Overcoming Overwhelm
By Barbara Patchen & Simon Harper
The legal industry has long carried a reputation for intensity, but in our conversations with lawyers across practice areas, geographies, and career stages, one theme kept surfacing: overwhelm. Not the occasional busy season, but a persistent pressure to deliver more, be available always, and measure worth by output alone.
In collaboration with Lawyers On Demand (LOD), I co-authored Overcoming Overwhelm—a report that blends real lawyer voices with insights from psychology, culture, and leadership. What emerged is both sobering and hopeful: overwhelm is systemic, but it can be addressed. And while the stories came from lawyers, the lessons resonate across professional services and beyond.
This report is an invitation—to see yourself in the experiences of others, to question the systems that keep us stuck, and to explore more sustainable ways of working.