Lawyer Wellness

10 Questions: This single mother of 5 overcame a lifetime of obstacles to become a lawyer

This past October, with the help of her family, friends and church, Ieshia Champs became a statistic once again. She was among the 77.87 percent of first-time test takers who passed the July 2018 Texas bar exam. In December, she accepted a position as an assistant county attorney with the Harris County Attorney’s Office, where she’ll be working in the Children’s Protection division.

Jan 1, 2019 2:50 AM CST

Working toward well-being: Tools help lawyers and legal employers deal with substance-abuse disorder

The Well-Being Pledge Campaign asks legal employers to commit to offering resources and confidentiality to help lawyers with substance use disorders and mental health issues. It also developed the Well-Being Toolkit for Lawyers and Legal Employers, an 8-step action plan.

Jan 1, 2019 1:10 AM CST

O’Melveny will use online games to evaluate potential summer associates

O’Melveny & Myers will be evaluating potential summer associates through online games that measure traits such as effort, attention, planning, memory and flexibility. O’Melveny is using the games developed by neuroscientists at a company called Pymetrics, according to a press release and an American Lawyer article. O’Melveny is building its…

Nov 21, 2018 7:30 AM CST

A call to deal with impostor syndrome, a hidden source of attorney distress

It’s my third time reading Joanna Litt’s brave piece in the American Lawyer about the death by suicide of her beloved husband and accomplished lawyer Gabe MacConaill, and I’m still stumbling through it in tears. As she describes the pressures Gabe experienced as an attorney, I lose my breath because…

Nov 20, 2018 12:45 PM CST

Lawyers on balancing motherhood or choosing a child-free life

Motherhood is more demanding than ever. Parents spend more time and money on child care. They feel more pressure to breastfeed, to do enriching activities with their children, and to provide close supervision. And women underestimate the costs of motherhood. This was the recent finding reported in a New York…

Nov 1, 2018 1:25 AM CDT

As some employers offer ‘pawternity leave,’ Susman Godfrey joins the pack

Susman Godfrey sees no reason to keep its lawyers on a short leash. The law firm offers unlimited paid parental leave and unlimited vacation to associates. And the vacation time can be used for “pawternity leave,” managing partner Neal Manne told the Texas Lawyer. Manne contacted the Texas Lawyer after…

Oct 18, 2018 7:00 AM CDT

Legally bombed: Young millennial lawyers, same old alcoholism

“To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life’s problems.”

That quote comes from Homer Simpson, a character who is not licensed to practice law in any of the several states that contain a city named Springfield. However, another classic Simpsons character with a drinking problem is Lionel Hutz, one of television’s most famous fictional lawyers.

Oct 9, 2018 6:05 AM CDT

For Law Student Mental Health Day, ABA groups focus on ways to promote well-being

Approach someone if you think he or she is having mental health problems, but don’t make assumptions or give examples of why you think something is amiss, says Laurie J. Besden, executive director of Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers of Pennsylvania.

Oct 9, 2018 6:00 AM CDT

I am a woman who left the law

I graduated with honors and landed an associate position at a respected, multistate law firm. I practiced for several years, then quit. I am one of the many female attorneys who show promise but never achieve “success,” leaving many asking “Why?”

Oct 2, 2018 6:02 AM CDT

From courtroom to concert stage, this criminal defense lawyer uses her voice to push for reform

Rochester, New York-based solo practitioner Danielle Ponder treats audiences to her signature soulful beat layered with lyrics inspired by the five years she spent as a public defender representing some of her city’s poorest citizens.

Oct 1, 2018 1:55 AM CDT

Tales of addiction: What every attorney should know about alcohol and substance abuse

Lawyers often are warned about the dangers of excessive alcohol use, even as they celebrate wins and mourn losses. Legal practitioners must understand the issues of control, compulsion and consequences in managing their consumption. If you have a gut feeling about troubles facing another lawyer, you don’t have to diagnose the problem, says lawyer and consultant Jeena Cho. But you may need to prepare for a difficult conversation.

Oct 1, 2018 1:20 AM CDT

Firms sign ABA pledge to tackle lawyer mental health and substance-use issues

Several large law firms have signed a seven-point pledge developed by an ABA working group to target substance-use disorders and mental-health issues among lawyers.

Sep 10, 2018 4:05 PM CDT

Race and gender bias is rampant in law, says new report that also offers tools to fight it

A new report details the endemic bias women and minority lawyers continue to face compared to their white male counterparts, but it also offers some tools to disrupt the status quo.

Sep 6, 2018 8:26 AM CDT

Relaxing the anxious lawyer brain takes practice

Lawyers live in a constant cycle of exhaustion and tension, trying to do more in less time. Jeena Cho writes that it seems normal to fantasize about catastrophic events intervening to postpone a court hearing, client meeting or other anxiety-provoking event.

Sep 1, 2018 1:55 AM CDT

Incoming President Robert Carlson sees expansive roles for attorneys

Robert Carlson hopes that during his term as president the ABA will carry on its work toward bringing in more members and promoting the importance of an independent judicial system. He’d also like to see continued work involving changes in legal education and bar admissions, and the promotion of wellness for lawyers and law students.

Sep 1, 2018 1:35 AM CDT