Massachusetts has a lot to offer. Harvard is there. They also have a little funny way of pronouncing the word “garden” that throws it out of their mouth. Well… there must be something else, right? That third thing he might need to do to make practice in New England a little more bearable. Because at the moment people are having a hard time recording these billables. From Reuters:
Massachusetts lawyers are burnt out, with higher rates of anxiety and depression, according to a study released Wednesday.
Researchers at the University of Chicago’s Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers and NORC last year surveyed 4,450 attorneys in Massachusetts for their latest study. Statewide, 77% reported burnout, 26% reported high levels of anxiety, 21% reported depression, and 7% reported suicidal thoughts, all of which above average for US adults.
Alcohol consumption was also high in the survey, with 42% of respondents reporting unhealthy or unsafe use.
Now, except that they didn’t make any methodological errors, we basically only got opinions from people screaming for help – trying to see Pagliacci or Adult Swiftes™, for example. Attorneys and such, that’s a healthy sample size of people…that’s bad.When Lawyers have been drinking at an unusually high rate for some time now.the 42% self-reported rate of unhealthy or unsafe use is too close to being comfortably halved.
One outlier, COVID-19, may have colored the data. That said, the results may still be noteworthy.
“Almost half indicated they were considering leaving their legal employer, and 40% reported considering quitting the legal profession entirely in the past three years due to burnout or stress.” and according to a survey, Massachusetts Attorney Happiness.
The timing of the study, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, likely contributed to the high reported burnout and anxiety rates, the authors said. It was consistent with previous findings that they have more substance abuse and mental health problems than the general population and other occupations.
This points to some advice that even companies based outside of Massachusetts might want to keep in mind. It may be in the company’s best interest to cool off against a strict return-to-office policy. Who really wants to add gossip to a depressing brew at this point? Burning out employees may have been a viable economic tactic at one point, but burnout like this At a rate of , your minimum amount may also be charred.
A new Massachusetts study found burnout, anxiety and depression were particularly high among minority groups. Burnout rates for black and Hispanic attorneys were 86% and 88%, respectively, compared to her 77% for white attorneys. Parenting lawyers also report higher rates of burnout.
The survey found that nearly half of lawyers who tested positive for depression, anxiety, or suicidal ideation did not seek mental health care. Researchers attribute it to stigma, time constraints, and fear of professional retaliation around mental health issues.
Fear of professional retribution is palpable — remember the man who wanted to can a woman ‘Sit on your butt’ during maternity leaveThe partner is dead but the company mentality lives on but oddly enough it’s great for the company and very tough on partners and peers.? After all, they’re the ones in the oak box. Thankfully, the research ends on a practical note.
Attorneys who reported having a supportive work environment in which they were treated with kindness and respect, were given flexibility, and were given guidance reported higher life satisfaction and reduced levels of burnout, anxiety, and depression. The study found that the percentage of
So, Boston attorney or whoever deserves that shoe, you’ve been working for that company all your life. Take a day or two off and talk to your therapist. You can also find a therapist online. And if that means going sideways to a company that treats you like a real person, so be it.
Burnout. depression.Massachusetts Attorney Survey Plenty of Red Flags [Reuters]
Chris Williams will become Above the Law’s Social Media Manager and Assistant Editor in June 2021. Law school memes for edgy T14He spent a long time in Missouri and graduated from Washington University St. Louis Law School. He’s a former boat builder who can’t swim, Published author on critical race theory, philosophy, and humor, loves cycling and sometimes annoys his friends. You can reach him by emailing [email protected] and tweeting at: @RentsForRent.
