I am a 2025 graduate who left a well paying in house job and have been working in a litigation chamber for the past 5-6 months. However, in just five months in the chamber, my chronic health condition has worsened to the extent that I am scared of not ever being able to properly work again. For context, even though this chamber pays well, I took a 60% paycut. I have an education loan to pay off as well.

I understand the value of litigation and have learnt a lot in just 5-6 months. However, the constant stress and the long working hours have really taken a toll on my health. If I continue here, I really fear for my medium and long term health. My senior, who is an expereinced AoR, likes my work and I will even get an increment soon.

To manage my health condition, I would need decent work-life balance, relatively less stress and plenty of rest. I am a decent enough worker and know that at the start of my career, I will have to hustle more. However, it has just become physically impossible. I am at a complete loss.

I wanted advice on how to move forward.

Should I try moving to a designated senior's office? I have heard that the work hours are slightly more relaxed there with good pay too.

Or should look for clerkships for a more structured work environment to fulfill 3 year's experience requirement for judiciary?

Or should I just look for an in house job?

I had really hated the in house job, where the work felt almost entirely tangential to legal work. I like litigation, but it really is very unstructured and stressful. I love doing research, however, I have never published anything.

I don't know how I will stick it out in hardcore litigation.