The New York State Bar Association recently compiled a report stating that the new work ethic of modern law could be harmful to legal professionals. This work ethic is described as “better, faster, and cheaper,” reflecting the increasing competition of the modern law profession. This competition is due to several factors. Some of these factors include the global recession, which is causing law firms to stop hiring new professionals or let go some of their current employees. The economic downturn caused several high-profile corporations to go under, leaving less of a market for attorneys. Worse, more and more people are graduating from law school each year while law positions are increasingly lowering. Many young lawyers are forced to take temporary positions, where they work hourly positions for cheap pay and no benefits, reflecting this cheaper-faster-better work model that’s taken over in modern society.
With the onslaught of modern technology, clients increasingly expect lawyers to be at their beck and call, no matter the time or place. Whether it’s 11 PM on a Sunday or 4 AM on a Wednesday, clients want answers and they want results. Typically, if they don’t receive answers or results whenever they want them, they leave the attorney or firm and look for someone else. With the globalized market, clients have many more options to choose from. A New York City business is no longer limited to Manhattan. They can hire somebody in India, Indonesia, or the Philippines.
Law associations are increasingly pushing for modern law firms to look at current work-life balances and to treat the important career-home balance as a gender neutral issue. Both women and men deserve an equal balance between their home life and their work life. Unfortunately, modern law firms do not have such models. It becomes easier to expect professionals to work around the clock, especially because jobs are so scarce and so many businesses can go overseas for their legal service needs. Since lawyers are one of the most depressed professions in the world, finding a work-life balance is increasingly important to preserve the mental health of the profession.
