We’ve all heard the saying, “Choose a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” For me, that job has always been practicing law. From the moment I started as a Biglaw associate more than 27 years ago, I knew I had chosen the right profession. But early on, I noticed the personal sacrifices that seemed to come with it. Senior attorneys and even equity partners were still in the office well past midnight most nights. The lack of balance was obvious, and I chose a different path by moving in-house.
At first, I thought that would solve the problem. Instead, I discovered that burnout was just as prevalent in corporate legal departments. As general counsel of a public company, I worked around the clock, answered late-night calls, and felt the pressure to handle everything in the name of cost savings. Once again, my work was overwhelming my personal life, my family, and even my love of practicing law.
A Widespread Problem
Unfortunately, my story is not unusual. Studies from the American Bar Association, International Bar Association, Yale Law, and others have consistently shown that the legal profession takes a heavy toll on lawyers’ health and well-being. Excessive demands, isolation, and lack of personal control have been linked to high rates of stress, depression, substance abuse, and even suicide — often driving attorneys to leave the profession entirely.
Burnout also creates business challenges. Talent retention is a serious problem for law firms and in-house departments alike. When attorneys leave, firms lose years of investment in their development, remaining staff take on heavier workloads, and client service suffers. While conversations around mental health have become more open, fundamental issues — such as the billable hour model — continue to create unsustainable pressure.
A Better Way Forward
Real change requires leadership and a cultural shift in how the profession operates. Fortunately, innovative firms like OGC are charting a different course. Since I joined OGC in 2015, I’ve experienced a model where work-life balance isn’t just an aspiration — it’s a core value. Our attorneys have the freedom to decide how and when they work, free from billable hour demands. That autonomy has been transformative, making OGC a law firm where people truly want to work.
The benefits extend to clients as well. By partnering with us, legal departments gain critical support during high-demand periods, without overburdening their staff or sacrificing quality. This added capacity not only helps clients manage workloads effectively but also demonstrates their commitment to attorney well-being. In practice, it reduces burnout, boosts morale, and strengthens the quality of legal services — all while keeping costs under control.