The Importance of Having a Life Outside of Law

By Kimseima Lim.

Reading time: three minutes

The legal profession is inherently demanding and often gruelling, leading to a serious mental health crisis, as evidenced by Law.com’s latest mental health survey results. Most lawyers find their workdays extend beyond traditional hours, leading to a 24/7 commitment. While passion for the law is commendable, it’s crucial to balance this out with hobbies, interests, and downtime with family and friends.

What Does Your ‘After Hours’ Look Like?

As a law student or legal professional, have you ever considered the concept of a “third space”? American sociologist Ray Oldenburg describes this as a place aside from home and work where you can connect with others and build community—somewhere without expectations or pressure. It could be a coffee shop, a park, or a social club where you can relax and recharge.

Read more about the third space here.

Maintaining a Third Space

Whether you’re a law student, a recent graduate, or a seasoned lawyer, maintaining a third space is essential for your well-being and productivity. What you do after hours significantly impacts your approach and efficiency come Monday morning.

People unwind in different ways—some by socialising, others by enjoying solitary activities. Regardless of your preference, making time for yourself is vital. Corporate psychologist Stephanie Thompson emphasises the importance of well-rested breaks, noting that without them, your body will eventually force a break upon you.

Find out more here.

Read this article to learn about wellbeing tips from The Student Lawyer’s Team: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/05/03/the-student-lawyer-wellbeing-tips/

 Ways to Spend Your Free Time

1. Staying Active: Go for a walk, alone or with a friend or pet. Enjoy the outdoors while the weather permits.
2. Cooking: Try new recipes or take a cooking class with friends. It’s a fun way to unwind and learn something new.
3. Reading: Switch up your reading material. Instead of the usual legal texts or news articles, explore different genres that interest you.
4. Traveling: Spend a half-day on the weekend exploring a new city or neighbourhood, enjoying good food and drinks.

Read this article to find out about resources for employees, and how to foster a supportive work environment: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/04/21/prioritising-wellness-in-law/

Applying the Third Space Concept 

For lawyers, the third space can be anywhere you can relax and socialise, including coffee shops, restaurants and bars. It’s a safe place to unwind, whether with colleagues or alone after a long day.

Work Life Balance

Our rapidly evolving society makes it important to recognise when your body needs you to slow down. The legal profession demands long hours, but the intensity can vary. Though stress in this profession is not the only factor to consider, aspiring solicitors must find a balance that works for them, considering their personal needs and wants. Furthermore, firms should acknowledge the workload that is delegated to lawyers. It is important to put emphasis that firms and organisations must be well-resourced for their employees to complete work in a timely proficient manner. This circles back to the idea that employees must be at their best for firms to be successful too; it is a two-way relationship.

Read this article to find out tips on how to manage stress: https://thestudentlawyer.com/2024/04/23/self-care-strategies-for-law-students/

It is imperative that people set aside time after hours to do things that make them a better colleague, parent, sibling, friend, and partner. Without relations outside of work, the line between personal life and work becomes blurred. We will get tired and become burnt out. As Christina McCarthy stipulates in the recent LegalSpeaks Podcast episode, “We cannot be racehorses running 24 hours a day – we’ll eventually run into a wall.” These matters need to be acknowledged and talked about to ensure people feel comfortable to participate, and not judged in any way. We need to be mindful and considerate of these matters so that employees feel valued and heard, and not viewed as weak or fragile.

Many law firms are now offering benefits and perks to ensure their employees can take advantage of downtime. Learn more about these perks here.

Finally

Balancing work with personal time is not just beneficial but essential for long-term success and well-being. By maintaining a third space and making time for activities outside of work, lawyers and legal professionals can achieve a healthier and more fulfilling life.