{"id":8877,"date":"2022-05-13T19:38:53","date_gmt":"2022-05-13T18:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clio.com\/uk\/?p=8877"},"modified":"2026-02-28T00:01:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T00:01:59","slug":"toxic-law-firm-culture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marketing.dev.clio.systems\/uk\/blog\/toxic-law-firm-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Rejecting Toxic Law Firm Culture: How to Create a Better Culture for Your Firm"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s <\/span>crunch time<\/span><\/a> for law firm culture. Growing concerns and awareness of what some might term \u201ctoxic law firm culture\u201d have peaked in recent years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Pre-pandemic, the worst law firm culture often came from law firms that prioritised performance at all costs. Work-life balance in many firms paled in significance to racking up fee-earning hours. More pain, more gain\u2014right?<\/span><\/p>\n

Not necessarily. In fact, not at all.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The legal sector is waking up to the importance of positive law firm culture, thanks largely to The Great Resignation. Law firms are <\/span>struggling to fill job vacancies<\/span><\/a>, with junior lawyers <\/span>reporting<\/span> that they are <\/span>burning out<\/span><\/a> at record levels. The labour shortage is so severe that newly qualified associates are starting on salaries as high as <\/span>\u00a3150,000 per year<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not all doom and gloom. Firms that get their culture right will create better workplaces, increase employee engagement, and transform their performance levels. So, what do we mean by \u201cget their culture right\u201d\u2014and how can firms <\/span>begin the process<\/span><\/a>?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This article delves into the industry\u2019s current law firm culture crisis, explores the importance of culture (and what happens when firms get it right\/wrong), and provides a 5-step framework for creating the best law firm culture at your firm.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use Clio’s 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

\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\tGet the Guide<\/a>\n\t<\/p>\n

Toxic law firm culture and what\u2019s behind it<\/span><\/h2>\n

The past few years have shined a light on the legal sector\u2019s culture crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n

For starters, the COVID-19 pandemic made \u201call work, no play\u201d cultures even less palatable than before. Putting in 80 hours a week is one thing when surrounded by colleagues, but doing so in the confines of your own home is for most people unsustainable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is especially true when it comes to the younger generations. Gen Z and Millennials are less accepting of always-on, burnout-inducing workplaces\u2014and they will happily leave a job if they don\u2019t like their current firm\u2019s culture. Indeed, <\/span>our <\/span>2022 Legal Trends Report<\/span><\/i><\/a> showed that lawyers are increasingly likely to leave their position for better pay and work-life balance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The alternative to a strong work-life balance and positive law firm culture can be high burnout and poor mental health.<\/span><\/p>\n

The statistics make for grim reading: According to Law Care, <\/span>69%<\/span><\/a> of all UK and Ireland-based lawyers report having suffered from periods of negative mental health, while <\/span>47%<\/span><\/a> of lawyers don\u2019t believe they received adequate support from their employers when working from home.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As stated in our <\/span>2022 Legal Trends Report<\/span><\/i><\/a> , \u201cAs remote work becomes more common within law firms, it\u2019s important to consider the impact this has on legal professionals on an individual level. With more work taking place within the home, the lines between personal and professional responsibilities have increasingly blurred, creating a state of imbalance for many lawyers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In other words, the past few years have been the perfect storm.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Lawyers have been as busy as ever, yet they\u2019ve been cooped up in their own homes without social contact. Work-life balance has been scarce. However, the younger generations recognise its importance, so have left in droves to join firms that allow them more balance. Those who stayed have suffered the consequences: deteriorating levels of <\/span>mental health<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This sort of toxic law firm culture has necessitated a deep and immediate change for a lot of law firms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How law firms with the best culture operate<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t