Happiness

Getting out into natural environments can be an easy and almost immediate way to improve your mood. Try it!

Okay, so most American attorneys are unhappy -- what can you do about it?

* The method for securing drunk driving convictions is coming under fire. I’m not as think as you drunk I am officer. [Times Union]

* Hillary Clinton is bringing back the issue of liability for gun manufacturers. [Overlawyered]

* The bar exam-pocalypse continues. [Bar Exam Stats]

* The sad state of Alabamans’ voting rights. [Talking Points Memo]

* Lawyers have known this for a while: six-figure jobs don’t equal happiness. [Alternet]

* Remember how John Kasich seemed super-chill and liberal during the first Republican debate? Yeah, he isn’t. [Lawyers, Guns & Money]

* Do you feel like your legal career has left you behind and you’re struggling with a case of failure-to-launch disease? At least you aren’t alone. [Law and More]

Life is simply too short to waste it on doing something that you hate, according to columnist Jeena Cho.

Money actually can buy happiness -- just not much happiness

According to managing partner Bruce Stachenfeld, if you're unhappy with your work/life balance, maybe you just need to change your perspective.

How does law student satisfaction compare with the broader population?

Which Biglaw firms offer the best "quality of life"? And is that even possible in Biglaw?

In a stunning turn, lawyers are considered the best job around. There's one tiny snag...

Ever wonder what the secret to happiness is? Landing a Biglaw job? Making partner? Think again.

What does the ATL Insider Survey tell us about happiness in Biglaw?

Which firm's associates are the most satisfied with their jobs? Find out here.

I don't think money buys happiness, I think poverty charges you in sadness.

* If you thought Stephen Kaplitt’s epic cease-and-desist response was awesome, then you’ll love this work of parody in response to the response, courtesy of New York Law School. [Legal As She Is Spoke] * Eric Holder comes clean on his involvement with the James Rosen search warrant, and to the chagrin of many, he isn’t plotting the death of journalism. That, or he’s a big liar. You pick. [Volokh Conspiracy] * George Zimmerman is going to be staring down an all-female jury for the next few weeks in his murder trial. And let me tell you, that’s going to be so much fun when everyone’s cycles start to sync up. [CNN] * It’s amazing that the Framers’ intentions can be applied to true love. Best wishes to Ilya Shapiro on his new marriage. Professor Josh Blackman is one hell of a wedding speaker. [CATO @ Liberty] * Is there an appropriate way to deal with cosmetic surgery — like a breast enlargement, breast reduction, or a nose job — in the office? Just be ready for people to talk about you. [Corporette] * Former Above the Law columnist Jay Shepherd offers up the secret to lawyer happiness in just six minutes, while taking shots at the world’s largest law firm and the world’s shortest movie star. [jayshep]

The unhappiest job in America is... exactly the one you'd expect.

Hate your job? Brian Tannebaum has some tips on how you can grow to enjoy the practice of law.

Why are midlevel associates so happy this year? Check out the new rankings from Am Law...

* Apparently spring bonuses don’t make the Biglaw world go ’round after all. The annual Am Law midlevel survey is out, and satisfaction levels are up across the board. Maybe they’re happy to still be employed. [American Lawyer]

* When Dewey get to retire this used up, old D&L pun? Probably around the same time as that Howrey joke — never. Oh, and the firm asked a bankruptcy judge to approve its $70M partner “clawback” plan. [WSJ Law Blog]

* Oh mon dieu, it’s time for some law firm merger mania! DLA Piper, the second-largest Biglaw behemoth, proposed to French firm Frieh Bouhenic, and of course, the corporate boutique said “oui.” [Legal Week]

* Judicial efficiency: Judge Robert Hinkle says he’ll block Florida’s regulations on voter registration groups just as soon as an appeals court boots the state’s arguments. [Bloomberg]

* Judge Kenneth Lester Jr. will step down as judge in the George Zimmerman case after using “disparaging” language in a bail order. Zimmerman’s probably hoping that the third judge will be the charm for him. [CNN]

* Kim Kardashian settled her suit against The Gap over the company’s use of a look-alike actress in an Old Navy commercial. Sigh. She’ll keep getting paid, no matter what we do. [Hollywood, Esq. / Hollywood Reporter]

According to our research, which are the happiest Biglaw firms? And the unhappiest?