In a survey of new attorneys commissioned by the New Jersey State Bar Association (NJSBA), most said they are satisfied with their career choice, but half cited lifestyle issues, such as stress, work/family balance and a sense of not being fairly compensated, as the most significant issues facing them.
The NJSBA engaged Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll, an independent, university-based research organization, to conduct a study of attorneys in practice for five years or less, to gauge their participation in the organized bar, the issues facing them and what bar associations can do to assist them.
“Their concerns are our concerns. As New Jersey’s largest membership organization for legal professionals, the NJSBA is dedicated, through advocacy, resources and programs, to helping new attorneys as they launch their careers,” NJSBA President Kimberly A. Yonta said.
“The NJSBA new attorney survey affirmed what we know through our many interactions with dedicated young attorneys throughout New Jersey—the majority joined the legal profession to help people,” she added.
A plurality (47%) of the respondents indicated the main reason they became a lawyer was to help others or to be an advocate. One respondent wrote, “I wanted to help correct and prevent the injustices that I both experienced and saw others go through when I was growing up. I also love reading, writing, public speaking and debating. So, it seemed like a perfect fit.”
Another cited a popular novel as a reason for becoming a lawyer. “I read To Kill a Mockingbird when I was nine years old and wanted to be part of what seemed to me to be important and noble work,” the respondent noted.
The second most-popular response (16%) to why the respondents became lawyers was because they wanted a good and/or high-paying job, which some cited as an opportunity to help their family.
“Becoming a lawyer marked a change in my family dynamics. I was a first-generation college student who loved public speaking and I saw the opportunity to become a lawyer as an opportunity to use that gift and as a steppingstone to better income potential,” a respondent wrote.
The top three issues the new attorneys said they face were high stress (50%), balancing family and work (45%), and income below expectations (41%). Only two-thirds (68%) said they can balance family and work, and only slightly more than half (54%) believe they are fairly compensated.
Time management (29%), too many hours worked (19%) and lack of employment opportunities (17%) were the next most frequently cited issues they face.
Although it was not cited as a primary stressor, 70% said they have outstanding loans. Of those, 19% have loans ranging from $150,000–$200,000, while 35% have loans greater than $200,000.
The new attorneys reported the majority (58%) work 50 hours or more per week. Another 29% said they spend between 40–49 hours at work.
The NJSBA Young Lawyers Division is working to respond to the needs of new attorneys, said Emily Kelchen, its chair. Recent YLD programming has included hosting free lunch-and-learn programs, low-cost virtual social events, and providing young attorneys with speaking opportunities. The YLD also launched a philanthropy committee this year, which hosted a blood drive.
“This year, we’ve designed more programs specifically tailored to young attorneys because our interests and needs are different from those of previous generations. This has been a particularly challenging year, so YLD is making an effort to make sure young attorneys know that this association is your advocate," she said.
The demographics of the new attorneys in the survey are 54% female and 45% male and predominantly white (72%), followed by African American (8%), Hispanic (5%) and Asian American (5%). There was no significant difference between NJSBA member and non-member responses.
More than 500 NJSBA member and non-member attorneys completed the study, which was conducted before the pandemic. The survey sample has a margin of error of approximately +/-4.4 percentage points, with findings of a 95% confidence level. n