2024 Legal Marketing Mental Wellness Survey Report

At fSquared Marketing, we know lawyers aren’t the only ones suffering from stress at law firms. Legal marketing and business development professionals also struggle with mental health and wellbeing. 

That’s why we undertake the Legal Marketing Mental Wellness Survey Report every two years, to draw attention to the often-overlooked issue of stress and mental health in the legal industry. What sets this report apart from others is our focus on the mental wellbeing of marketing and business development professionals at law firms.

This spring, legal marketing and business development professionals, mostly from the United States and Canada, provided insights into stress, mental health and law firm culture. They also identified the resources and programs their employers provide, and where resources and responses are lacking. In addition to providing vital statistics, the report shares thoughts from survey participants in their own words, demonstrating a range of workplace cultures and employee experiences. 

The vast majority of our legal marketing colleagues experience high stress levels, and similar to our past findings, this year’s survey respondents report that there is a greater focus on the mental health for lawyers than for staff. 

Now in its fourth year, the 2024 Legal Marketing Mental Wellness Survey Report findings are consistent with those from previous years, pointing to overwork, a shortage of marketing resources and unrealistic expectations as contributors to workplace stress. Compounding these issues, many legal marketers report a lack of understanding of their roles by lawyers. 

Here are some of our key findings. 

Legal marketers are under considerable stress 

• 98% percent of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement that “there is significant stress in legal marketing and related fields.”  

• 79% of respondents reported their stress as 7/10 or higher. Leading factors cited include overwork, a lack of resources assigned to marketing, and unrealistic expectations. 

There is more attention given to the mental health of lawyers than professional staff 

• 70% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “There is a focus on the mental wellbeing of lawyers in our industry.”  

• Only 17% agreed with the statement “There is a focus on the mental wellbeing of marketing and business professionals in our industry.”  

• While the mental wellbeing of lawyers continues to be an important issue, stress in the legal industry negatively affects professional staff as well. 
   

Stress impacts concentration, sleep, physical and mental health 

• 70% of survey respondents reported stress-related impacts on their physical health, including headaches, stomachaches, and other physical ailments such as digestive issues, skin conditions, memory issues, etc.  

• 77% agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “Thoughts about my work make it difficult to fall or stay asleep.”  

• 78% of all respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “Stress interferes with my ability to concentrate on tasks.”  

• 65% reported that their mental health and wellness have declined in the past year. 

Providing additional operational resources may be the best way for law firms to mitigate stress of marketing staff 

62% of respondents reported that “access to additional / external marketing resources to assist my team on an ongoing basis” would be valuable in relieving work-related stress. 54% reported that “access to additional / external marketing resources to assist my team on a project basis” would help alleviate the stress associated with their jobs.  

Marketing is complex and demanding. Faced with too few resources to get the job done, many marketing staff struggle to keep up with requirements. Having additional internal or external resources available on a permanent or temporary basis would help legal marketers meet the demands of their jobs. 
 

Many law firms do not offer support for the mental wellbeing of marketing staff 

• While 52% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “My firm has supported my mental wellbeing in the past year,” another 48% disagreed or strongly disagreed with the statement.  

• Overall, 67% of respondents reported that they did not have enough support from their employer to handle work-related stress. 

• While the topic of mental health seems to be less taboo than in previous years, 51% of respondents still feel they cannot discuss their mental health with their immediate manager or superior.  

• 80% of respondents said they feel they cannot discuss their mental health with the lawyers at their firm. 

The business case for supporting mental wellbeing 

We know there is a strong business case for taking stress and mental health seriously. Research links workplace stress to burnout and employee mental wellness to individual and team performance. Law firms are sure to have a competitive advantage in a volatile market when they foster wellbeing in the workplace. To quote one respondent, “It is neither difficult nor costly to make a substantial impact that sustains.” 

Lynn
Fitzpatrick Foley

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