We rang in 2021 with the hope that a vaccine would help us regain a sense of normalcy both in our personal and professional lives. But here we are, a year later, welcoming yet another new year with many of the same feelings of doom and gloom we had early in the pandemic. There is no denying that the stress, exhaustion and depression of the last two years has caught up with many of us in the legal profession. The constant adapting, the feeling of always being “on” with remote work and the sheer lack of systemic support for caregivers has pushed us all to our limits.

Mental health has never been enough of a priority in the legal profession, but the impact of the pandemic is forcing it into focus as something that can no longer be ignored. Law firms and businesses alike are seeing talent leaving in droves, particularly women and women of color, looking for relief from burnout and pandemic fatigue. Most lawyers are ambitious, dedicated and often have no boundaries, which disproportionately puts them at risk for strain on their mental health. Add in some family care responsibilities and the likelihood of burnout increases exponentially. Amid the lack of reliable child care, shutdowns and virtual schooling, parents and caregivers are reporting higher rates of burnout as these workers lack access to recovery between the various stressors of practicing law, caring for their children (or parents) and managing a household.

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Read Full Story: https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2022/01/12/for-law-firms-to-stave-off-attr...