The state of employee benefits in UK law

Law firm benefits weren’t built for today’s workforce. Associates are leaving in record numbers due to issues like poor work life balance and inadequate mental health support - which won't be fixed by another wellbeing app or pizza Fridays.

That's why we created our 2026 Legal Benefits Report. Using law firm employee data and 49,314 Heka benefits interactions, we're showing you what’s broken and how to fix it.

What you’ll learn in the 2026 report:

Attrition is surging: 16-17% of associates left law in 2025, costing £790k per departure and £15bn in wasted benefits.
Benefits are out of step: Stereotype-led benefits are driving exits.
Junior needs are misunderstood: 49,314 benefits interactions show priorities that firms miss, and a trust gap between employers and employees‍
Burnout hits revenue: Poor health reduces billable hours; but firms who onboard Heka see ~81% usage and examples of zero stress-related sick days.
‍2026 focus and fixes: Heka solves your retention problems, offering support for preventative mental and physical health and providing AI-driven personalisation, better visibility, and stronger benefits engagement.