A major new study reveals that workplace stress is driving lawyers out of their jobs at a striking rate, with younger attorneys feeling the pressure most acutely.
Seventy percent of lawyers said they had previously left a job because of its adverse effects on their mental or physical well-being, according to the findings.
The study, conducted by the Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program, surveyed more than 6,700 lawyers and judges across the state on mental health, workplace stress, substance abuse, and gambling issues.
Nearly two-thirds of lawyers surveyed, 66%, said they believe their workplace negatively impacts their mental health, physical health, or overall wellness, and would consider leaving their current role.
Of those who had already left a job due to wellbeing concerns, 82% cited too much stress as the primary reason for their departure.
The research identifies age as a defining variable in how attorneys experience workplace stress, with younger lawyers reporting significantly higher levels of concern than their older counterparts.
Some 31% of attorneys aged between 25 and 35 reported that their workplace had a negative impact on their wellbeing, compared to 24% of lawyers aged 36 to 45.
The gap widens further when comparing the youngest cohort to more experienced practitioners, with only 18% of lawyers aged 56 to 65 reporting similar concerns.
Mental health outcomes follow the same pattern, with the broader legal profession already showing troubling signs across all age groups.
Overall, one in five lawyers surveyed rated their mental health as fair or poor, a figure that rises sharply to one in three among lawyers aged 25 to 35.
The findings add to a growing body of evidence suggesting the legal profession faces a serious and worsening wellbeing crisis, particularly among those early in their careers.
Law firms and legal employers face mounting pressure to address workplace culture and mental health support before the profession risks losing a generation of early-career talent entirely.