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By the Juris Education Interview Team
Dr. Peter Horvath serves as a Legal Well-Being Consultant at Lawyer Mind Care.
Mental health support is especially important in the legal profession because lawyers often carry the weight of their clients’ most personal and high-stakes matters. Clients expect not only legal expertise but also confidence, stability, and clarity. This creates a great deal of pressure on legal professionals to always perform at their best, often without room for error. In order to offer the kind of sharp, reliable support their clients need, lawyers themselves must be mentally well — focused, resilient, and emotionally balanced. Without that, the risk of burnout, mistakes, or losing the joy in their work becomes much higher.
From my own experience working with law students, the most common concerns they raise are about their future: whether they’ll succeed in the field, how to manage the intense workload, and how to meet the expectations of their families or professors. Many of them are high-achieving but struggle with imposter syndrome or fear of not being "enough."
Early-career lawyers, on the other hand, often seek support in areas related to adjustment — how to find their place in a team, how to handle their first cases, and how to build confidence in their new role. Together, we often go through real-life cases they’re working on and try to identify the sources of stress or uncertainty. From there, we work on strategies to manage those challenges, so they can move forward feeling more secure and capable.
In my practice, I offer tailored mental health support to law students and young professionals who are navigating the specific pressures of legal education and early career challenges. One of the ways I try to make this support more accessible is by offering a 50% discount for students. I understand that financial constraints can often be a barrier to seeking help, so this is my way of encouraging students to prioritize their mental well-being without added stress.
Beyond one-on-one sessions, I also help students with topics such as managing academic pressure, building self-confidence, dealing with uncertainty about the future, and setting healthy boundaries in high-performance environments. The goal is to create a space where they feel understood, supported, and better equipped to handle the demands of their studies and future profession.
Law schools have a crucial role to play in supporting students' mental health. If they’re unable to offer individual counseling sessions due to limited resources, they should at least provide regular group sessions or workshops focused on mental well-being. These group settings can create a sense of community, reduce feelings of isolation, and give students practical tools to manage stress, anxiety, and performance pressure.
Personally, I find it deeply unfortunate that mental health in the legal field was stigmatized and overlooked for so many years. That silence has caused real harm. I’m genuinely glad that the conversation is finally starting to change, but I believe it needs to start much earlier — at the university level. Law schools shouldn’t just focus on academic excellence; they should also foster healthier, more sustainable environments where students learn to care for themselves as much as they care about their careers.
There are several sustainable practices I always recommend to law students and future lawyers to help them manage stress, avoid burnout, and maintain a healthier work-life balance — not just in school, but throughout their careers.
First, create structure. The legal world thrives on deadlines and pressure, so having a clear daily or weekly routine helps reduce decision fatigue and keeps stress from piling up. Time-blocking, including for rest and personal time, is incredibly effective.
Second, learn to set boundaries early. That includes knowing when to say no, not answering emails at midnight (unless absolutely necessary), and protecting your time outside of work or study. Boundaries aren’t selfish — they’re essential for long-term success.
Third, I encourage students to build emotional awareness. This means recognizing when stress is creeping in, understanding your personal limits, and taking action before burnout hits. Journaling, mindfulness, or regular check-ins with a therapist or coach can really help here.
Fourth, stay connected. Law can be a competitive and isolating field. Having a support network — whether it’s friends, mentors, or peer groups — makes a big difference. Talk about what you’re going through; chances are others feel the same.
Finally, redefine what productivity means. Rest, sleep, and hobbies are not a luxury — they’re part of a sustainable system that lets you function at your best. We don’t need more exhausted lawyers; we need lawyers who are sharp, grounded, and human.
These are all areas I focus on in my work with clients, because the earlier you develop these habits, the more resilient and confident you'll be in your legal career.
Juris Education is proud to feature insights from leaders like Dr. Peter Horvath, to help pre-law students better understand how to care for their mental health throughout the demanding journey to law school. You can work with an expert at Juris for end-to-end application support to simplify your admissions journey and maximize your chances of acceptance.
