The People’s Therapist

The People's Therapist, Will Meyerhofer, thinks it's hard to conjure up bad stuff to say about clerking. It's an honor, and an all-expense-paid ticket on an exclusive legal gravy train. If you're lucky enough to clerk for a federal district or circuit court judge, you can rest assured you're looking good and feeling good. You might even shoot the moon and sing with the Supremes. In that case, you're good to go: You'll never have to practice actual law again....

You're in it for the money. Biglaw creates money to toss into the maw of a bank. But no one can stand this abuse forever. Change -- any change -- might be good, right? How about another firm? Check out what the People's Therapist, Will Meyerhofer, has to say about jumping into the frying pan you don't know....

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Way Worse Than Being A Dentist, is available on Amazon, as is his previous […]

It's hard to generate sympathy for lawyers – especially when the group of people you're milking for sympathy is other lawyers. At first glance, that seems counter-intuitive. Will Meyerhofer is writing about your fellow attorneys, after all, and they're in miserable straits. He feels sorry for them. He want to help. But then, he's a bleeding heart psychotherapist. He even felt sorry for them back when he was a lawyer, too – incontrovertible proof he was never “cut out” for the profession....

Will Meyerhofer explains what the job search is like in law school. In mid-September, he was talking with a client, a 3L at a top-tier school. “Here's how it works,” she explained. “There's the have's and the have-nots. Either you have a job offer, or you don't. If you don't, it sucks. You feel like an illegal alien.” Unfortunately, she's a have-not...

The People's Therapist hasn't worked at Sullivan & Cromwell since 1999. But now, he treads with caution as he recounts events that occurred in the life of a close friend who practiced at the firm during that time. It's possible this person occasionally misrepresented his billable hours....

The People's Therapist, Will Meyerhofer, wants you to know that this happens a lot. It begins with the standard set-up. You feel trapped. Hate your life. Nerves shot. Self-esteem shredded. You know the drill: Biglaw. That's when the dæmon lover appears. It doesn't end well....

As The People's Therapist, Will Meyerhofer's door is always open. He doesn't turn away poor clients. “Pay whatever you can afford,” he tells them. Naturally, they get what they pay for. Just kidding. But let's be real -- are things any different with the the high-fidelity first-class traveling set than they are with folks flying “comfort class”?

People in the LGBT community have "straight allies" to help them persevere in the struggle for equal rights. But what about lawyers and our struggles? Our columnist, Will Meyerhofer, explains why lawyers need non-lawyer allies, and how to get along with them.

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). My […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). There’s […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). To […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). Associates […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). Some […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). I […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). I […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). Every […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon (affiliate link). I […]

My tenure at Sullivan & Cromwell ended – along with my legal career – in a smoking crater. Picture scorched earth. Nuclear armageddon. The fat lady sang. That said, I actually got off to a pretty good start. At least for the first couple weeks. I was assigned to a rather jolly partner, fresh back […]

Ed. note: This post is by Will Meyerhofer, a former Sullivan & Cromwell attorney turned psychotherapist. He holds degrees from Harvard, NYU Law, and The Hunter College School of Social Work, and he blogs at The People’s Therapist. His new book, Life is a Brief Opportunity for Joy, is available on Amazon. I receive a […]