Do lawyers work on weekends? Many do, but it depends on their firm, workload, and clients. Learn why attorneys work weekends and how they manage their time.
Late nights. Early mornings. Weekend emails. If you’re a lawyer—or thinking about becoming one—you’ve probably wondered: Do lawyers really work weekends?
The short answer? Yes, many lawyers work on weekends, but it depends on their practice area, firm size, and workload.
Some lawyers routinely clock weekend hours, while others set strict boundaries. Client demands, court deadlines, and billable hour requirements often make weekend work unavoidable.
But does it have to be that way? Let’s break down why lawyers work weekends, who works the most, and how you can manage your time, client expectations, and workload without burning out.
Why Do Lawyers Work on Weekends?
Weekend work is often a necessity. Many attorneys work outside the typical Monday-to-Friday schedule, from solo practitioners to Big Law associates. Here are the main reasons why:
1. Client Demands Don’t Follow Business Hours
Corporate clients, criminal cases, and urgent filings can arise at any time. Lawyers—especially those in high-stakes practice areas—often need to be available when their clients need them.
2. Court Deadlines and Filing Requirements
Courts don’t accept “I’ll do it on Monday” as an excuse. Deadlines drive the legal profession, and missing one can mean serious consequences. This means weekend work is often necessary for last-minute filings, trial prep, and case strategy meetings.
3. Billable Hour Pressures
Attorney’s paychecks depend on billable hours—and hitting 1,800 to 2,200 billable hours per year often means working nights and weekends. Big Law firms, in particular, expect attorneys to put in the extra time.
4. Unpredictable Transcription Workloads
A lawyer’s caseload can fluctuate wildly; some weeks are heavier than others. When trials, depositions, or client negotiations ramp up, lawyers work overtime—including weekends—to keep up with all of the documentation.
Who Works Weekends? Big Law vs. Small Firms vs. Solo Practitioners
Your practice area, firm size, and experience level determine how often weekends become workdays. While some attorneys are always on call, others set firm boundaries—let’s break it down.
Big Law Firms: Expect Weekend Hours
If you work in Big Law, weekend work is almost a given. Large firms handle high-profile corporate deals, major litigation, and complex financial transactions—and clients expect 24/7 availability. Associates are often expected to put in 60–80 hours a week.
Small and Mid-Sized Firms: More Flexibility
Lawyers at smaller firms still work long hours but often have more control over their schedules. They may still work weekends, especially during busy cases, but the pressure isn’t as relentless as in Big Law.
Solo Practitioners: Work Anytime, Anywhere
For solo lawyers, weekend work is common—but on their own terms. Running a solo practice means handling client work, marketing, billing, and admin tasks alone. Many use weekends to catch up, though they also have more freedom to set their own hours.
7 Factors Influencing Lawyer Hours
Most lawyers work well beyond the standard 40-hour workweek. Lawyers work an average of 49.6 hours per week—and many exceed 60 hours when caseloads are high.
#1. Practice Area: Some Legal Specialties Demand More Time
The type of law you practice significantly impacts your hours. Some areas of law require long nights, urgent filings, and weekend availability, while others offer more structured schedules.
- Corporate Lawyers—Frequently work weekends to meet contract deadlines, negotiate deals, and handle mergers and acquisitions. Clients often expect around-the-clock availability for high-stakes transactions.
- Litigation Attorneys—Trial lawyers spend weekends preparing cases, drafting motions, and reviewing evidence—especially when trial dates are looming. Court-imposed deadlines mean weekend work is unavoidable.
- Criminal Defense Lawyers—Clients facing criminal charges need immediate legal assistance, which doesn’t always fall within business hours. Weekend court appearances, emergency filings, and urgent client consultations are common.
- Family Law & Immigration Attorneys—These lawyers often work weekends to accommodate client schedules and last-minute case developments.
- Government and in-house Counsel—These lawyers generally enjoy more predictable schedules, with most working Monday through Friday during business hours and fewer weekend demands.
#2. Career Stage: New Lawyers Work Longer Hours
Your experience level and position within a firm can significantly impact your work schedule.
- Junior Associates—Often put in the most hours, including weekends, to meet billable hour requirements and firm expectations. New lawyers work extra hard to establish themselves.
- Senior Attorneys & Partners—Have more control over their schedules but still work long hours. Partners must manage cases, oversee associates, and bring in new clients—often extending work into the weekend.
- Established Solo Attorneys—Experienced solo practitioners with a steady client base may have more flexibility to set their own hours and avoid weekend work.
#3. Client Expectations: Some Lawyers Must Be On-Call
For lawyers working in criminal defense, personal injury, or corporate law, client needs don’t always fit within a Monday–Friday schedule. High-profile clients, businesses with international operations, or urgent legal matters often require weekend availability.
- Corporate lawyers handling international clients may have to work weekends due to time zone differences.
- Litigators preparing for a Monday morning trial might spend their entire weekend reviewing evidence and drafting arguments.
- Personal injury and family law attorneys may need to handle last-minute client emergencies on weekends.
#4. Billable Hour Requirements: More Hours = More Pay
Many law firms use billable hours to determine salary and career progression. To hit 1,800+ billable hours per year, most attorneys work far more than 40 hours per week—often spilling into weekends.
- For every billable hour, lawyers spend extra time on non-billable work like research, admin tasks, and client communication.
- Those who don’t meet billable targets risk losing bonuses, promotions, or even their jobs.
#5. Workload & Case Complexity: Some Cases Require More Time
The complexity of a lawyer’s caseload influences how much time they need to spend working.
- A straightforward contract review might only take a few hours.
- A high-profile criminal defense case could mean weeks of late nights and weekend strategy meetings.
- Class-action lawsuits, federal cases, and multi-million-dollar deals require extensive preparation and long hours.
#6. Personal Work Habits & Career Goals
Some lawyers push themselves harder to build their reputation, gain experience, and move up the ranks. Others set firm boundaries to maintain a better work-life balance.
- Ambitious associates work weekends to fast-track promotions.
- Lawyers prioritizing family life limit weekend availability.
- Partners and senior attorneys choose when and how much they work.
Burnout and Mental Health Concerns
Working weekends can significantly impact lawyers’ mental health. Long hours, constant stress, and lack of downtime contribute to high burnout rates. Attorneys reported feeling burnt out approximately 52% of the time in 2021, marking the highest level since the survey began in 2020.
This trend has continued, with a 2024 survey indicating that 55% of lawyers experience anxiety, 56% suffer from disrupted sleep, and 44% report low energy and concentration.
The consequences of burnout extend beyond individual well-being. Lawyers facing burnout often experience decreased productivity, increased errors, and strained personal relationships.
Notably, burnout rates are higher among female lawyers (86%) compared to their male counterparts (70%), and among caregivers (82%) versus non-caregivers (74%). Additionally, younger lawyers aged 25 to 34 report feeling burnt out 58% of the time, more than older age groups.
How to Manage Weekend Work as a Lawyer
Achieving a healthy work-life balance is challenging in the legal profession but a must for long-term success and personal well-being. Implementing effective strategies can help manage workload and reduce stress.
1. Work Smarter, Not Longer
Long hours don’t always mean higher productivity. Use strategic time management to get more done during the week.
- Time-block your schedule—set strict working and non-working hours.
- Delegate non-billable tasks—use assistants or paralegals to handle admin work.
- Use legal transcription services—cut down the time spent drafting documents.
2. Prioritize Tasks
Effective time management involves focusing on high-priority tasks first, ensuring critical deadlines are met without compromising work quality.
3. Communicating Boundaries with Clients
Clients may expect 24/7 access, but that doesn’t mean you have to be available at all times. Set clear communication policies, like:
- Emergency-only weekend calls.
- Auto-replies for after-hours emails.
- Scheduled weekend availability for urgent cases only.
4. Automate and Outsource Tasks
Repetitive administrative work can eat into your weekends. Automate or outsource non-essential tasks to lighten your workload.
- Use legal transcription services to eliminate hours of typing.
- Leverage case management software to streamline administrative work.
- Outsource research or document review to free up your weekends.
5. Schedule Personal Time
If it’s not on your calendar, it’s not getting done. Blocking out personal time in your calendar helps guarantee you maintain a fulfilling personal life alongside professional responsibilities. Get those family BBQs and kids’ baseball games back on your calendar.
Tips for Communicating Boundaries with Clients
If you set firm but professional boundaries with clients, you’ll gain more control over your schedule—leading to fewer weekend interruptions and a better work-life balance.
● Set Clear Expectations Early
From the first client meeting, define your availability and working hours.
- Tell clients upfront when you will and won’t respond to emails or calls.
- Include response time policies in retainer agreements (e.g., “Non-urgent emails will be answered within 24 hours.”).
- Use an email auto-responder for after-hours messages to reinforce these expectations.
● Establish Emergency-Only Weekend Contact
Some legal matters require urgent attention, but not everything is an emergency.
- Create a weekend policy for emergencies only.
- Have a dedicated emergency contact method, such as a separate phone line or specific email subject tags.
- Charge premium rates for weekend consultations to discourage unnecessary requests.
● Batch Client Communications
Instead of responding to emails and calls throughout the day, set specific times for client communication.
- Check emails twice a day rather than constantly interrupting work.
- Schedule non-urgent client calls during weekday hours.
● Offer Self-Service Options
Many routine client questions can be answered without a direct conversation.
- Create an FAQ document for common legal questions.
- Use secure client portals for document sharing and case updates.
How SpeakWrite Helps Lawyers Reduce Weekend Work
If paperwork and case documentation are eating up your weekends, SpeakWrite can help.
1. Faster Legal Transcriptions
Dictate your case notes, depositions, or client meetings and get accurate, human-powered transcriptions in about three hours—no need to spend your weekend typing.
2. Reduce Admin Work & Free Up Time
Legal transcription helps cut down on tedious document preparation, letting you focus on case strategy instead of paperwork.
3. Work-Life Balance Without Sacrificing Productivity
By automating time-consuming documentation, you can spend less time working on weekends and more time recharging.
Do Lawyers Work Weekends: Frequently Asked Questions
How often do lawyers work weekends?
Many lawyers regularly work weekends, especially in high-demand practice areas like litigation, corporate law, and criminal defense. Big Law associates often work weekends to meet billable hour targets, while solo practitioners use weekends to handle administrative tasks. However, some lawyers set boundaries and limit weekend work to emergencies.
How many days of the week does a lawyer work?
Most lawyers work five to six days a week, but the workload varies by firm size and practice area. Big Law and trial lawyers may work seven days a week during high-pressure cases, while government and in-house attorneys typically maintain a Monday–Friday schedule.
Do lawyers have days off?
Yes, lawyers do take days off, but the timing depends on their workload and firm expectations. Litigators and corporate lawyers may work long stretches without a break, especially during trials or deal negotiations. However, many lawyers schedule vacation time and personal days to manage work-life balance.
Do lawyers charge more on weekends?
Some lawyers charge higher rates for weekend consultations, particularly in urgent cases like criminal defense or emergency legal filings. However, many attorneys bill at the same hourly rate regardless of the day unless a client requires after-hours or expedited services.
Take Back Your Weekends with Fast Legal Transcription
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