The Cost of Stress in Law Firms: What the Evidence Says
A 2024 Unmind study of around 4,400 legal professionals in the UK and US highlights the scale of mental health challenges in the legal profession.
Stress was cited by 44% of respondents as a leading cause of poor mental health. The study estimates annual costs of £65 million for large law firms, £34 million for medium-sized firms and £6.8 million for small firms.
Of mental-health-related losses, 69% were attributed to presenteeism, around 19% to attrition and around 12% to absenteeism.
The study also found that productivity was reduced by around 19%.
Why This Matters for Law Firms
The figures show the scale of the impact that poor mental health can have across the legal profession. Stress, presenteeism and staff turnover affect both people and the businesses they work in. Supporting staff wellbeing gives law firms a practical way to address these pressures, helping legal professionals manage stress, protect their focus and sustain their performance.
The Business Case for Workplace Wellbeing
Deloitte’s analysis found that for every £1 employers spend on mental health, they could receive nearly £4.70** in improved productivity. This highlights the potential business value of investing in employee mental health and wellbeing.
** Deloitte Report dated 17 May 2024
Research published in 2024 by Siewert and colleagues found that group hypnosis reduced perceived stress in a randomised controlled trial.
Based on: A multicentre randomised control trial where a 5-week group hypnotherapy program led to a significant reduction in perceived stress, with effects maintained at 12-week follow-up.
Reference: Siewert J. et al., 2024, Group Hypnosis RCT.
Workplace hypnotherapy programmes have reported benefits including improved focus, reduced absenteeism and greater clarity. H2 Hypnotherapy and Harwell Hypnotherapy have shared examples of these practical workplace benefits.
Based on: Documented outcomes from workplace hypnotherapy providers showing improvements in productivity, clarity, and stress management.
Reference: H2 Hypnotherapy and Harwell Hypnotherapy corporate programme reports.
When lawyers can manage stress and maintain focus, they are better placed to think clearly, work efficiently and deliver their best for clients.
Supporting wellbeing can benefit individuals, teams and the wider firm
Areas of potential benefit include:
reduced stress
improved focus
stronger confidence under pressure
better team morale and support for staff retention