Professional Fatigue: Rising Stress amongst Lawyers

We at SHORE & Associates have noticed the increasing trend of leaders in law announcing, that they need time off or are looking for less demanding professional positions. The rising stress levels can be attributed to various factors in recent years that have affected the legal market, which we believe can be addressed if detected and proactively handled.

When looking at this trend, the issue of mental health stands out. As mentioned in a recent study shared by the Canadian Bar Association in October, a prevalent feeling among lawyers is that mental health is stigmatized in the legal profession and seen as a sign of weakness. It is crucial for law firms and legal departments to prioritize the well-being of their staff. After all, the sustainability of the legal profession depends on the health and engagement of its people.

The first phase of the study, from Université de Sherbrooke (Quebec) in 2022, highlighted the alarming levels of psychological distress, depression, anxiety, burnout, and even suicidal ideation within the legal community, as cited in the Canadian Bar Association’s National magazine.

There were several contributing causes attributed to this alarming finding: heavy workloads due to understaffed teams was the most reported contributor, compounded by the challenges of legal recruitment. Other reported causes include poor internal communication and managerial support, along with insufficient management tools and resources.

Impact of the changing landscape over the last few years

The post-pandemic world has exacerbated existing pressures on legal professionals, leading to heightened levels of stress and burnout. The shift to remote work, the blurring of work-life boundaries, and managing larger in-house teams are seen as some of the causes. In addition, more complex issues are being managed in-house, including compliance with privacy requirements as well as planning for cybersecurity and data breaches. The article titled “Cinq tendances en droit des affaires” published in Les Affaires mentioned that litigation in cybersecurity in 2023 accounted for the highest increase among litigation practices.

Addressing the Issue

Addressing this crisis requires a multifaceted approach. It’s not just about reducing hours or trying to increase headcount; it’s about creating an environment where legal professionals feel supported, where they can feel they can thrive and be candid about the pressures on their mental health. This includes:

• • Providing the resources needed in this context of heightened demands on legal departments
  • Fostering open communication and non-recriminatory channels of consultation
  • Encouraging work-life balance with real and creative solutions

The impact of stress and frustration is not limited to legal departments

There are many boutique and small firms of 2-10 lawyers that have opened in the last 10 years in Montreal. The startup firms were driven by entrepreneurial spirit and, in some cases, frustration with the lack of progress and change at their former firms.

But leaders in these startup firms are now feeling operational pressure. Some are looking to find a way out of their leadership roles or to potentially merge with other firms. Certain senior partners are seeking alternative roles without the high level of stress and business development demands. In our roles as career counsellors, we have seen a significant increase in requests for advice and support in identifying “next steps”. Our insider knowledge of the market, our network of confidential referrals, and our commitment to supporting a professional move with a long-term career strategy have been invaluable to Montreal legal professionals.