As the new year approaches and many of us think of what we can do to make more time for our relationships, physical fitness or hobbies, the reality is we might never achieve the perfect work-life balance we crave. The practice of law is rigorous and requires undivided meticulous attention to detail, thoroughness in analyzing legal questions and arguments, and ’round-the-clock availability through electronic means. Becoming a good or better attorney often requires working an inordinate amount of hours. When attorneys regularly leave work late, check for emails during every minute of their “free” time, and eat more dinners at work than at home, is there any hope for work-life balance?
A major recruiting tool of large law firms, which are infamous for being sweatshops for young associates, is to advertise the things the law firm has done to promote greater work-life balance. Some law firms have their own gyms. Others have generous parental or maternity leave policies, and some allow reduced work hours. Few law firms will discuss the reality of work-life balance for the young attorney—i.e., it will be very difficult to find balance between work and life if you want to maximize your opportunities for growth.
