The Unsustainable Pace of Success
This Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s time to shine a light on the mental wellbeing of those who keep the engine running but are rarely asked, “Are you okay?”
Mental Health Matters: A Wake-Up Call for Marketing & BD Specialists across the Legal & Professional Services sector
In the high-pressure world of legal and professional services, marketing and business development (BD) teams often operate behind the scenes—driving growth, managing brand reputation, delivering pitches at speed, and juggling internal expectations with client demands. It's a role that requires stamina, creativity, diplomacy, and relentless attention to detail. But at what cost?
This Mental Health Awareness Week, it’s time to shine a light on the mental wellbeing of those who keep the engine running but are rarely asked, “Are you okay?”
The Hidden Strain of "Always On"
Unlike fee earners, BD and marketing professionals in Law & wider Professional Services firms don’t track their time by the hour, but that doesn’t mean they’re not working long days—and nights. Events, tenders, partner demands, urgent brand crises, or a last-minute pitch can make the line between personal and professional blur quickly.
Many report feeling like they must be "always available," especially in firms with global offices or high-growth targets. The pressure to demonstrate ROI in a way that’s meaningful to a partnership—while supporting multiple partners with differing priorities—creates a perfect storm for burnout.
This week, and every week, let’s ask the real questions:
- What does support look like?
- Are firms doing enough?
- And how can we all be better—for our people, and for the future of our firms?
Mental health isn’t a soft issue—it’s a business-critical one.
