Webinar replay

Why Good Lawyers Leave and How to Keep Them

Why good lawyers burn out and leave — the early warning signs, the three needs that protect against it, and what firms can do upstream to keep them.

For OrganisationsFor People
50 min Chris Scott & Sean Versteegh

What this session covers

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  • Spotting burnout early

    The stages from everyday stress through irritability and fatigue to withdrawal — and why physical signs (broken sleep, low energy, tension) usually show up before the emotional ones. Acting early means lighter, simpler intervention.

  • The three things that protect people

    Autonomy, competence and connection are the core psychological needs that buffer against burnout and drive retention — backed by what New Zealand lawyers told us about why they stay or leave.

  • Recovery is a skill, not a luxury

    Building real "off switches", mentally detaching after hours, and using flexible optimism so the day's pressures don't follow people home.

  • Design the work, not the worker

    Treating overcommitment as a workload-design problem — reviewing billable hours and norms, and making coaching standard for leaders — rather than waiting until someone is already struggling.

  • Confidential, independent support

    Why trust (and who pays for it) makes or breaks whether people reach out — especially men in law — and the quiet value of reflective practice for sustaining performance.

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