A Law Society of Singapore-commissioned study uncovers bullying, excessive workloads, and toxic workplace culture as primary reasons lawyers leave the profession, prompting calls for structural reforms and joint initiatives between the judiciary and legal community.
A comprehensive study commissioned by the Law Society of Singapore (LawSoc) has revealed systemic issues within the legal profession, including widespread bullying, unreasonable workloads, and a lack of work-life balance that intrudes into personal lives.
The Legal Profession Sustainability Study, released on June 23, surveyed 855 practicing and former lawyers and conducted 31 in-depth interviews with members of the legal community, including former judges, senior practitioners, junior lawyers, and those who had left the profession. The findings indicate that law schools have not adequately prepared students for the realities of legal practice, with multiple lawyers reporting that they were "scolded, ridiculed, or publicly humiliated" by judicial officers over inflexible court timelines.
The four-year research, conducted by Anthro Insights, underscores that attrition from the profession is not due to individual failings but stems from structural and cultural conditions that may have persisted for decades. Workplace culture and its impact on mental health emerged as the strongest factors driving lawyers to leave private practice and, in some cases, the legal field entirely. Current interventions are seen as insufficient because they address symptoms rather than underlying causes of harm.
The study adds to longstanding concerns previously voiced by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, who warned in 2022 that young lawyers face a "perfect storm" of record-high departures and record-low entrants, and by Minister for Law Edwin Tong, who acknowledged in parliament the multifaceted reasons for lawyer departures. In response, the Ministry of Law (MinLaw) emphasized that the findings should be taken seriously and considered carefully, describing Singapore's legal talent as a "precious asset" and calling for an open conversation about balancing industry demands, professional development, individual wellbeing, and long-term sustainability.
Chief Justice Menon reiterated that an effective justice system depends on mutual respect, collaboration, and a shared commitment to sustainability between the Bench and the Bar, stating that courtrooms must remain places of dignity, professionalism, and respect, with all judges and judicial officers held to strict conduct standards. A judiciary spokesperson affirmed that the study's identification of multiple stress and attrition drivers requires action across the legal ecosystem, noting that a resilient legal profession is essential to the administration of justice while maintaining rigorous public standards.
To address issues within the courts' purview, a Judiciary-Law Society Joint Working Committee will be formed, led by Supreme Court chief executive Juthika Ramanathan and Registrar Jill Tan for the judiciary, and by LawSoc's Young Lawyers Committee co-chairpersons Charmaine Yap and Darryl Chew, along with Senior Counsel Lok Vi Ming, among others. Concurrently, LawSoc has established a Task Force on the Fulfilment and Sustainability of Younger Lawyers, also chaired by Yap and Chew, to examine the study's implications and formulate recommendations.
MinLaw welcomed these immediate steps and affirmed its ongoing commitment to engaging with the legal sector through bodies like the Future of the Legal Profession Committee, established in December 2025, to strengthen and sustain Singapore's legal sector for the long term
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