Of course, there are happy and unhappy people in every profession, and lawyers are not the exception. However, it is sobering to look at the statistics measuring just how unhappy lawyers are. The often-cited Johns Hopkins University study of more than 100 occupations found that lawyers top the list for the incidence of major depression.
Researchers found that lawyers are 3.6 times more likely to suffer from depression than the average person.
According to the ABA:
• The rate of suicide among lawyers is higher than among all other occupations – the National Institute of Safety and Health in the US found that male lawyers aged 20-64 are more than twice as likely to die from suicide than
men in other occupations,
• As many as a quarter of lawyers suffer from psychological distress, including anxiety, social alienation, isolation, and depression,
• The rate of substance abuse among lawyers is double that of the US national average, and
• 15-20% of all US lawyers suffer from alcoholism or substance abuse.
Moreover, 70% of lawyers responding to a Californian lawyers’ magazine poll said that they would change careers if
the opportunity arose.
Oh dear !! Anybody know of another job availability……….
