Publication Date

2017

Abstract

This article empirically analyzes original data to look at stress and stress hardiness in the legal profession A number of studies address stress in the legal profession and its impact on the mental health of lawyers Our study is the first to examine stress hardiness in the legal profession Drawing on quantitative data gathered from 20132016 in surveys of 530 law students and lawyers and qualitative data from 106 indepth interviews with lawyers and building on the work of research psychologists Salvatore Maddi and Suzanne Kobasa we look at whether some lawyers more stress hardy than others and if so what makes them stress hardy and whether their strategies teachable and learnable Our data show the following 1 some lawyers are more stress hardy than others 2 although no demographic factors correlate to stress hardiness three behaviors maintaining a sense of control a sense of purpose and cognitive flexibility show a significant correlation to stress hardiness 3these behaviors build on each other such that use of one strengthens the use of others 4 maintaining a sense of purpose a sense of control and cognitive flexibility are teachable and learnable 5 the type of stress lawyers experience varies by practice area 6 the level of stress experienced by law students and lawyers remains fairly constant throughout law school and law practice 7 law students and lawyers report using the following strategies to help manage stress exercise social connectedness and three habits of thought planning and organization perspective and gratitude 8 lawyers report less reliance on exercise and social connectedness as they age and greater reliance on substance use 9 reliance on drugs and alcohol to manage stress correlates to greater stress

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