Record 538 lawyers left profession in 2021; junior lawyers made up bulk of exits

A RECORD number of lawyers left the profession last year, with the number of departures an "alarming year-on-year increase of around 30 per cent", said Law Society president Adrian Tan on Monday (Jan 10).

Speaking during the opening of the Legal Year 2022 ceremony, Tan noted that 538 lawyers left practice in 2021, more than the usual 380 to 430 number for the past 4 years.

The departures were concentrated among junior lawyers that have been in practice for less than 5 years.

Under this category, there were a record high of 310 exits, which account for 14 per cent of junior category lawyers, Tan said. "The junior category might be facing a perfect storm: a record high number of departures coinciding with a record low number of entrants."

"The Law Society is concerned," he added, noting that they will study the attrition rate of young lawyers.

"There is a sense that, if it is not yet a problem, it may eventually become one," he said. "Lawyers support the expansion of business, and aid in the resolution of conflict. As our economy is poised to recover and expand, the profession must stand ready to help sustain it. We cannot do so unless we find out why young lawyers are quitting."

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While an obvious question would be whether the pandemic is to blame, Tan noted that young lawyers have already been complaining of burnout before 2020.

"It may be tougher to be a young lawyer now, than at any other time in history," he said. "Email and instant messaging mean that young lawyers operate at a far more intense pace, compared to previous generations. Many are exhausted. Mental wellness is becoming a concern."

Tan said that the Law Society has introduced various support schemes, including having guidance, mentorship and counselling services for lawyers, but he acknowledged that those are reactive solutions addressing the symptoms, not the cause of the problem.

He highlighted that the current generation of young lawyers are also different from their predecessors.

"For them, legal practice is a question of sustainability," he said. "There must be a way to cater to the demands of the 21st century client, the 21st century Court, and 21st century society, while having a fulfilling family life."

Tan said that a solution could involve modern methods of working, with greater virtualisation, which has come into greater focus amid the pandemic.

"As we adjusted to the idea of conferencing through a laptop, or making court applications through a webcam, we began to grasp what it meant to be a 21st century lawyer," he said. "We understood that not every law firm needed a reception area or permanent meeting rooms."

Another advantage arising from this was that lawyers were also able to have more family time, as they could see their family members during the day, and dine with them on weekdays.

The future of lawyering could involve professionals who work from laptops, use technology to collaborate with other lawyers, meet clients virtually and are not bound to a physical office, Tan said. A different leadership style may also be required, with the culture less top-down, and more grassroots, with juniors more able to carry out tasks and pursue ideas with light supervision.

"The point really is that the profession is at an inflection point," he said. "Questions about what lawyers do, and what law firms will look like, are fair game. And senior lawyers may not have all the answers."

Tan added that they will give young lawyers the space to lead and show who the "new Singapore lawyer" will be and what the "modern, invisible law firm" might look like.

"And in addressing the needs of the new Singapore lawyer, we shall be improving the lot of all lawyers, by inspiring a rethink of what it means to practice. By averting a Great Resignation, we may spark a great revival in the profession."