Shortly after we returned to in-person events after COVID, I was giving a well-being presentation where I discussed a variety of tools and practices that can make us more resilient to the stresses of practicing law. I asked the audience what other practices they relied on to get through COVID. I recall one person telling me that it was music that helped him to keep his head above water during quarantine. I had never thought of music in that way and wasn’t sure whether there was some scientific evidence to support the idea that music can have a positive effect on our mental health. Turns out, there is.
Music isn’t just background noise. It’s brain medicine. It’s a cognitive balm, a subtle shift in the emotional weather, and for those of us navigating the stress and precision of legal work, it might be one of the most underused tools in the well-being toolbox.
Their work reveals that music engages nearly every region of the brain: emotion, memory, movement, language. Studies show that music can ease physical pain, reduce cortisol, and lift mood. In fact, a 2023 review in Frontiers in Psychology found that music therapy helped reduce anxiety, depression, and even post-operative pain in patients across a wide range of clinical settings. This comprehensive review examines the various neurochemical, physiological, and psychological factors that underpin the impact of music on pain perception. It highlights how music therapy can influence pain management by affecting emotional and cognitive processes, thereby reducing the perception of pain and improving overall well-being.
The legal profession runs on logic, deadlines, and high stakes. That’s precisely why we need an emotional counterbalance. Music can be the breath in between the briefs, the silence broken beautifully by sound.
Need to reset between client meetings? Try mindful listening—five minutes of instrumental music with your eyes closed.
Want a creative outlet? Dust off the guitar. Join a choir. Pick up the drums. It’s not frivolous—it’s neuroscience.
Feeling burned out? Consider music therapy. Many therapists are now integrating it into their treatment plans for stress-related disorders.
Over the past year, I have received several requests to do mental health presentations with a focus on burnout. We are all aware that the legal profession is renowned for its demanding nature, often leading to high levels of stress and burnout among attorneys and support staff. Long hours, intense workloads, and the pressure to meet client expectations contribute significantly to mental and physical exhaustion. A 2024 Bloomberg Law Survey reported that lawyers feel burnout in their jobs anywhere from 37% of the time to 51% of the time, depending on the lawyer’s position in the firm. This and other studies revealing burnout and mental health struggles in the legal profession point to the need for law firms to come up with solutions to address the issue.
Other industries have responded to the burnout crisis with innovative strategies. For instance, some companies have introduced “recharge days,” additional paid time off dedicated to employee wellness. Organizations like IHG and ServiceNow offer multiple recharge days annually, allowing staff to rest and rejuvenate. Such initiatives have been linked to increased employee satisfaction and productivity.
Additionally, the concept of a four-day workweek has gained traction as a means to enhance work-life balance and reduce stress. Advocates argue that a compressed work schedule can lead to higher productivity and improved mental health, as employees have more time to recover and attend to personal matters. This approach challenges the traditional 40-hour workweek, suggesting that reduced hours do not necessarily equate to decreased output.
To effectively address burnout within law firms, it is essential to move beyond superficial solutions and implement systemic changes that foster a supportive work environment. This includes recognizing the multifaceted nature of burnout and tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of legal professionals. It is essential for law firm managers, supervisors, and partners to understand the intricacies of burnout. What causes one lawyer to experience burnout might not have any effect on another lawyer. For example, some lawyers may experience burnout from an excessive workload while others burn out from a lack of autonomy or a lack of reward and recognition. Everyone is different. The only way to know what causes a lawyer to struggle is to ask that lawyer. Open communication in a law firm is essential to addressing burnout.
Here are some actionable suggestions that law firms might consider to help combat burnout:
Introduce Wellness Days: Offer additional paid time off for mental health and recovery, separate from vacation or sick days. These wellness days send a clear message: your well-being matters.
Explore Flexible Work Models: Consider alternatives to the traditional 40-hour week, whether that’s compressed schedules, remote work options, or reduced hours where feasible.
Cultivate a Supportive and Collaborative Culture: Normalize conversations about mental health. Provide access to counseling or coaching, and make sure leadership models vulnerability and openness. Build teamwork through collaboration on client matters.
Recognize More Than Results: Celebrate not just outcomes, but also effort and resilience. Recognition programs can reinforce a culture of appreciation and respect.
By adopting these strategies, law firms can create a more sustainable and healthy work environment, ultimately enhancing both employee well-being and organizational performance. When burnout is not addressed, it comes at a cost for law firms in the form of lower productivity and higher attrition rates. Burnout isn’t going away on its own, and it won’t be solved by telling people to simply “tough it out.” It’s a complex issue that demands honest dialogue, thoughtful leadership, and systemic change. The legal profession has always valued hard work. Now it must also value the well-being of the people doing that work. It’s essential for long-term sustainability
It has been said that an organization is only as strong as its weakest link. When a member of an organization is burned out, lacks competence, or simply doesn’t adhere to the organization’s mission and values, this can negatively impact the organization’s performance. This is true for law firms. When staff in the firm are unhappy, burned out, or not motivated, this has a negative impact on client relationships and can result in increased attrition and decreased productivity. Sure, lawyers in a firm are the primary reason that a client selects a firm in the first place. But if a client has a negative experience in dealing with a nonlawyer staff member, this can influence the client’s decision about whether to keep their business with the firm and whether to recommend the firm to another person.
So, what can a law firm do to enhance staff efficiency, create a positive work environment, and reduce attrition? Let’s look at a few management and human resources practices that can help law firms maximize staff potential while fostering a loyal and committed team.
1. Invest in Professional Development and Training
One of the most important ways to keep your staff engaged and reduce attrition is by investing in their professional development. Employees who feel supported in their career growth are more likely to stay with your firm and perform at their best. And the firm will benefit by having employees with current skill sets. At Lawyers Mutual, we encourage our insureds to bring their staff to our CLE programs.
2. Foster a Positive Firm Culture
A healthy, positive firm culture is essential for staff retention and productivity. Cultivating an environment where staff feel valued, supported, and respected can go a long way in reducing attrition. Regularly acknowledge the hard work and achievements of your staff. Simple gestures, like public praise during meetings or recognition in internal newsletters, can make a big difference in staff morale.
3. Encourage Work-Life Balance
Law firms are known for their demanding schedules, but offering flexible work options, such as remote work or adjusted hours, can help your team maintain a healthy work-life balance. Flexibility contributes to employee satisfaction and reduces stress, which helps in retaining talent.
4. Provide Competitive Compensation and Benefits
While financial incentives are not the only factor in retaining staff, offering competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits is essential. Law firms that prioritize fair pay and comprehensive benefits packages demonstrate to their staff that they value their contributions. Pay that is not competitive can lead to higher attrition and increased costs of hiring and retraining new employees. In addition to traditional health insurance, consider offering wellness programs, gym memberships, or mental health resources. Lawyers and legal staff often face high stress, and offering wellness benefits helps create a more supportive work environment.
5. Promote Team Collaboration and Communication
Clear communication and strong team collaboration are critical components of a productive and satisfied workforce. Law firms should focus on fostering open communication channels and promoting a collaborative environment where everyone feels heard and involved. Be transparent about the firm’s goals, challenges, and business decisions. Staff who understand the bigger picture and how their work contributes to the firm’s success are more likely to stay engaged and feel valued.
6. Provide Autonomy and Trust
Micromanagement can be a significant factor in staff dissatisfaction and attrition. To keep employees motivated and reduce turnover, law firm leaders should trust their staff, when possible, to manage their workloads independently while offering support and responsible supervision when needed. While autonomy is key, it’s important to provide the necessary guidance and support when needed. Staff should feel comfortable asking for help or advice, knowing that their supervising lawyer is available to provide mentorship and direction.
By investing in professional development, fostering a positive firm culture, offering competitive compensation, promoting work-life balance, and maintaining open communication, firms can reduce turnover, improve morale, and ultimately enhance their overall success. Effective management practices are key to building a thriving, sustainable team that will contribute to the firm’s long-term success.
Numerous studies have suggested that digital technology use can negatively impact our mental health. The stress created by technology can lead to anxiety, feelings of depression, and loss of sleep. The psychology community has coined a term for it. They call it technostress. Mental health professionals have theorized the overindulgence in technology causes what they call “digital dementia.”
A new study published in Nature Human Behavior by neuroscientists from Baylor University and the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School challenges the popular notion of “digital dementia” and instead suggests a positive association between technology use and cognitive resilience in older adults.
The study involved a comprehensive meta-analysis of over 136 studies encompassing data from more than 400,000 adults. Contrary to the prevailing belief that digital technology accelerates cognitive decline, their findings indicate a significant reduction in the risk of cognitive impairment among adults who engage with digital technologies. This includes a striking 58% lower risk of cognitive impairment, even after adjusting for factors like socioeconomic status, education, and baseline cognitive abilities.
The study supports the hypothesis of “technological reserve,” suggesting that active engagement with digital tools promotes behaviors that preserve cognitive function. For many older adults, navigating technologies like smartphones and computers presents ongoing cognitive challenges, from learning new software updates to troubleshooting connectivity issues. Despite occasional frustrations, these activities may serve as cognitive exercises that help maintain and even enhance brain health over time.
Technology can also foster social connectivity, which is crucial for cognitive health in aging populations. Platforms such as video calls and messaging apps facilitate communication and maintain social networks, reducing loneliness and supporting overall cognitive functioning. This increased social interaction, facilitated by digital tools, improves cognitive outcomes and reduces dementia risks.
The study authors acknowledge the potential drawbacks such as distracted driving and decreased face-to-face interaction. They advocate for a balanced approach to technology use among older adults. This does not include doomscrolling on TikTok. Encouraging seniors to adopt and adapt to digital tools, starting with simple applications like photo sharing or messaging, though, can provide substantial cognitive and social benefits.
While debates about the effects of technology on cognition persist, current research suggests that judicious use of digital tools can significantly contribute to cognitive well-being among older adults. Embracing technology as a tool for cognitive engagement and social connectivity represents a promising avenue for supporting cognitive health in our aging population.
In the practice of law, as in golf, mastery is seldom achieved overnight. Rory McIlroy’s recent victory at the 2025 Masters, completing his career Grand Slam after 17 attempts, serves as a poignant reminder that perseverance, resilience, and unwavering commitment are the cornerstones of true success.
McIlroy’s path to the Green Jacket was anything but smooth. Over the years, he faced numerous setbacks, including a notable collapse at the 2011 Masters and a major drought after his 2014 PGA Championship win. Yet, he remained steadfast, returning to Augusta each year with renewed determination. As McIlroy himself reflected, “I’ve been coming here 17 years, and it was a good decade-plus of emotion that came out of me there.”
Rory McIlroy’s Masters victory is more than a sports achievement; it’s a testament to the virtues of patience, resilience, and unwavering dedication. For lawyers striving for excellence, his journey offers valuable insights: success is not solely defined by talent but by the relentless pursuit of one’s goals, learning from failures, and the courage to continue despite obstacles. For young and older lawyers like, there are great lessons here for all striving for excellence:
Perseverance Over Time: Just as McIlroy’s 17-year journey to Masters victory underscores the importance of persistence, lawyers must recognize that building expertise and achieving significant milestones often require years of dedicated effort.
Embracing Setbacks: McIlroy’s ability to rebound from challenges, such as his double bogey on the first hole of the final round, exemplifies the importance of resilience. In legal practice, setbacks are inevitable, but they can serve as catalysts for growth and improvement. We often learn more from our setbacks and failures that we do our successes.
Mental Fortitude: McIlroy’s strategy of visualizing worst case scenarios to manage performance anxiety highlights the value of mental preparation and keeping things in perspective. Similarly, lawyers facing high-stakes cases benefit from anticipating challenges and preparing accordingly.
Support Systems Matter: Celebrating his win with his wife and daughter, McIlroy emphasized the role of family and support networks in his journey. Watch his celebratory walk, and you will get a good idea of how many people are in McIlroy’s support network. For legal professionals, cultivating strong personal and professional relationships provides essential support during demanding times.
Celebrating Milestones: McIlroy’s emotional reaction upon winning—dropping to his knees in relief—serves as a reminder to acknowledge and celebrate our achievements, no matter how long they take to materialize.
As The New York Timesaptly noted after McIlroy’s triumph, “We’ve always wanted to understand the pressure felt by both Young Rory McIlroy and Old Rory McIlroy… no one has ever known… It’s one thing to put pressure on yourself. It’s one thing to feel the pressure of fans and media. It’s another thing entirely to extend one’s arms and carry the pressure handed to you by every Great One to come before you. That’s what McIlroy has long been tasked with and, really, how does one weigh history?”
For lawyers, this resonates deeply. The weight of precedent, the responsibility to clients, and the pursuit of justice create a unique and often immense pressure. McIlroy’s victory, after years of navigating this pressure and the expectations that came with his early success, offers a powerful message: the weight of history and expectation can be overcome through unwavering dedication and a refusal to yield.
Ultimately, Rory McIlroy’s journey to Masters glory is a compelling narrative for all of us. It underscores the timeless truth that true and lasting success, in any demanding field, is not a sprint but a marathon. It is also a reminder that the best things in life are often the result of great sacrifice and hard work. It requires not only talent and intellect but also the enduring qualities of perseverance, resilience, mental fortitude, the embrace of support, and the mindful celebration of every hard-earned milestone. Just as McIlroy finally donned the Green Jacket, lawyers who embody these principles will undoubtedly achieve their own significant triumphs in the long game of their careers.
