Law Students And Young Associates Struggling During 'Post'-COVID Times
The only way we’re going to get through this is together.
Thanks to the pandemic, the legal profession has forever been changed. Law schools and law firms of all sizes shut down and went remote for extended periods of time, bringing mental health as well as alcohol and substance abuse into sharp focus as lawyers young and old attempted to navigate the unprecedented. Now, with a return to classrooms and offices coupled with variant after variant, social issues have come to the forefront as we all grapple with new health and safety regulations while still dealing with problems of yore, like racism and sexism.
It’s overwhelming — terribly so. During these tough times, what law students and young lawyers really need is to know that they’re not alone in their pain. Sometimes what law students need is to know that they’ve got a friend who is willing to share not just in their triumphs, but also in their struggles.
That’s why we’re bringing back a series here at Above the Law called “The Struggle,” because for law students and young lawyers, the struggle is not just a meme — the struggle is real.
In this series, we will examine the mental health and social issues that students and recent graduates encounter during the oftentimes grueling law school and associate experience — an experience that’s been made even harder because of COVID-19. We will share real messages from real (anonymous) readers.
If these issues resonate with you, please reach out to us. Your stories need to be heard. You can email us, text us at (646) 820-8477, or tweet us @atlblog. We will share your stories anonymously. You may be able to help a law student or recent law school graduate who needs to know that someone else has been there before and survived (and perhaps even thrived).
If you’re depressed and in need of help, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) or a lawyer assistance program in your state. Remember that you are loved, so please reach out if you need assistance.
Staci 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.
