Amid years of mounting stress and burnout in the legal profession, new data from the 2025 ALM Mental Health Survey offers a cautiously optimistic outlook: mental health among lawyers is measurably improving for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, even as serious workplace pressures persist and, in some cases, intensify. This shifting landscape holds valuable lessons for Thai legal professionals and underscores the universal challenge of workplace mental health in a high-pressure field.
The well-being of lawyers has long been a global concern, with stigma around mental illness, demanding workloads, and substance abuse reported as systemic issues in law firms, including those in Thailand. The findings from the ALM 2025 Mental Health Survey, which polled over 3,100 lawyers and legal workers at firms of all sizes, reveal both reasons for hope and caution. Across several key measures—rates of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse—lawyers are reporting small but meaningful improvements compared to previous years. Depression rates fell by three percentage points to 33%, the lowest figure since 2019, and while the rate of anxiety remains high, it dropped slightly to 68.7%. The belief that mental health issues and substance abuse are at a “crisis level” within the profession also dropped, with only 43% of respondents holding that view, a significant decline from 2024.
A closer look at the survey highlights a trend familiar to many in Thailand’s legal circles: even as overall mental health indicators improve, relentless stressors remain entrenched, and some are getting worse. For instance, the pressure to meet billable hour targets continues to worsen, with 65.5% of respondents—nearly two-thirds—admitting that such demands harm their mental health, a four-point increase since last year. Compounding this is the sector’s “obsession with infinite growth,” as described by a Biglaw equity partner; law firms’ pursuit of ever-increasing billable rates has raised client expectations to superhuman levels, driving further stress. “Firms that continue to raise billable rates to absurd levels are making it worse because our clients tend to feel like they can demand more than is humanly possible from us because we charge them so much for our time,” a senior American legal associate pointedly explained, echoing a sentiment likely to resonate with Thai lawyers facing their own pressures from local and international clients (ALM Survey via Above the Law).
Notably, subtle yet meaningful gains were recorded in workplace culture: only 73% of attorneys now feel their work environment contributes to mental health issues, a drop of six percentage points. Reports of drug and alcohol abuse, feelings of failure, helplessness, and detachment also fell. However, nearly half—48.4%—still experience lost motivation, and regular sadness was reported by 37.4% of lawyers and staff, up slightly from the prior year. Political polarization emerged as another significant factor, with over 70% saying it impacted their mental health—a timely reminder that wider societal trends shape individual well-being, whether in the US or in Thailand, where political uncertainty often ripples through professional life.
Encouragingly, the legal industry is responding: 36% of surveyed staff could use all their vacation time (a six-point rise), and 41% said their firms allowed extended leave for mental health or substance abuse, up five points from last year. These evolving policies mark vital progress in a profession long accused of minimizing human needs in the pursuit of results.
The implications for Thailand are direct and urgent. Thai legal professionals face comparable dynamics: relentless caseloads, hierarchical firm cultures, and a growing need to meet client expectations in a globalized market, as documented in local legal literature (ASEAN Law Review). Yet, awareness of lawyer mental health is only now growing in Thailand, and only a handful of firms have robust support policies or accessible counseling programs. This new international data may help catalyze change locally, shifting focus from stigma and “saving face” to transparency, empathy, and prevention.
Historically, legal work in Thailand has been characterized by deference to seniority, lengthy working hours, and heavy workload expectations, often resulting in high burnout rates among young associates and support staff. In recent years, Thai law societies and bar councils have started hosting seminars and webinars about stress management, mindfulness, and healthy workplace habits, but there is a long way to go before such resources are universally available—especially for provincial and regional firms.
Looking to the future, the ALM findings suggest that further improvements in mental health depend on structural change, not just individual resilience. Public health research in the legal sector points to effective solutions such as manageable billing targets, regular access to mental health counseling, peer-support networks, and leadership training that prioritizes empathy over profit (International Bar Association Wellbeing Report). For Thailand, implementing similar reforms may require changes to both firm culture and sectoral policy. Local partners and managing directors can start by reviewing leave policies, encouraging open discussions on mental health, and investing in staff well-being initiatives.
For individual lawyers, the lessons are clear: seek support early, use available leave, and challenge the cultural norm of enduring silent suffering. Professional organizations and law schools in Thailand have a vital role to play in reducing stigma, providing more accessible resources, and setting the standards for humane, balanced professional life.
In conclusion, while lawyers worldwide—including those in Thailand—continue to face daunting pressures, the latest international research shows real progress is possible when the profession chooses to prioritize mental health. For Thai firms and legal professionals, now is the time to build on these lessons, advocate for progressive policies, and foster cultures of care as foundations for long-term professional resilience and public trust.