İnvestigation of lawyers' job satisfaction, occupational burnout and perceived stress levels according to demographic characteristics and occupational variables : 2024 Istanbul sample

Legal practice, marked by high workloads, substantial responsibilities, and intricate legal processes, can significantly impact lawyers' psychosocial well-being. This study examines the levels of job satisfaction, occupational burnout, and perceived stress among lawyers in Istanbul, considering demographic and professional variables such as gender, age, marital status, parenthood, years of experience, case type, and income level. The research was conducted using a relational screening model and a quantitative design. A total of 390 lawyers participated through purposive and snowball sampling methods. Data were collected online via Google Forms, utilizing the Demographic Information Form, Job Satisfaction Scale, Short Form of the Burnout Scale, and Perceived Stress Scale. SPSS 27 was employed for data analysis, utilizing ANOVA, independent samples t-test, Pearson correlation, and regression analyses. The results indicated that participants reported moderate levels of job satisfaction and perceived stress, while experiencing high levels of burnout. Lawyers with sufficient income reported significantly higher job satisfaction, while younger, female, childless, and low-income lawyers exhibited higher levels of burnout and stress. Correlation analyses revealed negative relationships between age/professional experience and stress/burnout, a moderate negative correlation between stress and job satisfaction, a strong positive correlation between stress and burnout, and a significant negative correlation between burnout and job satisfaction. Regression analyses showed that income level positively predicted job satisfaction, while gender and income level predicted burnout, and gender, age, and income level were significant predictors of perceived stress. Overall, the findings suggest that various demographic and professional factors influence lawyers' psychosocial states, with younger, female, and economically disadvantaged lawyers being particularly vulnerable to occupational risk.