‘Burnt out, overworked’: Young lawyers abandon the profession

Law firms are quickly losing juniors who leave due to exhausting hours, one of Australia’s leading legal researchers says.

Shaaron Dalton of Eaton Strategy + Search.

Legal practices are haemorrhaging young lawyers who leave due to their harsh treatment and ­exhausting hours, one of Australia’s leading legal researchers says.

Calling on firms to create structures to support junior talent, the managing partner at Eaton Strategy + Search, Shaaron Dalton, told The Australian while young lawyers had “more power” than they once did, she regularly saw people in the early stages of their careers depart due to burnout or harsh conditions.

“I’ve seen it time and time again and it’s a great pity,” she said. “A pity because they have spent a lot of money on their law degrees, but also because the ­industry is losing good, well-trained people.”

Ms Dalton’s comments come following revelations published in The Australian of young solicitor Isabel Muscatello accusing firm Sydney Criminal Lawyers of sacking her for taking a sick day. Ms Muscatello has filed a case with the Federal Court that is due to be heard in March.

Isabel Muscatello is suing Sydney Criminal Lawyers for unfair dismissal. Picture: LinkedIn

Ms Dalton said a catastrophic shortage of senior associates available to bear the brunt of the work was partly the cause of overwhelming workloads for junior employees.

“The bigger commercial law firms have attempted to make life more liveable for young workers, but that’s difficult when there’s a structural shortage of senior staff,” she said.

“There has been a brain drain to offshore markets since Covid and hasn’t been the flowback since, so that pressure has fallen on the younger workers and partners.”

Immediate past president of the Australian Lawyers Association Graham Droppert SC said young solicitors suffered great pressures, inducing unreasonable demands, long work hours and sometimes being forced to work when unwell.

“The idea that older lawyers had to put up with those things when they were young and so they keep going with that pattern is simply not acceptable,” Mr Droppert said.

He called on states and territories to implement an “Advocates for Change” program – similar to those running in NSW and Victoria – where leading lawyers met to discuss standards and ­behaviour patterns, and build frameworks to strengthen the profession.

“These programs are making a difference in the way lawyers behave towards their colleagues,” he said.

“I would strongly urge all states and territories to look at these models and implement programs to change the culture, and that applies to both lawyers as employers and as professional colleagues.”

NSW’s Advocate for Change program is championed by high-profile lawyers Anthony McGrath and Lee-May Saw, while Victoria’s is backed by the Court of Appeal president Justice Chris Maxwell.