“It’s not about setting resolutions as punishment, but about giving yourself space to be exactly who you are,” observes Antoinette Moriarty, psychotherapist at the Law Society of Ireland, during a recent Platforum9 session. As lawyers set their career goals for 2025, Moriarty shares insights on achieving professional success while maintaining personal wellbeing.
Understanding Burnout Signs
The legal profession, as a high-performing endurance culture, faces particular risks of burnout, with key symptoms including:
- Emotional exhaustion, leading to feeling depleted or overwhelmed
- Mental exhaustion, particularly challenging for professionals paid to think
- Disengagement, manifested through cynicism and detachment
- Cognitive impairment, affecting work quality and satisfaction
The Three C’s of Wellbeing
Moriarty emphasizes three crucial elements in order to maintain balance in one’s life:
- Connection with others
- Care for self
- Creative practice
These elements aren’t luxuries but essential components of professional success, with research showing that organisations investing in wellbeing significantly outperform their peers, a fact that law firm leaders should be aware of.
Reframing Professional Development
Rather than viewing career goals as additional burdens, Moriarty suggests that we see them as opportunities for growth. This might include:
- Seeking experiences aligned with personal interests
- Creating authentic client connections through shared passions
- Embracing learning opportunities, even when uncomfortable
- Finding ways to express needs professionally rather than just “politely”
The Safety Factor
Creating safe spaces for open dialogue is crucial for professional development, and often overlooked by law firms. This involves:
- Regular, informal feedback rather than just annual reviews
- Building psychological safety within teams
- Managing client expectations professionally
- Encouraging robust, honest conversations about workload and capacity
Fear and Growth
“Nothing kills desire faster than fear,” Moriarty notes, particularly in the context of technological change and professional development. The solution isn’t to retreat but rather approach directly – moving towards challenges with the appropriate support and acceptance that mistakes are part of growth and should be embraced as such.
Looking Forward
As 2025 emerges as a year of significant change, Moriarty encourages viewing it as an “age of creative exploration” rather than a threat. Success will come not from endurance alone but from:
- Building authentic professional relationships
- Maintaining clear boundaries
- Embracing continuous learning
- Prioritising wellbeing alongside performance
The message is clear: achieving career goals in 2025 shouldn’t require sacrificing personal wellbeing. Instead, success comes from integrating professional ambition with authentic self-expression and sustainable practices. As Moriarty concludes, “It’s such an exciting time to be alive and to be at work.”
