Burnout and Emotional Labour among Junior Lawyers in Kerala

This research examines the connection between burnout and emotional labour among junior lawyers in Kerala, emphasizing gender differences as a possible moderating variable. Burnout, which includes emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal achievement, is common in high-pressure fields like law. Emotional labour, which involves the management and regulation of emotions to fulfil professional standards, is believed to play a significant role in the burnout experienced by this group. A cross-sectional design and snowball sampling method were employed to gather data from 150 junior lawyers aged 25 to 40, ensuring equal representation of both genders. Spearman’s correlation analysis demonstrated significant positive relationships between emotional labour and all aspects of burnout. Further regression analyses indicated that emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment were significant predictors of emotional labour levels. Notably, independent samples t-tests revealed no significant differences in burnout or emotional labour between genders, suggesting that these experiences are not inherently influenced by gender within the legal field. These results highlight the necessity for workplace interventions, such as training in emotional resilience and the development of emotional intelligence, to assist junior lawyers and mitigate burnout. Future studies should explore additional moderating factors, including the work environment and individual coping mechanisms, to enhance understanding of the varied experiences of emotional labour and burnout in legal contexts.