Abu Fofanah, a 7 figure business owner, announced on his website:
đź“ŤOn sabbatical
📌 I can’t promise anything, ask somebody else to do it
👨🏾‍💻 After years of working to pour into others— I’m walking away from millions in order to save myself.
While this may sound extreme, the reality is that burnout is a real problem that is increasingly affecting lawyers and remote professional service providers. According to the American Bar Association, 32% of lawyers experience symptoms of depression, and 23% struggle with anxiety. Also, a study by the recruitment agency Realm Recruit found that two-thirds of legal professionals have experienced burnout at least once throughout their careers.
“It’s a dangerous combination where people with ambitious personalities are working in an environment where clients demand so much and everything is urgent,” said Jan Dernestam, Co-Chair of the IBA Law Firm Management Committee.
As a leading voice on the importance of work-life balance, Amata is creating this article to help lawyers avoid burnout and stay fresh for their most rewarding work.
Why Lawyers Need Sabbaticals
There are certain things that just come with the territory. Lawyers often face heavy workloads and tight deadlines, leading to long working hours and high-pressure situations. The demands of handling numerous cases, managing client expectations, and meeting court deadlines contribute to chronic stress.
Dealing with legal cases can also take a significant emotional toll. Complex cases require critical decisions that can have profound consequences for clients. The weight of these responsibilities, combined with the potential for moral and ethical dilemmas, can all contribute to emotional exhaustion and burnout.
Lawyers may also find themselves in situations where they have limited control over their work environment, such as tight court schedules, unexpected case developments, or unpredictable client demands. The pressure to bill a certain number of hours can lead to overworking, sacrificing personal time, and neglecting self-care.
On top of that, the legal profession can be highly competitive, and lawyers may face uncertainty in their career paths. Clients often have high expectations and lawyers may feel compelled to meet unrealistic standards. This combination of unique factors can make lawyers more susceptible to burnout.
So when we say that lawyers need sabbaticals, we recognize taking 6 months off is likely not realistic for most lawyers. But there are three alternatives to stay fresh and enjoy a better work-life balance:
Strategy 1: Schedule Time Off (“Mini Sabbaticals”)
Mini sabbaticals are brief periods of time off, distinct from traditional vacations, that allow you to step away from the daily legal grind. These breaks, whether a long weekend or a few extra days sprinkled throughout the month, serve as a strategic investment in well-being, with positive impacts on both personal and professional life.
The key is to not wait for your schedule to be empty (something that will likely never happen), but to schedule your time off in advance. Even a few hours of rest can renew your focus and creativity, prevent burnout, and allow your best ideas to flourish.
And if you are worried about missing a call during your time off, that’s what our virtual assistants are here for.
Strategy 2: Delegate
Most professionals underestimate the time it takes them to check email, handle appointments, and return calls. These essential but time-consuming tasks can be delegated to a virtual legal assistant, which frees up your time to get new clients, win more cases, and run a profitable law firm.
With Amata’s “office-as-a-service” model, you can access on-demand (hourly) support services in the form of admin assistants, paralegals, receptionists, and business phone/phone app services that free your time to focus on billable hours and enjoying your life.
Strategy 3: Set Limits and Boundaries
Scheduling time off and delegating will get you a long way. But in the legal profession, where demands are incessant and the stakes are high, setting clear limits and boundaries is a must.
What is important to understand is that these boundaries not only safeguards your mental and physical well-being, but will they serve your clients and team in the long run. Having downtime is not selfish or a sign of weakness, but a key component of sustained high-performance.
This becomes even more important when working remotely. With constant connectivity, it’s crucial to set limits on after-hours emails and calls. Designate specific periods for uninterrupted focus or relaxation, and delineate reasonable working hours unless something truly urgent comes up.
Regular breaks are non-negotiable. Lawyers should make time for lunch, short walks, or moments of relaxation during the workday. These brief respites contribute to mental rejuvenation and prevent the cumulative stress that leads to burnout.
Working remotely is great but, without boundaries, it can also become unsustainable. By scheduling time off, delegating time-consuming activities that do not energize you (or directly add to your bottomline), and learning how to say no, you’ll create a healthier work/life balance and a more profitable law firm.
Contact us today and our team will guide you on how our flexible office plans and on-demand support staff can create a profitable law firm you never want to escape from.