What state has the best work-life balance? New report explores
“It’s important that your lawyer treats you with respect, and that they appear able to confidently handle every stage of your journey,” said Jared Stern, founder of presettlement loan company Uplift Legal Funding. Image from Shutterstock.
New York, Massachusetts and Illinois are the top three states where aspiring lawyers will find the best work-life balance, according to a new report from presettlement loan company Uplift Legal Funding.
In its report, which targets law students who will graduate in the next academic year, Uplift Legal Funding assessed and ranked states based on several criteria, including job prospects, degree affordability, academic success, college life quality, cost of living and emotional health.
Law.com has coverage.
New York stood out as the top choice for law graduates because of “its rich job market, academic reputation and quality of college life,” Uplift Legal Funding said. The company noted that lawyers in the state typically earn about $188,900 annually.
Massachusetts and Illinois, as well as Virginia, also ranked among the top states for job prospects, degree affordability, academic success and college life quality.
Uplift Legal Funding determined after its research that Idaho, North Carolina, Mississippi, Michigan and Wyoming provide the worst environments for new lawyers.
Idaho performed low in job prospects and emotional health, which the company said results in poor work satisfaction and work-life balance. It added that the state offers an average starting salary of $96,810.
The other four states similarly lag behind in job prospects, as well as degree affordability, Uplift Legal Funding said.
Jared Stern, the company’s founder, emphasized to Law.com that poor work-life balance has a real effect on clients.
“It’s important that your lawyer treats you with respect, and that they appear able to confidently handle every stage of your journey,” Stern said. “Therefore, where possible, you may want to consider reaching out to a lawyer in a state that provokes the least stress in their day-to-day lives, as this will help their approachability.”
