Lawyers: Is a Good Work-Life Balance Really Possible?
For many solo and small firm lawyers, the idea of work-life balance feels like a myth—something reserved for other professions, or at least other lawyers with bigger teams, deeper pockets, or more forgiving practice areas. When you’re the one running the show—handling clients, court deadlines, admin work, and marketing—balance often takes a back seat.
It’s not uncommon for lawyers at this stage to silently ask themselves: “Is it possible to have a work-life balance as a lawyer?” The good news: the answer is yes—but not without intention and change.
I know because I’ve been there. For over 20 years, I built and ran my own solo practice. And like many, I hit a wall—long hours, client demands, financial stress, and very little time left for my family or personal life. But through refining my systems, rethinking my marketing, and getting focused on what mattered most, I turned my practice into one that gives me more income and more freedom. Now I coach other solo and small firm lawyers to do the same.
Let’s unpack what’s really getting in the way of work-life balance—and how it can be reclaimed.
The Trap of Doing Everything Yourself
One of the first hurdles is the “do it all” mentality. When you’re running a solo or small firm, it’s easy to fall into the belief that everything depends on you. Answering every email, drafting every document, fielding every call. The irony? The more hats you wear, the harder it becomes to focus on the high-value work that actually drives your firm forward.
Before I built better systems, I often worked 50-60 hour weeks. Even when revenue was good, burnout was constant. Worse, because I was taking any client who walked through the door (just to keep cash flowing), I found myself dealing with low-quality, high-maintenance cases that drained even more time and energy.
The shift came when I embraced automation, outsourced administrative tasks, and got clear on which clients were truly worth pursuing. Systems gave me consistency. Better marketing brought in the kind of clients who valued my work—and paid accordingly.
Money Stress and the Overworking Cycle
Financial stress keeps many lawyers chained to unhealthy work habits. The pressure to meet overhead, cover payroll, and maintain a certain lifestyle leads to overbooking the calendar and taking on too many cases at low rates.
But here’s what often goes unsaid: underpricing yourself doesn’t create freedom. It forces you to take on more volume to make ends meet—and steals time from the areas of life that matter most.
One of the key mindset shifts I teach is this: stop competing on price. Instead, compete on value. When your marketing speaks to your ideal client’s needs—and your practice delivers consistently excellent outcomes—you can charge fees that reflect your worth. Higher-quality clients and fewer cases,create more margin in both your schedule and your finances.
And yes, “is it possible to have a work-life balance as a lawyer?” becomes a very different question when you’ve aligned your practice this way.
Reclaiming Time for Life Outside the Office
For many lawyers, the most painful sacrifice isn’t just fatigue—it’s missing out on family time, relationships, and personal health. I’ve worked with attorneys who hadn’t taken a real vacation in years, or who routinely missed their children’s milestones because of work obligations.
Achieving true work-life balance isn’t just about working less. It’s about creating a practice that supports the life you want, instead of one that consumes it. That means:
- Designing smarter workflows
- Choosing clients strategically
- Setting boundaries around availability
- Leveraging technology to reduce manual work
None of this happens overnight. But I’ve seen firsthand how even small, deliberate changes begin to free up hours each week—hours you can reclaim for the people and pursuits that fulfill you outside of the office.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
If you’re reading this and thinking, “That sounds great, but I don’t even know where to start,”—you’re not alone. Many of the lawyers I coach felt the same way. The path to work-life balance looks different for every firm, but the first step is always the same: commit to building your practice on purpose, not by default.
I share actionable strategies, tools, and insights with lawyers every other week—things I wish I’d known earlier in my own journey. If you’re ready to take the next step toward transforming your practice and reclaiming your time, I invite you to subscribe to my email list. You’ll get tips, resources, and encouragement tailored for solo and small firm lawyers striving to build profitable, sustainable, and balanced practices.
Work-life balance isn’t a myth. It’s possible. And it’s waiting for you.
Need More?
Do you want to have a good work-life balance, but don’t know where to start or exactly how to approach it? I can help! Just click on this link to schedule an initial, no obligation call with me to discuss your situation and what value I can bring to the table.
Related Topics
If you liked this information and found it useful, then you might like or need these others:
Take Back Your Practice
If you want to make more money in less time and be home for dinner every night, then you need this book!
