So far in our mini-series on the generation gap, we've looked at WFH, and then we moved on to how communication challenges can affect client dealings and staff retention. This week we turn to mental health, a topic which exemplifies the generational gap better than any other.  Except we prefer the term "working wellness." Stick with us and you'll see why.

Periodically a tragic event will shine a spotlight on the mental health crisis in our industry. A genuine sense of shock permeates the profession. We all agree that we can't go on this way. But nothing changes.

Wellness retreats, group yoga and meditation classes are all well-intended initiatives, but they only address the symptoms. What is the root cause? It's something very close to our hearts at Lean Adviser, it's the work itself and the working day. Time was when partners would tell associates "if you don't come in on Saturday, don't come in on Monday". There's less of that now, but the work itself is still the problem.

How so? It's like we've always said, lawyers are taught what the law is, not how to practice it. That piece comes from trial, error and mentoring, all of which can be patchy at best. All the while, the workload is often unstructured, unplanned, inefficient and in a vacuum — precisely the ills which Lean Adviser can address.

Do that, day-after-day, year-after-year, under relentless billing pressure, and it'll challenge your health — both mental and physical. Some of us have an easier ride, of course, and others have more resilience, but there's no doubt: no one gets out unscathed.

The work itself is at the root of the problem, and it doesn't have to be this way. The daily tasks of being a lawyer can be structured, planned, efficient and effective. This is what we mean by our preferred term "working wellness" because it includes the "working" element to the mental health picture.

Law firm leaders come from a generation before working wellness was a thing, and this affects their prism. Some even look down upon those who incorporate wellness into an attorney's journey, but how many have burnt out — or even worse, suffered serious health issues — due to the stress of being overworked and not feeling like they had an outlet to express it or receive assistance? Young associates view the world quite differently. They cherish their mental and physical health; they try to eat healthy, they go to the gym, and they look after their work-life balance.

Where does this divergence of attitudes end? Countless talented attorneys are lost to the profession because they choose another path due to mental health issues associated with law firm and corporate counsel work. But if the generation gap can be closed, even by just a little bit, these talented lawyers can stay and become valuable assets.