Monday, April 30, 2007

Why Lawyers?


Today the Times newspaper reported that lawyers are being encouraged to take 'time out' in The Priory, usually well known for their high profile clients. A book entitled 'Why Lawyers Should Surf' co-authored by myself and barrister Tim Kevan is a self-help book aimed especially at lawyers, after several studies have cited that lawyers suffer from an above average rate of low mood. An extract from the book is given below:
"In the early 1990s a John Hopkins University study compared the rates of depression among one hundred and four occupations and found that lawyers were nearly four times above the average rate of depression. This then begs the question ‘why do lawyers have such a high level of depression’? There are several hypotheses for this, well beyond the explanation that law is a stressful and busy job.
Professor Martin Seligman argues that the key thing about lawyers is that they tend to have pessimistic personality types. When lawyers are asked the famous question: ‘Is the cup half empty or half full?’ most respond by saying 'half empty'. This somewhat pessimistic response may be a distinguishing advantage within the legal profession, because viewing troubles as pervasive and continuing, is at the very heart of being a prudent lawyer. The inherent and honed ‘scepticism skills’, enable the lawyer to see every conceivable hiccup or catastrophe that might occur in legal transactions. Therefore, the ability to anticipate any pending or possible snare or disaster gives a positive legal outcome, as the lawyer can then help clients defend against potential negative eventualities. Hence, ‘pervasive pessimism’ and possibly ‘catastrophizing’ can be seen as a powerful legal tool, helping to anticipate disaster, and encouraging lawyers to think the worst before it has happened. However, on the flip side of the same coin, is that if you take that same pessimistic mindset home with you from the office, it may form part of the answer as to why lawyers are more likely to suffer with low moods.

Another hypothesis is that lawyers tend to express ‘high-dominance’ as a key feature of their personality; again something which aids successful legal careers. Key features of a ‘high-dominance’ personality include people who: interrupt others, talk longer, take charge of conversations, decide when to change topic, state strong preferences and opinions, have an unyielding manner and tend to enjoy giving instructions and advice. ‘High dominance’ personalities also tend to believe in statements, such as, ‘winning is more important than playing the game’. This may be an integral part of being a successful lawyer who never looses a battle, however, when this is mindset extended outside the workplace it fits less well with the challenges of daily life. When things have not gone the way high dominance personalities have planned, it can be a time when they struggle to manage or cope on a psychological level.

A further hypothesis is based on the accumulating psychological evidence that much work stress arises from interacting with people rather than things. In fact, ‘emotional labour’ is more mentally taxing than the old fashion labour jobs that were more physically taxing. It has been shown that the more your job requires you to fake emotions, the more emotionally detached you become from those around you. Hiding or faking emotions, can lead to ‘clinical burnout’. Since lawyers keep a professional detachment from their cases and cannot get too emotionally involved, this could potentially lead to the burnout state of mind. Burnout can result in symptoms of emotional exhaustion, fatigue, detached attitude towards others, low sense of effectiveness, helplessness and also low mood.

The risk of the inherent pessimism means that lawyers should be especially careful not to extend the negative mindset perspective into other areas of their lives. This book will hopefully assist the reader in finding perspective, so that even during the most difficult times in life a context can be found, which can also provide something to learn and grow from. As Shakespeare said, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”.
The book can be pre-ordered on amazon here

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've ordered my copy, but I think doctors may be at even more risk of depression that high earning lawyers... Sarahx

Ju's little sister said...

Sounds fascinating :-)

Dr Michelle Tempest said...

Thanks Sarah and ju's little sister.
michelle

David Anthony said...

A depressed person says that the glass is half empty ... a manic depressive says that the glass is half empty and constantly evaporating further downwards!

Good luck with the book.

Dr Michelle Tempest said...

Thanks David! Michelle

Ian Lidster said...

Isn't that odd. I saw a photo of the cover in the Observer (I pick up the weekend UK papers here in Canada just to keep in touch since I have spent so much time over there)and was struck by the graphic (which I love), and didn't pick up on your connection with it. That's wonderful. Now I want to read it.
Cheers,
Ian

Anonymous said...

The book sounds great, I didn't realise lawyers had such a depressive background. I shall buy myself a copy too, what a star you are.

Anonymous said...

I have pre-ordered a copy of the book, can you tell me the publication date?

Anonymous said...

whoops-having read your character summary I'm worried I might be a lawyer after all. Is it too late to train as a coroner?

Anonymous said...

This does not bode well for lawyer/politicians I feel.
Although they may just be depressed having colleagues like Hewitt.
Curious Ex-Pat

Dr Andrew Brown said...

Much food for thought there, Michelle. Interestingly, the partner in our practice who gets far more stressed than anyone else has a pessimistic approach to medicine. They know that the sky is just about to fall on their head, constantly seek advice from secondary care (with notes piled high in their room awaiting a call-back), and painstakingly go through all correspondence and lab results. I take a more optimistic and laid-back attitude: I am certainly less stressed and my patients don't seem to come to harm as a result.

And I agree that interacting with people is stressful, as I mentioned in one of my postings.

Dr Michelle Tempest said...

Thanks Ian and Ellee - the book should be in shops end of July/ start of August... basically nearer the end of summer.
Mens Sana - I remember one of my friends telling me that they would never invite me to dinner parties if I became a coroner... if it has this effect on everyone, then being a coroner sounds lonely work!
Thanks Dr Andrew Brown - I'm off to check out your link.
As for Hewitt - I'm not sure there is a cure for her.
Many thanks to you all for leaving comments, they all made me smile, so thanks to you all.
Michelle

simon said...

do you have a book for auctioneers? :o)

Anonymous said...

Brill - have ordered one

Anonymous said...

I'm a lawyer. The description sounds exactly like me and also decribes the problems I've bene having for the last few years. Hopefully the book will be able to help.
Thanks in advance.
Adam.

Dr Michelle Tempest said...

Sorry Simon, the book is for lawyers - but alot of the tips are more general.

Thanks Adam, I also hope the book will help.

Thanks to all the commenters.

Michelle

Anonymous said...

Great article! Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Nice Blog!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for interesting article.

Anonymous said...

Thank You! Very interesting article. Do you can write anything else about it?

Anonymous said...

Very interesting site. Blog is very good. I am happy that I think the same!

Anonymous said...

Nice! Nice site! Good resources here. I will bookmark!

Anonymous said...

Excellent website. Good work. Very useful. I will bookmark!

Anonymous said...

I see first time your site guys. I like you :)

Anonymous said...

Zk0n98 You have a talant! Write more!

Anonymous said...

J85OFf Thanks to author.

Anonymous said...

3stoCR The best blog you have!

Anonymous said...

6IUE94 Good job!

Anonymous said...

Good job!

Anonymous said...

Thanks to author.

Anonymous said...

Thanks to author.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful blog.

Anonymous said...

Hello all!

Anonymous said...

Thanks to author.

Anonymous said...

Hello all!

Anonymous said...

Magnific!

Anonymous said...

I'm an aspiring lawyer . I'm starting to read the book and so far it's really good.

Anonymous said...

black mold exposure,
black mold symptoms of exposure,

wrought iron garden gates,
your nest iron garden gates, here,

hair styles for fine thin hair,
search hair styles for fine thin hair,

night vision binoculars,
buy, night vision binoculars,

lipitor reactions,
lipitor reactions,


luxury beach resort in the philippines,
beach resort in the philippines,

homeopathy for baby eczema.,
homeopathy for baby eczema.,

save big with great mineral makeup bargains,
companies marketing mineral makeups,

prodam iphone praha,
Apple prodam iphone praha,

iphone clone cect manual,
manual for iphone clone cect,

fero 52 binoculars night vision,
fero 52 night vision,

best night vision binoculars,
buy, best night vision binoculars,

computer programs to make photo albums,
computer programs, make photo albums,