How to Prevent Burnout in the Legal Profession | Executive Health Solutions by Altius

The legal profession is known for long hours, high-pressure workloads, and unrelenting demands. While many lawyers thrive on the challenge, the impact on physical and mental health is significant. Recent data from the Executive Health Index™ 2024, produced by Executive Health Solutions by Altius, confirms that legal professionals face some of the highest health risks of any industry. Reinforcing the urgent need to prioritise resilience and wellbeing.

What the data shows about lawyer wellbeing 

According to the EHS White Paper, the legal sector ranks among the lowest across industries for psychological wellbeing. One in four legal executives work more than 60 hours per week, a workload that contributes to burnout, poor sleep and chronic stress. The sector also reports low levels of aerobic fitness, with 23 percent of legal professionals recording poor aerobic capacity, and a high prevalence of cholesterol and metabolic risk factors.

These findings mirror what lawyers themselves experience: difficulty switching off from work, emotional “spillover” into home life, and a cycle of stress that undermines focus, productivity and long-term wellbeing.

The risks of burnout in the legal sector

Burnout is more than just fatigue. It is a state of physical, emotional and cognitive exhaustion that erodes performance and engagement. Data from the EHS White Paper links poor sleep quality to up to a 30 percent productivity decline, while stress, anxiety and depression contribute to a 13 percent loss. Left unaddressed, these issues don’t just affect work outcomes, they spill over into personal relationships and quality of life.

Building resilience as a buffer

The good news is that resilience is not an innate trait but a skill that can be cultivated. Resilience acts as a buffer, enabling lawyers to sustain high performance while protecting their wellbeing. Building resilience requires intentional practices that help lawyers manage stress, recover effectively and maintain balance between work and life.

Practical strategies include:

• Establish boundaries between work and home life to protect downtime and rest.
• Channel stress productively, such as through physical activity, hobbies or creative outlets.
• Reframe unhelpful thinking patterns by catching and challenging negative thought 
  cycles.
• Practice gratitude, focusing daily on positive experiences to shift perspective.
• Engage with family and friends, maintaining emotionally supportive connections outside of work.
• Prioritise sleep, aiming for seven to eight hours a night to restore cognitive function.
• Be active every day, even if it’s just a 30-minute walk or stretching between meetings.
• Use controlled breathing techniques to manage stress and improve concentration.

Building resilience as a buffer

While individual resilience strategies are essential, law firms and legal organisations also have a responsibility to create environments that support wellbeing. This includes encouraging realistic work hours, offering flexibility, and providing structured health and resilience programs. Executive Health Solutions by Altius partners with organisations to deliver evidence-based assessments and programs that identify risks early, provide tailored advice, and support leaders to sustain both performance and health.

The bottom line

The demands of legal practice are unlikely to change, but the way lawyers respond to those demands can. By investing in resilience and workplace health programs, individuals can protect their wellbeing and firms can reduce burnout risk, improve engagement and sustain long-term performance. The data from the Executive Health Index™ 2024 is clear: without proactive action, the legal profession will continue to face some of the most significant health challenges of any industry.