Being a lawyer is a stressful job. The stress may be making some of you think you can no longer work as a lawyer. However, most people become lawyers after a lot of hard work and hardship, so before you give up on the legal profession due to stress, it might be a good idea to reconsider your career.
This article on virtual assistant for lawyers is aimed at lawyers who suffer from stress and explains why being a lawyer is stressful.
Being a lawyer is a stressful profession
The reasons why lawyers are prone to stress include professional issues and interpersonal problems. A lawyer is someone who resolves disputes according to the law.
Many people feel constant pressure because their decisions have a significant impact on their customers’ futures. Also, because they have to deal with all kinds of people, including clients, some lawyers have trouble with interpersonal relationships.
Some people become depressed
Some lawyers who are stressed out may suffer from depression. There are no specific reports on the percentage or number of lawyers who suffer from depression.
However, some in the legal profession point out that “lawyers and other legal professionals often suffer from depression.” Some people may develop depression due to stress caused by work pressure.
Why lawyers are prone to stress
We will explain why lawyers are prone to stress from the perspective of their work content and working environment.
1. The main job is conflict resolution.
Due to the nature of conflict-related work, lawyers inevitably experience stress. When a problem goes to court, the customer’s issues are serious.
If you are not conscious of this, you may be susceptible to the negative vibes of your customers. Furthermore, lawyers tend to be resentful of the opposing party, regardless of the outcome. There are many cases of people being insulted or harassed.
2. Long working hours
In 2018, the Federation of Bar Associations conducted a survey on “lawyer working hours.” The most common number of hours worked by lawyers per week was 41 to 50 hours, followed by 51 to 60 hours.
If you take on private cases, your working hours will be even longer. A lawyer’s work requires them to adapt to their clients’ needs, and schedules tend to be difficult to predict.
Many people are always handling multiple projects at the same time, and may have to work late into the night or on weekends and holidays to finish their work. That’s why hiring a virtual legal services is ideal to handle administrative work.
3. Earnings are lower than expected
Many lawyers feel stressed because their income does not correspond to the hours and effort they work.
In order to become a lawyer, one must pass the bar exam, which is said to be the most difficult exam in the US, and many people become lawyers through hard work.
However, only a few lawyers are able to earn high salaries right from the start. If there are a few projects that you can get from the agency, your income will not increase unless you build up your skills and take on personal projects. If you are interested, you can try taking a side hustle job for lawyers.
4. Bad work environment
Working at a law firm with problematic working conditions, such as “a heavy workload and long working hours but low pay” or “verbal abuse and power harassment are rampant,” is likely to result in a great deal of stress. Just like in any business, law firms have a wide range of work environments.
5. It’s difficult to attract customers
The difficulty of attracting clients also causes stress for lawyers. Despite the increase in the number of lawyers, the number of civil lawsuits is decreasing year by year. Even if you’re not good at it, if you don’t attract customers, you won’t receive any requests. However, if you know how to do SEO, email marketing, and digital marketing for lawyers, it’ll be a different story.
How to work as a lawyer without getting stressed
Make a conscious effort to reduce stress so that you don’t get crushed by it. A lawyer will show you how to avoid accumulating stress.
1. Quickly resolve difficult cases
In order to avoid lingering negative feelings, it’s best to deal with the issues you’re not good at as quickly as possible. Don’t take on difficult cases alone, cases that you feel you cannot solve on your own, or cases that require a lot of time to complete.
It is important to have the courage to turn down work early, but if you do so irresponsibly, it will damage your relationships with coworkers and clients. Consult with those around you and deal with the situation.
2. Relieve stress regularly
The longer you hold back, the greater your risk of getting sick. Be sure to take breaks between busy tasks to refresh yourself.
If you spend your time in a depressed mood, negative thoughts will take over and you will become more susceptible to stress. Taking a break is important to break the vicious cycle.
3. Don’t get too involved in cases or clients
Set aside days off and make time for things other than work. A lawyer’s job involves dealing with legal issues. When we consider the seriousness of the case and the client’s feelings, it is not uncommon for us to become emotionally attached and let the situation drag on even onto our days off.
It is important to work hard at your job, but try to maintain a certain distance from projects and clients and not get too involved.
4. Consult with those around you
Colleagues, superiors, other lawyers, etc. are important people to consult with. Don’t keep it to yourself, talk to those around you about your problems. Maybe someone with the same problem can help you find a solution. Even if it doesn’t lead to a concrete solution, just talking about your worries can help relieve stress.
5. People with a strong sense of justice and seriousness should be especially careful.
Your personality also influences how easily you get stressed. Many lawyers are said to be serious people with a strong sense of justice.
As you work hard on a case, you may find yourself empathizing too much with the client’s feelings, which can become difficult for you. If any of this applies to your personality, be careful not to get too emotionally tied up.
When you can’t stand the stress of being a lawyer
If the stress of being a lawyer becomes too much for you, consider these tips:
1. Change your place of employment while remaining a lawyer
Since working styles and environments vary from law firm to law firm, changing workplaces may help relieve stress.
If you are stressed by working hours, work environment, or interpersonal relationships at work, try changing agencies or companies. When searching for a new job, for example,Agaroo CarrierWe recommend that you consult with a recruitment agency that specializes in lawyers.
2. Moving to an in-house company
Another option is to work outside of a law firm. In fact, many people go on to succeed in the legal department of a company or move on to other jobs.
Regular companies tend to offer better employee benefits and have set working hours than law firms, so changing jobs may also improve your work-life balance.
Examples of work other than that of a lawyer
If you can utilize your attorney qualification, it will be advantageous for you to change jobs to a general company, other professional occupations, consultants, etc. Here are some examples of jobs other than that of an attorney.
1. Changing jobs to a general company
If you leave a law firm and move to a general company, you will be valued in departments that require legal knowledge, such as the legal affairs department, intellectual property department, and compliance department.
In addition to general companies, the real estate industry is also recommended. This is because the real estate industry is subject to a variety of laws, including the Real Estate Transaction Business Act, Civil Code, Building Standards Act, and Real Estate Registration Act. My experience as a lawyer is also useful in negotiating rent and arbitrating disputes.
2. Other professionals such as tax accountants
If you are a lawyer, you can register as a tax accountant, patent attorney, or other professional without taking an exam. Since the work content varies greatly from profession to profession, even people who think they are not suited to being a lawyer may be able to excel.
A tax accountant prepares tax-related documents and gives advice to companies and individuals. A patent attorney deals with intellectual property rights.
3. Consultant
An increasing number of people are also working as consultants while remaining registered as lawyers. A consultant is someone who provides advice to companies and individuals to help them avoid management and legal troubles.
Consultants who are not registered as attorneys cannot provide legal advice or negotiate for the purpose of resolving disputes. Being a lawyer is also an advantage in the consulting industry.
4. Writing work
Writing work such as writing allows lawyers to utilize their legal knowledge and experience. You can write persuasive articles from a legal perspective, and using your title as a former lawyer will increase the authority of your articles.
Also, since writing allows you to work at your own pace and when you want, it’s easier to maintain a work-life balance.