Long hours no bar to satisfaction
While lawyers continue to work gruelling hours, a new survey has found that a majority are content with their work-life balance.
![Long hours no bar to satisfaction](/images/work-life-balance.jpg)
The survey by GlobalX Legal Solutions found that 65 per cent of respondents reported regularly working overtime, and one third worked 50 to 70 hours per week.
Nonetheless, 75 per cent reported being satisfied with their work-life balance.
Queensland Law Society president Bill Potts suggested the society was keeping a close eye on lawyers’ job satisfaction.
He drew attention to the statistic that half of the participants who reported being happy with their work-life balance were unsure how they had managed to maintain equilibrium.
“It seems many legal professionals are happy with their current working situation, but cannot articulate what exactly contributes to the harmonious balance,” he said.
“We are interested in monitoring this trend to see whether it will remain, and observe what working conditions are preferred for the modern lawyer.”
The survey also showed that work-life balance and career progression opportunities were two of the most important considerations when picking a firm.
Global X chief executive Peter Maloney suggested the profession was “realising the importance of a healthy work-life balance and encouraging positive work cultures within their firms”.
He also attributed the shift towards higher job satisfaction to better technological solutions, allowing lawyers to be more productive and work more flexibly.