Lawyer Wellness

BigLaw associate’s admonition to be available 24/7 with ‘no exceptions, no excuses’ goes viral

A Paul Hastings associate’s best-practices advice to junior colleagues in an internal presentation wasn’t that far off the mark, legal observers said. But its tone was lacking.

Apr 6, 2023 9:30 AM CDT

Law schools employ texting service to keep tabs on students’ mental health

With growing numbers of law students facing mental health challenges, at least five law schools are using a service to proactively identify struggling students and intervene as soon as possible.

Mar 24, 2023 1:18 PM CDT

What makes for unhappy lawyers?

Hey, lawyers! Is everybody happy? If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands. Many of our colleagues are not exactly thrilled while practicing law. As Nanki-Poo in Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado might say, the best way they could express their joys of law practice would be “modified rapture.”

Mar 15, 2023 3:17 PM CDT

Most deputy general counsel dissatisfied in current roles, new study shows

Deputy general counsel are reporting widespread burnout and dissatisfaction in a new study published Wednesday by legal talent provider Axiom and market research consultant Wakefield Research.

Feb 23, 2023 12:30 PM CST

Lawyers are twice as likely to have thoughts of suicide, new study finds

A recent study of California and Washington, D.C., lawyers found that lawyers are twice as likely as the general population to experience suicidal ideation.

Feb 14, 2023 10:34 AM CST

High rates of burnout have lawyers in this state considering leaving their jobs or the legal profession

More than three-fourths of Massachusetts lawyers are experiencing burnout, and almost half have thought about leaving their legal employer or the legal profession for that reason or because of stress in the last three years.

Feb 2, 2023 12:07 PM CST

Law is the most stressful profession, newspaper’s analysis finds

The most stressful occupation in the United States is being a lawyer, according to an analysis by the Washington Post of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jan 24, 2023 12:48 PM CST

How lawyers can pursue a ‘wonderful life’

It is a new year, and the reruns of It’s a Wonderful Life have finally stopped. During this holiday season, I’ve spent some time reflecting on the movie, and there are certain themes from the film that lawyers can carry into the new year.

Jan 4, 2023 3:08 PM CST

This lawyer tackled lifelong anxiety to free herself from ‘The Box’

“The Box: An Invitation to Freedom From Anxiety” became an investigation into the mental and emotional barriers that Wendy Tamis Robbins constructed since childhood to protect herself—and a blueprint for dismantling the barriers that no longer served her.

Dec 21, 2022 8:34 AM CST

Top 8 Your Voice columns of 2022

Diversity and inclusion, stress management, mental health and practice management are some of the major areas of focus among legal professionals today. And contributors to the ABA Journal’s Your Voice column certainly brought these concepts front and center in 2022.

Dec 14, 2022 8:37 AM CST

Law firm gives staff nonfungible tokens for mental health services

New Jersey-based personal injury law firm Grungo Colarulo says it will offer mental health services to its staff through nonfungible tokens, or NFTs.

Dec 12, 2022 11:11 AM CST

Poll: Which ABA Journal magazine cover from 2022 was your favorite?

We covered a wide array of diverse, in-depth and hard-hitting legal topics at the ABA Journal in 2022.

Dec 12, 2022 8:47 AM CST

Firms are employing burnout advisers to keep their attorneys from getting overwhelmed

It’s no secret that attorneys are burned out—but the surprising news is that firms are finally taking action to combat it. Some legal teams are hiring burnout advisers to address attorney mental health in the hope that this will tackle attorney fatigue, detachment and other issues stemming from the competitive environment, long working hours and perfectionism that comes with the job.

Dec 1, 2022 2:20 AM CST

Read the 2022 winner of the Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction: ‘Dope Fiend’

Editor's Note: The following short story by Frank H. Toub, a 3L at Belmont University College of Law in Nashville, Tennessee, was the 2022 winner of the ABA Journal's annual Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction.

Nov 22, 2022 9:59 AM CST

Some law firms tie in-person work to bonuses and job retention amid demand slowdown

Some law firms are getting tough with demands for in-person work, observers have told Law.com.

Nov 22, 2022 9:53 AM CST