Life in the Law 2025: A Wake-Up Call for the Legal Profession

Oct 13, 2025
3 min read

Updated: Feb 6

What the Report Reveals

The statistics from the report are alarming:

59% of respondents reported "poor mental wellbeing".
78.7% are working beyond their contracted hours, with almost 1 in 10 working 21+ extra hours each week.
50% have experienced anxiety often or very often in the past year.
19.5% reported experiencing bullying, harassment, or discrimination in the past 12 months.
Alarmingly, over half (56.2%) could see themselves leaving their current workplace within five years, and almost a third are considering leaving the profession entirely.

For anyone who cares deeply about the legal sector, these statistics are difficult to digest. They highlight not just individual struggles but a systemic issue rooted in culture, expectations, and long-standing working patterns.

What LawCare Recommends

LawCare’s report doesn’t just diagnose the problem; it offers a roadmap towards a healthier future.

Key recommendations include:

Actively manage workloads – tackle root causes of overwork, rethink incentives and targets, and challenge the long-hours culture.
Prioritise people management – recognise management as a critical professional skill, with time, training, and support to match.
Embed hybrid and flexible working – design these thoughtfully and collaboratively to balance benefits with risks like isolation.
Evaluate wellbeing programmes – measure what’s working, learn from the data, and iterate.
Equip future lawyers – ensure education and training provide the skills needed for a sustainable legal career.

These steps may sound simple, but implementing them requires strong leadership, consistent commitment, and cultural change across firms, chambers, in-house teams, and regulators alike.

A Personal Reflection

Having worked with hundreds, if not thousands, of lawyers over the past twenty-five years, I can honestly say it’s a profession I love being part of (even if I’m not a lawyer myself). I’ve met and worked alongside so many fantastic, passionate, and driven people. That’s why it’s so disheartening to see how many are struggling.

The legal sector has always been demanding, but the idea that nearly a third of professionals can now see themselves leaving the profession altogether is heartbreaking. This should be a wake-up call for us all.

If we don’t take collective action, this will put enormous strain on the Scottish legal sector in particular: loss of talent, higher burnout, and reduced capacity to serve clients effectively.

The Importance of Change

As an industry, we must drive change. It won’t happen overnight; these are learned behaviours built over decades. However, small, consistent steps will make a real difference. We can start by listening more, leading with empathy, valuing people management, and challenging the “always on” culture that too often defines a solicitor’s work.

Building a Supportive Environment

Creating a supportive environment is crucial. We need to foster open communication and encourage legal professionals to share their experiences. This will help us understand the challenges they face and find effective solutions.

Encouraging Work-Life Balance

Promoting a healthy work-life balance is essential. Law firms should implement policies that allow for flexible working hours and remote work options. This can help reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.

Investing in Training and Development

Investing in training and development is vital for the future of the legal profession. We must equip future lawyers with the skills they need for a sustainable career. This includes not only legal knowledge but also skills in mental health awareness and resilience.

A Call to Action

LawCare has issued a call to every part of the profession, from law firms to regulators, from educators to insurers, to step up and take action.

We owe it to the people who make this profession what it is: talented, hardworking individuals who genuinely care about the clients and communities they serve. Let’s not allow this report to gather dust. Let’s use it as a catalyst for change and build a more sustainable, humane, and inclusive future for law.

I’d love to hear your thoughts: how can we, as a profession, start making these changes in a meaningful way?