Fadumo
How many hours does the average lawyer work?
i am asking this because i want to be an lawyer. i heard several amounts of hours from various people i know that are lawyers, and I wanted to hear from people on this site. #lawyer #law #legal #career
4 answers
Stephen Anastasia
Stephen’s Answer
The number of hours you work as an attorney varies with the type of practice you are involved in. As an in house attorney, you will end up working roughly 50 hours a week. If you were to work at a large law firm that requires billable hours, you are looking at weeks where you will have to work 70-80 hours.
Best Regards,
Stephen
Colman McCabe
Colman’s Answer
For instance, if you're involved in Mergers and Acquisitions, it wouldn't be surprising to find yourself working up to 80 hours a week. In fact, such a demanding schedule might even be anticipated. On the other hand, if you're working in a local law firm specializing in Probate and Conveyancing, your work week might be around 45 hours.
In most law firms, there's usually a clear path leading to a partnership. However, this often involves a bit of healthy competition with your peers, where the key factor setting you apart might be the number of billable hours you've accumulated over the years.
If you're considering an in-house role, don't be misled by the common misconception that the workload is significantly lighter - this isn't always the case. While there's certainly a push towards achieving a work-life balance, there are roles where a 60 to 70-hour work week is standard.
My advice to you would be to thoroughly research the firm or company you're interested in before making any decisions. Wishing you the best of luck!
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
You will need to focus on stress and time management. In order to manage stress you have to manage your time wisely. <span style="background-color: transparent;">You have to set a routine for yourself and stick to it for the most part. Once you get into the groove of a routine it will be much easier for you to manage your time and have enough time for everything you need to do (including relaxing). Make yourself to-do lists on a weekly basis, use Google calendar or a planner to keep track of events, deadlines, and due dates. In addition to setting a routine and sticking to it, plan out relaxing activities into your day. Or set aside a time, after everything is done for the day, that you can have "me" time. I have also personally found it essential to not only find time for myself but also make use of that time in a way that is best for me and my holistic wellness. I have found the HeadSpace app to be an essential tool in helping me relax and generally feel more relaxed throughout the day, Guided meditation, even if you have a busy schedule, will make you feel more at ease and relaxed throughout the day as a whole (not just when you have the time to relax and focus on that "me" time).</span>
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Set a routine.Use Google Calendar.Set aside Me TimeWrite weekly to-do lists and use a planner.Find a peaceful and restful activity that will help you feel relaxed.</span>
Mia Temech
Mia’s Answer
As an in-house lawyer, I work on average about 55 hours a week, and I agree with Steve Anastasia's comment above that law firm hours can be even higher than that -- as high as 80 hours a week. Working long hours is not so bad when you enjoy your work. I don't mind the long hours that I put in for my company when I am feeling challenged and excited about the work that I am doing. As a paralegal before law school, I once worked thirty hours straight. That wasn't so fun. In the legal profession, work-life balance can be tough, but it is obtainable if you work for the right company. A number of companies/firms permit their staff to work from home. So, this helps a little with achieving work-life balance. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Best, Mia