Your point is well made and I think shows the fragility of the partnership model. The strong likelihood is that the leaders above who are prepared to say what they say do genuinely want change . However, we know that law firms rarely operate command and control thus leaving a bit of a free for all when it comes to leadership behaviours. It’s wrong I think then to criticise those that really do believe change is needed and are trying to instigate that. I think the idea of well being before profit is a nice idea but naïve given the competitive pressures that exist in the sector. The need to make more money is driven by the need to hire the best people. It’s exactly the same in the associate market in the US. Firms having to keep up with pay pressures because there are too many alternative places to go for more money. Unlike the accounting sector where the top dollar is paid to a small number of top firms, law is saturated with rich firms ready to pay more. This will only ever change if there are mega mergers and the competitive pressure lessens – that is unlikely to happen. In any event I would advocate more junior lawyers stand up to the bullies that exist in law firms and seek out mentors who can help them deal with difficult people. Taking personal ownership for your mental health is in your control – why people believe it’s someone else’s responsibility is beyond me.

Whatever the “[Global/Senior/Managing] Partner” has to say to the media outlets won’t change the behaviour of the partner in PE or lev fin or whatever that honestly couldn’t care about mental health of his juniors. And when there are burnout/mental health issues happening all over that team, nothing of consequence happens to that partner.

When the rubber hits the road, partners will always sacrifice their associates to keep their clients happy. Until that changes, whatever the global head at [X] firm says from their corner office to the media outlets doesn’t matter. As “junior lawyer” says in their comment above, we are very fungible.

Our high salaries are literally equivalent to danger/hazard pay – you get paid because you put your health on the line every day to do this nonsense. Sooner you realise that, the sooner you realise that you need to get out.

Some areas of law i.e private equity, are ultra high pressure environments with competitive timelines and a constant sense of urgency. This trickles down to associates who are subjected to such pressures over time and are inevitably burnt out and either exit law/go in-house, go on stress leave or push through but at the expense of relationships, social life and an unrealised hatred for the self.

The problem here is multifaceted. The current business model for such teams allow the firm to be competitive in the market and continue to generate profit. This is also compounded by the cultural entrenchment of long hours, hard work and a real sense of hierarchy that has been long associated with such areas of law. I’m sure the same can be said of other areas of law.
Additionally, we are very fungible. You will always get that ultra eager law student (and lawfluencers) that think being a lawyer is the saviour of mankind and will come in wanting to work 25 hours a day, 8 days a week and post all over their Instagram story how doing AM finishes closing deals is a vibe… until they themselves are burnt out by 2-3PQE and are then replaced by the next generation of the ultra-eager lawfluencers etc rinse and repeat

Anyway, unless and until firms are willing to acknowledge and undercut the profit centred business model in favour of a new well being centred model that puts employee welfare up with profit (not necessarily above it), then these “mental health awareness initiatives” will do absolutely nothing… and I don’t see firms undercutting the profit centred business model, they are businesses at the end of the day.

I was one of those junior lawyers that wanted to gobble up every hour but have now decided to quit. The money is great but the job isn’t what I thought it would be and I regret not doing something more meaningful to me.