May was Mental Health Month, and if you’re an attorney (or even a law student) you won’t be surprised that there remains quite the mental health epidemic in the industry. Even if you’re lucky enough not to suffer from things like depression and anxiety, you probably know lots of colleagues at work who do.
Recent studies about mental health in the legal sector reveal a complex picture, with improvement in some areas but persistent and even worsening stressors in others. Let’s take a look at what some of the data from the years since the COVID-19 pandemic shows us.
Improving Indicators
ALM Intelligence conducts annual surveys on different parts of the legal industry. According to its recent report this year, for the first time since the pandemic, mental health at law firms appears to be measurably improving. Depression rates fell to 33% in 2025, the lowest since 2019. This represents a notable decrease from 38.27% reported in 2023.
Anxiety levels also showed modest improvement, decreasing slightly to 68.7% in 2025 from a peak of 71.10% in 2023. The perception of mental health issues and substance abuse being "at a crisis level" within the profession declined six points from 2024 to 43% in 2025.
There are also a number of other positive trends indicated by the survey. There was a decrease (from 79% to 73%) in attorneys and staff reporting that their work environment contributed to mental health issues. There were also declining rates of self-identified drug and alcohol abuse; fewer reports of failure, self-doubt, helplessness, and detachment; decreased frustration and feelings of underappreciation; and increased feelings of gratitude
Persistent and Worsening Stressors
Despite these improvements, several concerning trends persist or have worsened.
For example, billable hour pressures increased as a source of mental health stress, rising nearly four points to 65.5% in 2025
On top of that, 48.4% of respondents still reported losing motivation. Over a third of those surveyed reported regular feelings of sadness, a slight increase from 2024. The data shows that client demands and expectations continue to create significant pressure on attorneys.
The Rate Hike Problem
A major emerging concern centers on aggressive rate increases implemented by law firms, particularly in Big Law. Many Am Law 100 firms have implemented rate hikes of 10% or higher for each of the past few years through 2025.
These increases have created a problematic dynamic. First, higher billing rates lead to higher client expectations. Then, clients demand more value for their increased spending, so lawyers face pressure to deliver more work in less time.
On top of that, legal departments scrutinize billing more closely using data-driven software. Firms are creating a problem for their associates by raising billable rates to levels that were once unthinkable, making clients feel entitled to demand more than what’s humanly possible.
Suicide and Substance Abuse
The picture can be pretty dark.
Alarming data from 2023 revealed that 14.83% of legal professionals knew a colleague who committed suicide in the previous two years. Additionally, 15.73% admitted to contemplating suicide during their legal careers.
Substance abuse remains a significant concern, with perceived increases in substance abuse and mental health issues rising from 41.19% in 2019 to 49.31% in 2023.
A Work-Life Balancing Act
For those of you who work in Big Law, you’ll know that achieving true work-life balance remains elusive for many lawyers.
While more lawyers reported being able to use all their vacation time in 2025 (36%, a six-point increase from 2024), achieving true work-life balance remains elusive. As of 2023, over 68% of lawyers struggled to disconnect from work stress.
The "always on call" culture continues to impact mental health, though this stressor dropped by eight points to 56.3% in 2025.
Responses and Recommendations
Thankfully, law firms also show some signs of increased awareness and support.
Over 40% of respondents in 2025 reported their firm would allow extended leave for mental health and substance abuse issues, a five-point increase from the prior year. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and comprehensive health insurance packages are emerging as widely used mental health resources. And some firms are beginning to resist the unreasonable client demands that take such a toll on their associates.
But the industry is still far from reaching a healthy place. What can we all do about it? Both institutional changes and individual actions are necessary to get there.
Firms will need to continue to implement strategies that promote wellbeing at an organizational level. At a meta level, firms should work to cultures where mental health discussions are normalized and where employees can have open communication about workloads. At a more granular level, policies should be put in place that encourage effective task delegation. Training could be provided to enhance time management skills. Firms can also consider augmenting teams or technology solutions to manage work more efficiently.
For individual lawyers, we’ve got two words: self care. It begins with recognizing warning signs of overwhelm and taking necessary breaks. Setting clear work-life boundaries and disconnecting regularly from devices are key. Engaging in fulfilling non-work activities and proactively utilizing available mental health resources are equally important. It also helps to maintain strong support networks, and even to incorporate mindfulness practices and regular exercise into your routine.
These tools take work in the short term, but they can make a big difference in helping legal professionals (or anyone, really) maintain their wellbeing while navigating the demands of their careers.
Related Resources:
- Depression in the Legal Profession: Information and Resources (FindLaw's Attorney Wellness Resources)
- Mental Health Resources and Tips for Law Students (FindLaw's Attorney Wellness Resources)
- Legal Job Market Defies Predictions of Dipping (FindLaw's Practice of Law)
