Running through it

Running has physical health benefits which are outside the scope of this article. However, the “lawyer running bug” seems to be more about other things:

There is the freedom running gives the brain – the half an hour or more where you have an excuse not to analyse, not to evaluate and not to process information at speed.
There is the social aspect, where you can meet so many different kinds of people. This can allow you to decompress, with shared experiences.
There is the mental clarity you can achieve, from focusing on finishing a 5km run, or beating a time on your last run, or actually just pushing through a jog when you really don’t feel like it.
There is being outside and the escapism that brings.

Lately, I have had the chance to speak to different lawyers, ranging from in-house counsel, to public sector lawyers, to barristers, to trainee solicitors and paralegals. There is a recurring theme of fulfilment and enjoyment of working in the legal industry, but sometimes long hours and challenges along the way. Even where hours are manageable, the traditional 9 to 5 inevitably involves a juggle to balance work and life, whatever sector you are in.

Running, like other forms of physical exercise, can enhance work and help with the balance. Everyone has different stories and motivations with running. The LegalRunner network founded by Mark Evans, former Law Society President (soon to be LawCare CEO), is unique and inspiring. It is global and the LinkedIn group alone has over 2,000 members.

LegalRunner is great for meeting lawyers in other fields, offering different perspectives on anything from the use of AI in practice, through to juggling outside commitments and work, to the best locals’ restaurants in some European cities (haven’t managed to go to any yet, mind).

LegalRunner

LegalRunner website

Many lawyers seem to enjoy their roles, with dedication and a strong work ethic. The impression I have though is that what makes good lawyers can lead to stress and in some cases, burnout. Many of the best lawyers I know are unwaveringly professional, dedicated, hard-working, lucid, client focused, efficient and sometimes (they would say this) a little perfectionist. There can be little room for down time, when your sought-after personality traits, or the system itself, are geared not to allow it.

But organisations like LawCare and internal law firm initiatives on mental health and wellbeing seem to help with the balance.

Running like anything is not the answer clearly. But it certainly helps!

By Kate Kurtz, Senior Associate (Real Estate) RDP Law and regional contact for LegalRunner in Cardiff.

Article first published October 2026.