How Should Lawyers Maintain the Perfect Work-Life Balance

COGNEESOL INC.
How Should Lawyers Maintain the
Perfect Work Life Balance?

Introduction
Work-life balance is maintaining a state of
equilibrium in which the demands of family
life, professional life and personal life hold
equal importance.
It consists of flexible work arrangements that
enable employees to carry out other life
responsibilities and commitments efficiently.

In an ideal law firm management system, lawyers are committed to devote
time to the clients, but the firm should also help them in finding the right
balance between their work and life.

Work-Life Balance for
Lawyers
As the legal industry is well-known
for being challenging, it has a
standard for long hours in this
competitive profession.
Although the pay rates are
excellent, the lawyers find
themselves increasingly stretched
for time.

This is done by offering flexible
work timings, work schedules with
reduced hours, and partnership with
associates working with alternative
work schedules.

Why Lawyers Really Struggle for Work-
Life Balance?
While the practice is small, it’s an easy task for the
attorney to stay on top of a few files and maintain
communication with clients.
But as the practice grows, many attorneys lose
managerial skills and have no plan for growth except
to ‘work harder and work longer’.

Soon they get habitual of working nights and weekends. Young
attorneys possessing a lot of energy work long hours with a mindset
of ‘sacrifice now to succeed later’.
As time passes, their energy is gradually drained, but the work
pressure keeps on building up, and they struggle to keep pace with
the ever-increasing number of matters in mind and on their desks.

Hence, it is no wonder that
the legal profession has
high rates of alcohol and
drug abuse, depression,
heart diseases, suicide
and divorce.

Why is it Important?
Improving the work-life balance offers
many benefits for law firms.

These Involves:
Reducing costs associated with
attrition and recruitment.
Teleworking, and sharing of
desk time.
Increasing diversity within the
law firm.
Retaining the talent.
Greater utilization of office space
through shifts.
Increased productivity due to
reduction of stress levels.

Tips For Better Work-Life
Balance in the Legal Industry

#1. Integrating Flexibility in the
Workplace
Reports say that about 69% of the
employees feel the need for more flexible
work schedules.

It will be easy for the lawyers if they have the leverage to manage their
time and make room for important life events. Today, flexible working has
become the most sought after employee benefit that a company can offer.

#2. Acquire Better
Management Skills
When you are in the
business, law is not just
your purpose but also your
product. The main purpose
of your practice is to allow
you to have a good life.

If management is not one
of your priorities, you will
struggle with personal
income and revenues,
and suffer stress and
long work hours.

#3. Implement Better
Technology
With the advancement of
technology, its role in
various industries has
increased.

Law firms should adopt
technologies like cloud
computing and automation
to make their work easier
and save on time and
effort.

#4. Minimize
Interruptions
It is important for you to find
your distraction-free zone.

#5. Pay Heed to your Body
For efficient working, it is essential to
take a break when required. If you
are feeling fatigued, give yourself
some rest.

#6. Delegate Effectively
Dealing with a heavy workload is one of the
major skills of a lawyer but it is as important to
reduce the same.
As you cannot do everything at once, it is
essential to know how to delegate the work
effectively. Legal outsourcing is one solution
that can solve this problem.

Conclusion
You cannot achieve work-life
balance overnight. If you’ve
been trying to find a balance
for a while and your life still
feels chaotic, talk with a
professional.