Tag: mental health

Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Desperately Seeking More (Billable Hours) – Abridged Version

A fully clothed skeleton sitting at a desk and typing at a computer.
Photo by Oussama Bergaou at Pexels.

One of the values that drove me for a good long time was the importance of working hard and generating many billable hours.

I have concluded that there are three reasons that many lawyers work long hours. Some do it to serve their clients well.  Others do it because they are workaholics. And finally, there are those who work all of the time because they are ambitious and they want to earn a lot of money. What all of these lawyers have in common is that they all believe that working hard will make them happy. It does not seem to work for many of them.

read more about why lawyers work so hard “Desperately Seeking More (Billable Hours) – Abridged Version”
Categories
Law Firm Management

Is it the Lazy Junior Lawyer’s Fault?

The words "Self Care Isn't Selfish."
Photo by Madison Inouye at Pexels.

Tali Green recently (sarcastically)asked the following question on LinkedIn: “Are lazy and sub-par juniors contributing to the mental health crisis in the legal profession?”

read more about blaming the victims “Is it the Lazy Junior Lawyer’s Fault?”
Categories
Work/Life Balance

The Simple Yet Unacceptable Answer to the Mental Health Crisis in the Legal Profession

Various currency, including U.S. Dollars and Euros.

By the time that I figured out that I could no longer cope with the pressures of the legal profession and that something had to give, I had been practicing business law for thirty-three years. What can I say… I am a slow learner. It took me almost another seven years to get out. I escaped with my health intact, but just barely.

read more about the simple solution to the mental health problem in the legal profession “The Simple Yet Unacceptable Answer to the Mental Health Crisis in the Legal Profession”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

There Is Enough Work For Everybody

A rundown building.
Photo by Tiana at Pexels.

Someone once told me that if your family is poor when you are twelve years old, then no matter how much financial success you have, you will always be fearful that you might lose it all. On the other hand, the theory goes that if your family was rich when you were twelve years old, then no matter how badly you are doing at any moment, you will likely believe that financial success is around the corner.

read more about abundancy and scarcity “There Is Enough Work For Everybody”
Categories
Work/Life Balance

To All the Law Students Who I have Loved (or Just Liked a Bit)

Pregnant woman, man, and two children.
Photo by Luana Freitas at Pexels.

I write a lot about work/life balance, mental health, and the pursuit of things other than money in the legal profession.

My wife (and lawyer) Maureen McKay has laughed at me about this (among other things.) She has said, “Murray, if any of the young people who you counsel to pursue a balanced lifestyle were to have applied to your firm back when you were hiring Associates and talked about working reasonable hours and reserving evenings and weekends for their families, you would not have hired them.”

She’s right. But, in my defense, it’s complicated.

Read more about why it is complicated “To All the Law Students Who I have Loved (or Just Liked a Bit)”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Gratitude and The Appreciation Deficit

Cup of Coffee with "Thank You" spelled out in the foam.
Photo by Wewe Yang at Pexels.

“I am happy because I’m grateful. I choose to be grateful. That gratitude allows me to be happy.”

~ Will Arnett

The other day I received a private message from a lawyer who I have never met in person. She expressed her appreciation for my contributions to the profession in my retirement and did so in a manner that was warm and sincere. I practically blushed when I read it.  She made my day.

read more about the Appreciation deficit in the legal profession “Gratitude and The Appreciation Deficit”
Categories
Work/Life Balance

Money, Money, Money

Currency from several countries including U.S. Dollar and Euros.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska at Pexels.

“I love money. I love everything about it. I bought some pretty good stuff. Got me a $300 pair of socks. Got a fur sink. An electric dog polisher. A gasoline powered turtleneck sweater. And, of course, I bought some dumb stuff, too.”

Steve Martin

I like money as much as the next guy. Actually, I like money much more than I like the next guy.  

read more about money “Money, Money, Money”
Categories
The Mentality and Attitudes of Lawyers

Worrying For Godot

Man sitting hunched over and looking worried.
Photo by Keira Burton at Pexels.

When I practiced law, I worried a lot.  I worried about making a mistake on my files. I worried that I was too busy.  I worried that I was not busy enough.

read more about worrying “Worrying For Godot”
Categories
Firm Culture

Is Someone Out to Get You?

Woman walking on the sidewalk and being followed by a man.
Photo by RDNE Stock project at Pexels.

“Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t after you.”

      Joseph Heller

In some law firms there are politics among the Partners. Someone wants to be the managing partner or to win the compensation committee contest, and they need to win friends and influence people to get what they want.

I know, I know. You cannot believe it. This may be true in other firms, but certainly not in your firm.

In your firm, all of the Partners respect each other and support each other. They never talk behind each other’s back. They are hard on the issues and soft on the people. They certainly do not form cliques, count votes, or solicit support between meetings to win votes at the Compensation Committee or the Executive Committee.

read more about paranoia in law firms “Is Someone Out to Get You?”
Categories
The Practice of Law

There Seems to be Some Confusion – I Loved Practicing Law!

Older man smiling and giving thumbs up sign.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio at Pexels.

This morning someone remarked that much of my writing about the legal profession  is a tad negative. She said, “you practiced law for a long time; you were good at what you did; you made enough money to retire and travel the world. Surely you must have liked something about being a lawyer, didn’t you?”

read more about the good and the bad about practicing law “There Seems to be Some Confusion – I Loved Practicing Law!”