« RIAA Lead Lawyer Named to Bench | Main | Law Prof's E-mail is Campaign Issue »

Depression Among Lawyers: Chicken or Egg?

Lawyer depression is one of those topics that seems to reappear on a regular basis here at Legal Blog Watch, and the latest sighting comes by way of an article this month in the California Bar Journal, "Depression Takes a Heavy Toll on Lawyers." Consider this excerpt:

According to a Johns Hopkins University study, lawyers suffer the highest rate of depression among workers in 104 occupations. A University of Washington study found that 19 percent of lawyers suffered depression compared to 3 percent to 9 percent in the general population. And a University of Arizona study of law students found that they suffer eight to 15 times the anxiety, hostility and depression of the general population.

Richard Carlton, deputy director of the State Bar of California's Lawyer Assistance Program, sees those numbers and says, "There's something about the practice of law that attracts a certain personality that is prone to experiencing these problems." But is it the chicken or the egg? Is it that law attracts people who are prone to depression or that those who choose law find themselves depressed by their work? As the California LAP's director, Janis Thibault, puts it, "I've never seen such a lonely profession -- the inability to connect with other people at a deep level because there's so much of an adversarial relationship."

Tim Willison, a licensed clinical therapist who works with the California bar, says that lawyers typically come to him in their 40s and 50s because the pressures they face have reached the boiling point. "It's cumulative," he says, "there's a creeping paralysis." How could anybody, he wonders, be happy in such a demanding, high-pressure job? His observations would seem to lend support to the theory that law tends to be a depressing job, as opposed to lawyers tending towards depression. Therapy, of course, is part of the answer for lawyers suffering from depression. But the article suggests that another route out from under depression might be for the lawyer to refocus on personal and interpersonal matters -- on personal growth, close relationships, helping others and improving their communities. Those who do that, research shows, tend to be happier and more satisfied with their lives.

Your thoughts? Why are lawyers more depressed than others? What, if anything, can they do about it?

Posted by Robert J. Ambrogi on May 7, 2008 at 09:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Comments

Read Steven Keeva's book (under the ABA imprint) "Transforming Practices: Finding Joy and Satisfaction in the Legal Life." Steve called me when he was just going to write an article on law and-- gasp--spirituality. (He found me because of a review i wrote of another book "Soul Moments" by Phil Cousinou.)

Ths article turned into a book and then a movement. There is also a web site: http://www.transformingpractices.com/

I highly recommend both.

Full discosure-- I am in the book. I am also being treated for depression and anxiety. AND... I am entirely certain this is a spiitual journey I will benefit from. (As i have so far.) That is- the whole adventure has meaning for me.

But yes, the profession is sick. It is toxic. It hurts both lawyers and clients.

There will be blood.

Posted by: Carroll Straus | May 7, 2008 1:42:46 PM

Issue as I see it is that lawyers are doing things that subconsciously rub us the wrong way. If you read Scott Peck's best selling book Road Less Traveled, it talks of depression as grace. It's what makes us realize we're not doing what we should be doing.

Selling out to principals that guide some large law firms, doing legal work on matters and for clients that is far cry from what drove one to become lawyer, huge hours without personal recreation and family time, and more are things that rub lawyers the wrong way whether they know it or not.

Then despite all these groups, Bar Association and otherwise, that say they are there to help, lawyers are scarred to death to discuss depression for fear it will ruin their careers. Last place they want to turn is Bar Association full of lawyers where word may get out or local mental health provider where again word may get out. Remember at time experiencing symptoms of depression, one is not thinking rationally - paranoia is driving force.

Situation is not getting better. It's getting worse. We are not building law firm cultures or a profession that leads to mental well being.

Look no further than the story of the depression induced lawyer suicide leaving young family that was in this Monday's law.com. Very sad.

Posted by: Kevin OKeefe | May 7, 2008 3:24:21 PM

We across the pond gaze in wonderment at the American legal system and all those hard hitting attorneys who barely pause to draw breath. Doing the rounds on TV here in Merry Olde England is "Damages" fronted by a grim looking and workaholic Glenn Close. Frankly, I feel depressed just watching it, so my advice to my American cousins is to lighten up, and take time to smell the roses!

Posted by: David Osborne | May 9, 2008 9:43:41 AM

Interesting post!

Posted by: personal injury lawsuit loan | May 12, 2008 10:22:30 PM

Post a comment