Blogs

NJLAP On Lawyer Happiness

By NJSBA Staff posted 07-08-2020 10:35 AM

  
The following is written by Noreen Braman, Communications & Technology Manager for the New Jersey Lawyers Assistance Program, and was published as part of NJLAP's Lawyer Well-Being Newsletter. To have the newsletter come directly to your in-box, request to subscribe by emailing [email protected]

Definition of happiness:
1a : a state of well-being and contentment : joy


CNBC article published on August 16, 2019 named three top things to be avoided in order to be happy.
They are:
  • Don’t retire early
  • Don’t own a home
  • Don’t be a lawyer
The article cites a Johns Hopkins study from 1990, as well as the 2016 ABA lawyer well-being study – both of which talk about depression. The 2016 study also looks at substance abuse levels in attorneys. The article does not, however, cite any study of lawyer happiness, per se, or rank or compare lawyers to other professions with members that struggle with depression. So, let’s not jump to the conclusion that being a lawyer is synonymous with being unhappy.

However, “happiness” is an important component of Lawyer Well-Being, creating a kind of chicken and egg dilemma:
Are lawyers happy because they have well-being, or do lawyers have well-being because they are happy?
The answer is, yes, and yes.

For self-guided well-being education, a good starting point is with The Path to Well-Being: Practical Recommendations for Positive Change and the Lawyer Well-Being Toolkit, both produced by the ABA in response to the 2016 Study. Both are available on NJLAP's website at: http://www.njlap.org/NJLAP-Home/Lawyer-Studies

Another study, from 2015, is What Makes Lawyers Happy? A Data driven Prescription to Redefine Professional Success.”
 
Below is also a list of shorter articles presenting lots of perspectives and suggestions. By no means are you expected to tackle every modality, read every book, or embrace every suggested lifestyle change. Look for something that speaks to you.
 
And, as always, your Lawyers Assistance Program is here to help you achieve and maintain well-being, at www.NJLAP.org, or 800-246-5527.

Remember, no matter what the problem, you need not manage alone.
 
Some more reading on Lawyers and Happiness

https://www.lclma.org/2020/01/03/happiness-basics-for-lawyers-law-students-positive-psychology-values-self-care-and-more/

https://attorneyatlawmagazine.com/becoming-happy-lawyer
 
https://www.law.com/americanlawyer/2020/03/10/for-women-lawyers-marriage-sucks/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauladavislaack/2017/12/19/what-makes-lawyers-happy-its-not-what-you-think/#6897e01517e5
 
https://www.rocketmatter.com/attorney-wellness/commandments-for-lawyers-how-to-make-2019-your-happiest-year-yet/
 
https://news.gsu.edu/2018/02/02/what-makes-lawyers-happy/
 
https://www.lextalk.com/b/lextalk_blog/archive/2017/05/22/women-lawyers-is-your-happiness-negotiable.aspx

 

Permalink