You would be surprised it is not either of these areas. Read on to explore what most lawyers really want.
Lawyers have frequently spoken about the importance of having a good work-life balance. This is something that they feel is essential to lead a happy and healthy life. It is not just about the long hours that they are expected to work, but also the stress that comes with the job. Lawyers need to be able to switch off from their work and enjoy their free time without worrying about upcoming deadlines or court appearances.
Money is important to everyone, including lawyers. However, it seems that it is not necessarily the most important factor when it comes to choosing a career. In general, most Lawyers are more interested in finding a job that allows them to have a good work-life balance and earn a comfortable salary, rather than one that pays them a high salary but requires them to work long hours.
There are clearly many different factors that lawyers will take into consideration when looking for a new job, but it seems that, in the vast majority of cases, the two most important ones are work-life balance and money. Lawyers want to be able to enjoy their free time and not have to worry about work whilst doing so, but they also need to earn enough money to live comfortably.
Lawyers frequently move jobs to achieve the perfect balance of work and life. They want to be able to spend time with their family and friends, as well as have enough time to pursue their hobbies and interests. Money is important to them, but it is not the most important factor. Lawyers appear to be more interested in finding a job that allows them to have that good work-life balance.
Lawyers are now able to practice law remotely. The measures introduced during the Covid pandemic have proven this. Lawyers no longer need to be tied to one location to provide their services. In fact, with the advances in technology, lawyers can now work from anywhere in the world. This gives them a lot more freedom and flexibility when it comes to choosing where they work and who they work for. The personal benefits of this are plain to see. No long commutes to the office, incurring both time and money. Being able to spend time with family and friends with that extra time: no more missed birthdays or family gatherings.
As such, is the traditional law firm model still relevant to today's modern lawyer?
With the tedious commute, the long hours, and the pressure of generating £1,000s of billable hours, all to help sustain a cumbersome traditional law firm infrastructure and just for a limited salary, the traditional model is clearly an outdated concept in these modern times. Outside of this traditional model, in firms that are embracing a new way of working within the legal industry, a work-life balance is far easier to achieve than it ever has been.
So, for those Lawyers who value a work-life balance above becoming a Partner or achieving a top salary, there is no better time than now to achieve this goal.
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