November 2024

30 Nov 24

Show Time
James Clarke

On the marquee today, a new drama.
Observe the lawyers
in their natural habitat:
that is to say,

on display. Regard
their furtive stalking style
crouching behind words.
The dark intent beneath the smile.

Speared by the judge’s piercing eyes.
Polite assassins. Under contract.

From James R. Elkins, Lawyer Poets and That World We Call Law: An Anthology of Poems about the Practice of Law (2013).
 
14 Nov 24

Only 36% of young legal professionals say work has positive impact on mental health, new survey finds

Only 36% of surveyed legal professionals, including lawyers, who are ages 18 to 34 said work had a positive effect on mental health. The percentage increased to 43% for those ages 35 to 44, 50% for those ages 45 to 54, and 62% for those ages 55 and older.

The impact of poor well-being is far reaching, according to the study, The State of Wellbeing in Law 2024. Nearly 19% of work time is affected by poor mental health, resulting in an average well-being loss of more than $33 million per firm.

The study is based on responses from 4,448 legal professionals in nine firms in the United States and the United Kingdom. The firms, identified as midsize in the study, had head counts ranging from 600 to 2,400.

Other survey findings: