trigger=\"click\" data-tracking-action=\"CTA\"\n\t\taria-label=\"Get the Guide\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\tclass=\"\n\t\t\to-btn--primary\n\t\t\tl-btn--primary\n\t\t\t o-cta l-cta js-cta\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\"\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t>Get the Guide<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n<h2>What is solicitor burnout?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Burnout is not just a trendy term, an expected but unavoidable hazard of the job, or simply feeling tired at the end of a hectic day. It\u2019s a serious medical condition that needs to be managed before it worsens. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/mental_health\/evidence\/burn-out\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the World Health Organization (WHO)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, burnout is an occupational hazard\u2014\u201ca syndrome conceptualised as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The WHO outlines several signs of burnout, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Feelings of exhaustion<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Pulling away mentally from a job<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Work-related cynicism<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While anyone in any profession can absolutely experience burnout and work-related stress, solicitors are particularly prone to suffering from it, and to suffering the consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cYou can be drawn into the practice of law for really good reasons, and it can be an appropriate career choice for you, and yet circumstances in your law firm and in your practice can lead you to burnout\u2014even in a situation where it was something that you enjoyed,\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Allison, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/thelawyercoach.com\/allison-wolf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a Professional Certified Coach<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> who was interviewed along with Terry at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/cliocloudconference.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clio Cloud Conference<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, noted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In extreme cases, the impact of burnout for solicitors is vast, significant, and serious. As Terry, who is <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.inner180.com\/about-2\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a Master Certified Coach<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, said, \u201cThe last information I saw indicated that lawyers had the highest alcoholism rates, the highest depression rates, the highest suicide rates. There\u2019s a lot of dissatisfaction in the profession.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Work-related stress and the average solicitor<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While most people experience stress in their lives, solicitors and others working in the legal profession face a unique conundrum: For many, the drive and dedication that makes them so successful is also what causes stress and burns them out.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many careers are high stress\u2014so why are solicitors at a higher risk of burnout than many other working professionals?\u00a0 Why do work-related stress statistics show that solicitors are experiencing greater levels of stress than their counterparts in other professions?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Usually, a combination of factors, like those listed below, work together over time to create overworked, stressed-out, burned-out solicitors:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Personality type<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solicitors generally have high-achieving, A-type personalities\u2014from the earliest days of their traineeship and through their careers, that intensity and ambitious drive can lead to stress that, eventually, builds towards burnout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Perfectionism<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Many solicitors are perfectionists, which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.americanbar.org\/groups\/gpsolo\/publications\/gpsolo_ereport\/2022\/august-2022\/legal-burnout-solution-how-identify-manage-attorney-anxiety\/\">can exacerbate existing mental health issues<\/a>. When dealing with a complex legal case, this trait serves them well.\u00a0 However, that drive towards perfection can lead to greater lows and higher levels of disappointment with failures (or perceived failures) than non-perfectionist personalities experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Excessive hours<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Solicitors work a lot. According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/guides\/legal-trends-report-2022\/\"><i>2022 Legal Trends Report<\/i><\/a>, which asked solicitors about their working hours, <b>86% of lawyers frequently work outside of regular business hours<\/b>. It\u2019s hardly surprising why solicitors are burned out. Additionally, UK-specific research found that <a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/about\/press\/uk-legal-industry-to-raise-fees-and-work-longer-hours-in-2023\/\">67% of UK legal professionals are still working longer hours than before the Covid-19 pandemic, despite saying they had more \u2018flexible\u2019 working arrangements.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Professional culture<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Law firms can be competitive environments, and traditionally overwork is seen as a badge of honour, something that starts early and continues throughout a legal professional\u2019s career. Because the law is rooted in ideas that tend to value overworked lawyers, attitudes of strength, and \u201ctoughing it out,\u201d it can be difficult for solicitors to ask for help when they need it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Lack of support<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Similarly, when some legal firms are hyper-focused on generating profits and billable hours, they might overlook lawyer wellness. By not taking breaks or having stress-relieving resources readily available, solicitor stress can build towards burnout. Solicitors may not be getting support to look after their mental health, or it may not appear to be a priority.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>8 signs of work-related stress and solicitor burnout<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Excessive work-related stress and solicitor burnout doesn\u2019t happen overnight\u2014it builds up gradually over time. In order to deal with (and hopefully avoid) solicitor burnout, <a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/mental-health-in-the-legal-profession\/\">it\u2019s important for solicitors to pay attention to their mental health<\/a> and to know the signs of stress and potential burnout. Recognising when your stress has become unmanageable and knowing when you might be on the edge of burnout could help you to avoid a serious mental health issue. Essential to that process is catching rising stress levels early. A large part of that is <\/span><b>paying attention to how you\u2019re feeling<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cA lot of the early signs come from, \u2018I used to feel kind of happy or excited when I got into the office or I felt enthusiastic about my day, and I\u2019m noticing that I don\u2019t feel that way at all and it\u2019s starting to become a real drag,\u2019\u201d Allison explained, \u201cthat is a very, very big warning sign.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For Terry, her own experience of lawyer burnout impacted multiple aspects of her life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>\u201cThe stress level got so high that I didn\u2019t want to get up in the morning and go to work most of the time,\u201d she explained. \u201cEven though there were aspects of my work I loved, the stress levels were so high that it was impacting my relationship with my children, my personal relationships, and it felt very close to what depression feels like\u2014like you\u2019re just slogging through molasses and don\u2019t want to do it anymore.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Detecting burnout in solicitors can be tricky, especially as many of the symptoms can be caused by other ailments (which is why it\u2019s a good idea to consult with a doctor if you\u2019re feeling burned out, but aren\u2019t sure).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">That being said, while there\u2019s no one experience of solicitor burnout, there are several common signs to be mindful of. Here are some of the common signs that you\u2019re getting close to burning out:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>1. You\u2019re exhausted<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Extreme fatigue, even when you get adequate sleep, could be a sign that you\u2019re more than just sleep deprived after several long days at the office.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>2. You feel detached<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Was there once a time where you couldn\u2019t wait to get to the office, but now you find it hard to muster the energy to pretend to care? Becoming disengaged from work and cynical (or, worse, completely dreading the day-to-day practice of the career you once loved) are classic signs of burnout.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>3. You can\u2019t concentrate<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A lack of attention and missing key details could be signs of burnout. The big issue with this sign is it can impact more than just you if you\u2019re accidentally overlooking details on cases. Have you noticed that you\u2019re making small or careless mistakes that you wouldn\u2019t previously have made, or that the quality of your work has decreased? If it\u2019s just one bad day, that\u2019s likely not something to be concerned about, but if you\u2019re frequently struggling to concentrate in the office or at home, it could be a sign that you\u2019re approaching or experiencing burnout.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>4. You\u2019re self-medicating<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/blog\/addiction-law-school-brian-cuban\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As American attorney and activist Brian Cuban explored<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> through research and his own experience in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The Addicted Lawyer<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, the legal profession is, unfortunately, an industry that suffers from addiction issues. When it comes to work-related stress, solicitors may find that they&#8217;re increasingly self-medicating. The LawCare Life in the Law study referenced earlier in this article draws a strong link between alcohol and burnout: it found that participants who reported that they consumed nine or more alcoholic drinks each day presented with the highest levels of burnout. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Don\u2019t ignore it if you find your usual habits changing. Turning to alcohol and other substances to push through your day is a serious sign that something is off.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>5. You have no work-life balance<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Working so much that you\u2019re missing out on your family and personal time erodes your wellness. The human mind needs downtime and pleasant, stress-free experiences to recuperate. If you find yourself feeling chronically imbalanced and feeling stressed or guilty about missing out on time with family or friends, it can signal incoming burnout.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>6. Your relationships are in trouble<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Terry explained, solicitors dealing with a lot of work-related stress or who are on the verge of burnout can exhibit irritability when they actually do have a moment of home time. \u201cI think relationships, personal relationships, start to deteriorate. People get crabby with their partners; they get crabby with their children.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>7. You\u2019re feeling \u201cstuck\u201d<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Burnout can make you feel like you aren\u2019t getting anywhere or making any progress, even if you\u2019re working day and night. The self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy that come with this hard-work-no-results experience can be hard to handle.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>8. You\u2019re always stressed<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Chronic stress (and the physical signs of stress like sweating and heart palpitations) could signal impending burnout and further mental health problems.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>How solicitors and law firms can prevent burnout<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For overworked solicitors who are dealing with work-related stress and on the verge of burnout, <\/span><b>it\u2019s important to act quickly.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> You\u2019ll be far better off slowing down for a bit and recovering than if you push yourself to the point of total mental and physical exhaustion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you think you\u2019re at risk of burnout:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Step back.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Assess your situation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Look for ways to curtail work-related stress and solicitor burnout.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Here are a few tactics we recommend solicitors use to take care of their mental health and keep work-related stress and burnout at bay.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Recharge your batteries<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">First and foremost, you <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">need to sleep<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. One of the best things you can do is to rest and prioritise taking care of your body and mental wellbeing. Focus on just being yourself, rather than focusing on yourself just as a solicitor.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">As Terry said, the precursors for lawyers burning out are often simple things like \u201cnot having any personal time, not having any time to exercise, to take a yoga class, to feel like you can walk outside and get a breath of fresh air.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Do things that make you happy\u2014outside of work<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Make a conscious effort to integrate non-work-related activities and hobbies into your day, as those non-billable hours can help make your billable hours more productive if you\u2019re refreshed and energised.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cIt\u2019s interesting, but engagement and activities that engage us are highly rejuvenating,\u201d Allison noted. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to just be meditation or downtime\u2014other things can also be highly rejuvenating.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Set boundaries<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you don\u2019t want to burn out, you need to know (and respect) your limits. Solicitors need to know how to avoid work-related stress, by learning to say no and letting go of the belief that you can handle more than you actually can.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For Terry, <\/span><b>creating a new relationship with time is key to success<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhen you talk to lawyers about what is bothering them so much, that will consistently tell you there\u2019s not enough time, which is a lie,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s not a fact, it\u2019s a belief. And when we ask ourselves, \u2018Is that belief true?\u2019 we find out that \u2018there\u2019s not enough time\u2019 is really not a truthful belief. We can\u2019t work 36 hours in a 24-hour day, and we can\u2019t even work 24 hours in a 24-hour day. At some point, we stop. So it\u2019s really coming to terms with the limitations of being a human in a human body, and honouring that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For more from Terry on the importance of boundaries, support, and self-care for lawyers during a crisis, <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/podcast\/terry-demeo\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">listen to this episode of Clio\u2019s Daily Matters podcast<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<h3>Be true to your values<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re working in a way that creates stress and at a pace that may lead to mental health problems, that is an unsustainable path that is like a roadmap to solicitor burnout. Instead, Allison recommended taking a look at where you are, and deciding what kind of firm you want to practice at.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhat\u2019s important is finding your own truth, and finding out what\u2019s going to work for you, and not an unhealthy model that you\u2019re necessarily being forced into,\u201d she said. \u201cYou need not be forced. There are options. There are always options. You have choice.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Automate aspects of your legal firm<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is a more practical way of dealing with potential burnout in your law firm. Any technology that streamlines workflows, saves time, and makes work easier can support a better work-life balance. It can also help relieve the time pressures of getting certain tasks done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/features\/mobile-apps\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Clio\u2019s Mobile App<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> gives you the flexibility to be productive when (and where) you want to be\u2014so you can disconnect when you need to.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What should you do if you experience burnout?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When faced with burnout, it\u2019s best to take steps to manage the situation as soon as possible. Otherwise, you may need to take extreme action such as a long-term hiatus or even a career change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re coping with solicitor burnout or severe work-related stress currently, know that there is hope. Here are some tactics that can help you recover:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>1. Acknowledge the situation<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The first step to managing solicitor burnout is to acknowledge the situation for what it is. It can be tough for solicitors who\u2019ve been conditioned to have an image of themselves as superhuman to acknowledge that they are under stress, but if you can recognise and admit when you\u2019re getting burned out, you\u2019ll be able to take better care of yourself and your clients in the long run.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>2. Ask for help<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cDon\u2019t go it alone,\u201d Allison said. When you notice a change or shift in yourself, \u201ctalk to someone, talk to your mentor, talk to an advisor from one of the lawyer assistance programmes. Talk to a coach, but talk to someone in confidence about what\u2019s going on, because at this point there needs to be a bit of an analysis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cSometimes you just have to admit you need support,\u201d Terry explained.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are a number of resources in the UK and Ireland that offer support services to those working in the legal profession.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In the UK, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawcare.org.uk\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">LawCare<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, an independent charity, works to promote good mental health and wellbeing in the legal profession. They offer support through online emails and chats and also one-on-one support networks. Their website has a \u201cWellness Hub\u201d that\u2019s full of tips and resources for both physical and mental wellbeing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>3. Look at what needs to change to fix the situation<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you\u2019ve found a support system and someone to talk to, ask questions.\u00a0 Allison advises looking at questions like: \u201cWhat are the hours looking like? What\u2019s causing the heaviness? What needs to happen? What can be brought in or introduced? What\u2019s going to help rejuvenate? What can be an energising piece to add in?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>4. Take a break<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Of course, it sounds obvious to take a break if you\u2019re overworked. This can sometimes be easier said than done. But a break could be the best solution for an overworked solicitor. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This could <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/legalindustry\/want-lawyers-take-time-off-this-law-firm-is-bankrolling-vacations-2022-01-25\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">look like a holiday<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> (without constantly checking your email), or it might mean taking a temporary leave of absence.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>5. Reconnect with why you became a solicitor<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Remember when you were fresh on the job, and how exciting it felt to be a solicitor? If you don\u2019t, you should.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cNobody goes to law school because they want to be miserable,\u201d Terry said. \u201cMany lawyers go for really good reasons. They want to help other people, change the world, and do important work. So I think it\u2019s critically important to get back in touch with what your initial goals were in the first place, admitting that you\u2019ve really separated from that, and finding your way back to your initial motivations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>6. Make a plan<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Just as your legal firm has a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/resources\/start-a-law-firm\/business-plan\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">business plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> to help it succeed, Allison recommends making a personal plan to help guide you away from work-related stress and burnout.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u201cWhat are the things that give you energy and what are the things that engage you on a deep level? And how can you make sure that these are part of every single day, and that they\u2019re a bigger part than the energy drains and the energy sucks? And structure this, build a plan around it, make this [plan].\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Jobs for stressed-out solicitors<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re burned out completely and looking to leave the legal profession, there <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">are<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> less stressful jobs out there. This could look like switching practice areas, changing firms, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/blog\/part-time-law-practice\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">practising law part-time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, or on a freelance or contract basis, or something outside of the law altogether.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But the answer might not lie in leaving the career you\u2019ve invested in over many years. What do the least stressed out solicitors in a stressed out profession have in common? We can\u2019t say for sure, but we strongly suspect they follow many of Terry and Allison\u2019s tips above. Set boundaries, get clear about your \u201cwhy,\u201d and prioritise doing things you love when you\u2019re not at work. This way, you\u2019ll be on your way to the work-life balance you crave.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>A light at the end of the tunnel<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you\u2019re feeling like you might be a burned-out solicitor, know that you\u2019re not alone. But burnout doesn\u2019t have to be forever. Being a successful solicitor doesn\u2019t need to mean pulling all-nighters non-stop. Work-related stress an expected part of solicitors&#8217; lives. In fact, by not working to the point of burnout, you can be <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">more<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> productive and effective during your working hours\u2014and enjoy your life more outside of work. It\u2019s possible to thrive, as a solicitor and as a human being.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Positive change to curb burnout is possible on a personal level. It\u2019s also starting to happen at more and more firms. \u201cI am seeing a real shift in a lot of firms towards wellness,\u201d Allison said. \u201cThere are different firms with different cultures emerging, and we are seeing a shift. 100% it\u2019s not everywhere, but it is towards a healthier way of practising.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><em>Want more tips and techniques for managing solicitor stress, avoiding burnout, and incorporating mindfulness into your daily legal practice?<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\">Our free guide &#8220;Lawyer Mental Health: How to Practice Mindfulness and Avoid Burnout in Law&#8221; can help.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/guides\/lawyer-mental-health\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Download your free guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Work-related stress, if you&#8217;re a solicitor, can feel overwhelming. Read how solicitors can avoid burnout and protect their mental health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":10607,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"coauthors":[58],"class_list":["post-8463","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","content_category-firm-performance","content_category-professional-development","content_category-wellness-and-mental-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.7 (Yoast SEO v24.7) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Work-Related Stress: Avoiding Solicitor Burnout | Clio UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Work-related stress, if you&#039;re a solicitor, can feel overwhelming. 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