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Lawyer Distress: Alcohol-Related Problems And Other Psychological Concerns Among A Sample Of Practicing Lawyers, Connie J.A. Beck, Bruce D. Sales, G. Andrew H. Benjamin
Lawyer Distress: Alcohol-Related Problems And Other Psychological Concerns Among A Sample Of Practicing Lawyers, Connie J.A. Beck, Bruce D. Sales, G. Andrew H. Benjamin
Journal of Law and Health
The findings of the research reported in this study, in conjunction with earlier studies, suggest that the professional and the personal well-being of lawyers is in serious jeopardy. Lawyers are working more, reducing vacation time, spending less time with family members, are prone to alcohol abuse, and face high levels of psychological distress. The combination of elements suggests an impending crisis for lawyers' family lives. Although the data are not sufficient to suggest that psychological distress has detrimentally affected the lawyers' ability to practice competently, the warning signs are present. Further empirical study may well reveal that lawyer distress is …
Some Thoughts About Developing Constructive Approaches To Lawyer And Law Student Distress, Peter G. Glenn
Some Thoughts About Developing Constructive Approaches To Lawyer And Law Student Distress, Peter G. Glenn
Journal of Law and Health
I am convinced, on the basis of experience as a teacher at five law schools, that it is possible to establish a law school culture in which the administration and faculty can work effectively to substantially reduce the level of unnecessary law student distress. I believe, however, that accomplishing this on any large scale among the law schools generally might require not only implementation of many of the suggestions of Professors Glesner and Kutulakis, but also that we abandon the ideas that all law schools should be fundamentally similar, built on the model of a large-enrollment major research center, and …
Lawyer Distress: A Comment, Susan S. Locke
Lawyer Distress: A Comment, Susan S. Locke
Journal of Law and Health
I will not debate whether or not the practice of law creates dysfunction, requires dysfunction or perpetuates dysfunction. I am reminded of a colleague who, when looking at his law firm partners who practice in my field of estate planning asked, "Do you have to be eccentric to go into estate planning, or does it just make you that way after a while?" Probably the answer is a little of both, and it is as true for the practice of law in general as it is for estate planning. When the dust settles at some time in the future, we …
Is There A Solution To The Problem Of Lawyer Stress - The Law School Perspective, James J.A. Alfini, Joseph N. Van Vooren
Is There A Solution To The Problem Of Lawyer Stress - The Law School Perspective, James J.A. Alfini, Joseph N. Van Vooren
Journal of Law and Health
What is the result of all this stress? As previously noted in the Beck, Sales, and Benjamin study, more and more attorneys are turning to alcohol as a "stress reliever." Also, a higher percentage of lawyers are dissatisfied with their personal relationships than the "normal population." A poll conducted for the New York Law Journal by a Manhattan polling firm found that of the lawyers polled who had been divorced, fifty-six percent asserted that their careers in the law had contributed to the breakup of their marriages. Of great concern is the fact that an increasing number of attorneys are …
Learning And Mental Disability Protection Under The Americans With Disabilities Act In The Quest For Certification For The Practice Of Law, Aaron J. Reber
Learning And Mental Disability Protection Under The Americans With Disabilities Act In The Quest For Certification For The Practice Of Law, Aaron J. Reber
Journal of Law and Health
The Americans with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1990 as a comprehensive scheme in which previously discriminated against classes would be guaranteed fair treatment in employment as well as other settings. The Act protects those with both physical and mental disabilities. With respect to certification for the practice of law, the Act has almost unique significance as the accommodations the Act calls for arguably clash with state bar standards of competence both in legal education and mental fitness for certification. These clashes tend to stem from two major situations-accommodation of the learning disabled student who may not be able to …
Commentary: Policy Implications, Geoffrey C. Hazard Jr.
Commentary: Policy Implications, Geoffrey C. Hazard Jr.
Journal of Law and Health
It is clear to me that members of the legal profession are obliged to take these findings seriously. I shall suggest below a few reservations about the analysis. Nevertheless, the important findings are established by empirical evidence so powerful that they can be ignored only through a wish not to believe. If the findings are accepted as a description of reality, the challenge is to work out sensible courses of action in response. The challenge is formidable.