Whether you are a new call or a senior lawyer, you have a support system around you, even if you aren’t aware of it yet.
I know this because I’ve been there. After nearly a decade as an overworked litigator, I left traditional practice and became a freelance lawyer. My focus shifted to supporting other lawyers with their legal work, on an as-needed basis, helping them reduce their workload, manage stress, and reclaim time outside the office.
We all know the alarming statistics around mental health in law. The question is: what can we do about them? Being a lawyer means more than just getting the work done. It’s holding your clients’ stress, anticipating every outcome, and carrying responsibility that most people never see. The mental load is real. And it’s heavy. Ask yourself: What am I carrying that I don’t need to carry alone?
For me, one of the most important shifts was building a support network. Having a small circle of peers and mentors I could be candid with made an enormous difference. I also learned to set more realistic boundaries around my time: saying no to unnecessary committees, being deliberate about which volunteer activities I took on, and protecting space for non-work priorities. None of these changes happened overnight, but each one chipped away at the culture of “always being on” that fuels burnout. Removing my work email from my phone was another game-changer. It allows me to truly leave work at work (I know this is not an option for everyone).
Learning to delegate, though difficult for many lawyers, is equally powerful. We often tell ourselves: “It’ll be faster if I just do it myself.” “It takes too much time to explain.” Or “No one will do it my way.” But what lies beneath these excuses is ego. Will someone else complete the task exactly as you would? No. But is your way the only way? Also, no. Think about what truly serves you, your practice, and your clients’ best interests. Acknowledge when perfectionism and need for control start to creep in. Learn to let go. Letting go lightens the load.
And here’s the good news: you don’t always have to figure out delegation on your own. The legal profession now has more options than ever for support. One of the most effective is the freelance lawyer model. For lawyers who hire them, freelance lawyers provide reliable, high-quality, as-needed support that reduces stress and creates breathing room to take a guilt-free vacation, leave the office early, or focus on important non-billable work. For the lawyers who choose to freelance, the model offers flexibility, autonomy, and control over workload, all of which have a significantly positive impact on mental well-being. Both sides benefit.
Whether it’s a legal drafting task, an emotional burden, or unrealistic pressure, it’s okay to set something down. Too many lawyers are stuck in the stress cycle, carrying more than they should. But here’s the truth: you can put some of it down. Colleagues, mentors, professional networks and freelance lawyers are all here to help. As the profession slowly shifts away from glorifying workaholics and busyness, I hope more lawyers embrace help in all its forms, whether that means delegating work on a file, leaning on peers, or setting boundaries. You don’t have to do it all. In fact, you were never meant to.
Erin Cowling LL.B. (’04), is a freelance lawyer, founder of Flex Legal Network Inc. and the author of the book The Modern Freelance Lawyer, A Guide to the Business, Ethics, and Evolution of Freelance Legal Work, as well as the former Regional Alumni Advisor (Toronto) for the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law (Common Law).