Health / Wellness

Stressed-Out Lawyers In First 10 Years Of Practice More Likely To Have Mental-Health And Wellness Issues

The struggle is real for members of the legal profession.

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It’s no secret that members of the legal profession struggle with mental-health and wellness issues thanks to the near-constant stress that they face on a daily basis. In fact, according to a recent study conducted by the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and the American Bar Association Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs, 21 percent of licensed, employed attorneys qualify as problem drinkers, 28 percent struggle with some level of depression, and 19 percent demonstrate symptoms of anxiety. Worse yet is the study found that the highest incidence of these problems in younger attorneys — those in the first 10 years of practice.

Here at Above the Law, we have an entire series dedicated to the mental-health and social struggles that law students and recent graduates encounter, but not everyone is as aware of how these issues affect new lawyers. The Daily Report recently asked lawyers for their stress stories, and one response resonated so deeply with us that we’re republishing it here. Do you see yourself in this attorney’s words?

As a public sector attorney who has been out of school for around a decade and working at the same job for almost as long, the stress I feel at work is probably much different than the stress for attorneys who work at law firms. While it is true that I do not have the stress of billable hours or client development, there are still stress points.

My stress comes from a lack of engaging and interesting work. My stress comes from the fact that my job does not give me the opportunity to grow or improve as an attorney. My stress comes from the fact that I never had anyone look out for me or mentor me. My stress comes from seeing articles in the Daily Report discussing how high attorney salaries are getting in Atlanta. My stress comes from the fact that, while I have been promoted and received raises over the years, I still make $60,000 less than what a new associate can make at one of the big law firms in town.

My stress comes from the lack of an opportunity to move on to the private sector, either as in-house counsel or at a law firm. My stress comes from a multiyear job search where I have gone from being told “You need to get more experience before a law firm would hire you” to now being told “You have too much experience for an associate-level position. Someone who has been out of school for as long as you should have a book of business.” My stress comes not from getting burned out or fired from a high-stress position. My stress comes from never having a chance to challenge myself to be better.

How do I deal with it? Not very well. While I hope my experience is an extreme case, I fear it is not uncommon. My stress follows me home from my office. My stress has not only damaged my relationships with friends and family, but is has put a large strain on my marriage. My stress has turned me into a person I have trouble recognizing. My stress has put me into therapy where I talk about feeling trapped or stuck in a situation that will never improve because I will never get a better job. My stress makes me drink too much sometimes and has me taking anti-depression and anti-anxiety medication.

Despite it all, I pray and rely on my faith that it will get better. My stress will not win.

As noted by the Daily Report, if you know 10 lawyers, three of them are likely depressed, and two of them are suffering from a drinking problem or anxiety. But there is a silver lining to the dark cloud of stress that so many younger lawyers seem to have been overcome by: there is help for those who need it.

Most law schools have counseling and psychological services resources that students and graduates can turn to if they are in crisis or would like counseling, even after hours. If these services are not available at your school, and if you or someone you know is depressed and in need help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) or a lawyer assistance program in your state (don’t be fooled by the name; these programs also provide services to law students). Remember that you are loved, so please reach out if you need assistance, before it’s too late.

We Asked for Stress Stories; Here’s What You Said [Daily Report]
“How Do I Deal With It? Not Very Well” [Daily Report]

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Staci ZaretskyStaci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

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