Increasing workloads, understaffed teams, and challenging company cultures are contributing to a rise in anxiety, fatigue, and stress experienced by in-house lawyers, according to a 2024 Mental Health Survey conducted by Law.com and ALM Intelligence.
The survey, which garnered 79 responses from in-house counsel, a considerable increase from the previous year’s mere two dozen responders, sheds light on the growing mental health challenges and increasing demands in the in-house legal profession. Although the sample size might lack statistical significance, it largely aligns with observations from legal experts about the escalating demands of the job.
Shai Mehani, former in-house lawyer and co-founder of the networking group In-house Connect, suggests that fostering camaraderie within the team can help alleviate stress, reduce burnout, and enhance retention rates.
Nevertheless, while the increasing strains on in-house attorneys are evident, legal organizations and corporations need to pay closer attention to these challenges, address them head-on, and find improved mechanisms to support their in-house legal teams.