The legal profession faces a serious lawyer mental health problem. More than 41% of U.S. lawyers say legal work has harmed their mental health.
A new study found high rates of burnout, stress, anxiety, and depression. Risky alcohol use was also common.
Researchers surveyed more than 39,000 lawyers in 28 jurisdictions. As a result, the study offers a broad look at lawyer mental health.
These findings matter to firms, lawyers, recruiters, and law students. More importantly, they raise a key question: Can the legal industry grow without adding more pressure?
Key Takeaways
- 41.1% of lawyers said legal work harmed their mental health.
- 47.5% reported high or very high work-related burnout.
- 21.6% reported moderate or higher symptoms of depression.
- 20.4% reported moderate or higher anxiety.
- 18.9% reported moderate or higher stress.
- 41.8% screened positive for risky drinking.
- 27% had considered leaving the profession because of mental health, burnout, or stress.
- Working 71 or more hours per week was linked to much higher stress risks.
- 53.3% cited privacy concerns as a barrier to seeking help.
- 49.2% cited career or reputation concerns.
- Only 39.1% said their employer does enough to support well-being.
- Only 25.3% said the legal profession does enough.
New Study Highlights Lawyer Mental Health
The study is titled
When Demands Equal Distress: An Updated Understanding of Lawyer Mental Health and Well-being.
Patrick R. Krill and Justin J. Anker conducted the research. The American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs and Krill Strategies released the study.
A total of 39,036 lawyers took part. Of those, 36,925 were included in the weighted analysis.
The survey covered 28 participating jurisdictions. It also included all four U.S. Census regions.
The study appeared in the
Journal of Affective Disorders in September 2026. It provides a broad view of lawyer mental health.
41% Say Legal Work Hurts Their Mental Health
One result stands out.
About 41.1% of lawyers said their time in the legal profession harmed their mental health.
In other words, many lawyers see their careers as a source of stress. The result also goes beyond formal diagnoses.
Another troubling finding involves career plans. About 27% said they had considered leaving the profession because of mental health issues, burnout, or stress.
Therefore, mental health may affect hiring and retention at law firms.
Lawyer Burnout Is Widespread
Burnout remains a major concern in the legal industry.
Nearly half of those surveyed, or 47.5%, reported high or very high work-related burnout.
Researchers used the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. This tool measures physical and mental exhaustion from work.
A clear link also appeared between burnout and mental health problems. As burnout increased, distress increased too.
Work-family conflict added more pressure. In addition, lawyers with high burnout faced more stress when work hurt family life.
For that reason, firms may need to treat burnout as a workplace issue. Stress management alone may not solve it.
Long Hours Raise Stress Risk
Working hours also affected lawyer stress.
Those working more than 71 hours per week faced much higher stress risks. The comparison group worked 31 to 40 hours.
In fact, the risk of moderate to severe stress was about three times higher.
Long hours can help firms handle heavy workloads. However, they can also create new problems.
Extreme schedules may increase burnout and turnover. As a result, firms may find it harder to hire and keep lawyers.
Mental Health Risks Affect Many Lawyers
The study found several major mental health concerns.
Depression
About 21.6% of lawyers reported moderate or higher symptoms of depression.
Anxiety
Meanwhile, 20.4% reported moderate or higher anxiety.
Stress
Another 18.9% reported moderate or higher stress.
These figures do not mean every lawyer has a mental health disorder. Instead, they show signs of serious distress.
Several factors were linked to these problems. Burnout was one factor. Work demands also played a role. So did work-family conflict and work setting.
Risky Drinking Remains a Concern
Alcohol use is another concern for lawyers.
About 41.8% screened positive for risky drinking under the standard AUDIT-C measure.
At the higher level used in the 2016 study, 26.4% screened positive.
By comparison, only 2.3% reported a current alcohol use disorder diagnosis.
That difference matters. Risky drinking can occur without a formal diagnosis.
The ABA has also identified barriers to treatment. Licensing concerns are one issue. Stigma around seeking help is another.
Younger Lawyers Face More Risk
Younger lawyers appear to face higher mental health risks.
Starting a legal career can bring intense pressure. At the same time, new lawyers may face demanding work, debt, and career goals.
Limited control over schedules can add to the strain. Heavy workloads may also be harder to manage with less experience.
For law students and recent graduates, the findings offer an important lesson.
Salary and firm prestige matter. However, they should not be the only factors in a job search.
Candidates should also review work hours, mentorship, management, flexibility, and workplace culture.
Practice Area Affects Lawyer Well-Being
Not every legal job creates the same level of stress.
Higher distress and burnout appeared among lawyers in solo practice and private firms.
By contrast, in-house lawyers and those in judicial or academic roles generally reported lower levels.
Litigators also faced higher risks in several areas. Litigation was linked to higher burnout and more symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress.
Court deadlines may explain some of these results. In addition, client demands can make schedules harder to control.
Litigation Can Create Extra Pressure
Litigators often work under tight deadlines. Their work may include trials, filings, and negotiations.
Client demands can add more pressure. As a result, schedules may change with little warning.
Long hours can make matters worse. Several demands can build stress over time.
For that reason, firms should consider practice-specific needs in wellness programs.
One wellness plan may not work for every legal team.
Work-Family Conflict Raises Stress
Lawyer mental health can also suffer when work affects home life.
About 35.9% of lawyers reported high or very high work-family conflict.
The problem was greater among lawyers with high burnout.
Among the top 10% for burnout, high work-family conflict raised the risk of stress by 15.5 percentage points.
This finding shows why wellness programs alone may not solve the problem.
If lawyers cannot disconnect from work, time off may not provide enough recovery.
Why Lawyers Avoid Mental Health Help
Many lawyers know they need support. Even so, they may worry about seeking it.
About 53.3% cited confidentiality concerns as a barrier to help.
Career concerns were also common. Another 49.2% cited career or reputation concerns.
Time was another barrier. About 34.5% said time limits could stop them from getting help.
Taken together, these results show a clear problem.
Support may be available. Yet, some lawyers fear that asking for help could hurt their careers.
Professional Stigma Remains a Barrier
Lawyers work in a highly regulated profession. Because of this, some may worry about how others view mental health care.
Fear of judgment may come from employers, clients, or colleagues.
Therefore, firms and bar groups should make privacy rules clear.
They should also work to reduce the stigma around mental health care.
Law Firms Need to Rethink Wellness
The study may push law firms to rethink lawyer wellness.
Only 39.1% said their employers do enough to support mental health and well-being.
For the profession as a whole, the number was even lower. Only 25.3% said the legal profession does enough.
Clearly, these results send a strong message to firm leaders.
Employee assistance programs can help. However, firms should also review the work conditions that cause burnout.
What Can Law Firms Do?
Law firms can take several steps:
- Monitor excessive working hours.
- Review staffing on major matters.
- Offer private mental health resources.
- Train managers to spot burnout.
- Strengthen associate mentorship.
- Encourage lawyers to take time off.
- Review workloads across teams.
- Reduce the stigma around seeking help.
- Track employee well-being with business results.
These steps will not remove the demands of legal work.
Instead, they can make legal careers more sustainable.
Impact on Legal Recruiters
The findings could also affect legal recruiting.
Lawyers consider many factors when comparing firms. Compensation remains important.
However, workplace culture can also affect a lawyer’s choice to move.
Recruiters should understand a firm’s workload, flexibility, mentorship, and support programs.
Furthermore, firms with strong wellness policies may have an edge when hiring legal talent.
What Law Students Should Consider
Law students should look beyond starting salaries.
A high salary can be attractive. However, students should also understand the workload behind it.
Before accepting a position, candidates can ask about:
- Average weekly hours
- Billable-hour requirements
- Associate turnover
- Mentorship
- Staffing levels
- Vacation policies
- Remote or hybrid work
- Mental health resources
- Partner access
- Career advancement
The goal is not to avoid hard work.
Instead, students should understand the trade-offs before starting their careers.
Legal Industry Growth Adds Pressure
The mental health study comes as the U.S. legal sector continues to grow.
The legal sector reached about 1.246 million jobs in August 2026, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Employment rose by 600 jobs from July. It was also 7.8% higher than five years earlier.
Large law firms have also reported strong revenue growth. Higher billing rates helped support that growth.
In addition, demand for AI-related legal work has helped some firms.
Therefore, the legal industry faces a difficult balance.
The market is growing. Firms are handling more work. At the same time, many lawyers report serious stress and burnout.
The challenge is clear. The industry must grow without making extreme workloads the norm.
Mental Health Problems Persist
The new study updates major research from 2016.
Since then, law firms and bar groups have created more wellness programs.
However, the new study found higher reported levels of anxiety, stress, and depression.
There is some positive news.
Hazardous drinking fell from the 2016 benchmark when measured with the same higher cutoff.
Even so, risky drinking remains widespread.
Overall, the results suggest some progress. Yet, major mental health problems remain across the profession.
Lawyers Want More Action
Lawyers do not appear satisfied with current efforts.
About 81% said it is important or very important for the profession to do more to reduce mental health and substance-use problems.
That finding gives law firms and bar groups a clear message.
Lawyers understand the problem. Now, the industry must turn awareness into action.
FAQs
What percentage of lawyers say legal work harms their mental health?
About 41.1% of lawyers said their time in the legal profession harmed their mental health.
How common is burnout among lawyers?
Burnout is very common. About 47.5% reported high or very high work-related burnout.
How common are anxiety and depression among lawyers?
About 21.6% reported moderate or higher symptoms of depression. Meanwhile, 20.4% reported moderate or higher anxiety.
Does working long hours increase lawyer stress?
Yes. Lawyers working more than 71 hours per week faced much higher stress risks.
In fact, their risk of moderate to severe stress was about three times higher than for lawyers working 31 to 40 hours.
Which lawyers face higher mental health risks?
Younger lawyers face higher risks. In addition, higher distress appeared among lawyers in solo practice and private firms.
Litigators also showed higher risks in several areas.
Why do lawyers avoid mental health treatment?
Confidentiality is a major concern. Career and reputation concerns are also common.
In addition, limited time can make treatment harder to access.
Is risky drinking common among lawyers?
Yes. About 41.8% screened positive for risky drinking under the standard AUDIT-C measure.
What can law firms do to reduce lawyer burnout?
Firms can review workloads, staffing, hours, mentorship, and management practices.
At the same time, they can offer confidential mental health support.
Should law students consider mental health when choosing a legal job?
Yes. Salary and career growth matter.
However, students should also review hours, culture, mentorship, flexibility, and support.
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Legal Work and Mental Health: 41% of Lawyers Struggle first appeared on
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