For generations, the legal profession has been built on precedent. But today, one of the biggest forces shaping the future of law isn’t found in a courtroom or law library—it’s technology.

That evolution is accelerating with the rise of artificial intelligence. Tasks once assigned to summer associates and junior attorneys (such as legal research, document review, and drafting) can now be completed more efficiently with the help of AI-powered tools. As firms rethink how work gets done, they’re also rethinking how new lawyers are hired, trained, and mentored. Our upcoming program, “Will Your Next Summer Associate Be a Robot? How AI Will Change Large Law Firms,” explores these questions head-on, examining how AI could reshape everything from attorney development and mentorship to firm economics and the future of legal talent.

That’s not the only way artificial intelligence is shaping the industry. As law firms and legal departments embrace these new digital tools, a growing number of attorneys are discovering careers that combine their legal knowledge with innovation. From helping develop legal software to improving the way firms manage documents, workflows, and client communication, legal tech has become one of the fastest-growing career paths for lawyers looking to make an impact beyond traditional practice.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to combine your legal expertise with emerging technology, a career in legal tech may be worth exploring. Read on to discover why in this fourth installment of our ongoing blog series “Beyond the Billable Hour.”

What exactly is legal tech? Legal technology encompasses the software, systems, and digital tools that help legal professionals work more efficiently. While artificial intelligence has dominated recent headlines, legal tech also includes document automation, e-discovery platforms, contract management software, case management systems, cybersecurity solutions, e-filing tools, and countless other innovations that support the practice of law.

Behind many of these products are attorneys who understand not only the law, but also the real-world challenges lawyers face every day. And if you’re feeling a bit behind when it comes to technology, PBI is here to keep you up to speed. We have plenty of on-demand CLEs covering AI, technology, and more. Check them out here!

Why lawyers are uniquely qualified. You don’t need to be a software engineer to succeed in legal tech. In fact, some of the most valuable members of legal technology companies are practicing or former attorneys.

Lawyers understand how legal work actually gets done. They know which tasks consume valuable time, where inefficiencies exist, and what clients expect from modern legal services. That perspective allows them to help design products, improve workflows, train users, and ensure technology solves real problems instead of creating new ones. Knowing the ins and outs of the job makes them even more effective in this role than a software developer looking in from the outside.

More than writing code. When people hear “technology,” they often picture programmers sitting in front of multiple computer monitors. Legal tech careers are far more diverse.

Attorneys may work as product managers, implementation specialists, legal consultants, trainers, or legal operations professionals. Others help evaluate emerging technologies, develop educational content, or advise organizations on how to integrate new tools into existing legal workflows. The list goes on! The common thread between everything is that this career is applying legal knowledge in a new way.

Helping shape the future of law. One of the biggest appeals of legal tech is the opportunity to influence how legal services are delivered. Instead of representing one client or arguing one case at a time, attorneys in legal tech often create tools that help thousands of legal professionals work more efficiently.

Whether streamlining document drafting, improving legal research, or making court filings easier to navigate, these innovations have the potential to transform the profession on a much broader scale. With this technology, you hold the future in your hands.

Curiosity is your greatest asset. Legal technology evolves quickly. New software, artificial intelligence tools, cybersecurity challenges, and client expectations continue to reshape the legal landscape. The attorneys who thrive in this field aren’t necessarily the ones with the strongest technical backgrounds—they’re the ones who enjoy learning, asking questions, and adapting to change. A willingness to experiment with new tools and think creatively about solving problems can be just as valuable as years of technical experience.

Have no fear: Technology isn’t replacing lawyers. It’s changing how they practice. And increasingly, lawyers themselves are helping lead that transformation. For attorneys who enjoy innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning, legal tech offers an opportunity to build a career that’s every bit as impactful as traditional practice, but from a different side of the profession.

Check out the other blogs in our “Beyond the Billable Hour” series!

Beyond the Billable Hour: Career Paths Lawyers Are Exploring

Beyond the Billable Hour: Why Lawyers Are Going In-House

Beyond the Billable Hour: From Advocate to Arbiter

And be sure to keep an eye out for future installments on Raising the Bar!

Have you ever opened up a new tab, only to forget which site you were going to? Or walked into another room, only to wind up standing there, struggling to remember why you came here in the first place? You’re definitely not alone.

Forgetfulness is something nearly everyone experiences from time to time, and for attorneys, that problem can feel even more pronounced. Between client meetings, court appearances, emails, legal research, deadlines, and the constant stream of new information demanding your attention, your brain has a lot to keep track of.

The good news? Forgetfulness isn’t always a sign of a poor memory or simple aging. More often than not, it’s the result of distraction, stress, fatigue, or simply trying to process too much information at once. Fortunately, there are simple habits that can help sharpen your recall and keep important details from slipping through the cracks. If you’re looking to strengthen your memory both inside and outside the courtroom, PBI’s upcoming course, “Winning Your Case with a Better Memory,” explores practical techniques attorneys can use to improve recall and confidence in their daily practice. Hope to see you there on August 11!

Stop multitasking. It may feel productive to answer emails while reviewing a brief and listening in on a conference call, but your brain isn’t truly doing all three at once. Instead, it’s rapidly switching between tasks, and every switch comes with a cost. When your attention is divided, your brain has a harder time encoding information into memory. The result? You finish more tasks feeling like you remember less. Whenever possible, give important work your full attention before moving on to the next item. A few minutes of focused concentration often beats an hour of distracted multitasking.

If you’d like to learn more about the adverse effects of multitasking, check out this past blog post.

Write it down. You don’t have to remember everything because that’s what good systems are for! Whether you prefer a notebook, legal pad, digital task manager, or calendar app, the key is consistency. Jot down deadlines, ideas, follow-up tasks, and reminders as soon as they come to mind because we all know how fast a thought can slip away from us. Better yet, keep these notes in a single trusted location instead of scattering them across sticky notes, emails, and note-taking apps.

Freeing your brain from trying to remember every detail leaves more mental energy for the work that actually requires your attention.

Move your body to help your brain. Exercise doesn’t just strengthen muscles. It benefits your brain, too. Physical activity increases blood flow and oxygen to the brain, helping support memory, concentration, and overall cognitive function.

Thankfully, you don’t have to run a marathon to reap the benefits. A brisk walk during lunch, stretching between meetings, or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can all help refresh your mind. If you’ve ever returned from a walk with a clearer head, you’ve already experienced the connection between movement and mental performance.

Get a good night’s sleep. If you’ve ever pulled a late night preparing for trial or finishing a brief, you’ve probably noticed how much harder it is to concentrate the next day. Sleep is when the brain consolidates memories, organizing and storing the information you’ve learned throughout the day. Without enough quality sleep, recalling names, facts, and even simple tasks becomes more difficult.

While it can be tempting to sacrifice sleep to squeeze in another hour of work, consistently getting enough rest is one of the best investments you can make in your memory.

Reduce information overload. Modern life constantly bombards us with notifications, emails, breaking news, texts, and social media updates. It never stops. It’s way more stimulation than our ancestors ever had to deal with and our minds are struggling to evolve and keep up. However, the more information your brain tries to filter, the harder it becomes to identify what’s actually important.

Consider turning off unnecessary notifications, checking email at designated times instead of constantly refreshing your inbox, and giving yourself periods of uninterrupted work. Creating a little mental breathing room can help your brain focus on what truly deserves to be remembered. And if you find certain apps are causing negative emotions, don’t hesitate to delete them altogether.

Use memory cues that work for you. You don’t have to rely on sheer willpower to remember everything. Associating a person’s name with a visual image, repeating important information out loud (this is especially effective because it engages multiple parts of the brain!), grouping related ideas together, or creating simple acronyms can all make details easier to recall later. Even something as straightforward as reviewing your notes for a few minutes after a meeting can dramatically improve retention.

Remember: The best memory technique is the one you’ll actually use consistently! So, find what works for you.

Never stop learning. Your brain thrives on challenge. Learning a new skill, picking up a hobby, studying a language, or even trying a different route to work encourages your brain to build new connections. Better yet, consider registering for an upcoming webcast covering a topic you’d like to learn more about! Not only does our CLE keep you current on changes in the law, it also gives your brain regular opportunities to engage with new concepts and ideas. Lifelong learning isn’t just good for your career—it’s good for your memory.

No one remembers everything, and no one should expect to. The goal isn’t to have a perfect memory; it’s to build habits and systems that help your brain do its best work.

After all, attorneys have enough to think about without wondering where they left their keys…or why they walked into the conference room in the first place.

Most people don’t think of practicing law as a physically demanding profession. After all, lawyers aren’t climbing scaffolding, lifting heavy equipment, or running marathons during the workday. However, ask almost any attorney about chronic neck pain, a stiff back, aching knees, or sore shoulders, and you’ll hear a different story.

The truth is that the legal profession places its own unique physical demands on the body. Long hours at a desk, marathon trial days, heavy briefcases, frequent travel, and countless hours spent looking at computer screens can quietly add up over the course of a career. While these aches and pains may seem like little more than an inconvenience, they can affect everything from productivity to overall quality of life. That’s why it’s important to be aware of how your career is impacting your body and what you can do to prevent wear and tear.

Understanding how these injuries develop isn’t just beneficial for your own health—it can also make you a stronger advocate for your clients.

Now let’s dive in.

Your desk is doing damage. Lawyers spend much of their day seated, often leaning toward a monitor or hunching over documents. While it may not seem strenuous, prolonged sitting places significant stress on the spine, particularly when posture begins to slip as the day wears on. Over time, poor ergonomics can contribute to muscle tension, lower back pain, neck stiffness, and even headaches. The body is designed to move, and staying in one position for hours at a time can leave joints and muscles feeling anything but their best.

To counteract this, make sure you’re standing up and stretching every so often. Take daily walks. Roll your neck and shoulders. If you’d like to take it a step further, invest in a standing desk or an ergonomic back pillow for your desk chair. Little changes can go a long way for your aching body.

Courtroom days are a workout of their own. While many attorneys associate their work with sitting, trial lawyers know that courtroom days tell a different story. Hours spent standing, walking, carrying exhibits, and moving throughout the courthouse can place added strain on the knees, hips, and lower back. Even commuting between courthouses, climbing stairs, or hauling boxes of files can become increasingly taxing over the years. These repetitive stresses may seem minor individually, but together they can contribute to long-term wear and tear on the body’s joints.

Unfortunately, you can’t exactly sit down and take a break in the middle of presenting your case to a judge. The solution? Supportive footwear. The right shoes are a worthwhile investment and can make a world of difference when you’re on your feet for hours. If carrying heavy case files is giving you trouble, consider using a rolling case or cart whenever possible. And after a long day in court, gentle stretching can help loosen tight muscles and joints before stiffness has a chance to settle in.

Your eyes, wrists, and shoulders are feeling it too. The modern practice of law revolves around technology. Drafting pleadings, reviewing discovery, conducting legal research, and participating in virtual meetings all require extended screen time. That constant computer use can contribute to digital eye strain, tight shoulders, wrist discomfort, and repetitive stress injuries. Looking down at a laptop or phone for hours each day can also place additional stress on the neck—a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “tech neck.”

To counteract “tech neck,” do chin tucks throughout the day to stretch out the back of your neck. Invest in proper wrist support if carpal tunnel is giving you trouble and make sure your monitor height is in a good spot for you (the top of it should be level with your eyes so you’re not looking down or up at it all day). If your eyes are feeling strained, follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. Your long-term eyesight will thank you for taking the time to do this.

Don’t ignore pain. Most days, you might be tempted to push through discomfort. But if you’re feeling persistent pain, toughing it out isn’t going to make it go away. Don’t hesitate to discuss these issues with a healthcare professional if needed. A little preventive effort can stop it from developing into a more serious issue that affects your career even more than before.

Small habits make a big difference. The good news is that many of the physical effects of lawyering can be reduced through simple daily habits. Standing up every hour, stretching between meetings, adjusting your chair and monitor, strengthening your core, and taking regular walks all help support joint and spine health.

You don’t need to train for a marathon to protect your body. Often, it’s the small, consistent changes that pay the biggest dividends over the course of a career.

Knowledge is power, inside and outside the courtroom. Spine and knee injuries are among the most common injuries attorneys encounter in personal injury litigation, workers’ compensation matters, and disability claims. Having a better understanding of how these injuries occur, how they’re diagnosed, and how they’re treated can strengthen your ability to evaluate medical evidence and advocate effectively for your clients.

At the same time, that knowledge may encourage you to pay closer attention to your own health. After all, lawyers aren’t immune to the very injuries they see discussed in medical records every day.

Practicing law is a marathon, not a sprint. Like any marathon, success depends not only on preparation and perseverance, but also on taking care of the body that carries you through it.

Your clients count on you to show up prepared, focused, and ready to advocate on their behalf. Making your own physical well-being a priority isn’t just good for your health—it’s an investment in the long-term success of your legal career.

For many attorneys, the bench represents the pinnacle of a legal career. It’s a role built on experience, integrity, and public service. It’s a chance to shape the law not by arguing cases, but by applying it fairly and impartially. While most lawyers spend their careers advocating for clients, some eventually find themselves asking a different question: Could I become a judge?

The answer is more complex than simply having years of legal experience. Transitioning from advocate to arbiter requires a shift in mindset, a commitment to impartiality, and an understanding of the unique responsibilities that come with wearing the robe. If you’ve ever considered judicial service—or simply wondered what the path looks like—you’re in the right place.

Now let’s dive in…

The mental shift. Becoming a judge isn’t simply the next step on the career ladder. It’s an entirely different role within the justice system. Attorneys are trained to advocate zealously for their clients, advancing one side of an argument with skill and conviction. Judges, on the other hand, must set advocacy aside in favor of neutrality. That transition requires more than legal knowledge. It demands patience, sound judgment, excellent listening skills, and the ability to evaluate every case fairly, regardless of the parties involved. The question is no longer, “How do I win this case?” but rather, “What does the law require?”

One of the biggest adjustments for new judges is learning to view each case from a completely different perspective. Instead of crafting persuasive arguments, judges must carefully consider competing positions, weigh evidence, and apply the law impartially. That change can be both challenging and rewarding. Many judges describe the role as an opportunity to serve the legal system in a new way; one focused on fairness, professionalism, and maintaining public confidence in the courts.

Legal experience still matters. Your years spent practicing the law provides an invaluable foundation for judicial service. Attorneys develop analytical thinking, courtroom experience, communication skills, and a deep understanding of legal procedure. Those experiences help prepare future judges to manage complex cases and make informed decisions from the bench.

Just as importantly, practicing attorneys gain perspective by representing different clients, navigating difficult legal questions, and working with judges throughout their careers. Those lessons often become some of the most valuable preparation for judicial service. In short, your experience as an attorney will get you far as an arbiter.

The path can vary. Depending on the court and jurisdiction, becoming a judge can involve elections, appointments, or merit selection processes. Experience requirements, application procedures, and qualifications also vary widely. While there’s no single roadmap, aspiring judges benefit from building a strong professional reputation, maintaining high ethical standards, becoming active in the legal community, and seeking opportunities for leadership and public service. Preparing for the bench often begins long before a judicial vacancy ever opens.

Depending on the court and the jurisdiction, a judgeship may be obtained through a partisan or nonpartisan election, an appointment by the governor to fill a vacancy, or another merit-based selection process. Candidates may need to meet minimum experience requirements, gather endorsements, campaign, interview before judicial nominating commissions, or participate in bar association evaluations. While the path differs from one court to another, successful candidates typically share one thing in common: they’ve invested in developing not only their legal knowledge, but also the temperament, ethics, and leadership qualities expected of those who serve on the bench.

A commitment to lifelong learning. Even after taking the bench, the learning doesn’t stop. Judges must stay current on changes in the law, evolving ethical standards, procedural developments, and emerging issues affecting the courts. That commitment to continuing education helps ensure judges remain well-equipped to serve their communities with fairness and confidence throughout their careers. That’s exactly what we aim to assist you with here at PBI.

For those attorneys who dream of being a judge, the bench offers an opportunity unlike any other—a chance to serve the law from a new perspective while helping shape the administration of justice. Whether judicial service is your next career goal or simply a possibility you’ve wondered about, understanding what the role truly entails is the first step.

If you’d like to see more of our “Beyond the Billable Hour” series, check out these past blog posts:

Beyond the Billable Hour: Career Paths Lawyers Are Exploring

Beyond the Billable Hour: Why Lawyers Are Going In-House

And be sure to keep an eye out for future installments on Raising the Bar!

We’ve all been there. You’re trying to log into an account you haven’t visited in months. You confidently type your password…and it’s wrong. No problem. You’ve got tons of classics to pull from, so you try another. And another.

…Still wrong.

Eventually, you get fed up enough to click “Forgot Password?” and now you’re stuck waiting for the reset email to arrive. You wonder how you managed to forget another password and if you’ll even remember changing this one, because every app and website demands a unique password, and it’s become near-impossible to keep track of them all. Many of us simply have no passwords left to give.

For attorneys, this scenario is especially familiar. Between court filing systems, practice management software, bar association websites, email, banking, Microsoft 365, CLE providers (hello!), and countless other online services, the average lawyer manages dozens (if not hundreds!) of passwords. Remembering them all isn’t realistic anymore. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be.

Whether you’re looking to save time, reduce frustration, or better protect sensitive client information, a few simple changes can make password management significantly easier.

Stop relying on your memory. If you’re still trying to memorize every password, you’re making life harder than it needs to be. Passwords have become longer, more complex, and less memorable. Instead of asking your brain to do all the work, let technology handle it for you. Even if you are planning to attend our upcoming webcast “Winning Your Case with a Better Memory,” this is one task that can be successfully outsourced so you have one less thing weighing on your mind.

Password managers securely store your login credentials in an encrypted vault. You only need to remember one master password, while the software remembers everything else. Even better, most password managers can automatically fill in your credentials and generate strong, unique passwords whenever you create a new account.

Most password managers follow a similar setup process. First, create an account and choose a strong master password, one that you can remember. Then begin manually adding the websites and services you use most often such as your email, banking, and court filing systems. Many of these password managers also offer browser extensions that recognize login pages and automatically suggest saved credentials or prompt you to save new ones as you create accounts. Over time, your password vault will grow until it becomes your go-to resource for every login. You’ll simply need to remember your one master password, and you’ll be good to go. Just don’t forget to set up account recovery options in case you do happen to forget that password. Most password managers allow you to add a recovery email, mobile phone number, and other verification methods so you can safely and easily regain access if you happen to forget your master password or purchase a new device. Spending a few extra minutes to set up recovery settings will save you from a major headache down the road.

There are many reputable password managers available, each with different features and pricing. Popular options include Keeper, 1Password, Bitwarden, Dashlane, and NordPass. Apple users can also take advantage of iCloud Passwords, while Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge offer built-in password management features too. Pick one the that’s most convenient for you, that best fits your needs, and you know you’ll use every day.

Every account deserves its own password. It may be tempting to reuse the same password across multiple websites. After all, it’s easier to remember, right? Unfortunately, it’s also one of the biggest security risks.

If just one website experiences a data breach, cybercriminals often try those same login credentials on dozens of other websites. If you’ve reused the password, multiple accounts could be compromised before you even realize what’s happened. Unique passwords dramatically reduce that risk, and thanks to password managers, you don’t have to remember any of them yourself. So be sure to follow this golden rule for the safety of yourself, your firm, and your clients.

Turn on multi-factor authentication whenever possible. Think of multi-factor authentication (MFA) as a second lock on your front door. Even if someone manages to obtain your password, they’ll still need a second form of verification before they can access your account. Many websites send a one-time code via email or text message, but an authentication app—such as Microsoft Authenticator, Google Authenticator, or Authy—is generally considered even more secure.

Why is it so effective? Imagine someone steals your password. Without MFA, they could immediately access your account. But with MFA enabled, they would need your phone or authentication app to complete the login. It’s a simple extra layer of security that dramatically reduces the chances of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised. It takes a few extra seconds to log in, but those few seconds can make a tremendous difference in protecting your accounts.

You can usually enable multi-factor authentication in an account’s settings or might receive the offer to set it up at login. You’ll typically be prompted to choose how you’d like to receive your verification codes. Many websites offer text messages, but the aforementioned authentication apps are often preferred because they generate secure codes directly on your phone that only last for a short period of time (around 30 seconds). Simply scan a QR code or link the accounts and it should be good to go.

Meet the passkey. If you’ve noticed some websites asking whether you’d like to sign in with your fingerprint, facial recognition, or device PIN instead of a password, you’ve already encountered a passkey. A traditional password is something you know, a word or phrase you picked out to type each time you sign in. A passkey verifies your identity using something you have rather than something you know. There’s no password to steal, guess, or accidentally reuse across multiple websites. Today’s technology need only glance at your face through the camera or read your fingerprint to grant you access.

Passkeys are becoming increasingly common because they’re both more convenient and more secure than traditional passwords. Passwords aren’t disappearing overnight, but passkeys are quickly becoming the future of online authentication. Whenever you have the option, they’re worth considering.

Watch out for phishing scams. Sometimes the weakest link isn’t the password itself…it’s our own lapse in judgment. In other words, it’s being tricked into giving it away. So always take a closer look before you click, especially if something seems fishy.

Cybercriminals regularly send emails or text messages that appear to come from trusted organizations or even people you know, urging recipients to reset a password or verify an account. Before clicking a link or opening an attachment, pause for a moment and ask yourself whether the request makes sense or if the email looks legitimate. Take a few seconds to inspect the sender’s actual email address, not just the display name. Though the message might appear to have come from “Microsoft Support,” “Paypal,” or your bank, the underlying email address could reveal obvious warning signs such as misspellings, extra numbers, or unfamiliar domains. This is a major red flag.

When in doubt, trust your instincts and navigate directly to the organization’s website to log in there instead of following a link in an email. That extra step can help protect both your personal information and your clients’ confidential data.

Avoid these common password mistakes. Good password habits aren’t just about what you should do, but also about what you should avoid. Writing passwords on sticky notes attached to your monitor, storing them in an unencrypted spreadsheet, sharing them through email, or choosing easily guessed passwords like birthdays or pet names may seem harmless, but they can create unnecessary risks. A little organization goes much further than a little convenience. Since you’ll be letting technology do the remembering for you, don’t hesitate to create complicated passwords.

Build your system one login at a time. Looking at years’ worth of scattered passwords can feel overwhelming. The good news is that you don’t have to fix everything today. Start by choosing a password manager and saving every new password you create. Then, each time you log into an older account, update that password to something strong and unique before saving it in your vault. Within a few months, you’ll have replaced many of your old passwords without setting aside an entire weekend to tackle the project.

Passwords are an unavoidable part of modern life, but frustration doesn’t have to be! By creating a system that works for you and letting technology handle the brunt of it, you can spend less time resetting passwords and more time focusing on what really matters.

The only thing attorneys should have to memorize is great legal arguments—not their 87 different login credentials.

You did it. You unplugged, took the trip, and relaxed to your heart’s content. Maybe you explored a new city, hit the beach, or simply enjoyed a change of scenery with zero emails or work calls.

Then…the dream ends and reality hits. The out-of-office message you scheduled expires. The alarm clock goes off. The vacation vibes vanish in a blink and you’re suddenly sitting in your office chair staring at an overflowing inbox. Instant overwhelm. But have no fear: you are not alone. Many workers struggle with the transition between vacation and work, especially after a long time away from their desk.

Luckily, returning to work doesn’t have to feel like a crisis. With a little planning and the right mindset, you can get back to it without the panic and without undoing all of the benefits your vacation provided.

Let’s find out how in the final installment of “Lawyers Need Vacations Too!” Read on!

Schedule a buffer day. One of the biggest reentry mistakes lawyers make happens before the vacation even begins. If you’re not careful, your vacation could end with you facing down one of your most stressful days of the year. Leave a day to rest and unpack between vacation and heading back to work. If you’re fighting jet lag, a couple days might be even better. Your exhausted future self will thank your clever past self for planning that buffer day in advance.

Be sure to leave yourself some breathing room on your first day back in the office, too. Avoid scheduling major meetings, hearings, or significant deadlines. Giving yourself a buffer both at home and in the office allows time to take it easy, review emails, prioritize tasks, and regain your bearings before jumping into high-stakes work.

The inbox is not your enemy. It’s typically the first app we open in the morning, and definitely the first place we head after a well-deserved break. And that’s our very first mistake. Going face-to-face with a bloated inbox when you get back from vacation can leave you immediately feeling overwhelmed and extremely behind. Most likely, you’re tempted to head to the oldest email and start working your way forward. In many cases, this is the least efficient approach.

Instead, look for what requires immediate attention, starting with the most recent. Keep in mind that not every email requires action. Some issues might’ve already been resolved by helpful colleagues. Other emails might be informational or even unwanted spam. So, there’s no reason to let the number of unread emails intimidate you. Prioritize what needs your attention the most and don’t treat your inbox like a courtroom docket that must be cleared immediately. You’ll get there in time.

Prioritize, don’t panic. When you’re a problem solver by nature, it might be tempting to dive headfirst into the mountain of work that awaits you. But if you want to strategize, take a moment to pause and prioritize what’s on your to-do list. Not every task deserves the same level of attention. Once you’ve identified what’s waiting for you, separate items into categories. What needs action today? What can wait until tomorrow? What can be delegated? Taking a few minutes to assess the situation can save you hours of stress later. If you’d like to take preparation a step further, you can create a priority list before you even go on vacation.

Vacation often provides valuable perspective and one of the most useful lessons is realizing that not everything is as urgent as it initially appears.

Avoid vacation amnesia. Once you return to work, that vacation might start to feel more and more like a distant dream. You got outside and walked more. You spent less time staring at screens. You relaxed, ate delicious food, and spent more time with your family or friends. Eventually, it had to end, but that doesn’t mean some of the habits that made it enjoyable have to.

One of the biggest mistakes people make after vacation is immediately returning to every unhealthy habit they left behind. Goodbye lunch break, hello working twelve hours straight fueled by nothing but caffeine and spite. Don’t let vacation amnesia steal away the memories of that healthy work-life balance! Make an effort to extend the benefits you experienced on vacation long after you’ve unpacked your suitcase.

Remember: Reentry is temporary. The first day back is overwhelming. The second day, you’re still playing catch up. By the end of the week, you’ve found your rhythm again.

The feeling of being behind is often far worse than the reality. It’s important not to mistake temporary discomfort for permanent chaos. Give yourself permission to ease back into your routine rather than expecting peak performance from the moment you walk through the door. In time, your backlog will shrink. The emails will get answered. The urgent issues will be addressed. Stressing about it won’t make it happen any faster, so why stress at all?

The vacation doesn’t have to end. The purpose of taking time away was to recharge, gain perspective, and return with renewed energy. That process doesn’t stop the moment you walk back into the office. In many ways, the real value of a vacation reveals itself afterward in improved focus, better decision-making, and a healthier relationship with work. That feeling sticks around much longer than tan lines.

Bonus tip: Bring a little vacation joy to your office in the form of a souvenir or a picture of your trip. This will not only bring back pleasant memories, but also serve as a reminder to keep the good vibes going.

In conclusion, do not dread the reentry. Getting back to work is simply part of the journey, and with the right strategy, you’ll come back rested and ready for what’s next.

We hope you enjoyed our summer series “Lawyers Need Vacations Too!” We wish you safe travels and a relaxing rest of your summer. And if you’ve got August compliance around the corner, PBI is ready to help you score credits with a stellar lineup of live webcasts!

Welcome back to the third installment in our “Lawyers Need Vacations Too” summer series!

Upon seeing this title, you might already be wondering “How on earth can vacation make me a better lawyer?” After all, the legal profession isn’t exactly known for encouraging time away from work, and lounging on a beach somewhere seems pretty counterproductive to your practice’s needs.

Between client demands, court deadlines, overflowing inboxes, and the ever-present temptation to complete just one more task, many attorneys struggle to fully unplug, which is why our last blog posed the idea of a workcation. Yet, research has shown us that vacations aren’t simply a luxury. They are also an investment in our mental and physical well-being. Some studies suggest it takes several days of being off work before we truly begin to experience the restorative benefits of time away. For lawyers accustomed to operating at full speed, it’s an important reminder that true recovery takes time.

In other words, stepping away from work may actually help you improve at it. Read on to find out just why that is…

Distance creates perspective. Have you ever spent hours wrestling with a problem, only to find the solution arrives when you least expect it to? Maybe after talking a walk, sleeping on it, or doing something completely unrelated? The same principle applies to vacations.

When you spend every day immersed in deadlines, client matters, and legal analysis, it’s easy to get trapped in the details. Time away from all of that provides the opportunity to zoom out and regain perspective. Problems that once seemed overwhelming often feel more manageable after you return from a break. New ideas can emerge when the brain is given space to breathe. And taking a step back can remind you of the bigger picture of life, and what truly matters.

Your brain needs time to recover. As you already know, lawyers rely heavily on concentration and decision-making. Those mental resources aren’t unlimited and you cannot afford for them to become depleted. You also cannot afford to fall victim to the dreaded burnout.

Research has found that vacations can improve well-being and morale, reduce stress, and even increase mental flexibility. Some studies have shown that people generate a wider range of ideas after returning from vacation, suggesting that time away can support creativity and problem-solving. In a profession where strategic thinking is essential, this is a fact that should not be overlooked. So the next time your boss denies your vacation day, tell them you need it to increase your mental flexibility!

Stepping away improves productivity. It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s not. Constant work isn’t always the most productive approach and can dull anyone’s sharpness. Many attorneys assume that taking time off will cause them to fall behind, but in reality, exhaustion creates its own problems. Fatigue can easily increase mistakes and make each task feel more difficult than it should.

A well-timed vacation can help break that cycle. Returning with renewed energy often allows lawyers to work more effectively than trying to push through the burnout. Besides, you don’t want to lose those precious vacation days, do you?

The best vacations aren’t always the longest. A study found that eight days seems to be the “ideal” vacation length, as far as relaxation and rejuvenation go. That idea stems from research suggesting that happiness and well-being often peak around the eighth day of the trip before leveling off or declining. Before then, we spend several days trying to sink into that sweet state of relaxation (meanwhile, our dopamine is often highest before the trip even begins).

Don’t go blocking off exactly eight days in your calendar just yet! Remember that vacation isn’t a one-size-fits all. Some might feel refreshed after a long weekend. Others might need two weeks before they’re able to completely unplug from work. And let’s be honest, if your travels are taking you halfway around the world, one week is not worth the jet lag. The real takeaway here is that meaningful recovery rarely happens overnight. It might take a few trial runs to realize the perfect vacation length for you, and it might be longer or shorter than that eight-day average.

Vacations aren’t to be earned. Lawyers are infamously good at caring for clients and bad at caring for themselves. Many delay vacations until they finish a project, close a case, or reach some other extravagant milestone. Unfortunately, work is always flowing in and there’s always another deadline waiting around the corner.

If you have a tendency to view vacations as rewards for surviving work…stop. They should be viewed as part of what allows you to sustain a long and successful career. Our bodies need rest. And if you keep raising your standards, trying to earn that “reward,” then you may never see it come to pass.

In conclusion…the legal profession demands a great deal from those who practice it. Long hours, complex problems, and significant responsibilities come with the job. But even the most dedicated attorneys aren’t machines. Everyone needs opportunities to rest, recharge, and live a life outside work.

So the next time you’re tempted to cancel that vacation or spend your entire trip checking emails, remember this: stepping away from work doesn’t mean you’re neglecting your practice. In fact, you just might be doing your practice (and yourself) the biggest favor you could offer it.

Summer is here! Vacation season is upon us! And for many attorneys, that means a familiar internal debate. “Should I completely unplug while on vacation…or should I bring my laptop just in case?”

For some lawyers, the answer has become a hybrid approach know as a “workcation,” a trip that combines travel and leisure with professional responsibilities. Thanks to remote work technology, lawyers can now draft documents on a plane, answer emails from a hotel lobby, or score credits in a beautiful beach house. But just because you can work on vacation doesn’t necessarily mean you should, especially given the high rate of burnout within the profession.

So…are workcations worth it? As with most legal questions, the answer depends. Let’s take a closer look in this second installment of our summer blog series “Lawyers Need Vacations Too!”

The rise of the workcation. A long time ago, vacations and work were completely separate worlds. You were either in office, or you weren’t. But the rise of technology, coupled with remote work becoming normalized due to the pandemic, has blurred those boundaries. We now have the ability to work virtually from anywhere so long as there is a reliable internet connection. This flexibility has made it easier to extend trips and visit family, but it’s a double-edged sword.

For some lawyers, this flexibility feels liberating. For others, it can feel like work has followed them on vacation and there is no reprieve.

The case for working while traveling. It can’t be denied that there are advantages to taking a workcation. Attorneys with busy practices may find it easier to take longer trips when they know they can remain available for urgent matters. A workcation can reduce the anxiety that sometimes accompanies a traditional vacation. Rather than returning to hundreds of unread emails and a to-do list that stretches for a mile, attorneys can still stay caught up while enjoying a change in scenery. Simply stepping away from the office environment can be refreshing, even if your work laptop is along for the ride.

If you find yourself never taking a vacation because it’s too difficult to pull away, the workcation may be your solution.

The problem with always being available. We’ve all felt it in this day and age. The expectation that you must always be available. The danger, in this case, is that a workcation is a slippery slope that can easily become all work and very little vacation. Next thing you know…burnout.

Many attorneys have already experienced this firsthand. You promise yourself you’re only going to check your email real quick. Then a client issue arises. One phone call becomes three. Suddenly, the day is gone.

Both your brain and body need genuine periods of recovery. Constantly being on…monitoring emails, responding to problems, focusing on work…that can have an adverse effect on your well-being. Vacations are meant to provide a mental reset that will keep you performing at your best in the long run. Which is why a workcation may not be the solution for everyone.

The key? Setting boundaries. The most successful workcations tend to have one thing in common: boundaries. Instead of remaining available at all hours, some attorneys designate specific windows for work and reserve the rest of the day for relaxation. Others limit themselves to checking email one or twice a day.

The goal isn’t perfection, but finding what works best for you, and that will look different for everyone. Find enough separation between the two so that your vacation still feels like a vacation. In order to do that, you have to…

Know your personality. Some lawyers thrive on staying connected. They enjoy the flexibility of handling a few tasks, then spending the rest of the day exploring a new city or relaxing by the pool. Having their work with them might leave them happier and less anxious than they would be without it. Others might find that even a small amount of work keeps them mentally tethered to the office. For these attorneys, true rest only happens when they disconnect completely. Work and vacation are opposite sides of a switch, and that’s how they like it.

Neither approach is right or wrong. It’s all about understanding what helps you recharge rather than simply assuming more availability is always better. Do you know where you fall?

Don’t forget why you’re there. Vacations serve an important purpose. They provide an opportunity to rest, gain perspective, spend time with loved ones, and so much more. When it’s over, you’ll return to work with renewed energy! (Well, hopefully…if that doesn’t sound like you, then keep an eye out for a future blog post in this series all about a successful reentry strategy after vacation.)

If a workcation allows you to do all of those things while maintaining flexibility, then it may be a worthwhile compromise. But if you find yourself spending more time starting at a screen than the sky, it might be worth reconsidering whether a workcation is worth it for you. After all, your email inbox will still be there when you get back.

And remember: Sometimes, the most productive thing a lawyer can do, is to step away from work entirely. Enjoy the start of summer and the beautiful weather!

Welcome to the first installment in this summer’s “Lawyers Need Vacations Too” blog series! Today, we’re covering the best getaways for a legal-themed trip. Odds are, you’ve already got your vacation plans locked in, but just in case you don’t (or you’re looking for an idea for next summer), this is the blog for you!

Before you panic or click away…a legal-themed vacation does not mean spending your precious beach trip reading case law under an umbrella. The best legal getaways combine travel, culture, history, networking, and yes…maybe even a little CLE along the way if you’ve got the bandwidth. And we’ve got the perfect destinations that offer something uniquely appealing for all attorneys.

So pack your suitcase! We’re headed to Europe!

Germany. If you’ve ever wanted to combine CLE with international travel, the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s upcoming trip to Germany might be one of the most unique legal getaways available. Between its rich legal history, stunning architecture, and cultural landmarks, Germany offers plenty for attorneys to appreciate both professionally and personally. Best of all, you can earn credits while on an exciting adventure abroad!

The tour winds through Berlin, Potsdam, Nuremberg, and Munich, with plenty of opportunities to step inside famous museums and witness notable legal institutions. You’ll even walk in the city where they held the famous post-World War II Nuremberg Trials. This trip is certain to leave you feeling inspired and educated! Sign up here and we’ll see you in September.

London, England. For attorneys interested in the roots of the legal profession itself, few destinations compare to London. As the birthplace of common law, this city is packed with legal history at every turn. From the Inns of Court to the Old Bailey, London offers countless opportunities to explore the foundations that shaped much of the American legal system. Even outside of formal legal landmarks, the city carries a sense of history that feels especially meaningful for lawyers.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that London also happens to offer unique foods, theatres, museums, and pubs. Legal history by day…fish and chips by night.

Let’s head back to our great nation for the rest of our getaway list…

Oahu, Hawaii. Hawaii might not come to mind first when you think of a legal-themed getaway. But behind the beaches and breathtaking scenery lies a fascinating intersection of environmental law, land use issues, water rights, and Native Hawaiian legal history. Oahu in particular offers a unique blend of culture, government, and environmental significance. Lawyers interested in environmental law or public policy can find plenty to appreciate, all while enjoying one of the most beautiful vacation destinations in the world.

And if you can get away with pairing legal study with ocean views and Hawaiian shaved ice, why wouldn’t you?

Seven Springs Resort, Champion, PA. “Whoa…why is that so specific?” you may be wondering. Because this is the location of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Summer Summit! If your ideal getaway includes networking, professional development, and a little summer fun, then this event deserves a spot on your list. Held in a relaxed resort setting, the Summit blends CLE, social events, and opportunities to connect with attorneys across the state.

What makes this trip especially appealing is the balance. You can attend educational sessions during the day, then unwind with colleagues afterwards in a more relaxed environment in the evening. For younger attorneys, it’s a great reminder that career development can happen in any setting.

Washington, D.C. For lawyers who love legal history, Washington, D.C. is the ultimate destination. Few places are more closely tied to the American legal system than the nation’s capital. A visit to the U.S. Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, or the National Archives can turn even the most casual history buff into a full-blown constitutional law enthusiast! Add in monuments, museums, and fabulous restaurants, then you’ve got a truly unforgettable trip unfolding in front of you.

D.C. also happens to be one of the easiest places to stumble upon legal conferences, policy discussions, and networking opportunities…if you’re into that sort of thing on vacation.

Sometimes the best trips are the ones that combine personal interests with opportunities to learn, explore, and connect with others in meaningful ways. There’s no reason a lawyer’s vacation can’t be both enriching and relaxing. After all…lawyers need vacations too!

Where is PBI headed this summer?

“I’ve always wanted to visit Italy since my family’s Italian! This will be my second international trip (my first was to Japan last year!) and my first time to Europe. I’m looking forward to the food the most…especially the gelato!”
-Taylor, Creative Growth Marketer

“Myrtle Beach, SC. Seeing as many sunsets and sunrises on the beach as I want and traveling to Charleston for the day!” -Jenn, CX and Events Operations

“Sunny & 75″ – Sydney, CLE Admin./In-Person Staff Coordinator

“With close family residing in Asheville, NC, I spend many vacations in the Blue Ridge Mountains. My latest vacation included unwinding mountainside with a restorative sauna steam and invigorating cold plunge. The perfect blend of relaxation, sweeping views, and renewal.” -Kali, Legal Education Program Manager

Summer is the perfect time to catch up on the CLE everyone’s been talking about. If your schedule’s gotten quieter and you’re looking to squeeze in credits between vacations or during long drives, PBI’s on-demand CLE offers flexibility that will allow you to learn on your terms.

Ready to start binging, but don’t know where to start? We’ve gathered the most popular courses of this year so far. From artificial intelligence and ethics to trusts and courtroom strategy, these are the courses that have attorneys flocking to them.

Add them to your summer watch list!

1. A Day in the Life of a Lawyer with Practical AI

AI is no longer a futuristic concept in the legal profession…it’s now part of the modern workday for many! Our most popular webcast to date takes attorneys through real-world examples of how AI can assist with drafting, organization, research, and workflow management. Practical, accessible, and immediately useful, it’s easy to see why this course quickly climbed to the top of the charts.

2. Getting Started with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in 2026: Harnessing AI for a Smarter Practice

Curious about AI but not sure where to begin? This course offers a strong foundation for attorneys looking to understand the basics of artificial intelligence and how it can support a more efficient practice. From productivity tools to ethical considerations, it’s a smart entry point into one of the profession’s fastest-growing topics.

3. ABCs of Pennsylvania Trusts & Trust Drafting

Trusts remain a cornerstone of estate planning practice, and this webcast delivers a comprehensive look at the fundamentals of trust drafting in Pennsylvania. Attorneys looking to sharpen their drafting skills or build confidence in this complex area of law have made this one of the year’s most sought-after programs.

4. Your Practice, Simplified: Microsoft 365 Copilot for Everyday Legal Work

AI continues to dominate attorney interest, especially when it’s tied directly to tools lawyers already use every day. This course explores how Microsoft 365 Copilot can streamline routine legal work, helping attorneys save time and reduce repetitive administrative tasks without sacrificing accuracy.

5. Learning Professionalism, Ethics, and Trial Tactics from The Lincoln Lawyer, Season Three

Who says CLE can’t be entertaining? This unique course uses the hit series The Lincoln Lawyer as a springboard for exploring professionalism, ethics, and trial strategy. Blending pop culture with practical legal analysis, it’s become a fan favorite among attorneys looking for something both engaging and educational. Keep an eye out for Season Four, coming later this year!

6. Unclaimed or Unidentifiable IOLTA Funds

IOLTA management may not sound glamorous, but attorneys know just how important trust accounting compliance can be. This timely course tackles the often-confusing issue of unclaimed or unidentifiable IOLTA funds, offering practical guidance on navigating a topic that carries significant ethical responsibility.

7. Model Behavior: Effective and Ethical Mediation Practice in Pennsylvania

As mediation continues to play a larger role in dispute resolution, attorneys are looking to strengthen both their practical skills and ethical understanding in this area. This webcast explores effective mediation techniques while addressing the professional responsibilities that come with serving as a mediator in Pennsylvania.

8. Lies, Deceit, and the Ethical Rules, Can Attorneys Practice Deception?

A serial killer, a fake public defender, and a surrender that shocked the legal profession. Few titles spark curiosity quite like this one. This thought-provoking ethics course examines the complicated line between advocacy and deception, diving into the ethical rules that govern attorney conduct. Challenging, nuanced, and highly relevant, it’s no surprise this webcast generated major interest.

9. When AI Goes Wrong: Deepfakes, Hallucinations, and the Ethical Risks for Lawyers

As AI tools become more sophisticated, so do the risks associated with them. This webcast explores the darker side of artificial intelligence, including misinformation, hallucinated case citations, deepfakes, and the ethical implications attorneys must understand before integrating AI into practice. In today’s crazy world, this CLE is a must!

10. Right to Know Law

Transparency and public access remain critical legal issues, making Right-to-Know Law a consistently important topic for attorneys across multiple practice areas. This course offers practical guidance on navigating Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know framework and understanding the evolving issues surrounding public records access.

11. Ethics Compliance Crusher

Ethics credits are essential, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring! This fast-paced program helps attorneys tackle compliance requirements head-on while exploring timely ethical issues facing the profession today. It’s become a go-to course for lawyers looking to stay compliant without sacrificing engagement. If you need three ethics credits, then look no further.

12. Lights, Camera, Evidence!

Trial strategy meets visual storytelling in this creative and highly practical webcast. As video, digital exhibits, and multimedia presentations become increasingly common in litigation, this course helps attorneys understand how to use visual evidence effectively and persuasively in the courtroom.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your skills, stay compliant, or finally see what everyone’s been talking about, these courses represent some of the most popular learning opportunities PBI has offered so far this year.

So go ahead—start your summer binge. Your next favorite CLE might already be waiting in your queue!

For many attorneys, the billable hour defines the rhythm of their day. Every task is tracked, every minute accounted for, and productivity is often measured in six-minute increments. It’s a system that has long shaped private practice…but it’s not the only way to build a legal career.

In recent years, more lawyers have begun exploring roles that offer a different structure, pace, and set of expectations. Among the most popular transitions is the move to in-house counsel, where attorneys step into a business environment and take on a more integrated role within an organization. We previously did a blog on what other career paths lawyers are exploring. Now it’s time to put each one under a microscope, starting with in-house counsel.

Now let’s dive in…

A Different Kind of Client. In private practice, lawyers often juggle multiple clients, each with their own priorities and expectations. The relationship is pretty predictable: a client comes to you with a problem, you solve it, you bill them when it’s over. In-house counsel, by contrast, typically serve a single client: the organization itself. This role comes with its own complexity. You should understand the business deeply enough to give advice that accounts for financial pressures and long-term strategy.

Over time, in-house attorneys become trusted advisors to leadership in a way that’s difficult to replicate from outside the organization. Legal advice becomes less about isolated issues and more about guiding decisions that affect the organization as a whole. For some attorneys, it can make the work feel more meaningful.

From Reactive to Proactive. Law firm work is often more reactive by nature. Responding to disputes, deadlines, immediate client needs…it’s a model that rewards speed and precision. In-house roles, however, often flip that dynamic and provide the opportunity to be more proactive. Rather than waiting for issues to land on your desk, you’re involved throughout the process in order to prevent them from arising in the first place.

This proactive way of working can be one of the most satisfying aspects of in-house practice. Attorneys can help shape policies, identify risks before they become problems, and collaborate with leadership on strategic initiatives. The work becomes less about putting out fires and more about preventing them.

A New Measure of Success. Without billable hours, the way performance is evaluated changes completely (a welcome shift for many attorneys). Success is measured by the ability to manage risk, support business objectives, and communicate effectively with non-legal colleagues. These might be harder to measure than hours logged, but they tend to feel more connected to real impact and can feel refreshing for attorneys who are ready to move away from timekeeping.

That said, this sort of transition requires an overhaul of how you communicate your value. In a law firm, a detailed memo demonstrates thoroughness. In a business environment, leadership wants a clear bottom line: what’s the risk, what are the options, and what are your recommendations? Learning to deliver legal analysis in a way that non-lawyers can understand is one of the most important skills an in-house attorney can develop.

The Tradeoffs. Like any career move, going in-house comes with tradeoffs. Compensation structures vary wildly. Some in-house roles offer competitive base salaries plus equity or bonus opportunities. Others, such as nonprofits or smaller organizations, may pay less than a comparable firm position (but can be highly rewarding in other ways). The major upside of this move is a more predictable schedule and a clearer boundary between work and life outside work. Of course, that can vary by company.

Advancement can look different, too. Law firms offer a well-defined path from associate to partner. In-house, the trajectory is less standard. Career growth often depends on the growth of the business itself. There is also an adjustment period, as lawyers learn to operate within a business environment rather than a traditional legal setting. Of course, every new job comes with growing pains. But it goes deeper than that. Businesses operate differently, with different incentives and definitions of what it means to be effective.

Understanding these differences is key to making an informed decision on the future of your career. Preparing for them can help make the transition smoother.

Ethical Considerations. Even in a new career, ethical considerations never go away. Attorney-professional responsibility rules still apply in full, though the context in which they arise can look a bit different.

When your client is also your employer, the pressure to be a team player can sometimes conflict with your obligations as an attorney. Questions about privilege, conflicts of interest, and the boundaries of legal versus business advice come up in ways that require careful navigation. Understanding how your professional responsibilities translate into a corporate environment is essential.

Is In-House Right for You? The move in-house isn’t about leaving the law behind—it’s about practicing it in a new context. One that’s more integrated and more sustainable over the long term. If you’re drawn to work that connects legal expertise directly to business outcomes, enjoy building relationships within an organization, and are ready to trade the billable hour for impact-driven work, the in-house path might be worth exploring seriously.

The key is to always go in informed.

As always, thanks for reading, and be sure to keep an eye out for our next installment in this series, Beyond the Billable Hour: Inside a Career in Compliance.

Your desk job might be taking a bigger toll than you think.

For many attorneys, the workday is defined by long hours at a desk. Drafting documents, reviewing case law, answering emails, preparing for meetings…it all adds up to one thing: sitting. A lot of it. In fact, the majority of American jobs and our car-based commutes to work have left us as a sedentary society. Combined with our diet of ultra-processed food, that doesn’t bode well for long-term health.

What was once considered harmless, or even necessary, is now being looked at more closely. As research continues to emerge, health experts are raising concerns about prolonged sitting and its impact on the body. Some have even gone so far as to call it “the new smoking,” due to the similar effect it can have on the body.

For lawyers, this hits especially close to home. The demands of the profession often make it difficult to step away, even for a few minutes. But understanding the physical impact of a sedentary workday is the first step toward making meaningful change and building habits that support both your health and your practice. And when time is limited, flexible learning options (like PBI’s on-demand CLE library) can fit seamlessly into your day, whether you’re at your desk or taking a much-needed break.

Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, it seems like a good time to address this topic. Because as we know, mental health and physical health go tightly hand in hand.

The sedentary reality. Legal work is, by nature, desk bound. Hours can pass quickly when you’re deep in research or focused on drafting, and before you know it, you’ve spent most of the day in the same position. Maybe you could feel your legs screaming at you to get up, but your mind kept going, “let me just finish this task…okay one more thing…I’ll just cross this off my list then I’ll take a break, I swear.” Next thing you know, it’s time to head home for the day.

Over time, that lack of movement begins to take a toll. The human body is designed to move. Our hunter-gatherer ancestors had incredible stamina and typically walked anywhere from 15,000 to 20,000 (or even more!) steps in a day. The new modern average? 5,000 steps. And many of us aren’t even achieving that.

When our bodies stay sedentary, systems that support circulation, posture, and muscle health can start to decline. What feels like a normal workday can quietly contribute to long-term strain. And you might not even realize it until it’s too late.

What prolonged sitting does to the body. Sitting for extended periods affects more than just your back. It can lead to tight hips, weakened core muscles, a stiff neck, and increased pressure on the spine. Circulation slows, which can contribute to fatigue and discomfort, and posture often suffers as the day goes on.

There’s also a connection between prolonged sitting and broader health concerns, including cardiovascular issues and metabolic changes. While a single day at your desk isn’t the problem, the cumulative effect over months and years is what makes this such an important issue. Researchers found that those who sat for more than 8 hours a day with no physical activity raised their risk of dying in a manner similar to those who smoked, hence the eye-opening new nickname for sitting.

The mental connection. Physical discomfort doesn’t stay contained to the body—it often impacts focus and mental clarity as well. Stiffness, tension, and fatigue can make it harder to concentrate, especially during long stretches of work. For lawyers, whose work depends on sustained attention and precision, even small declines in focus can have a noticeable impact. What starts as a physical issue can quickly become a productivity issue, and your clients will suffer for it.

Poor physical health can also cause mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, which lawyers are already privy to due to long hours and stressful workload. Speaking of…

Why lawyers are particularly at risk. Deadlines, client demands, and court schedules don’t always allow for natural breaks. It’s easy to fall into the habit of working straight through the day, especially when there’s pressure to stay productive. The billable hour can reinforce this pattern, making it feel like stepping away, even briefly, is time lost. But in reality, the opposite is often true. Short breaks and movement can improve focus, reduce fatigue, and make the time you spend working more effective.

Small changes, big impact. Addressing the effects of sitting doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your routine. Simple, small adjustments can make a meaningful difference.

Standing up to take a phone call, taking a short walk during lunch, stretching at your desk, or simply being more mindful of your posture can help counteract the effects of a sedentary day. Don’t think of these moments of movement as taking away from your work. Think of them as supporting it, and you. Even short bursts of leisurely movement can have a positive impact on your health.

If you’d like to take it to the next level, consider buying a standing desk or a small treadmill for your office!

The legal profession isn’t likely to become less demanding anytime soon. But the way lawyers approach their workday can evolve. Recognizing the impact of prolonged sitting is one step toward building a more sustainable routine—one that supports both physical health and professional performance.

Because when your body feels better, your work tends to follow.

Want to learn more about how you can seamlessly work breaks into your day? Check out this previous blog post on microshifting, the latest workday trend.