Lawyers And Depression

​A 2016 landmark study between the American Bar Association and Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation disclosed staggering statistics about lawyers and mental health issues: 
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  • 28 percent of lawyers suffer from some level of depression; 
  • 19 percent have symptoms of anxiety; 
  • 21 percent are problem drinkers; and
  • Attorneys in the first 10 years of practice exhibit the highest incidence of these problems.

Why Depression is So Prevalent in the Legal ProfessioN

Psychologists and lawyers have pointed to a number of factors that contribute to depression: 

  • Lawyers are paid to be pessimists; if you are not being pessimistic, you’re not doing your job.  Lawyers are hired to look for and anticipate anything/everything that can go wrong, and to guard against any negative result(s).  Eventually, lawyers learn to see problems all around them (not just at work and often where problems do not even exist). See Martin E.P. Seligman, Paul R. Verkuil & Terry H. Kang, ​Why Lawyers Are Unhappy, 10 Deakin L. Rev. 49, 54-56 (2005). This kind of constant worrying - which likely pervades other areas of their lives - is the hallmark of anxiety.  It will not surprise you to learn, moreover, that pessimistic, negative thinking is one of the features of depression.
 
  • Lawyers expect to be attacked, criticized, and/or judged - constantly.  Whether it’s the hostile adversary on the other side ready to pounce at any opportunity, the partner who can savagely criticize your work product, or the judge who can dismiss you (or worse yet, shame you) in an instant, these expectations become internalized and can be debilitating as you navigate the rest of your life and your relationships.
 
  • The field celebrates perfectionism, but perfectionists are never satisfied with what they have produced.  Lawyers tend to be Type A’s (highly ambitious and over- achieving) and they also have a tendency toward perfectionism.  Perfectionists set unrealistic goals for themselves and blame themselves if matters do not go as planned.  There is a constant fear of making any mistake, which can cause stress hormones to spike. Perfectionism that is rigidly applied can become problematic when it interferes with one’s ability to be more flexible in areas outside the office (e.g., the “nothing is ever good enough” mentality). 
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  • Lawyers have little control over their work and their life.  Many lawyers have little voice or decision latitude with respect to their work.  Low control coupled with high demands can negatively affect lawyers' feelings about their job and ultimately their well-being.  Id. at 56-57.  In the current climate, moreover, lawyers often do not get to choose the area in which they would like to focus and can even have to relocate to find work.  Exceedingly stressful demands, constant deadlines, long dehumanizing hours (which seem to never end since lawyers are expected to be reachable 24/7), billing/business pressures, travel requirements, and unending (and often unreasonable) client expectations also mean little free time /control over other parts of your life.
 
  • Lawyers are help-rejecting and cannot show any vulnerability.  Lawyers are paid to be problem solvers; they are not supposed to have problems.  Needing help signals weakness or, even worse, ignorance. (It doesn’t, but that’s the myth.)  
 
  • There can be a profound sense of isolation.  Since questions and uncertainty are not tolerated, and since there is minimal support, lawyers often struggle alone.  Fear, worry, and anger get “stuffed down,” as it is not “safe” to confide in others.  Over time, the sense of isolation and suppression of emotions feed on themselves and can lead to depression and anxiety.

  • There is often little guidance provided.  This is an oft-heard complaint from many lawyers.  Instead of being meaningfully mentored, it is all too often the case that young lawyers are thrown into the deep end in an incredibly cut-throat environment.  Sink or swim becomes an every day experience. 

  • Lawyers often absorb clients’ anger and stress.  Not only do lawyers often have to endure the wrath of clients, they also feel responsible for the outcome of others’ lives and finances. 

  • The work can be mind-numbing and disillusioning.  Until you become a partner or rainmaker (who face a whole new set of challenges), the reality is that much of law is tedious and consists of a lot of drudgery.  Often lawyers do not feel intellectually challenged and/or feel disillusioned with what they expected the practice to be.​
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  • Adversity is the name of the (win-loss) game and the field rewards aggression and competition.  Litigators are all too familiar with the “take no prisoners” and “scorched earth” mentality that pervades the practice.  There is no win without another’s loss and this kind of situation often engenders negative emotions including sadness, anxiety, and anger.  Id. at 60-61.  Yet, those who shy away from battle are often left behind.  If your nature is not competitive, confrontational, or aggressive, there can be a considerable disconnect between who you are and how you are required to show up every day.  Emotional detachment becomes essential.

Know the Signs of Depression So You Can Get Help

Everyone feels down at certain points in their lives, but these feelings eventually pass.  Depression is something  different.  Depression is a serious, but common and treatable, mood disorder that negatively affects your thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and your daily functioning.  If you have been feeling down, have diminished interest/ satisfaction from things that used to provide you with pleasure, and these feelings (and other symptoms below) last longer than two weeks, you may have depression. 

As with stress and burnout, the first step in addressing depression is to recognize that something is not right.  Some symptoms of depression include: 

  • Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelesness
  • Feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt
  • Loss of interest in activities that once gave you pleasure
  • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
  • Significant weight loss or gain
  • Fatigue/loss of energy/ moving much slower than usual
  • Irritability or restlessness
  • Diminished concentration, focus, and indecisiveness
  • Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts
  • Bodily ailments (e.g., headaches, digestive problems) that do not have a clear physical cause and/or that do not subside even when treated

How is Depression Treated?

If you recognize these symptoms in yourself, the first step is to contact a mental health care provider who can determine whether or not you are clinically depressed.  I also advise clients to contact their medical doctor to rule out medical conditions that can cause symptoms very similar to those caused by depression.  If depression is diagnosed, treatment typically includes psychotherapy (talk therapy) and/or medication.

Resources For Lawyers


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