Junior Lawyers’ Division Resilience and Wellbeing Survey 2019

The Junior Lawyers’ Division of the Law Society has published the results of its third annual “resilience and wellbeing survey”, which saw over 1,800 responses from LPC students, trainee solicitors and solicitors with up to five years’ post-qualification experience.

For many paralegals or trainee solicitors, the start of their legal career may be their first experience of working in a professional environment. As well as adjusting to working in the legal profession, paralegals and trainee solicitors are under an increased amount of pressure as they try to prove themselves to their employers – either to be awarded a much sought-after training position, or to be offered a newly-qualified position at the end of it.

It can be difficult for junior lawyers to manage their workloads, particularly in circumstances where – as a junior – they are accepting work from several different members of staff, more senior than them.

The transition from trainee to becoming a newly-qualified solicitor can be a tricky one, as they try to establish themselves in the department they have qualified into. This can come with its own complications and additional pressures, as many junior lawyers may worry and over-prepare when they are released from the protective shield of being a trainee. Many junior lawyers are also under increasing pressure to meet billable hours’ targets.

The report looks at responses to questions on junior lawyers’ health and wellbeing, the impact of work and the influence of the workplace.

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