Who wants to talk about stress in legal marketing?

In my journey through legal marketing, I encountered moments of triumph and struggle during my time working in-house at law firms. These experiences, coupled with my following years as a consultant, opened my eyes to a pressing issue: the lack of attention given to mental wellness for legal business professionals. 

My observation of the growing focus on attorney wellness in the legal press inspired the Legal Marketing Mental Wellness Survey. Organizations like the American Bar Association (ABA) and the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) were championing this cause, yet there was a noticeable silence surrounding the challenges faced by business professionals within law firms. 

I kept thinking: “When are we going to start hearing about the business professionals who work in these law firms?” 

This frustration fueled my determination to initiate a broader discussion. My conversations with colleagues confirmed my suspicions: They too had not seen discussions extending beyond attorneys. 

It got to the point where I started talking to a couple of people in-house and saying, have you heard anything? And they’re like, well no, it’s focused on the attorneys. I didn’t want to rock the boat by bringing it up. 

This gap in dialogue motivated me to take action. With my in-house legal marketing and consulting background, I felt uniquely positioned to address this issue and amplify the voices of legal business professionals. 

“If we can’t do it as a firm that specializes in working with law firms, then who can do it?” I wondered. “We come from a perspective where we’ve worked in-house, so I understand what it’s like.” 

Reflecting on my experiences, I recognized the distinct challenges faced by business professionals often operating behind the scenes to support legal teams. We talk about there being, business professionals and attorneys, but often there are almost three buckets – attorneys, business professionals, and then legal staff. 

One poignant memory that underscored the need for change was an encounter with a partner at the elevator while I was still in-house. I had been in the office from 7:00 in the morning. I hadn’t seen my kids before they went to school. I ate breakfast, lunch and dinner at my desk. It was well after 7:00 p.m. so I had been in the office for more than 12 hours. I was leaving for the evening and a partner walking to the elevator looked at his watch. He looked at me, looked back at his watch and said: “So it’s a half-day for you today, then.” 

The comment hit me like a ton of bricks. Here I was, having sacrificed precious time with my family to meet the demands of the job, only to be dismissed with a casual quip about my perceived “short day.” This moment epitomized the disconnect between the expectations placed on legal business professionals and the reality of our daily struggles. 

Driven by this personal experience and a desire for change, my team and embarked on a mission to shed light on the mental health challenges specific to legal marketers, both within law firms and those who are service providers. Our goal was to raise awareness and to challenge the stigma surrounding discussions on mental wellness within the legal profession. 

We knew it would be essential to emphasize data, so we went and put a survey into the market to see if we could find some. 

Now on its fourth edition, the Legal Marketing Mental Wellness Survey is more than just a data-gathering exercise. It is a call to action — a rallying cry for recognizing the integral role played by business professionals in the legal ecosystem.

My passion for addressing the wellbeing of legal business professionals was the genesis for the Legal Marketing Mental Wellness Survey – along with my commitment to amplifying their voices in the broader conversation on mental health in the legal industry. I aim to catalyze meaningful change and foster a culture of holistic wellness for everyone in legal marketing, along with the entire fSquared Marketing team. 

By sharing our stories and embracing open dialogue, we can create a healthier and more supportive environment for all members of the legal community.

Lynn
Fitzpatrick Foley

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