b'18 Local Government LawyerReasons to becheerfulLawyers in local government are happier than most other professionals, according to this years survey. Derek Bedlow looks into why they are reporting record levels of satisfaction with their work and outlines areas where working conditions can still be improved.First, some good news. 85% of localTeaching and Learning InternationalFigure 1: Would you recommend local government lawyers would recommendSurvey), doctors (83%, Medscape.com UKgovernment law as a career?a career in local government law (FIG 1)Doctors Salary and Satisfaction Report and 83% would recommend their own2019), management accountants (76% of department as a place to work. AAT members) while 59% of social workers2019 85%15%The figures for local authority lawyersare planning to leave their jobs in the nextYesrepresent a significant improvement on18 months, according to research by BathNo2015 70%the scores they gave when the LegalSpa University (UK Social Workers: Working30%Department of the Future survey was lastConditions and Wellbeing) published in conducted in 2015. Then, the averageAugust last year.ratings for recommending your careerThey also do well compared to lawyers in and recommending your employer wereother parts of the profession, according to 70% and 72% respectively, still reasonablyresearch conducted last year by recruitment healthy but some way off this years figures. site CV-Library, which found that 50% of The proportion of local governmentlawyers were unhappy with their current lawyers who would recommend their careerjobs with the biggest gripes being feeling choice compares very favourably with otherundervalued(61%), not being in the role professions. According to the 2019 versionthey want (60%), being bored (41%) and of the Chartered Institute of Personnel andpoor company culture (40%).Developments (CIPD) Employee Outlook, just 69% of all workers were satisfied withThe benefits of being busytheir jobs. So why are local government lawyers Local government lawyers also expressapparently noticeably happier than higher levels of job satisfaction thanthey were four years ago? One answer teachers (69%, according to the OECDis that many are less concerned about'