By Julie Bays, OBA Management Assistance Program Director

Over the past few weeks, I have seen more lawyers openly talking about burnout. Not in abstract terms. In very real ones. Missed deadlines. Constant client demands. Staffing shortages. Financial pressure. Tension inside the office. The sense that you are always one step behind.

Burnout is often framed as a personal wellness issue. But for lawyers, it is also a professional responsibility issue.

When exhaustion affects your ability to return calls, supervise staff, manage deadlines or maintain accurate financial records, it is no longer just about stress. It directly impacts competence, diligence and communication.

Many of the pressures lawyers are experiencing right now are structural. Economic uncertainty has made clients more price-sensitive and less patient. Firms are seeing inconsistent cash flow. Others are carrying heavier workloads with fewer people. In some offices, leadership transitions or unclear management expectations add another layer of strain. When communication breaks down at the top, the pressure tends to roll downhill.

Burnout rarely comes from one dramatic event. More often, it builds from inefficient systems, unclear roles, unmanaged workloads and financial stress that never quite resolves.

The encouraging part is this: operational problems can be addressed.

Sometimes the issue is workflow. Sometimes it is the absence of a consistent intake process. Sometimes it is billing practices that create unnecessary financial anxiety. Sometimes it is lack of delegation or unclear supervision. Often, small structural improvements can reduce significant daily stress.

The Oklahoma Bar Association’s Management Assistance Program exists to help lawyers strengthen the business and management side of their practices. MAP provides guidance on law office systems, workflow, technology selection, financial management, client communication and overall practice organization. We answer member questions, offer consultations and provide educational programming focused on improving law practice management and professional competence.

If your practice feels chaotic, financially unpredictable or harder to manage than it should be, that is something we can work on together. Strengthening systems is not just about efficiency. It protects clients. It reduces risk. It supports compliance with professional obligations.

If the stress you are experiencing feels more personal or overwhelming, the OBA also provides confidential support through Lawyers Helping Lawyers. That program is specifically designed to assist lawyers facing depression, anxiety, substance use or other challenges that can affect professional performance.

And if workload, supervision or client communication questions raise ethical concerns, Ethics Counsel is available to provide guidance.

There is no professional advantage in suffering silently.

The practice of law has always been demanding. Today’s economic pressures and workplace challenges can intensify that demand. Maintaining your ability to practice competently is not only good for you. It is part of your obligation to your clients and to the profession.

If you are feeling burned out, pause long enough to examine your systems, your workload and the support structures around you. Reach out. The OBA has resources designed to help lawyers strengthen their practices and protect the quality of legal services provided to the public.

Sometimes the most responsible step a lawyer can take is to ask for help.