Are lawyers emotional wrecks?
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Asks this WSJ law blog post.
“Depression, stress, career issues and addictions . . . we understand what it’s like to face personal problems within the profession.” That’s the caption on an advertisement run by a Beantown-based organization called Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL). LCL was founded nearly 30 years ago mostly as a support group for lawyers with drinking problems. But over the years, as the stress level of practicing law has spiked, lawyers seek its services for different reasons.
Today, attorneys contact LCL mainly for help battling depression. According to the Globe, the shift mirrors reinforces studies showing that lawyers are more depressed than those in any other occupation. Work life, especially at big firms, can be emotionally draining. “Intense deadlines, staggering billable-hour requirements, and grinding hours are routine. Even veteran lawyers often find themselves disillusioned by the increasingly business-like practice of law.”
Other issues reportedly contribute to the practice’s toll. The conflict-driven nature of the profession plays a role. And the personality type frequently drawn to the law — perfectionist, high-achieving — is particularly vulnerable to becoming depressed, the article says.
The post then invites comments and boy, comments there are! We lawyers sure do love to talk. 86 comments as of the time of writing this post. Some of them are extremely entertaining; some sensible. So. Are you an emotional wreck? Are you?
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If you can’t handle the stress, raise alpacas.
Actually…I know someone who did start raising alpacas after “retiring” from the practice of law. Hmmm. Is that a common thing?
There was an ad, if I recall correctly, in some lawyer mag for an “alpaca starter kit” some years ago.
That makes sense. I know a practicing lawyer with alpacas and the “retired” lawyer with alpacas. In fact, I was invited to an “alpaca shearing party.” I declined.