GITNUXREPORT 2025

Lawyer Burnout Statistics

Legal burnout affects over half of lawyers, causing stress and mental health issues.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

52% of lawyers report feeling emotionally exhausted at work

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60% of lawyers experience burnout symptoms

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29% of lawyers have experienced physical symptoms of stress, such as insomnia or headaches

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48% of lawyers report dissatisfaction with their work-life balance

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40% of law firm partners report feeling burnt out routinely

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27% of attorneys report losing sleep due to workload stress

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41% of lawyers feel their workload is unmanageable

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33% of lawyers experience physical symptoms such as fatigue and headaches, related to stress and burnout

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62% of legal professionals report a desire to change careers due to burnout

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44% of lawyers report that they have experienced burnout at some point in their careers

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22% of attorneys report that their workload has increased significantly during the pandemic, leading to higher burnout rates

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40% of lawyers admit to having considered quitting their practice due to burnout

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23% of lawyers report experiencing depression

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76% of lawyers report feeling overly stressed at least once a week

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45% of lawyers experience anxiety related to their workload

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30% of surveyed lawyers regard burnout as their most significant professional challenge

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65% of lawyers experience burnout symptoms but do not seek help

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70% of lawyers report feeling anxious about job stability

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25% of young lawyers under 30 experience symptoms of burnout

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53% of lawyers report that their mental health has declined over the past year

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18% of attorneys have considered impairment or substance abuse as a way to cope with stress

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61% of law students experience significant stress, which can lead to burnout later in their careers

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35% of attorneys delay seeking mental health help due to stigma

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58% of legal professionals believe that the legal industry should do more to address mental health

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32% of lawyers report suicidal ideation, which is significantly higher than the general population

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45% of lawyers report experiencing frequent feelings of inadequacy, leading to burnout

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52% of junior associates experience burnout within their first 3 years of practice

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59% of legal professionals think that burnout affects their professional performance

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49% of lawyers report that their personal relationships have suffered due to work stress

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77% of surveyed lawyers agree that mental health issues are underreported in the legal profession

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19% of attorneys have taken a leave of absence specifically for mental health reasons

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15% of female lawyers report experiencing severe burnout, higher than their male counterparts

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20% of attorneys have experienced impairment or addiction issues related to job stress, according to recent surveys

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65% of lawyers state that their mental health issues often go unrecognized or untreated

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34% of lawyers have considered leaving the profession entirely due to burnout

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29% of legal professionals report feeling isolated at work, which can exacerbate burnout symptoms

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50% of young lawyers experience burnout within their first five years of practice

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27% of attorneys report feelings of hopelessness related to their work, often linked to burnout

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40% of legal professionals feel that their job negatively affects their physical health, including stress-related illnesses

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36% of lawyers have experienced or witnessed substance abuse problems within their legal community, often correlated with burnout

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56% of young female lawyers report experiencing burnout, which affects their career advancement

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69% of lawyers feel that their mental health needs are overlooked by law firms, contributing to burnout

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55% of attorneys feel they lack sufficient mental health support from their firm

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12% of lawyers have sought mental health counseling

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15% of lawyers report that their firms have insufficient mental health resources

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48% of law firms have no formal programs addressing lawyer mental health

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55% of lawyers believe that mental health issues are not adequately addressed by their employer

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35% of lawyers work more than 50 hours per week regularly

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56% of lawyers believe that the legal culture promotes overwork, contributing to burnout

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Key Highlights

52% of lawyers report feeling emotionally exhausted at work
60% of lawyers experience burnout symptoms
40% of lawyers admit to having considered quitting their practice due to burnout
23% of lawyers report experiencing depression
76% of lawyers report feeling overly stressed at least once a week
45% of lawyers experience anxiety related to their workload
35% of lawyers work more than 50 hours per week regularly
29% of lawyers have experienced physical symptoms of stress, such as insomnia or headaches
48% of lawyers report dissatisfaction with their work-life balance
30% of surveyed lawyers regard burnout as their most significant professional challenge
55% of attorneys feel they lack sufficient mental health support from their firm
12% of lawyers have sought mental health counseling
65% of lawyers experience burnout symptoms but do not seek help

Deeply troubling yet often overlooked, recent statistics reveal that over half of lawyers suffer from burnout, emotional exhaustion, and mental health struggles—highlighting a crisis that demands urgent attention within the legal profession.

Burnout and Stress Indicators

52% of lawyers report feeling emotionally exhausted at work
60% of lawyers experience burnout symptoms
29% of lawyers have experienced physical symptoms of stress, such as insomnia or headaches
48% of lawyers report dissatisfaction with their work-life balance
40% of law firm partners report feeling burnt out routinely
27% of attorneys report losing sleep due to workload stress
41% of lawyers feel their workload is unmanageable
33% of lawyers experience physical symptoms such as fatigue and headaches, related to stress and burnout
62% of legal professionals report a desire to change careers due to burnout
44% of lawyers report that they have experienced burnout at some point in their careers
22% of attorneys report that their workload has increased significantly during the pandemic, leading to higher burnout rates

Burnout and Stress Indicators Interpretation

With over half of lawyers battling emotional exhaustion and nearly half feeling their workload unmanageable—especially heightened during the pandemic—it's clear that the legal profession's battle with burnout isn't just a personal struggle but a systemic crisis demanding urgent reforms before more legal minds burn out for good.

Mental Health Challenges among Legal Professionals

40% of lawyers admit to having considered quitting their practice due to burnout
23% of lawyers report experiencing depression
76% of lawyers report feeling overly stressed at least once a week
45% of lawyers experience anxiety related to their workload
30% of surveyed lawyers regard burnout as their most significant professional challenge
65% of lawyers experience burnout symptoms but do not seek help
70% of lawyers report feeling anxious about job stability
25% of young lawyers under 30 experience symptoms of burnout
53% of lawyers report that their mental health has declined over the past year
18% of attorneys have considered impairment or substance abuse as a way to cope with stress
61% of law students experience significant stress, which can lead to burnout later in their careers
35% of attorneys delay seeking mental health help due to stigma
58% of legal professionals believe that the legal industry should do more to address mental health
32% of lawyers report suicidal ideation, which is significantly higher than the general population
45% of lawyers report experiencing frequent feelings of inadequacy, leading to burnout
52% of junior associates experience burnout within their first 3 years of practice
59% of legal professionals think that burnout affects their professional performance
49% of lawyers report that their personal relationships have suffered due to work stress
77% of surveyed lawyers agree that mental health issues are underreported in the legal profession
19% of attorneys have taken a leave of absence specifically for mental health reasons
15% of female lawyers report experiencing severe burnout, higher than their male counterparts
20% of attorneys have experienced impairment or addiction issues related to job stress, according to recent surveys
65% of lawyers state that their mental health issues often go unrecognized or untreated
34% of lawyers have considered leaving the profession entirely due to burnout
29% of legal professionals report feeling isolated at work, which can exacerbate burnout symptoms
50% of young lawyers experience burnout within their first five years of practice
27% of attorneys report feelings of hopelessness related to their work, often linked to burnout
40% of legal professionals feel that their job negatively affects their physical health, including stress-related illnesses
36% of lawyers have experienced or witnessed substance abuse problems within their legal community, often correlated with burnout
56% of young female lawyers report experiencing burnout, which affects their career advancement
69% of lawyers feel that their mental health needs are overlooked by law firms, contributing to burnout

Mental Health Challenges among Legal Professionals Interpretation

With over half of lawyers experiencing burnout symptoms that go unrecognized or untreated, and nearly a quarter considering impairment or substance abuse as coping mechanisms, the legal profession is caught in a distressing paradox: a highly stressful industry that, despite these alarming statistics, often neglects its own mental health crisis until it manifests in shattered careers and personal lives.

Mental Health Support and Resources

55% of attorneys feel they lack sufficient mental health support from their firm
12% of lawyers have sought mental health counseling
15% of lawyers report that their firms have insufficient mental health resources
48% of law firms have no formal programs addressing lawyer mental health
55% of lawyers believe that mental health issues are not adequately addressed by their employer

Mental Health Support and Resources Interpretation

Despite over half of attorneys feeling their firms fall short in providing mental health support, a mere 12% have actually sought counseling, revealing that the real courtroom battle may be against stigma and institutional indifference—leaving many lawyers to struggle in silence while the profession's wellness remains on the docket.

Workload and Work Environment Factors

35% of lawyers work more than 50 hours per week regularly
56% of lawyers believe that the legal culture promotes overwork, contributing to burnout

Workload and Work Environment Factors Interpretation

With over a third of lawyers clocking more than 50 hours weekly and a majority sensing a culture that encourages such relentless overwork, it's clear that the legal profession's badge of honor is often worn at the expense of well-being, risking more than just burnout.