"Law has long been, and still is, known as the burnout profession, an association unbecoming of what is widely considered a most prestigious profession."
Those were the opening lines of a piece dated July 30, 2021, by UK-based news website and monthly legal publication Lawyer Monthly, which discussed the changes to be made to safeguard the mental and physical health of lawyers.
After all - gargantuan workload, long working hours, marathon client calls and hearings, unimaginable deadline pressure, endless drafting and the like are synonymous with the life of the average corporate lawyer.
Circa December 2021, and back home, a premier full-service law firm has taken a refreshing step against the so-called "burnout culture ".
On December 22, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas declared a
"rejuvenation break" for all members and staff across all offices for a period of nine calendar days, from December 25, 2021, to January 2, 2022, including weekends. The move was communicated to all employees via an internal mail.
When contacted, Akshay Chudasama, Managing Partner, Mumbai region and a member of the firm's six-member management board confirmed the development.
Aimed at recharging the batteries of its lawyers, the move by one of the country's largest corporate law firms underscores the rising focus on a healthier work environment, burn-out and mental fatigue, factors which have become a key part of HR practices in the post-pandemic and WFH (work from home)...
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