Lawyer Wellness

Only 36% of young legal professionals say work has positive impact on mental health, new survey finds

Half of surveyed male lawyers in larger law firms report that work has a positive effect on their mental health, but only 35% of female lawyers feel the same.

Oct 28, 2024 11:09 AM CDT

Hazed and abused, some lawyers see bullying as part of job while others leave, new study says

Bullying experienced by lawyers is causing increased turnover and “a talent drain from the profession,” according to a new Illinois survey and study thought “to be one of the first wide-scale research projects” of its kind in the United States.

Oct 2, 2024 12:03 PM CDT

Top factors that contribute to burnout among legal professionals

Ari Kaplan recently spoke with Bill Potter, the vice president of presales engineering at Nuix, a leading investigative analytics and intelligence software provider.

Sep 23, 2024 2:10 PM CDT

Disrupted sleep and anxiety plague more than half of surveyed lawyers

Disrupted sleep and anxiety lead the list of well-being challenges experienced by surveyed lawyers, according to a new survey report by Bloomberg Law.

Sep 23, 2024 12:17 PM CDT

Stressed and depressed, only 34% of young lawyers with highest student debt say JD was worth cost, new ABA survey says

High student debt is affecting the emotional well-being of young lawyers and affecting their life decisions, according to a 2024 survey by the ABA Young Lawyers Division released Monday.

Sep 9, 2024 1:18 PM CDT

These law firms are tops for midlevel associate satisfaction; how were their tech ratings?

BigLaw’s midlevel associates have spoken. The top law firm for midlevel associate satisfaction is O’Melveny & Myers, according to results from the American Lawyer’s 2024 Midlevel Associates Survey published by Law.com.

Sep 5, 2024 12:02 PM CDT

Disbarred lawyer Tom Girardi has smaller hippocampus than 98% of population, neurologist testifies

Updated: A neurology professor testified last week that disbarred lawyer Tom Girardi has such a small brain hippocampus that 98% of people likely have a larger one.

Aug 19, 2024 2:33 PM CDT

4 surprising signs of attorney stress and some ways to address it

The long hours and the pressure to succeed are like a pressure cooker just waiting to explode. And often, your body will start giving you signs that you have to help your mind. While you may recognize common signs of stress—tension headaches, fatigue and mood changes—there are other surprising signs of stress that your body may provide. Here are some to watch.

Jul 24, 2024 8:46 AM CDT

Fennemore aims to expand talent pool with new remote-work program

If you have at least 10 years of experience, a portable book of business worth at least $450,000 and a desire to work at home, Fennemore Craig may be looking for you.

Jul 11, 2024 12:38 PM CDT

Writing novels helps this employment lawyer avoid burnout

Brooke Tabshouri was a few years into her legal career when she experienced what she describes as “bad burnout.” She learned through therapy and mindfulness classes that she needed to do something creative when she wasn’t being a lawyer or caring for her two children.

Jul 9, 2024 9:42 AM CDT

A Few Good Friends: Loneliness can be a JAG’s toughest battle

It is not just the Police who find themselves “so lonely;” we too should find “no surprise, no mystery” in loneliness’s pervasiveness. Military lawyers, in particular, feel its unavoidable sting accentuated by the military attorney lifestyle. Together, let’s look at how to work past the inevitable to succeed where possible.

Jun 20, 2024 12:31 PM CDT

Retirement: The final frontier

I recently retired after practicing family law for 25 years. I enjoyed the practice of law, but as you can imagine, my job had its share of stress and anxiety.

Jun 13, 2024 8:30 AM CDT

Thinking about retirement? Lawyers give advice about money, goals and happiness

Lawyers can have meaningful and fulfilling lives after retirement. However, there are some important steps to take long before leaving a full-time legal career.

Jun 1, 2024 12:00 AM CDT

A BigLaw suicide survivor’s prescription for the legal profession’s mental health crisis

I was young, single, healthy, confident and “bulletproof” when I entered law school immediately after college in 1978. I did not have any personal experience with anyone suffering mental health challenges. Mental health education and services were the furthest things from my mind.

May 16, 2024 3:28 PM CDT

A letter to young women lawyers about ‘SADNESS’ in the law

My dear sister (in law), welcome to our profession of stress, anxiety, depression, negativity, endangerment, sickness and suicide (also known as "SADNESS"). In addition to the SADNESS, many of us carry secrets, scars and an insatiable longing for change. They all dishearten, discourage and divide us in devastating ways. Yet you can prepare for and overcome them.

May 8, 2024 2:15 PM CDT