The legal industry is experiencing two phenomena, the Great Resignation and the Great Return. While the first involves lawyers leaving their jobs, the latter is a return to their workplaces after a period of remote work. As a young lawyer, this trend reflects yet another changing legal landscape. The pandemic has brought significant changes to the legal profession, such as the adoption of remote work and virtual court proceedings; these have altered the way legal services are delivered. This shift has affected how young lawyers approach their work, work-life balance and career goals.

Many young lawyers entering the legal profession are drawn to the prestige and financial rewards of working in a top law firm or corporate legal department, but they quickly discover the profession’s challenges. These include the intense pressure, long hours, constant deadlines and high stakes that come with being a lawyer. Too often, this leads to burnout or a sense of disillusionment with the legal profession, particularly for young lawyers who may feel that they cannot achieve work-life balance. Additionally, the pandemic has accelerated the trend of remote work and increased the desire for more flexibility and autonomy, often not readily available in traditional law firm settings. Even more so, the culture of many law firms may be hierarchical and unwelcoming to diverse voices.