UK Lawyers Expect Little Break This Holiday Season
Most lawyers expect no break between Christmas and New Year and say they will be checking email constantly on the days they are off.
December 23, 2019 at 04:49 AM
4 minute read
London's lawyers expect little respite this Christmas, with half expecting no holiday and the majority expecting to check emails constantly during the days they are off.
Seven in 10 lawyers expect to work during the period between Christmas and New Year, according to a survey carried out by Law.com's Legal Week into the industry's working habits over the holidays. Only 9% said they would "definitely not" be working during that time.
The majority of them also expect it to be as busy if not busier than the same period last year.
In addition, almost two thirds of the 70 Big Question survey respondents said they would be checking their email at least every few hours.
One survey respondent said: "Clients expect full attention over the Christmas period, especially by those who do not celebrate it. If you do not want to do it, one or more of our competitors will gladly do so."
"Clients expect full attention over the Christmas period. If you do not want to do it, one or more of our competitors will gladly do so."
One respondent pointed to the prevalence of technology and the ability to work from home as making it easier for clients to contact them over the holiday season.
"I am effectively 'on call' over Christmas, and if clients need stuff done over that period so be it. It is much easier than it used to be thanks to smartphones and home working set-up, although at the same time the same devices make us much more contactable and many clients are not 'shy' to call or email for help when they know you are off," they said.
"Devices make us much more contactable and many clients are not 'shy' to call or email for help when they know you are off"
Only one respondent said they did not expect to check their emails at all while on holiday.
One more senior respondent pointed out that just because the technology is available, does not mean it necessarily has to be used.
"Rightly or wrongly I have found that as I have become more 'experienced', i.e. become older, I can all too easily disconnect myself from office and e mails," they said. "I think that while there is a balance to be drawn between losing hunger and becoming more measured that the longer one is in the job the more one is able to recognise and manage actual as against perceived urgency."
However, for those who are working, three out of four expect to work reduced hours of five hours or less per day. Just 16% of respondents said they expect to work eight hours or more per day.
One lawyer surveyed said the political uncertainty of recent months and the prospect of a Jeremy Corbyn-led government had been "threatening to hijack our Christmas break."
"With a huge Tory majority, tax and private client lawyers can relax. High net worth clients can now happily jet off to their favourite holiday spots, with a return rather than one-way ticket," they added.
"I really thought that my efforts would be appreciated… This year, I have no intention of being such a mug again!"
Even so, one unimpressed lawyer was firm in their assertion they would not be working during the period, as they recounted a tale of caution from 2018.
"Last year I worked through Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and the day after, with no support, on an emergency matter of utmost importance. It left me completely exhausted but, in my innocence, I really thought that my efforts would be appreciated.
"The reality was that I received no credit for this from my firm and it took months before my client paid my very reasonable bill. As a result of this, I got endless kickings from a director in the business. This year, I have no intention of being such a mug again!"
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